November 28, (THEWILL) — The Katsina State Police Command has dismissed as fake, baseless and malicious the viral social media claims alleging that villagers in Safana Local Government Area engaged in a hostage-swap deal with bandit groups, warning the public against the dangers of spreading misinformation.
In a statement on Friday, the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Abubakar Aliyu, said the reports were entirely fabricated and lacked any factual basis.
“The Katsina State Command is aware of fake news making the rounds on social media”, he said.
DSP Aliyu explained that the false posts alleged that “bandit groups and villagers in Safana Local Government, specifically in Babban Duhu, Sabon Birni, and Babanli villages, have engaged in the swapping of hostages.”
According to the reports, the bandits were said to have kidnapped villagers, prompting locals to abduct the relatives of the bandits in retaliation—claims the police say are completely untrue.
Aliyu stressed that investigations clearly show that “no such incident occurred in Babban Duhu, Sabon Birni, or Babanli”, adding that “the rumours are baseless, false, and malicious.”
He said extensive intelligence checks and engagements with community leaders revealed no evidence of any hostage exchange in the affected areas.
“The spread of such misinformation is dangerous, as it inflames public fear, erodes trust in institutions, and could endanger lives”, he cautioned.
Reaffirming the Command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, Aliyu urged residents to remain calm, avoid sharing unverified content, and support security efforts by providing credible information.
Aliyu further urged the public to contact the police through emergency lines: 08156977777, 07072722539, or 09022209690.
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