From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
The Kwara State Police Command, has dismissed reports of a bandit invasion in Oke-Oyi community, Ilorin East local government area of Kwara State, describing the alert that caused panic at Government Girls Secondary School as false and misleading.
According to the Command, there was no attack, no sighting of armed men, and no breach of security in the area, contrary to rumours that spread rapidly on Thursday morning.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, who signed the statement on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, said the Command responded swiftly after receiving distress calls at about 9:15 a.m. concerning alleged bandits around the school.
“Upon receipt of the information, the Divisional Police Officer, Oke-Oyi Division, immediately mobilised personnel to the scene to ensure the safety of students, staff, and residents,” the statement said.
Related News
Preliminary investigation showed that the panic was triggered by a woman who allegedly ran into the school premises shouting that bandits had entered the area. The claim, though unverified, quickly spread among students and staff, leading to fear and temporary disruption of academic activities.
The Command, however, clarified that its on-the-spot assessment confirmed the alarm was entirely baseless.
“There was no bandit attack, no sighting of bandits, and no security breach within Oke-Oyi or any part of Kwara State,” the Police stated.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ojo Adekimi, psc, mnips, condemned the spread of false security alerts, warning that such actions endanger public peace and waste security resources.
He stressed that, “the dissemination of unverified information, especially on security matters, undermines public confidence and can divert attention from genuine emergencies.”
The Police Command further disclosed that it has begun efforts to identify the individual behind the false alarm, adding that the person will be invited for questioning and prosecuted in line with laws against spreading false information and actions capable of causing public disorder.
Residents were urged to remain calm, vigilant, and avoid sharing unverified security reports. The Command also encouraged the public to always confirm information through official channels and report suspicious activity to the nearest police formation.
Reassuring the public, the Kwara State Police Command said it remains committed to protecting lives and property across the state, noting that adequate security measures are already in place to maintain peace in Oke-Oyi and other communities.
