Fear, commotion and panic, on Thursday gripped the entire Ilorin, Kwara State capital following the rumour of bandits in a popular public secondary school in Oke-Oyi, in Ilorin West Local Government.

The day started with an early morning rumour that bandits gained entery into Government Girls Secondary School, Oke-Oyi, and kidnapped several students.

This, however, led to students, parents and residents in the community scampering for safety.

The state police command, later decribed the news as a mere rumour, unfounded and misleading.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, “the Kwara State Police Command wishes to categorically debunk the false and misleading information circulating within Oke-Oyi and adjoining communities alleging the presence of bandits in the area.”

She recalled that: “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, Oke-Oyi Division, promptly mobilized personnel to the scene to assess the situation and ensure the safety of students, staff, and residents,” she wrote and a press statement.

She confirmed that the alarm was caused by a woman who suddenly rushed into the school, claiming that bandits had arrived the area.

“The unverified claim triggered panic among students and teachers, resulting in a temporary disruption of academic activities,” she noted.

She said that: “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 Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command (CP) Ojo Adekimi, condemns the spread of false security alerts capable of creating fear, panic, and public disorder.

“He notes that the dissemination of unverified information, particularly on sensitive security matters, undermines public confidence and may divert critical security resources from genuine emergencies,” she explained.

Meanwhile, the Command has commenced efforts to identify the woman responsible for raising the false alarm, adding that “she 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.”

CP Ojo urged residents to remain vigilant, calm and refrain from spreading rumours or unverified security information.

He advised: “members of the public are encouraged to verify security-related information through appropriate channels and promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest Police formation. (The Guardian)