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The Ondo State Police Command, on Monday, warned residents of the state against spreading fake news concerning the November 16 governorship election.
The command, in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, said the warning became expedient following the trend of old videos with misleading content being shared with the intent to incite unrest within the communities in the state.
The command cited some recent viral videos whose contents were found to be fake, saying such was risky, particularly during the election period.
The statement read, “Recently, a video depicting flooding in Ore from August 2013 was irresponsibly circulated by individuals whose motives remain unclear. Such actions are not only misleading but pose significant risks, especially during this crucial electoral period, as the spread of misinformation can undermine public trust, incite violence, jeopardize public safety, and threaten the integrity of our democracy—ultimately depriving the people of a level playing field for the exercise of their civic rights and responsibilities.
“In a similar event, a story alleging the amputation of fingers from a corpse at a mortuary in Ajowa-Akoko was found to be false, as confirmed by the Divisional Police Officer who visited the morgue.”
The command stressed the importance of verifying information before sharing or reposting, saying constructive engagement was essential for fostering a peaceful environment during this pivotal time in the history of the state.
While assuring the citizens of the command’s readiness, in collaboration with sister security agencies, to ensure a free, fair, and safe election, the command would not hesitate to deal with anybody caught in any act capable of disrupting peace before, during and after the election.
“The command will not hesitate to respond appropriately and within the law to any kinetic or non-kinetic threats to the peace of the elections,” the statement read.
Similarly, the Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps declared that the security agencies were committed to ensuring a violence-free governorship election.
The state Commandant of the NSCDC, Oluyemi Ibiloye, who spoke at the Ondo State Election Peace and Security Summit, held in Akure, said there was a need for all stakeholders to ensure that the election is conducted under a free, fair and violence-free atmosphere.
According to him, the summit was to discuss and ensure a peaceful election.
He said, “I wish to remind you all that the strength of our democracy lies in our ability to engage in dialogue, it lies in our readiness to listen, to share and to collaborate as we navigate the complexities of our electoral processes.
“It is pertinent to state that, as security agencies, we would rather have a free, fair and violence-free election, rather than mobilizing assets to deal with electoral violence not just because it is rather expensive but because it also puts our lives and that of innocent citizens of Ondo State at risk. Remember, we are also human beings.”
The NSCDC boss called on all stakeholders to participate in the peaceful process of the off-cycle poll.
“As we deliberate on how to make the forthcoming Ondo State Gubernatorial election the best so far, let us take a moment to consider a powerful truth. Peace is not just the absence of disagreement, it is the presence of justice, understanding and collaboration in a world that is often fragmented. We must ask ourselves what legacy we wish to leave for the generation coming behind us.
“Every election is a crossroads, a moment where our choice today will shape the society we build tomorrow. If we remain silent, complacent, or passive, we are complicit in allowing fear and division to take root. But if we choose to engage to advocate for peace and to uphold this value of empathy and unity, we become the architects of a brighter future,” Ibiloye charged.
He specifically commended the state Commissioner of Police, Ladipo Abayomi, a Non-Governmental Organisation, the Kimpact Development Initiative, the Ondo State Peace and Mediation Committee and the UK International Development Office for their support and making the summit a reality.
