ABEOKUTA – The Ogun State Police Command has strongly debunked viral social media reports alleging widespread bandit attacks, school disruptions, and terrorist activities within the Ota and Ifo axes of the state.
Affirming that the state remains entirely safe and secure, authorities clarified that the security operations in the area were unrelated to terrorism, but rather involved the peaceful apprehension of dozens of undocumented foreign nationals.
Social Media Panic Declared Groundless
The swift reaction from law enforcement follows a wave of anxiety triggered by online posts claiming that local schools, including Oluke Community High School and Sango Ota High School, had been targeted by armed bandits. Panic-inducing reports also alleged that terrorists had been arrested in Atan-Ota.
In a comprehensive statement released on Tuesday, Command Spokesman DSP Oluseyi B. Babaseyi labeled the online narratives as completely false and misleading. He emphasized that no banditry, kidnapping, or security breaches have occurred anywhere in the state’s adjoining border communities.
”Following the circulation of the false reports, police operatives from the respective divisions were immediately mobilized to all affected locations for on-the-spot assessment, verification, and sustained confidence-building patrols,” Babaseyi stated.
Schools and Businesses Safe
To prevent widespread panic, the Command’s School Protection Squad, alongside various Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), conducted immediate physical security audits across the flagged educational institutions.
The assessments confirmed that schools in the Sango-Ota and Ijoko corridors remained fully operational, with students and staff completing their academic schedules peacefully and without interruption. Law enforcement confirmed that standard commercial, academic, and social activities across Ota, Ifo, Agbado, and neighboring communities continue unabated under active security coverage.
38 Foreign Nationals Handed to Immigration
Providing clarity on the actual police operation that sparked the distorted rumors, DSP Babaseyi explained that operatives recently raided an apartment in Kajola-Ilese, Atan-Ota, following credible intelligence.
The targeted operation led to the arrest of 38 foreign nationals originating from Côte d’Ivoire. The group, consisting of 19 males and 19 females aged between 25 and 35, claimed they entered Nigeria to engage in online businesses. However, they failed to present valid travel visas or legal immigration documents during preliminary profiling.
The Command emphasized that no weapons were seized, no violence occurred, and none of the detainees are linked to terrorist networks or banditry. Following standard procedures, the 38 individuals have been formally transferred to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for further investigation and administrative action under federal immigration laws.
A Call for Verification
Expressing concern over how easily unverified security threats can spread and cause public distress, the Command urged citizens to remain calm and utilize official channels to verify sensitive information before sharing it online.
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Residents in need of emergency assistance or wishing to report suspicious activities can reach the Ogun State Police Command via their toll-free Gateway Shield line at 0800 000 9111, or through their emergency hotlines: 0906 283 7609, 0912 014 1706, 0915 102 7369, and 0708 497 2994.
