The Lagos State Police Command has dismissed a recent report claiming that Boko Haram suspects had been arrested in the state.
On Thursday, Kumar Sanda, the commander of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Lagos, was quoted as saying that thousands of suspected Boko Haram members had been apprehended in the city.
He was reported to have stated, “If I should mention the number of Boko Haram members we have arrested in Lagos State, people will not believe it. But we have arrested thousands.”
However, in a statement on Friday, Benjamin Hundeyin, the police spokesperson, clarified that an investigation had been launched following the claim, directed by the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Olohundare Jimoh. The investigation found no evidence of Boko Haram members being arrested or present anywhere in the state.
“The leaders, operators, and drivers in the trailer park communities mentioned in the report clarified to the police that no Boko Haram elements had been seen or arrested in those areas,” the statement said.
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The police further deployed surveillance detectives and other units to verify the claim, but no confirmation was found regarding the arrest of any Boko Haram members.
“The report is entirely false, malicious, and intended to create unnecessary fear and panic among the public,” the police said.
Hundeyin reassured residents that they were safe and encouraged them to go about their daily activities without fear. He also urged the writer of the report to verify information before publishing.
“Residents are encouraged to report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station or call the control center at 0806329926,” Hundeyin added.
