Wednesday, June 3, 2026 - 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.
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.
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