One false alarm and you're in police custody — Ebonyi case is a warning

So the Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested one Nwali Nwibo for circulating false information that bandits and suspected Fulani herdsmen had invaded Nguzu Edda Community in Edda Local Government Area. The statement from the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, says the arrest followed a painstaking intelligence-led investigation that established the claim was false.

The Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi, CP Hope Urunwa Okafor, is quoted as warning residents to verify the authenticity of information before posting or sharing it on social media. She said that spreading false information can create unnecessary panic, undermine public confidence, and threaten peace and public order. She also reiterated the Command's commitment to prosecuting individuals involved in creating or circulating fake news.

I have said it before and I will say it again — the law is clear on this. Spreading false information with the potential to cause public alarm is an offense under the Criminal Code. But here is the thing: how do we balance this with the genuine fear many communities have about insecurity? Because let us be honest, if bandits were actually in your area, you would want people to know immediately. So where is the line between responsible alert and false alarm?