The Commissioner of Police in Delta State, Olufemi Abaniwonda, expressed concern over the rise of false alarms on the security situation in the state being spread by mischievous social media influencers.
During an interview on Orientation Panorama on Delta Radio 97.9 FM, he emphasized that these influencers are distorting the actual security status of the state with negative portrayals.
Despite being recognized as one of the safest states in Nigeria, the CP highlighted that managing the dissemination of false insecurity alerts by some social media influencers and bloggers is a significant challenge for the police command.
Representing the Commissioner of Police, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, criticized these individuals as ‘professional alarmists’ who constantly exaggerate minor security incidents, creating a misleading perception of the state’s security status.
The CP reiterated the commitment of law enforcement officers to address security breaches promptly, respond to distress calls, and safeguard lives and property in Delta State.
He cited recent incidents, such as a false report circulating on social media about police officers shooting a woman in Ughelli during a protest, which was later proven untrue. These instances demonstrate how misinformation is being spread about the security situation in the state.
In another case, a member of a local vigilante group falsely claimed that 14 individuals were killed in his community, but failed to provide any credible evidence when asked by the police. The CP mentioned that collaboration with vigilante groups has helped prevent such misinformation from causing further problems.
The CP pointed out that while cases of kidnapping have significantly decreased, the police are actively investigating the remaining few incidents to ensure the safety of residents in Delta State.