The Nigeria Police Force has debunked a viral message circulating on WhatsApp and other social media platforms, claiming that 79 terrorists are present in the Lugbe axis and environs, and announcing a curfew. The police have declared this message as entirely false and misleading, urging citizens and FCT residents to disregard it.

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, emphasized that intelligence gathered by the Force Intelligence teams and other security agencies indicates no presence of terrorists in the Lugbe area. The police believe the message was fabricated to create tension, incite panic, and destabilize the peace in the FCT.

The police have advised citizens to rely only on verified information from official sources and to report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station or through their emergency contact lines.

The statement read,

“The Force believes this message was generated by a devious person/persons with intents to create tension, incite panic and distabilize the existing peace in the FCT. “We urge citizens to digest only news and information from the official handles of the Nigeria Police Force on social media, viz @PoliceNG on X, @ngpolice on Facebook, and @nigeriapoliceforce on Instagram and verified news sources.

“The Nigeria Police Force urges the public to exercise caution when sharing information online and to verify the authenticity of any security-related alerts with official sources before disseminating them.

“Citizens should disregard news and information not originating from authentic police sources and should not panic due to unverified news circulating on social media.

“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens and residents of the Federal Capital Territory and the entire country.

“We encourage the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station or through our emergency contact lines.

“The Nigeria Police Force appreciates the cooperation of the public and assures them of our unwavering dedication to protecting lives and property.”