Man arrested for ‘posting social media content to incite Nigerians against police’

Olumuyiwa Adejobi, spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), says 38-year-old Destiny Ekhorutomuen has been arrested for allegedly posting social media content to incite Nigerians against the force.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Adejobi said Ekhorutomuen was arrested at Uhunmwonde LGA of Edo on December 8, 2024.

He said the suspect allegedly created and operated multiple social media accounts to disseminate false content aimed at smearing the image of the force.

“There was a time when a video went viral saying the deputy commissioner of police was arrested or was sharing arms, giving arms to bandits in Kaduna, posted by a lecturer,” the force spokesperson said.

“And this Destiny Ekhorutomuen, that has just been arrested now, did the video and started laying emphasis on this fake information, false information, and fake news.

“He circulated the content, inciting members of the public against the government, against the police; attacking police institutions, which, of course, this particular incident occurred in 2019.

“The unfortunate thing was that he made the video after the Nigeria Police Force had debunked the fake information.

“We debunked the fake information last year; we did it in 2022, and 2024, and we have done it again this year, when the particular video was recirculated, just to discredit the police and jeopardize our security arrangement in this country.

“Because if the caliber of the deputy commissioner of police is so low as to give arms to bandits, you know it is a very terrible case and a very sensitive one indeed.

“The falsehood was spread enough for reasons known to those who are doing it, but for this particular suspect, it is a deliberate act to discredit the police, to malign the police, to rubbish the Nigerian government, and to heat up the polity.”

Adejobi reiterated the force’s commitment to maintaining zero tolerance for threats to national stability, adding that spreading falsehoods undermines public trust and poses significant risks to the nation’s security.

He also warned that misusing social media to spread fake news or incite disorder is criminal and punishable, urging citizens to exercise caution and responsibility.