Man arrested over social media post accusing police of kidnapping

The police have arrested a man, Enabulele Aibuedefe, 34, over alleged false claim of police kidnapping of two people and demanding N2 million ransom.

The suspect was said to have posted on his social media handle and tagged the spokesman of the command, SP Moses Yamu, claiming that the operatives of the command had kidnapped two young men and were demanding N2 million for their release.

The spokesman of the command, who confirmed the matter, said the suspect has been arrested.

He said operatives while on stop-and-search duty around Ekehuan slope intercepted two young men at about 7:30pm based on intelligence.

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“The suspects were brought to the station and  one of them was confirmed a cultist based on intelligence and he confessed to it. The second person who was innocent was released.”

He said that same night, the suspect posted on social media and tagged the command’s PPRO that the police had kidnapped the young men who were coming back from a Shillo church programme and were demanding N2 million.

Yamu said the suspect further warned other young men to avoid the route as police would kidnap them and demanded N2 million, adding that he kept reposting it.

He said when the suspect was invited for questioning,  it was discovered that his claim of coming from Shillo and police demanding N2 million from them was false.

“But the person he claimed was coming from Shillo, said they went to fix DSTV for a client and were on their home when they were arrested,” he said.

Yamu said the suspect confessed to the crime and had been charged to court to serve as a deterrent to others who are in the habit of spreading false rumour and fake news against the police and the public.