Police denounce false bandit alert in Kwara community

Kwara State Police Commissioner Ojo Adekimi condemned a false bandits alarm on Thursday in Oke‑Oyi, a suburb of Ilorin.

Adekimi warned that spreading unverified security alerts can create fear, panic and public disorder. He added that such misinformation undermines public confidence and may divert critical security resources from genuine emergencies.

According to DAILY POST, the alarm was raised by unknown persons who claimed that bandits had invaded a school in Oke‑Oyi and the Eleko Afeyi community in Ilorin East Local Government Area.

The false rumor caused parents to panic and rush to the schools to retrieve their children.

However, the state police command debunked the information.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Adetoun Ejire Adeyemi, said in a statement in Ilorin on Thursday, “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 of the Oke‑Oyi Division promptly mobilised 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 confirmed 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 begun 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.”