The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has cleared the air on a viral “wanted” poster of Nollywood star Iyabo Ojo, describing it as fake, misleading, and not emanating from the Force.
The controversial poster, which carried the inscription “SPECIAL POLICE WANTED” alongside a photo of the actress, spread rapidly across social media platforms on Tuesday and Wednesday. It claimed that Ojo was wanted by the Office of the Inspector General of Police Monitoring Unit, stirring confusion and sparking heated reactions from Nigerians.
However, in a statement released via its official Facebook page on Thursday morning, the NPF debunked the claim, stressing that it never issued such a notice and urging the public to disregard it completely.
The statement read:
“FAKE NEWS ALERT! This ‘WANTED’ poster of actress Iyabo Ojo did not emanate from the Nigeria Police Force. It is false, misleading & was never posted on any official NPF platform.”
The Police further cautioned Nigerians against spreading unverified reports, warning that fake news can cause unnecessary panic and damage reputations. They advised the public to rely strictly on the Force’s official communication channels before reacting to or sharing such sensitive information.
“Disregard & stop spreading fake news. Verify only from official NPF channels,” the statement added.
Iyabo Ojo, a leading figure in Nollywood, has yet to issue any personal response to the fake notice. Meanwhile, her fans have flooded social media with words of support, with many condemning the spread of false information.
The incident has once again highlighted the dangers of misinformation on social media, where fake news often spreads faster than official clarifications.
