Emmanuel Obi
The Oyo State Police Command has dismissed as false and misleading a report alleging that one of the schoolchildren abducted during the recent incident at Ahoro-Esiele in Oriire Local Government Area died while in captivity.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday, described the report as “malicious and entirely unfounded,” stressing that neither the police nor any security agency involved in the rescue operation had confirmed such a development.
According to him, the publication was a fabrication designed to create panic, spread fear and undermine ongoing security efforts aimed at rescuing the victims.
“The report is false, misleading, mischievous, and without any factual basis whatsoever. At no time has the Oyo State Police Command, nor any other recognized security agency involved in the ongoing rescue efforts, confirmed such a development,” he said.
Olayinka expressed concern that the authors of the report employed emotional narratives, speculative claims and unverified accounts to manipulate public opinion and generate anxiety among residents.
He noted that the dissemination of false information at a critical time could jeopardize ongoing rescue efforts, cause additional trauma to affected families and mislead the public.
The police spokesman assured residents that security agencies were continuing efforts to secure the safe release of the abducted schoolchildren, adding that operations were being conducted with professionalism, diligence and confidentiality.
He also warned bloggers, social media influencers, online content creators and media platforms against publishing or amplifying unverified security-related information.
“The indiscriminate sharing of false reports, particularly those capable of inciting fear or causing public disorder, is irresponsible and unacceptable,” Olayinka stated.
The command urged media organisations and online publishers to uphold professionalism and verify information before publication, while advising members of the public to disregard the report and rely only on official communications from the Nigeria Police Force and other authorised government agencies.
The Oyo State Police Command reiterated its commitment to public safety and pledged to keep residents informed of verified developments as the situation evolves.
