From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Kogi Police Command has dismissed claims surrounding the arrest of a social media user, Elijah Olorunsuwa, over a publication concerning the Kabba-Olle-Iluke road project.
The Police insisted that the arrest followed a formal petition by the state government and that the suspect was neither harassed nor detained unlawfully.
The Command, in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, was reacting to a report authored by Omoyele Sowore , publisher of of Sahara Reporters concerning the matter and the role allegedly played by the Commissioner of Police, Naziru Bello Kankarofi.
According to the Police, the publication contained information that did not accurately reflect the circumstances surrounding Olorunsuwa’s arrest, prompting the Command to “set the records straight” and present what it described as “the facts of the case”.
The Command said Olorunsuwa was arrested on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, in Ilorin, Kwara State, following a formal petition received from the Kogi State Government over what it described as false and misleading information published on a social media platform concerning a government-sponsored project.
“The Command wishes to clarify that some of the information contained in the said publication is inaccurate and does not reflect the circumstances surrounding the matter. The Command considers it necessary to set the records straight and provide the public with the facts of the case.”
He was subsequently brought to Lokoja for investigation, where, according to the Police, he made a statement concerning the publication.
The Police said that during the investigation, Olorunsuwa voluntarily wrote and personally signed a letter of apology to the Kogi State Government over his publication concerning the Kabba-Olle-Iluke road construction.
“The arrest in question was made sequel to a formal petition received from the Kogi State Government against one Mr. Elijah Olorunsuwa, who published false and misleading information on a social media platform regarding a project sponsored by the State Government.
Acting on the petition, the suspect was arrested on Wednesday 16/9/2026 at Ilorin, Kwara State and brought to Lokoja for investigation. During investigation, after recording his statement, the suspect voluntarily wrote a letter of apology to the Kogi State Government which he personally signed on the false publication he posted on the platform concerning Kabba-Olle-Iluke road construction.
In the letter titled, “Retraction and Apology to Kogi State Government on My Publication on Kabba-Olle-Iluke Road,” the suspect reportedly explained that he had earlier stated that construction of the road was to be sponsored by the World Bank based on information available to him at the time.
He subsequently acknowledged that further information had established that the road construction was a project of the Kogi State Government.
The Police quoted him as saying: “Recent information has however confirmed that the said road construction is a sole project of the Kogi State Government.”
Olorunsuwa, according to the Command, also apologized to the state government, stating that his earlier publication was not intended to embarrass the government.
The Command further stated that the suspect was released on police administrative bail later that day to one Mr Ojo Johnson, with instructions to report to the Police the following morning, September 17, to assist with the ongoing investigation.
It stressed that “at no time was he harassed, intimidated, detained or his rights violated,” rejecting suggestions that the handling of the matter amounted to abuse of police powers.
The Command also specifically denied that CP Kankarofi played the role suggested in the publication, describing the Commissioner as a disciplined and professional police officer with a record of service and respect for human rights.
“The reference to the Commissioner of Police in the publication does not reflect the circumstances surrounding the matter,” the statement said.
It added that Kankarofi had served the Nigeria Police Force “meritoriously with integrity and an unblemished record,” while stressing that his commitment to professionalism and human rights was well established.
The Police Command urged members of the public to disregard what it described as the inaccurate narrative being circulated on social media, while calling on journalists and social media users to verify information before publication.
The Command said responsible information sharing was essential to preventing misinformation and preserving public confidence in institutions.
“The Command advises the public to discountenance the inaccurate narrative being circulated on social media and urges media practitioners and social media users to always verify facts before publication to promote responsible information sharing and avoid misinformation.”
It reiterated its commitment to carrying out its constitutional responsibilities and maintaining collaboration with other security agencies and relevant stakeholders to protect lives and property across Kogi State.
