Parents withdraw children from Osun schools over rumoured bandit presence in communities

Tension gripped four local government areas of Osun State on Tuesday following unverified reports of bandit presence in some communities, prompting panic among residents and leading to the withdrawal of pupils from schools.

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The rumours, which spread on social media, claimed that armed bandits were attempting to infiltrate Ila, Ifelodun (Ikirun), Osogbo, and Olorunda local government areas.

In response, parents rushed to both public and private schools to pick up their children, disrupting academic activities across affected areas. Some schools allowed immediate pickup of pupils, while others assured parents that adequate security measures were in place. In some secondary schools, students reportedly left abruptly amid fears of a possible attack.

However, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke dismissed the reports, describing them as false and urging residents to remain calm.

“I task our people to go about their normal activities without fear. Our government has taken steps to secure our schools. The Ministry of Education and the relevant security agencies have worked out a security strategy that is being implemented,” he said through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.

The governor added that Armoured Personnel Carriers had been refurbished and were ready for deployment as part of security reinforcement measures. The Osun State Police Command also warned against the spread of misinformation.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, cautioned individuals and groups involved in circulating false security alerts to desist, saying such actions undermine public confidence and threaten peace and security. “The spread of unverified information not only undermines public confidence but also constitutes a threat to public peace and security,” the police spokesperson Abiodun Ojelabi stated.