The Oyo State Police Command has dismissed reports of a bandit attack in Ogbomoso and nearby communities, describing the alarm as false and assuring residents that calm has returned.
The clarification came on Tuesday in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, following widespread panic sparked by rumours of armed bandits invading parts of Ogbomoso and Ajaawa Town.
According to the police, fear spread after claims surfaced that suspected bandits had attacked the area and moved around the vicinity of Are-Ago High School in Ogbomoso.
The command said the reports triggered immediate security action, with surveillance and patrol teams deployed to the location to verify the situation and prevent any breakdown of law and order.
Olayinka said officers met with the principal of the school, Mrs Akanbi Ruth, who explained that the alarm started after some students reported seeing unfamiliar persons behind the school fence.
The sighting, he said, created anxiety among teachers and students and quickly escalated into fear within the school community.
However, preliminary findings showed that the individuals involved were not bandits.
The police said those at the centre of the scare included an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps attached to the Kwara State Command and two civilians travelling in a Toyota Venza SUV.
According to the command, the visitors told security personnel they had come to celebrate a female acquaintance’s birthday.
Police added that NSCDC authorities in Ogbomoso were contacted and confirmed the identity of the officer involved.
Olayinka said tensions rose further after an altercation reportedly broke out between some teachers and the visitors, unintentionally fuelling suspicion inside the school.
The confusion soon spread beyond the premises as students reportedly circulated unverified information to neighbouring schools and surrounding communities, leading to panic across Ogbomoso and Ajaawa before the facts were established.
“The area remains peaceful and there was no bandit invasion or security breach,” the police spokesperson said, adding that academic, commercial and social activities had since resumed.
The incident comes days after a real bandit attack in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where armed men reportedly attacked three schools, abducted students and teachers, and killed two people.
That attack, which occurred on May 16, involved Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School. A viral video later emerged allegedly showing one of the abducted teachers being killed, sparking public outrage and renewed rescue efforts.
While acknowledging the heightened public anxiety caused by recent insecurity, the police warned residents against spreading unverified security information.
The command said anyone found deliberately circulating false reports capable of causing panic or disrupting public peace would face investigation and possible prosecution.
Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Olugbemiga, urged residents to remain calm, stay vigilant and continue cooperating with security agencies.
