As rumoured murder through phone calls by the dreaded Boko Haram group in the last five days creates anxiety among people of Kwara State, many more people have continued to believe the rumour. However, the state police command has allayed the fear by denying the authenticity of the speculation.

A copy of the text message reads: “Do not pick any call from this number (08061197911) because Boko Haram is killing people through this number.

“They have killed four people at Ilorin between 24th and 26th of this month and two other people in Egbe. They also killed Mr Adediran at Omu-aran dis morning. Send it to your people.”

The message, which was widely circulated among residents of the state, saw those who received a copy forwarding it to their relations, friends and neighbours.

Most of the people also did a follow-up by calling those to whom they sent the message to confirm if they saw it, while also cautioning them to be careful of picking the alleged killer number.

However, the police command, in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Olufemi Fabode, described the rumours contained in the text message as untrue and advised the people to ignore them.

The command said it has arrested a boy behind the text message and a woman, who owns the phone number, adding that it is still carrying on investigations on the matter.

The statement reads: “The Kwara State Police Command wishes to denounce the text message being circulated about the phone number 080661197911, belonging to Boko Haram claiming to have killed four people in Ilorin, two at Egbe and also one Mr Adeniran at Omu-Aran. The owner of the phone number has been traced and the number belongs to a lady (namewitheld).

“The originator of the text message, a boy (name withheld) has also been arrested and both are presently being interrogated by police operatives at the Police Headquarters, Ilorin. Members of the public are advised to ignore the message as there is no iota of truth in it.”

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