Oyo Abduction: Police Confirm No Schoolchild Has Died While Held in Captivity

By Ayobami Okerinde

The Oyo State Police Command has denied claims that a pupil taken during the recent school attack in Ahoro-Esiele, Oriire Local Government Area, died while in captivity.

In a statement released on Friday, Police Public Relations Officer DSP Ayanlade Olayinka called the report “false, misleading and lacking any factual basis.”

The command said that neither the police nor any other security agencies involved in the rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers have confirmed such a development.

It added, “The Command categorically states that the report is false, misleading, mischievous, and without any factual basis whatsoever. At no time has the Oyo State Police Command, nor any other recognized security agency involved in the ongoing rescue efforts, confirmed such a development. The publication is a fabrication carefully crafted by individuals whose objective is to arouse unnecessary public sentiment, create panic, spread fear, and undermine ongoing security operations.”

“It is particularly disturbing that the authors of the report deliberately employed emotional narratives, speculative claims, and unverified accounts in a calculated attempt to manipulate public opinion and generate anxiety among residents. Such conduct not only constitutes a disservice to responsible journalism but also advances the very objectives of criminal elements and terror merchants who thrive on fear, uncertainty, and public distress,” the statement continued.

The police warned that spreading false information could jeopardise rescue operations, cause additional trauma to affected families and mislead the public.

They urged bloggers, social media influencers, online content creators and media organisations not to publish or amplify unverified security-related information.

“Consequently, the Oyo State Police Command strongly cautions individuals, bloggers, social media influencers, online content creators, and media platforms against the publication or amplification of unverified security-related information. The indiscriminate sharing of false reports, particularly those capable of inciting fear or causing public disorder, is irresponsible and unacceptable,” the statement added.

The command urged the public to disregard the report and rely only on information released through official channels of the Nigeria Police Force and other authorised government agencies.

“Members of the public are advised to disregard the said publication in its entirety and rely solely on information disseminated through official channels of the Nigeria Police Force and other authorized government agencies. The Oyo State Police Command remains steadfast in its commitment to public safety and security and will continue to keep residents appropriately informed of verified developments as circumstances warrant,” the statement concluded.

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