The Ogun State Police Command has debunked reports of bandit attacks and invasions of communities and schools in parts of the state, clarifying that the recent arrest of 38 Ivorians in Atan-Ota was unrelated to banditry or terrorism.
The command’s public relations officer, Babaseyi Oluseyi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday.
The command said the state remained safe, calm and secure, contrary to claims circulating on social media alleging attacks on schools and communities in Ota, Ifo and other adjoining areas.
According to Oluseyi, there had been no bandit attack, kidnapping incident, terrorist activity or any form of security breach in Oluke Community High School, Sango Ota High School in the Ijoko axis, Fadunsin area of Ijoko, Atan-Ota, Sango-Ota, Agbado, Ifo and neighbouring communities.
He explained that following the circulation of the reports, operatives were deployed to the affected locations to verify the claims and reassure residents.
The command added that its School Protection Squad, alongside divisional police officers in the affected areas, conducted security assessments of the schools mentioned in the reports.
“The exercise confirmed that all schools were safe, secure and fully operational. School activities continued peacefully and without interruption throughout the day, with students and staff completing a successful academic day before normal closure,” the statement read.
He expressed concern over the tension generated by the spread of what he described as unverified security information, assuring residents that there was no cause for alarm.
Oluseyi noted that findings from assessments conducted across the affected communities showed that commercial, academic and social activities were progressing normally without any threat to lives or property.
He further clarified that the operation carried out in Kajola-Ilese, Atan-Ota, which had been linked by some social media users to banditry, involved the arrest of 38 foreign nationals from Côte d’Ivoire.
According to him, the suspects, comprising 19 males and 19 females aged between 25 and 35 years, were reportedly found in an apartment during an intelligence-led operation.
He noted that the individuals could not produce valid immigration or travel documents during preliminary screening.
Oluseyi added, “The suspects claimed to have entered Nigeria for online business activities. Upon conclusion of preliminary police procedures, they were duly handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further investigation and appropriate administrative action in line with extant immigration laws and protocols.
“At no time during the operation were bandits, kidnappers or terrorists arrested. Any attempt to link the arrested foreign nationals to banditry or any violent criminal activity is entirely false, misleading and capable of creating unnecessary panic and disturbing public peace.”
The development comes amid heightened concerns over insecurity in parts of the South-West following the abductions of 42 students and teachers in Oyo State.
The latest clarification comes barely one week after the Ogun State Police Command arrested a tailor, Qawiyu Oloyede, for allegedly producing and circulating a fake video on social media claiming that bandits had invaded Atan-Ota.
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly admitted that the video was staged to attract followers on TikTok and other social media platforms.
The false video had triggered panic among residents and fuelled fears of bandit activities in parts of Ogun State.
The police subsequently warned members of the public against spreading unverified security information capable of causing fear, panic and public disorder.
The Ogun command urged members of the public to verify security-related information through official channels before sharing it, warning against the spread of rumours capable of causing fear and tension.
The PPRO also assured residents that officers and men of the command had been fully deployed across the state through sustained patrols, intelligence-led operations and other proactive security measures aimed at protecting lives and property.
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