The Ondo State Police Command on Monday warned residents of the state against spreading fake news ahead of the November 16 governorship election.
The command, in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, stated that it had observed a trend of old videos with misleading content being shared, allegedly with the intent to incite unrest within the communities in the state.
The command cited some recent viral videos, which were found to be fake, saying such acts were risky, particularly during election periods.
The statement read, “Recently, a video depicting flooding in Ore from August 2013 was irresponsibly circulated by individuals whose motives remain unclear. Such actions are not only misleading but also pose significant risks, especially during this crucial electoral period, as the spread of misinformation can undermine public trust, incite violence, jeopardise public safety, and threaten the integrity of our democracy —ultimately depriving the people of a level playing field for the exercise of their civic rights and responsibilities.
“In a similar incident, a story alleging the amputation of fingers from a corpse at a mortuary in Ajowa-Akoko was found to be false, as confirmed by the Divisional Police Officer who visited the morgue.”
The command stressed the importance of verifying information before sharing or reposting, stating that constructive engagement was essential for fostering a peaceful environment during this pivotal time in the history of the state.
While assuring citizens of the command’s readiness, in collaboration with sister security agencies, to ensure a free, fair, and safe election, the command stated that it would not hesitate to deal with anyone caught in any act capable of causing a disruption of peace before, during, and after the election.
“The command will not hesitate to respond appropriately and within the law to any kinetic or non-kinetic threats to the peace of the elections,” the statement stated.
