Catching Disinformation Merchants

[Catching Disinformation Merchants @FalseAlarmers]

The @FalseAlarmers Anatomy of Misinformation Podcast feat. “A case study of Rufai Oseni vs The Nigerian Police and Sunday Igboho”

Recent claims by a Nigerian Journalist regarding a successful police operation against kidnappers have drawn rebuttals from both the Nigerian Poice and the other individual claimed by the journalist to have helped the police.

Despite these direct rebuttals and the presence of video evidence on the operation, Mr Oseni continues to double down on his initial assertion.

This False Alarmers podcast deep dives into the dangers of misinformation by known personalities using this incident as a case study and drawing from a post by a Presidential Aide on the issue.

Verdict: Rufai’s Claims are UNPROVEN and thus, a FALSE ALARM

[Catching Disinformation Merchants @FalseAlarmers]

FALSE ALARM: Self Kidnap?
❌ VERDICT: FALSE ALARM

A viral video on X and Tiktok by a young lady claimed her mother had been kidnapped and was "being held in a kidnappers' den" and asked the public to donate toward her release.

Here's what actually happened:
1. Responsible Nigerians reported it.
2. The Police opened an investigation into the alleged abduction.
3. The person behind the appeal has now issued a video retracting the claim saying her mother was not kidnapped and the mother may be a part of the self kidnapoing claim. It is now an active police matter, and no verified kidnapping was established.

This is the playbook we keep warning about 👇:

- A painful story. A sense of urgency. And somewhere to send money.
- The emotion is what makes it work. That is exactly why you slow down.

Before you donate or forward an "urgent" appeal:
✅ Confirm it with family or the authorities
✅ Check for a credible source
❌ Don't send money on a video alone
We have hidden the faces on purpose. We debunk the claim since it is an ongoing police investigation into the crime and false claim.

🔔 Verify before you share. Don't give to fear.

#Nigeria #FactCheck #FakeNews #Scam #Disinformation #FalseAlarmers

[Nigeria Police Force @PoliceNG]

PRESS RELEASE

NIGERIA POLICE FORCE CONFIRMS SAFE RESCUE OF ABDUCTED WOMAN AND HER TWIN SONS

The Nigeria Police Force announces the successful rescue of Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul and her 12-year-old twin sons, Peter and Paul, who were abducted on June 3, 2026, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The hostages were rescued during a coordinated operation by the Force Intelligence Department Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) in Ibadan at approximately 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2026. Mrs. Adegoke and her children were abducted while she was driving them to school at about 7:30 a.m. on June 3, 2026.

The rescue was achieved through sustained intelligence gathering, surveillance, and tactical operations. These efforts enabled investigators to track the kidnappers’ movements, resulting in a confrontation with FID-IRT operatives.

During the confrontation, two suspected kidnappers were fatally wounded and two rifles were recovered. The victims were rescued unharmed and are now in safe custody, receiving medical care and support.

The Inspector-General of Police commends the courage, professionalism, and effectiveness of the FID-IRT operatives and all officers involved. Their resilience and commitment were instrumental in the safe rescue of the hostages.

Security operatives have intensified efforts in the area to apprehend fleeing members of the kidnapping syndicate. Preliminary intelligence indicates that some suspects escaped with gunshot injuries. Operations are ongoing to track, arrest, and bring all involved to justice.

The Nigeria Police Force appreciates the public’s support, cooperation, and patience during the operation. We remain committed to combating violent crime, protecting lives and property, and ensuring the safety of all citizens.

DCP ANTHONY OKON PLACID, psc (+), mnipr, mni
Force Public Relations Officer
Force Headquarters, Abuja
6th June,2026

[Nigerian Army @HQNigerianArmy]

OPERATION HADIN KAI EXECUTES UNPRECEDENTED INTELLIGENCE-LED RESCUE OPERATION, FREES 360 ABDUCTEES FROM JAS STRONGHOLD IN THE MANDARA MOUNTAINS

In one of the most significant hostage rescue operations conducted in the North East Theatre in recent times, troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), comprising Special Forces and troops of Sector 1, have successfully rescued 360 abductees from a heavily fortified Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) enclave deep within the Mandara Mountains area of southern Borno State. The operation, which was the culmination of weeks of painstaking intelligence preparation, covert reconnaissance, and operational planning, resulted in the safe recovery of men, women, and children who had been held in captivity under harsh conditions after being abducted from several communities, particularly within the Ngoshe axis. The successful rescue underscores the growing operational reach, intelligence dominance, and tactical superiority of OPHK in denying terrorists freedom of action and protecting vulnerable populations across the theatre.

The operation was initiated following the receipt of credible and corroborated intelligence from multiple sources indicating the precise location of the hostages and the existence of an elaborate insurgent support network sustaining the enclave. OPHK intelligence elements subsequently launched an extensive target development process involving the integration of Human Intelligence (HUMINT), Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), and persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations conducted through unmanned aerial systems and long-range reconnaissance patrols. Through sustained intelligence collection and analysis, commanders developed a comprehensive understanding of the terrain, insurgent disposition, defensive arrangements, movement patterns, and the condition of the abductees. This intelligence-driven approach enabled the force to accurately map the objective area, identify vulnerabilities within the terrorist network, and significantly reduce risks to the hostages during the rescue mission.

A decisive breakthrough was achieved through the successful penetration of the terrorist network by carefully cultivated intelligence assets operating under the supervision of OPHK military intelligence personnel. These assets provided timely and actionable intelligence regarding the exact locations of the abductees, the disposition of insurgent commanders, internal security measures, and planned relocation routes. Simultaneously, carefully coordinated information and psychological operations created uncertainty and mistrust within the insurgent ranks, degrading their cohesion and disrupting command and control arrangements. The resulting intelligence advantage provided OPHK with unprecedented situational awareness and enabled commanders to shape the operational environment well before the commencement of the assault phase.

[Woye @woye1]

Fake news merchants, read this ooooo.

2: I know you are tired of your house ba.

[Catching Disinformation Merchants @FalseAlarmers]

FALSEALARMERS ALERT JUNE 6, 2026 - Nigeria

X User, AdejokeAder shared a false alarm on Bandits in two areas of Osun State. This has been debunked by both the Nigerian Police and persons in the communities on the same platform.

@falsealarmers Verdict — FALSE ALARM ✕

[Catching Disinformation Merchants @FalseAlarmers]

You can help:
→ See a suspicious "alert"? Don't share. Send it to us.
→ Screenshot before it's deleted.
→ Wait for the receipts.
Fear travels fast. The truth needs a head start.
🇳🇬 Verify before you share. Follow + turn on notifications.

[Catching Disinformation Merchants @FalseAlarmers]

The rumour said soldiers were pulling out. "Leave now." It was fake — recycled from 2021. But by morning it had 40,000 shares and a town was in panic.

That's not an accident. It's a business model.

We are @FalseAlarmers, set up to expose such dangerous practices
🧵

[Catching Disinformation Merchants @FalseAlarmers]

We're not here for anyone's politics, religion, or opinions. Disagreement isn't disinformation. We go after the lie and the mechanics that profit from it.

[Catching Disinformation Merchants @FalseAlarmers]

HOW FALSEALARMERS WORKS

OUR STANDARDS
We are an independent page that archives and debunks viral misinformation in Nigeria — especially false alerts designed to spread fear, panic, and disorder, often for clicks and monetisation.

Here's how we operate, and what we will and won't do.

What we do
→ We verify claims, not chase people. Our focus is the false content and how it spreads — not personal attacks.
→ Every debunk shows its work: original post, the claim, the evidence, and the verdict (FALSE ALARM ✕ / VERIFIED ✓ / UNPROVEN ⚠).
→ We archive before content disappears, because deletion doesn't undo the harm a viral lie already caused.
→ We verify with credible, checkable sources every time. If we can't verify it, we label it UNPROVEN — we don't guess.

What we don't do
→ We don't target people for their opinions, politics, religion, or identity. Disagreement is not disinformation.
→ We don't call for anyone to be harassed, doxxed, or harmed. Report their content.
→ We don't claim something is false unless we can show why.

Get it wrong? Tell us.
If we make an error, send evidence. Verified corrections are posted publicly and pinned to the original thread. Accountability runs both ways.
Spotted a false alarm?

DMs open. Send the link or screenshot. The more receipts, the faster we verify.

NOTE: Where consistent patterns are noticed by pages to misinform and cause social disorder, we will report such oages to platforms and send such pages to law enforcement for appropriate action in line with relevant laws.

🇳🇬 Verify before you share. Don't let fear go viral.