Oyo govt raises alarm over plot to cause religious, ethnic crisis

The Oyo State government has raised the alarm over a plot by some persons to use fake news on the state of security in the state to precipitate a religious and ethnic crisis.

The state government, through Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Mr Taiwo Adisa, said the plot being hatched is to promote false alarms, misinformation and sponsored fake news through audio, video and Facebook messages.

According to the statement, the ultimate aim of those “elements” is to create panic among the people, incite the people, derail the state government and make the state ungovernable.

Adisa particularly described some viral video and audio messages about a poor security situation in Ayete, Igangan areas of the state as found to be outright falsehood, baseless claims and products of hate speech.

He said that some of such unfounded and baseless posts to include the claim that Amotekun Corps killed some Fulani herdsmen, the claim that 200 houses were razed by hoodlums in Labiran, Ibadan and the claims that the insecurity situation in Ibarapa has escalated.

He warned those purveyors of fake information to desist and not plunge the state into crisis, noting that security agencies will deal with anyone seeking to cause ethnic tension.

According to Adisa, those persons behind the plot to create fear among the populace and destabilise the state are intimidated by the level of successes recorded in the one and a half year administration of Governor Seyi Makinde.

He avowed that the current administration had risen to the occasion on the issue of criminality and insecurity and was on course to win the battle.

Adisa said Governor Makinde had, during his visit to Ibarapa zone, announced several measures to tackle kidnapping and banditry in Ibarapa and some parts of Oke-Ogun, while efforts had also been increased to tame violent gang wars in Ibadan.

The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to a grand plot to precipitate unrest in Oyo State through the use of fake news in the social media. This plot seeks to promote false alarms, misinformation and sponsored fake news through audio, video and Facebook messages and it is with a view to making the state ungovernable.

“As a government, the contents of some of these audio and video releases have been investigated and mostly found to be outright falsehood, baseless claims and products of hate speech, targeted only at discrediting the government and inciting the people.

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“As a proactive government, the Makinde-led administration has risen to the occasion on the issue of insecurity and we are already winning the war against criminality, with several measures rolled out to tackle kidnapping and banditry in Ibarapa and some parts of Oke-Ogun, while efforts have also been increased to tame the violent gang wars in Ibadan.”

“It will be recalled that Governor Makinde visited Ibarapa last week and he was at the hot spots of crisis, while a high-powered team comprising government delegates and the Police had visited the area and some parts of Oke-Ogun earlier.

“As part of efforts to bring a lasting solution to the security situation in Ibarapa, the government deployed 200 additional Amotekun Corps and also equipped them with four additional operational vehicles.

“The governor has also ordered that Peace and Security Committees be set up across the local governments so that all critical stakeholders would be on board to address security issues in their localities.

“The governor equally convened a meeting of all stakeholders in Ibadan North-East to address the issue of hoodlums and gang wars in the state capital once and for all.

“With all these steps, it is clear the direction the Oyo State Government is going in terms of handling the insecurity challenge and the only thing left to be done is to wait and see the results of the interventions.

“However, we have discovered that some individuals driven by inordinate political ambitions have been over-reaching themselves and sponsoring falsehood against the government.

“In some cases, as seen in a recent viral video, we have seen badly put together video and audio releases, where the supposed whistle-blower, who probably is neither resident in Oyo State nor have much knowledge about Ibarapa had to read from a script, mistaking people’s names and even claiming he was referring to Ibadan State.

“The truth is, no one can gain anything from the unforeseeable consequences that the plot will bring upon the state. As Governor Makinde recently warned while in Ibarapa, everyone should put the interest of the state first in whatever they do at this period.

“However, our admonition goes to the members of the public across the state. Do not panic; do not succumb to the sponsored falsehood, as the state government is working assiduously to arrest the insecurity situation.

“Similarly, though the governor has made it clear that anyone who sees something should say something to the government, members of the public should ensure they are giving truthful and factual information so that security agents will not be embarking on a wild goose chase based on wrong information.”

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Oyo govt raises alarm over plot to cause religious, ethnic crisis