Police restore calm after false Bayelsa bandit alarm

The Bayelsa State Police Command has said the alarm raised about bandits in a school in Yenagoa was false.

The tension and panic in some areas in Yenagoa on Friday led to the abrupt closure of many schools in Bayelsa State, following a post by a Facebook user, Senator Promise Etete JP, who posted that militants had captured bandits in Bayelsa and were demanding ₦50 million ransom for each person.

The fake news spread quickly, and fear made parents rush to schools in Ogbuna, Pulaku, and other areas to take their children home.

As the situation escalated, the Commissioner of Police for Bayelsa State, CP Iyamah Daniel Edebor, quickly mobilised his officers into the town.

He deployed the School Protection Squad, Tactical Teams, and Drone Unit across Ogbuna, Pulaku, Sabagreia, and Kaiama to assess the situation on the ground.

The police team secured schools such as Ijaw National Academy in Kaiama, Gbarainowei Grammar School in Okolobiri, and Fun-Tari Academy in Sabagreia, and carried out patrols to reassure the public that security was tight.

At present, the area is calm, normal life has resumed, and people are going about their business without fear, though the police are still monitoring the situation to ensure there is no further disturbance.

Reacting to the development in a press statement on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Musa Mohammed, advised everyone to ignore unverified news and stop sharing information that causes panic among citizens.

In his words: “The Bayelsa State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that the pandemonium and panic reported in some parts of the state in the early hours of today, 5th June 2026, is false and baseless. Preliminary investigation reveals that it originated from a false alarm arising from a recent Facebook post by a user identified as Sen Promise Etete JP, which alleged that ‘Militants seize bandits, demand ₦50 million ransom per captive in Bayelsa State.’

“The misleading post caused widespread panic, resulting in parents rushing to schools in Ogbuna, Pulaku, and other parts of the state to pick up their wards.

“In swift response, the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, CP Iyamah Daniel Edebor, PSC, IICFIP, FOOSIS, immediately deployed and led operational assets including the School Protection Squad, Tactical Teams, and the Drone Unit to Ogbuna, Pulaku, and adjoining environs including Sabagreia and Kaiama for on-the-spot assessment and restoration of order in Ijaw National Academy, Kaiama; Gbarainowei Grammar School, Okolobiri; and Fun-Tari Academy, Sabagreia. Following the deployment, confidence-building patrols were also undertaken to reassure citizens of their safety. Normalcy has since been restored, and residents are going about their lawful businesses without hindrance, while monitoring continues.

“The command urged members of the public to disregard unverified reports and avoid sharing information capable of causing panic. Citizens are advised to rely only on official communication channels for security updates. Members of the public with useful information should report to the nearest police station or contact the Command emergency lines: 0703 457 8208 / 0916 732 2691.”