Kwara: Police Dismiss Bandits’ Invasion Rumour, Warn Against False Alarm
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The Kwara State Police Command has dismissed reports of a purported bandit invasion in Oke-Oyi, describing the claim as false and capable of causing unnecessary panic among residents.
The Command said the alarm, which disrupted activities at Government Girls Secondary School, Oke-Oyi, on Thursday morning, was triggered by an unverified claim made by a woman who allegedly ran into the school premises shouting that bandits had entered the community.
According to the Police, the incident caused fear among students and teachers and temporarily interrupted academic activities before security operatives intervened to ascertain the situation.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the Command said it received reports of panic around 9:15 a.m. and immediately deployed officers from the Oke-Oyi Division to the area.
The statement noted that preliminary investigations revealed there was no security threat in the community.
“The Command’s assessment of the situation confirmed that the report was entirely false and without any factual basis. There was no bandit attack, no sighting of bandits, and no security breach within the school or anywhere in Oke-Oyi community or Kwara State,” the statement said.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, CP Ojo Adekimi, condemned the circulation of false security information, warning that such actions could create fear and undermine public confidence in security agencies.
He said, “The dissemination of unverified information, particularly on sensitive security matters, undermines public confidence and may divert critical security resources from genuine emergencies.”
The police boss stressed that spreading false alarms could also lead to public disorder and unnecessary deployment of security personnel to non-existent threats.
The Command disclosed that efforts had commenced to identify the individual responsible for raising the alarm, adding that the person would be subjected to investigation and possible prosecution in line with existing laws.
“The person, upon identification, will be invited for questioning and made to face the full weight of the law in accordance with extant legal provisions relating to the spread of false information and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace,” the statement added.
The Police urged residents of Oke-Oyi and other parts of the state to remain calm and avoid sharing unverified security reports, while encouraging members of the public to channel credible information through appropriate authorities.
The Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property across Kwara State and assured residents that adequate security measures remain in place to ensure public safety.
