Ogun State Police Command has officially debunked claims of a bandit attack on schools and communities in the Ota and Ifo areas, confirming that the state remains safe, calm, and secure. The clarification came on Tuesday after a viral social media post falsely reported armed men near several schools in the Ota axis, sparking panic among parents and causing traffic congestion along Idiroko Road, Sango Roundabout, and Oju-Ore. Many parents abandoned work and businesses to rush to schools to pick up their children, leading to widespread confusion and disruption in the region.
In a statement issued by the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, the police emphasized that there was no bandit attack, kidnapping, terrorist activity, or any form of security breach anywhere in the state. Babaseyi specifically named Oluke Community High School, Sango Ota High School (Ijoko axis), Fadunsin Area of Ijoko, Atan-Ota, Sango-Ota, Agbado, Ifo, and other adjoining communities as being unaffected by any criminal incident. He stressed that the entire state was under effective security coverage and that no threat had been detected.
Following the circulation of the false reports, police operatives from various divisions were immediately deployed to the affected locations for on-the-spot verification and confidence-building patrols. The School Protection Squad, in coordination with Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) of the respective areas, conducted thorough security assessments of all the schools mentioned in the viral post. The findings confirmed that all schools were safe, secure, and fully operational, with academic activities continuing peacefully throughout the day.
Babaseyi noted that students and staff completed their normal academic schedule without any interruption, and schools closed as usual. He expressed concern over the unnecessary anxiety and tension caused by the unverified information, especially among parents and residents. The Command sympathized with those who were alarmed and reassured the public that there was no cause for fear or alarm.
The police urged residents to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information, warning that such actions could heighten fear and disrupt community harmony. They also called on the public to rely on official channels for security updates and to report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station. As the state continues to maintain its security posture, authorities remain vigilant to prevent any potential threats and ensure public safety.
This incident underscores the growing challenge of misinformation in Nigeria, particularly on social media platforms, and highlights the need for responsible communication during times of uncertainty.
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