By Duchess Ifeoluwa
The Ondo State Police Command has dismissed claims contained in a viral social media video alleging impending terrorist attacks in parts of Ondo State, saying there is no confirmed intelligence to support the warning.
The command, however, said it had intensified intelligence gathering, surveillance operations and security deployments across the state as a precautionary measure.
This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh.
According to the statement, the police became aware of a viral video in which a cleric allegedly warned residents of impending attacks in some parts of the state.
The command said although it respected the rights of individuals to freedom of religion and expression, the claims contained in the video remained unverified and lacked credible intelligence backing.
“The claims contained in the video are, at present, unverified and without any confirmed intelligence backing,” the statement said.
The police therefore urged members of the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified or alarmist information capable of creating fear, panic and tension within the state.
Following the circulation of the video, the command disclosed that it immediately activated its intelligence and operational mechanisms to assess the credibility of the claims and determine whether any threat existed to public safety.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Felix Ohagwu, was said to have directed a discreet and thorough investigation into the source and content of the video.
The statement added that surveillance operations, strategic monitoring, intelligence gathering and security deployments had been intensified, particularly in vulnerable areas across the state, to prevent any security breach.
The command reassured residents that there was currently no confirmed intelligence indicating any imminent terrorist attack in Ondo State.
It, however, stated that the police, in collaboration with other security agencies and stakeholders, remained on high alert to ensure the safety of residents.
The police urged citizens to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons, movements or activities to the nearest police station or relevant security agencies.
Residents were also advised to rely only on verified and official sources for security-related information.
The command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property and pledged continued collaboration with community leaders, traditional institutions, vigilante groups and other stakeholders to sustain peace and security across the state.
