The Kwara State Police Command has dismissed reports of a bandit invasion in Oke-Oyi, Moro Local Government Area, describing the claims as false and capable of causing unnecessary panic among residents.
The Command said the rumour sparked confusion on Thursday morning around Government Girls Secondary School, Oke-Oyi, after a woman allegedly ran into the school premises claiming that bandits had entered the community.
According to the Police, the alarm triggered panic among students and teachers, leading to a temporary disruption of academic activities before security operatives intervened.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the Command said officers were immediately deployed to the area after reports of the alleged security threat were received.
“At about 9:15 a.m., the Command received reports of panic and commotion around Government Girls Secondary School, Oke-Oyi, following claims that suspected bandits had invaded the school premises,” the statement said.
The Police explained that the Divisional Police Officer in Oke-Oyi swiftly mobilised personnel to the scene to verify the report and ensure the safety of students, staff and residents.
However, preliminary investigations found that the report was unfounded.
“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 added.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ojo Adekimi, condemned the spread of unverified security information, warning that such actions could create fear and divert security resources from genuine emergencies.
He noted that false security alerts undermine public confidence and have the potential to cause public disorder.
“The dissemination of unverified information, particularly on sensitive security matters, undermines public confidence and may divert critical security resources from genuine emergencies,” the Commissioner was quoted as saying.
The Police Command also disclosed that efforts are underway to identify the individual resonsible for raising the false alarm.
According to the statement, the person involved will be invited for questioning and may face prosecution under relevant laws governing the spread of false information and actions capable of disturbing public peace.
The Command urged residents to remain calm and avoid sharing unverified reports, especially on security-related matters.
It advised members of the public to verify information through appropriate channels and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station or security agency.
The Kwara State Police Command reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property across the state, assuring residents that adequate security measures remain in place to guarantee public safety.