The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has disowned a viral “wanted” poster of popular Nollywood actress and entrepreneur, Iyabo Ojo, describing it as fake and misleading. The poster, which circulated widely across social media platforms this week, falsely claimed that the actress had been declared wanted and that a bounty had been placed on her arrest.
In a statement released on its verified Facebook page on Thursday, the police urged Nigerians to disregard the publication, stressing that it never originated from the Force. “Fake news alert! This ‘wanted’ poster of actress Iyabo Ojo did not emanate from the Nigeria Police Force. It is false, misleading and was never posted on any official NPF platform,” the statement read.
The NPF cautioned the public against spreading unverified information, warning that such disinformation not only tarnishes reputations but also undermines public trust in law enforcement institutions. The Force emphasized that all official communications are issued through its verified platforms and encouraged Nigerians to rely solely on authentic channels for credible updates.
The statement also highlighted the dangers of social media manipulation, noting that the rapid spread of falsehoods could fuel unnecessary panic and damage the image of innocent individuals. The Force reiterated its commitment to tackling cyber-related offences and warned that those behind the circulation of the fake poster could face prosecution.
Iyabo Ojo, who is renowned for her contributions to Nollywood and her social activism, has not publicly commented on the matter. However, police officials reassured the public that the actress is not under investigation and urged citizens to desist from sharing the false poster, stressing once again: “Disregard and stop spreading fake news. Verify only from official NPF channels.”
