By Ayo Kehinde
Authorities in Edo and Kwara states on Thursday moved to calm widespread fears after separate false reports of kidnapping and bandit attacks sparked panic in school communities, forcing the evacuation of students and temporary disruption of academic activities before security agencies confirmed there was no threat and ordered schools to resume normal operations.
In Edo State, tension gripped communities in Owan East Local Government Area after rumours of an alleged bandit invasion and kidnapping incident around St. James Grammar School, Afuze, triggered panic among parents and residents, leading to the hurried evacuation of pupils from schools across the area.
The scare, which quickly spread beyond Afuze to other parts of the local government, caused widespread confusion as parents rushed to schools to withdraw children who had already resumed classes over fears that armed attackers had invaded the community.
However, education authorities later dismissed the reports as false, misleading, and entirely unsubstantiated.
In a statement issued by the Acting Education Secretary of the Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), Latifu Omon Blessing, the alleged incident was immediately subjected to verification by security agencies operating within the area, who confirmed that no kidnapping, bandit attack, or security breach had occurred around St. James Grammar School or anywhere within Afuze and surrounding communities.
Following the clarification, school administrators, teachers, parents, and other stakeholders were assured that the security situation remained stable, with authorities directing all school leaders and teachers to return to their respective duty posts without fear or apprehension.
The statement stressed that academic activities across schools in the area were expected to continue as scheduled, adding that officials of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) would visit schools to monitor compliance and confirm that effective teaching and learning were taking place.
School heads were instructed to ensure teachers remained present and actively engaged in classroom duties, while parents and guardians were encouraged to send their children and wards back to school as the learning environment remained safe and conducive.
The education authority further urged residents to remain calm, law-abiding, and avoid spreading unverified information capable of creating unnecessary panic within communities.
In a similar development in Kwara State, the State Police Command dismissed reports of an alleged bandit invasion in Oke-Oyi community, where rumours had circulated that suspected armed bandits stormed Government Girls Secondary School, triggering widespread panic among students, teachers, and residents.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday that the alarm began around 9:15 a.m., prompting the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Oke-Oyi Division to immediately mobilise officers to the area to assess the situation and secure the school environment.
However, investigations later revealed that the panic stemmed from a woman who allegedly ran into the school premises shouting that bandits had entered the community, causing confusion that led to a temporary disruption of learning activities.
After a full security assessment, police authorities confirmed there had been no attack, no sighting of bandits, and no security breach anywhere within the Oke-Oyi community or across Kwara State.
“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,” the police statement said.
Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, CP Ojo Adekimi, condemned the spread of false security alerts, warning that the dissemination of unverified information on sensitive security matters undermines public confidence and could divert critical security resources away from genuine emergencies.
“The dissemination of unverified information, particularly on sensitive security matters, undermines public confidence and may divert critical security resources from genuine emergencies,” the commissioner stated.
The command disclosed that efforts had commenced to identify the individual responsible for triggering the false alarm, adding that anyone found culpable would face prosecution in accordance with existing laws relating to false information and conduct capable of causing public disturbance.
Citizens were advised to remain vigilant while avoiding the circulation of rumours, with police urging members of the public to verify security-related information through official channels and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies.
