Fear and confusion swept across parts of Ogbomoso, Oyo State, on Monday after rumours of an alleged bandit invasion triggered panic across several schools and neighbouring communities.
Videos circulating online showed frightened students running home in groups as schools reportedly shut down over fears of an attack around the Ogbomoso and Ajaawa axis.
The panic followed claims that suspected armed men had invaded the vicinity of Are-Ago High School, Ogbomoso, causing tension among students, teachers, and residents already unsettled by recent security concerns in parts of the state.
However, the Oyo State Police Command has dismissed the reports as false, describing the incident as a “misleading security alarm” fueled by misinformation and unverified claims.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Police said normalcy had been restored across Ogbomoso and adjoining communities after security operatives conducted investigations into the incident.
According to the Command, surveillance and patrol teams were immediately deployed after reports of a suspected attack began spreading.
Police authorities disclosed that preliminary findings showed the alarm started after some students reportedly noticed unfamiliar individuals behind the fence of Are-Ago High School and raised suspicion within the school environment.
The Command explained that the individuals were later identified as an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps attached to the Kwara State Command alongside two civilians who had arrived in a Toyota Venza vehicle.
According to the Police, the visitors had reportedly come to celebrate the birthday of one of the civilians, while their identities were subsequently verified through relevant NSCDC authorities.
The Police further stated that an altercation between some teachers and the visitors may have intensified suspicion within the school premises, leading to the spread of alarming claims among students and nearby communities before facts were properly established.
“The Oyo State Police Command wishes to categorically state that there was no bandit attack, invasion, or security breach in the affected areas as falsely portrayed,” the statement noted.
Authorities added that patrol operations and visibility policing had been intensified across the affected communities to reassure residents and maintain calm.
The Command also warned against the spread of fake news and unverified security information capable of causing panic and disrupting public peace.
Residents, particularly social media users and young people, were urged to avoid sharing unconfirmed reports without verification from security agencies.
The incident comes amid heightened fears over insecurity in schools following recent kidnapping incidents involving students and teachers in parts of Oyo State.
