The Oyo State Police Command has declared that a report claiming one of the schoolchildren kidnapped during a recent terrorist raid on three schools in Ahoro-Esienle, Oriire Local Government Area, has died is completely baseless and malicious.
The Command’s spokesperson, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, clarified the situation in a statement issued on Friday, attributing the false news to individuals who intentionally spread misinformation.
The official statement read: “The Oyo State Police Command has observed with grave concern the circulation of a malicious and entirely unfounded report alleging that one of the schoolchildren abducted during the recent incident at Ahoro-Esiele, Oriire Local Government Area, has died while in captivity.”
Setting the record straight, the police stated, “The Command categorically states that the report is false, misleading, mischievous, and without any factual basis whatsoever. At no time has the Oyo State Police Command, nor any other recognised security agency involved in the ongoing rescue efforts, confirmed such a development. The publication is a fabrication carefully crafted by individuals whose objective is to arouse unnecessary public sentiment, create panic, spread fear, and undermine ongoing security operations.”
The statement continued, pointing out the damaging nature of the rumors: “It is particularly disturbing that the authors of the report deliberately employed emotional narratives, speculative claims, and unverified accounts in a calculated attempt to manipulate public opinion and generate anxiety among residents. Such conduct not only constitutes a disservice to responsible journalism but also advances the very objectives of criminal elements and terror merchants who thrive on fear, uncertainty, and public distress.”
Reassuring the public on the status of the rescue mission, the Command noted, “The Command wishes to assure members of the public that concerted efforts by security agencies remain ongoing and that all operational activities concerning the incident are being pursued with the utmost professionalism, diligence, and confidentiality. The dissemination of false information at such a critical time has the potential to jeopardise ongoing efforts, cause unnecessary trauma to affected families, and mislead the general public.”
The police also issued a stern warning to digital publishers and platforms: “Consequently, the Oyo State Police Command strongly cautions individuals, bloggers, social media influencers, online content creators, and media platforms against the publication or amplification of unverified security-related information. The indiscriminate sharing of false reports, particularly those capable of inciting fear or causing public disorder, is irresponsible and unacceptable.”
Urging media practitioners to maintain high standards, the statement added, “The Command therefore appeals to all media houses, bloggers, and online content creators to exercise professionalism, responsibility, and due diligence in the discharge of their duties. They must refrain from becoming unwitting accomplices to those whose stock-in-trade is misinformation, fearmongering, and the deliberate distortion of facts for ulterior motives.”
DSP Ayanlade advised members of the public to completely disregard the false publication and to trust only the verified updates shared through official channels of the Nigeria Police Force and authorized government bodies.
The Command reiterated its dedicated commitment to maintaining public safety and security, promising to keep residents updated with verified facts as the situation develops.
