The Oyo State Police Command has dismissed reports circulating on Tuesday alleging that suspected bandits invaded parts of Ogbomoso and Ajaawa communities in Oyo State, describing the claims as false and misleading.
In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the Command clarified that normalcy has been restored across the affected areas following widespread panic triggered by unverified reports of an alleged attack around Are-Ago High School, Ogbomoso.
According to the statement, fear gripped residents of Ogbomoso and neighbouring communities, including Ajaawa Town, after rumours emerged that armed bandits had stormed the area and infiltrated the vicinity of the school.
Reacting swiftly to the development, the Police Command said surveillance and patrol teams were immediately deployed to the scene to verify the claims and forestall any possible breakdown of law and order.
DSP Ayanlade explained that upon arrival, operatives met with the school principal, Mrs. Akanbi Ruth, who disclosed that the alarm stemmed from information allegedly circulated among students after some unfamiliar individuals were sighted behind the school fence.
“The situation naturally generated suspicion among some teachers and students, leading to heightened concern within the school environment,” the statement noted.
Preliminary investigations, however, revealed that the individuals in question included an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) attached to the Kwara State Command in Ilorin, alongside two civilians travelling in a Toyota Venza SUV.
The visitors reportedly explained that they were in the area to celebrate the birthday of the female companion among them. The Police added that relevant NSCDC authorities in Ogbomoso were contacted and subsequently confirmed the identity and status of the officer involved.
The Command further disclosed that an altercation allegedly occurred between some teachers and the visitors during the interaction, a situation that inadvertently escalated suspicion within the school premises.
“As tension mounted, some students began spreading unverified information to neighbouring schools and surrounding communities, thereby fueling panic across parts of Ogbomoso and Ajaawa before the true facts of the incident were established,” the PPRO stated.
The Police therefore categorically denied reports of any bandit attack, invasion, or security breach in the affected communities.
To reassure residents, the Command said patrol operations and visibility policing had been intensified across the area, while stakeholders were engaged to restore public confidence.
“The area remains peaceful, while normal academic, commercial, and social activities have fully resumed,” the statement added.
The Command also warned against the deliberate spread of fake news, misinformation, and unverified security reports capable of causing unnecessary fear and tension among residents.
According to DSP Ayanlade, individuals found deliberately circulating false information capable of inciting panic or disrupting public peace would be investigated and prosecuted in line with the law.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbemiga, urged residents to remain calm, vigilant, and law-abiding, while continuing to support security agencies with credible and timely information.
Residents were also encouraged to make use of the following emergency contacts in case of distress: Oyo State Call Response Centre Toll-Free Line: 615; Oyo State Police Command Control Room: 08081768614 and 07055495413.
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