Oyo State Police have dismissed reports that armed bandits invaded Ogbomoso on Tuesday with intentions to abduct schoolchildren, attributing widespread panic to a case of mistaken identity.
The clarification followed hours of chaos in the city, where videos circulating online showed parents and pupils fleeing schools in fear. A voice in one recording claimed families were withdrawing children over bandit threats. The alarm appeared rooted in a rumor that gunmen had stormed Are-Ago High School earlier that morning.
Police investigators deployed to the school spoke with Principal Mrs. Akanbi Ruth, who confirmed the scare began when students spotted unfamiliar faces behind the school fence. The sighting triggered suspicion among pupils and staff, prompting a lockdown and frantic calls to authorities.
Upon questioning the individuals, officers identified one as an operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) attached to the Kwara State Command. He was traveling in an SUV with friends to attend a birthday celebration in the area. The NSCDC office in Ogbomoso verified their identities and cleared them of any wrongdoing.
The false alarm struck a nerve in a region still reeling from a weekend attack in Ahiro-Esinele community, where gunmen abducted 32 people — seven teachers and 25 pupils — from a school. Unconfirmed reports on Monday claimed one teacher had been beheaded; authorities have not validated that detail.
Governor Seyi Makinde said rescue operations are being intensified. He has met with state security chiefs and ordered the redeployment of the state’s surveillance aircraft from Lagos to support the search. President Bola Tinubu condemned the kidnapping and the reported killing of a teacher.
Outrage over the incident spurred a protest on Monday in Ogbomoso by members of the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), and allied labour groups. Demonstrators demanded stronger security for schools and solidarity with colleagues still held captive.
In a precautionary move, the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (OYOSUBEB) shut all primary schools in communities neighboring the kidnapping site on Friday. The closure underscores the fragility of education access in areas where insecurity has become routine.
Police have urged residents to verify information before sharing it, warning that unverified rumors can trigger dangerous stampedes and divert security resources from actual threats.
