Parents and guardians of students in public and private schools in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, yesterday hurriedly stormed schools to pick their wards following reports circulating that suspected bandits had stormed the ancient city of Ilorin.
Already, men of the forest guards and other allied security agencies have been deployed to all parts of Ilorin and other strategic areas of the city to prevent any unforeseen circumstances arising from the rumour.
A visit by our correspondent to some schools in Ilorin, including ECWA Secondary School, United Secondary School, Sheikh Abdulsalam School and Methodist Secondary School, all in the Taiwo Isale area of Ilorin, showed parents in their hundreds struggling to pick their children from the schools.
Also, in the Lanjorin area of Ilorin, parents were seen picking their children from Cherubim and Seraphim Secondary School, His Grace School, St. Barnabas School and Mercy T Secondary School, among others.
It was gathered that the rumour of a suspected invasion of Ilorin also created fear in the city, with some businesses paralysed for several hours.
However, the state police command has debunked the alarm, describing it as misleading.
A statement issued in Ilorin on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, stated:
“At 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.
“Preliminary findings revealed that the alarm emanated from a woman who reportedly rushed into the school premises claiming that bandits had arrived in the area.
“The unverified claim triggered panic among students and teachers, resulting in a temporary disruption of academic activities.
“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.”
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ojo Adekimi, has condemned the spread of false security alerts capable of creating fear, panic and public disorder.
He noted that the dissemination of unverified information, particularly on sensitive security matters, undermines public confidence and may divert critical security resources from genuine emergencies.
Adekimi therefore said: “The command has commenced efforts to identify the individual responsible for raising the false alarm.
“The person, upon identification, 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.
“Residents are urged to remain vigilant but calm and to refrain from spreading rumours or unverified security information.
“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 Kwara State Police Command remains committed to safeguarding lives and property across the State and assures residents that adequate security measures remain in place to guarantee their safety.”
Hammed Shittu
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