The Nigeria Police Force has set the record straight after a fake “wanted” poster of Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo went viral online. The poster, which claimed the actress was wanted by authorities with a reward placed on her head, was quickly dismissed as false and misleading.
In a statement released Thursday morning on its official Facebook page, the Force clarified that the poster never originated from them nor was it shared on any of their verified platforms. They urged Nigerians to disregard the publication and verify sensitive information only through official channels.
“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. Disregard & stop spreading fake news. Verify only from official NPF channels,” the statement read.
The actress has been in the headlines lately for different reasons. Just days after her daughter’s white wedding in Nigeria, Iyabo was invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over videos showing the spraying of both naira and foreign currencies at the event. According to her, the commission educated her on the illegality of currency abuse, as she initially thought only mutilation of the naira was an offence.
Adding to her challenges, last month Iyabo’s office building caught fire. She shared clips of the incident on social media, thanking the Nigerian Fire Service and her staff for salvaging what they could. While grateful that no lives were lost, she described it as a test of faith that God helped her overcome.
The actress has also faced public backlash in recent times, especially after her vocal support during the Mohbad case. Some men were spotted on the streets of Lagos chanting curses against her, accusing her of saying more than she did. Iyabo, however, clarified that she never pointed fingers at anyone over Mohbad’s death. She revealed that her activism has made her a target, with repeated threats to her life and business, including a disturbing letter she received days before her daughter’s wedding in Tanzania.
Despite the controversies, Iyabo has remained resilient, celebrating her daughter Priscilla’s new chapter into motherhood, recovering from setbacks, and continuing to use her platform to speak out on issues close to her heart.
By Ezinne Okorie.
