The Ogun State Police Command has debunked a viral video circulating on social media, which claimed that a kidnapping incident occurred recently along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway. The police clarified that the video in question is old and the event happened in 2022 — not 2025 and did not take place in Ogun State.
The video, which has gained widespread attention, showed a Toyota Sienna vehicle allegedly attacked by gunmen, with an unidentified man in blue traditional attire seated in the driver’s seat, appearing to have been shot in the head. The video also featured a voice in the background alleging that Fulani herdsmen were responsible for the attack, and that passengers in the vehicle had been kidnapped.
However, in an official statement issued on Monday, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, dismissed the claims, urging members of the public to refrain from spreading misleading and outdated information.
According to Odutola, investigations revealed that the incident actually took place in 2022, along the Ogun–Oyo boundary axis of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, and not within the territory of Ogun State as many social media users had alleged.
“It is important to clarify that the incident is not recent and did not occur in Ogun State,” she said. “Investigations reveal that it happened in 2022, along the Ogun–Oyo boundary axis of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway. This has been further confirmed by the Oyo State Police Command.”
Odutola emphasised that the situation in Ogun State remains under control, and that no such recent kidnapping occurred in the area as suggested in the viral video.
The Police Command also issued a strong warning to members of the public and social media users who share false or outdated content capable of inciting fear and ethnic division. Odutola noted that the deliberate spread of such misinformation could lead to unnecessary panic and worsen ethnic tensions in the country.
“The Ogun State Police Command therefore cautions members of the public against spreading outdated and misleading information, especially those aimed at inciting ethnic tension, promoting misinformation, intolerance, and discrimination,” she warned.
“Perpetrators of such acts are warned that these actions are punishable under extant laws.”
She further stated that the Nigeria Police Force will not hesitate to prosecute individuals who intentionally spread disinformation capable of disturbing public peace or causing confusion in the society.
Odutola assured residents of Ogun State that the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, have made significant progress in reducing criminal activities, especially kidnapping for ransom.
She explained that the command has intensified surveillance and proactive operations along highways and flashpoints, particularly around the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway corridor.
“We urge residents to remain calm, vigilant, and law-abiding,” she said. “The command, in collaboration with other security agencies, has successfully degraded the capacity of criminal elements who engage in kidnapping for ransom. Offenders have been arrested, prosecuted and duly convicted.”
She encouraged the public to rely on verified information from official sources and report suspicious activities to security agencies, instead of amplifying fear through social media.
In recent years, several viral videos have surfaced online, often causing public alarm and confusion, especially regarding incidents on major highways. The Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, which passes through parts of Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo States, is one of the busiest roads in Nigeria and has seen its share of security challenges.
However, authorities have repeatedly urged the public to avoid spreading unverified stories, especially when such content is tied to sensitive issues like kidnapping and ethnic identity.
The rise of misinformation through social media platforms has complicated the job of security agencies, who must constantly clarify facts to avoid public panic or unrest.
