Residents of several communities in Osun State were thrown into panic on Tuesday following unverified reports of suspected bandit activity, prompting widespread concern and disrupting school activities. News Platform gathered that the rumours sparked fear across four local government areas, leading many parents to withdraw their children from schools as a precautionary measure.

The reports, which circulated widely on social media, alleged that armed bandits were attempting to infiltrate communities within Ila, Ifelodun (Ikirun), Osogbo, and Olorunda local government areas.

As anxiety spread, parents rushed to public and private schools to pick up their children, causing significant disruption to academic activities. While some schools permitted immediate release of pupils to their guardians, others sought to reassure parents by emphasizing that adequate security arrangements had been put in place. In some secondary schools, students reportedly left abruptly amid fears of a possible attack.

Reacting to the situation, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke dismissed the reports as false and urged residents not to panic.

According to a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor assured residents that the state government had taken proactive steps to safeguard schools and communities.

“I task our people to go about their normal activities without fear. Our government has taken steps to secure our schools. The Ministry of Education and the relevant security agencies have worked out a security strategy that is being implemented,” the statement read.

Governor Adeleke further disclosed that Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) had been refurbished and were ready for deployment as part of measures to strengthen security across the state.

The Osun State Police Command also condemned the circulation of unverified security alerts, warning individuals and groups against spreading false information capable of causing public unrest.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, cautioned residents to verify security-related information before sharing it, stressing that misinformation could undermine public confidence and threaten peace and stability.

Police spokesperson Abiodun Ojelabi echoed the warning, stating that the spread of unverified information not only creates unnecessary panic but also poses a threat to public peace and security.

Authorities have urged residents to remain calm, rely on official sources for security updates, and continue their daily activities without fear.