Police say the reported bandit attack in Kwara was a false alarm.

The Kwara State Police Command has declared that the reported bandit attack in Oke Oyi, a community in Moro Local Government Area, was a false alarm.

The incident, which caused widespread panic on Thursday morning, began near Government Girls Secondary School, Oke Oyi, after a woman allegedly shouted that armed bandits had entered the community. The claim triggered fear among students, teachers and residents and temporarily halted school activities.

Police Public Relations Officer SP Adetoun Ejire‑Adeyemi issued a statement on Thursday saying the command received the report at about 9:15 am. Officers were immediately dispatched to the school and surrounding areas to verify the situation and secure the premises. The divisional police officer in charge of the Oke Oyi Division mobilised personnel to the scene following the alleged security breach.

Preliminary investigations found that the panic was caused by the unverified claim. The police said the claim spread quickly, creating confusion and leading to a temporary suspension of normal activities at the school. After assessing the situation, the command confirmed that there was no evidence of a bandit attack or any security threat in the area.

“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 the Oke Oyi community or Kwara State,” the statement read.

Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, Ojo Adekimi, condemned the spread of unverified security information, warning that false alarms can create unnecessary fear and divert security personnel from genuine emergencies. He added that misinformation on security matters could undermine public confidence and trigger avoidable public disorder.

The police command said it is working to identify the person who originated the false alarm. Anyone found culpable will face prosecution under relevant laws. “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 statement added.

Police urged residents to remain calm and refrain from circulating unverified reports that could cause panic, stressing that security‑related information should always be confirmed through official channels.