The Ogun State Police Command has refuted social media claims of bandit attacks and invasions of schools and communities in Ota, Ifo and surrounding areas, stating that the recent arrest of 38 Ivorian nationals in Atan-Ota was unrelated to banditry or terrorism.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the command’s public relations officer, Babaseyi Oluseyi, said the state remains safe, calm and secure, contrary to viral reports alleging attacks on 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.
“There has been no bandit attack, kidnapping incident, terrorist activity or any form of security breach” in those locations, Oluseyi said.
He explained that following the circulation of the reports, police operatives were deployed to the affected areas to verify the claims and reassure residents. The command’s School Protection Squad, alongside divisional police officers, conducted security assessments of the named schools.
“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.
Oluseyi expressed concern over the tension generated by the spread of unverified security information, assuring residents there was no cause for alarm. Findings from assessments 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 an operation in Kajola-Ilese, Atan-Ota – which some social media users had linked to banditry – involved the arrest of 38 foreign nationals from Côte d’Ivoire: 19 males and 19 females aged between 25 and 35 years. They were reportedly found in an apartment during an intelligence-led operation and could not produce valid immigration or travel documents during preliminary screening.
“The suspects claimed to have entered Nigeria for online business activities,” Oluseyi said. “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 clarification comes amid heightened concerns over insecurity in parts of the South-West following the recent abduction of 42 students and teachers in Oyo State.
It also follows the arrest, barely one week ago, of a tailor, Qawiyu Oloyede, for allegedly producing and circulating a fake video on social media claiming that bandits had invaded Atan-Ota. The suspect reportedly admitted that the video was staged to attract followers on TikTok and other platforms.
The police command urged 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. Oluseyi 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.
