Panic loomed in the Iperu, Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State when parents and guardians stormed schools to pick up their children over fear of kidnappers.

Iperu is the hometown of Governor Dapo Abiodun.

The parents who spoke with our correspondent said they got information that some gunmen invaded Akesan Community Grammar School, in Iperu to kidnap five children.

“We are going to pick our children, we got information that gunmen have kidnapped five kids in Akesan,” a parent told our correspondent as they ran to pick their wards.

Our correspondent reports that parents thronged different schools in Iperu with bikes, taking home their children.

When our correspondent visited one of the schools on Tuesday, some policemen were sighted within the premises. They had been deployed to the school following the kidnapping rumour.

Some youth leaders were also on the ground to monitor the situation.

But the Principal of Akesan Community Grammar School, who identified herself as Mrs A. O. Yusuf, told our correspondent that there was no incident of kidnapping in the school.

According to the Principal, a woman had earlier cried into the school, claiming she was there to confirm her grandchild had not been kidnapped.

“When the woman cried to us that she wanted to confirm that her grandchild was safe, we called out the child and she even gave her money.

“We didn’t know there were rumours in the town of Iperu that our children were kidnapped. Before we knew it, parents started trooping in to pick up their children.

“I tried to stop them, but they were adamant. I even told them to sign before they go away with the kids, but they wouldn’t listen.

“Some of them even said their children would not come to school again until this place is fenced. There is nothing like kidnapping here. We are all safe. I think the recent cases of kidnapping around Iperu triggered this fear. We are fine here, but the parents have taken away their children,” Mrs Yusuf stated.

The PUNCH recalls that about eight gunmen had invaded Ajadeh Event Centre in Iperu Remo along Sagamu road three weeks ago, killing a lecturer from Babcock University Ilisan Remo, Yinka Olowojobi, and abducting two others.

Also, gunmen numbering up to seven reportedly killed one person and abducted seven other travellers along the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode Expressway on Friday.

The gunmen said to be armed with AK-47 rifles had waylaid and attacked the travellers in between the Ilisan, Ceplast industry and Iperu junction axis of the highway. (The PUNCH: Text, Excluding Headline)

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