Police condemn false bandits alarm in Kwara community

Kwara State Police Commissioner, Ojo Adekimi, on Thursday condemned a fake bandits alarm at Oke-Oyi, in the outskirts of Ilorin.

Adekimi said the spread of false security alerts is capable of creating fear, panic and public disorder, adding that the dissemination of unverified information, particularly on sensitive security matters, undermines public confidence and may divert critical security resources from genuine emergencies.

DAILY POST reports that an alarm raised by unknown persons that bandits had invaded some school at Oke-Oyi and Eleko Afeyi communities in Ilorin East Local Government Area of the state.

The false rumour threw parents into panic as they stormed the schools to take their children home for safety.

The state police command, however, debunked the information.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Adetoun Ejire Adeyemi, in a statement in Ilorin on Thursday, said, “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.

“Upon receipt of the information, the Divisional Police Officer, Oke-Oyi Division, promptly mobilized personnel to the scene to assess the situation and ensure the safety of students, staff, and residents.

“Preliminary findings revealed that the alarm emanated from a woman who reportedly rushed into the school premises claiming that bandits had arrived in the area.

“The unverified claim triggered panic among students and teachers, resulting in a temporary disruption of academic activities.”

Adeyemi explained that 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,” she declared.

The command has commenced efforts to identify the individual responsible for raising the false alarm.

“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 spokesperson added.

The statement urged residents to remain vigilant but calm and to refrain from spreading rumours or unverified security information.

“Members of the public are encouraged to verify security-related information through appropriate channels and promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest Police formation.”