By Motolani Oluwafemi
In recent times, much has occurred that warrants extreme vigilance, even regarding the smallest matters that should not inherently be harmful. From terrorism to banditry and incessant kidnapping, insecurity continues to plague the country. Consequently, fear is very much alive and palpable in the atmosphere.
Nigerians, however, are known to be quick to “catch cruise.” They are gifted at converting the gravest of situations into mere avenues for fun, calling it “cruise.” This present issue of insecurity is no exception. While many Nigerians, including the youth, take this matter very seriously, some cannot help but do what they always do.
Their cruise, as intended, is not in itself harmful. Rather, what is harmful is the information it conveys. This “cruise” comes in different forms. Some circulate sensitive information that turns out to have been created solely for entertainment purposes. These include edited videos, whether AI generated or otherwise, images, motion pictures, and even brief posts. Many of these items spread quickly through the same channels by which they are made available to the public.
Unfortunately, many of these posts and claims contain fallacies with little or no factual basis. What is even more unfortunate is how readily people spread such information without first verifying it through trusted or reputable sources. Because many people believe everything they see or hear, rumours are passed around and eventually presented as truth to other uninformed members of the public.
This issue is not specific to any class of people. Instead, it cuts across all spheres of society, especially in the country where we find ourselves. While it is not a recent development, the sensitivity it carries, given the state of the country’s security situation, is particularly disheartening.
There is a saying that information is power. Since power dispels fear, accurate information dispels fear. Sadly, there is more misinformation than information flying around. We can then rightly deduce that misinformation breeds fear rather than power. It follows that while we have bandits, we also have “real bandits” in the form of fear and misinformation.
While fear may not be armed with guns or demand ransom like the criminals we encounter, the peace of mind, tranquillity, and even health it steals cannot be overemphasized. Research has shown that fear is arguably humanity’s oldest companion, deeply wired into our DNA to protect us from physical threats. Over time, it has evolved from ancient survival instincts into broader modern anxieties, including the fear of the unknown.
For those unfamiliar with the term, a bandit is an outlaw or armed criminal who operates within a group to commit crimes such as robbery, extortion, kidnapping, and murder, often targeting rural communities and other vulnerable locations. Yet beyond these physical actors exists another kind of bandit, one that thrives on misinformation and uncertainty.
Recent events have only amplified this atmosphere of fear. The abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State and in three schools in Borno State on 15 May heightened public anxiety. This was followed by the abduction of seven students of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, on 3 June, although one of the students later escaped. There was also the kidnapping of the sister of former Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, alongside her twin children in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Amid these developments came a flood of false security alerts. The fear generated by such misinformation does not come without a cost. Beyond causing panic, it overstretches security systems and emergency response mechanisms that are already under pressure.
Across several states in the federation, there have been reported cases of false alerts that triggered fear and panic and ultimately produced irreversible consequences. Take, for instance, the fake video claiming that bandits had invaded parts of Lagos State to kidnap residents. This security alert, which was later discovered to be false, led to the death of a 24 year old commercial motorcyclist, Kulaha Ayuba, who was accused by locals of being a bandit.
Although the Lagos State Police Command later described claims that armed bandits had entered Ibeju Lekki, Imota, Oke Afo, and other communities as false, that single piece of misinformation had already taken a life. Ayuba was assaulted and killed, his body was dumped in a swamp, and his motorcycle was reportedly stolen.
A similar incident occurred in Oyo State, where a viral voice note alleged that armed bandits had attacked Lamini Community and killed six residents. Investigations traced the source of the false information, leading to the arrest of Pastor Amos Joel Muyiwa, who admitted sharing the voice note without verifying its authenticity, and Mulikat Bashiru, the woman who originally created it.
Within student communities, misinformation has also generated significant tension. One notable example occurred at the University of Ibadan, where some individuals claimed to have seen an armed man within the school environment. Rather than verify the information, many students took to their timelines and WhatsApp status updates to repost the claim.
Upon arriving at the scene, the university’s security outfit, Abefele, confirmed that the man was unarmed and simply mentally unstable. It should be noted, however, that some elected student representatives, who ought to serve as the backbone of sanity within the community, also shared the claim without proper verification.
The incident occurred shortly after the Ogbomoso abduction, which only fuelled the anxiety of students and parents. One student reportedly remarked, “Unless I want my mummy to have a heart attack, I must not tell her this.” It was only after Abefele clarified the situation that calm gradually returned and people resumed their normal activities.
Like many forms of misinformation, the story travelled through its natural propagators, individuals who require little or no motivation before passing information along. In many cases, the act of sharing becomes almost automatic.
Outside the school premises, particularly in areas commonly referred to as students’ areas, similar incidents abound. Recently, some individuals posted on their status that a bloody cult clash had occurred in Agbowo. The warning advised students to avoid the area. While it may have appeared helpful, the claim generated more fear and anxiety than reassurance.
The rumour was later dispelled after the police deployed personnel to address what eventually turned out to be a disagreement between members of the community that had been exaggerated far beyond its actual scale.
Beyond the social consequences, misinformation can also attract legal consequences.
As easy as it is to press the retweet or repost button, many people remain unaware of the legal implications of their actions. Section 59 of the Criminal Code prohibits the publication of false news intended to cause fear and alarm among members of the public.
Specifically, it prohibits the publication or reproduction of “any statement, rumour or report which is likely to cause fear and alarm to the public or to disturb public peace, knowing or having reason to believe that such statement, rumour or report is false.” The offence carries a penalty of up to three years’ imprisonment.
While we continue to wallow in the abyss of misinformation, questioning which sources to trust, we are left with no definite answer because the system itself appears broken. Who provides reliable information, and how do they obtain it?
Until those questions are answered, the responsibility remains ours. The next time you reshare a status update or repost a security alert, ask yourself what exactly you hope to achieve and whether your post contributes to solving the problem or merely deepening the fear.
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In a society already burdened by insecurity, we cannot afford to become willing accomplices in spreading panic. Accurate information empowers, while misinformation weakens. If information is truly power, then every false alarm only strengthens the real bandit among us: fear.
