Academic activities were disrupted in several parts of Osun State on Tuesday after a rumour alleging a bandit invasion and attempted abduction of schoolchildren triggered panic among parents, teachers and residents, forcing many public and private schools to shut down hours before the close of the school day.
The false alarm, which spread rapidly across communities in Ila, Odo Otin, Boripe, Osogbo and Olorunda Local Government Areas, prompted anxious parents to troop to schools to pick up their children amid fears of a possible attack.
In Osogbo, parents were seen arriving in large numbers at schools in the Sasa area of Oke Baale to take their children home, while a similar scene played out in the Eweta community in Ikirun, where concerned guardians rushed to schools before official closing hours.
Residents said the rumour originated in the Ila-Orangun axis early Tuesday morning and quickly circulated through phone calls, social media messages and word-of-mouth reports, causing widespread anxiety.
However, subsequent checks by community leaders and security agencies indicated that no attack or kidnapping had occurred.
Sources familiar with the incident said the alarm may have stemmed from the temporary disappearance of a schoolgirl who was later discovered to have gone into hiding to avoid attending school.
Reacting to the development, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, dismissed the reports as false and urged residents not to succumb to fear.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor assured parents and residents that there was no verified case of kidnapping or bandit invasion anywhere in the state.
“Fact checks from border communities and across the state confirmed that there was no case of kidnapping. Residents should go about their normal activities without fear,” the governor said.
Adeleke stated that his administration had already put in place measures to strengthen security around schools and other public institutions, working in collaboration with security agencies and the Ministry of Education.
“Our government has taken proactive steps to secure schools across the state. Relevant agencies have developed and are implementing strategies to ensure the safety of pupils, teachers and residents,” he said.
The governor also disclosed that Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) belonging to the state had been refurbished and made ready for deployment as part of broader efforts to improve security.
According to him, the vehicles were inherited in a non-functional state but have since been rehabilitated to support joint security operations across vulnerable areas.
Adeleke warned against the deliberate spread of false information capable of creating panic and disrupting public peace, insisting that security agencies and local intelligence networks remain on alert across border communities and identified flashpoints.
“No stone will be left unturned in guaranteeing the security of our schools, our children and all residents of Osun State,” he said.
The incident comes amid heightened public sensitivity to school security following recent cases of kidnappings involving pupils and teachers in other parts of the country.
Authorities have urged residents to verify security-related information through official channels before sharing it, warning that misinformation can fuel unnecessary panic and undermine public confidence.
