Osun Schools Shut Amid False Rumour of Bandit Invasion
Many schools in Osun State closed early on Tuesday as panic spread over unverified claims of a bandit attack and a schoolgirl's abduction. The closures affected institutions in Ila, Odo Otin, Boripe, Osogbo and Olorunda local government areas, with some shutting before 11 a.m. In Osogbo, parents rushed to Sasa Area Primary School in Oke Baale to collect their children after the rumour circulated. A similar scene unfolded in Eweta, a community along the Ikirun-Inisa Road, where parents pulled children from classrooms ahead of schedule. The rumour originated in the Ila Orangun area, following claims that a girl was abducted in Faaje village on Oyan Road. The report quickly spread to Ila and Oyan, triggering fear among residents and school authorities. However, investigations revealed the abduction claim was false. The girl at the centre of the rumour had hidden to avoid attending school. A security source, speaking anonymously to The PUNCH, confirmed the alert was unfounded and attributed the rapid spread to misinformation. Governor Ademola Adeleke responded, stating no kidnapping had occurred and calling the rumour the work of "evil opposition elements." In a statement signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke said security checks confirmed the situation was under control. He urged residents not to panic, assuring that the government had implemented a security strategy involving the Ministry of Education and security agencies. Adeleke disclosed that Armoured Personnel Carriers, previously in poor condition, had been refurbished and were ready for deployment. He blamed the previous administration for neglecting the vehicles, inherited from the Aregbesola era and left to deteriorate under the Oyetola administration. The governor warned against spreading false security information, saying such acts could incite panic and threaten public peace. He said local intelligence networks were now monitoring border towns and identified hotspots to prevent security breaches. Adeleke reiterated that no stone would be left unturned in securing schools, pupils and properties.
Adeleke blames opposition for a rumour his administration failed to preempt despite claiming robust intelligence networks. The same APCs he says were left to rot are now central to his promised security upgrade. If monitoring was already in place, why did panic spread unchecked across multiple LGAs? Parents pulled children from schools based on unverified claims — a sign that official communication channels failed when most needed.
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