Police debunk banditry reports in Ogun, clarify arrest of 38 foreign nationals

By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

The Ogun State Police Command has dismissed as false and misleading reports circulating on social media alleging bandit attacks on schools and communities in Ota, Ifo and other parts of the state, assuring residents that the State remains peaceful and secure.

The Command also clarified that the recent arrest of 38 foreign nationals in Atan-Ota was not connected to banditry, kidnapping, terrorism or any other violent criminal activity, contrary to claims being spread online.

The clarification was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, following widespread panic triggered by viral social media messages claiming that armed bandits had attacked areas around schools in Sango-Ota and its environs.

The alarm, which spread rapidly through WhatsApp groups and other social media platforms, prompted parents and guardians to abandon their businesses and rush to schools to pick up their children, causing gridlock along major roads, including Idiroko road, Sango Roundabout and Oju-Ore.

Reacting to the reports, Babaseyi said security operatives were immediately deployed to the affected locations to verify the claims and reassure residents through intensified patrols and security assessments.

He said: “the Ogun State Police Command wishes to categorically assure the general public that the entire state remains safe, calm and secure. There has been no bandit attack, kidnapping incident, terrorist activity or any form of security breach anywhere in Ogun State, including the areas mentioned in the reports currently circulating on social media.”

According to him, investigations and coordinated security assessments conducted across the affected communities confirmed that normal academic, commercial and social activities were ongoing without any threat to lives or property.

The police spokesperson disclosed that the Command’s School Protection Squad, in collaboration with Divisional Police Officers in the affected areas, carried out comprehensive security assessments in the schools mentioned in the reports.

Babaseyi stated: “the exercise confirmed that all schools were safe, secure and fully operational. School activities continued peacefully and without interruption throughout the day, with students and staff completing a successful academic day before normal closure.”

The Command expressed concern over the panic generated by the circulation of unverified information and urged residents to verify security-related reports through official channels before sharing them.

On the arrest of the foreign nationals, Babaseyi explained that an intelligence-led operation conducted in Kajola-Ilese, Atan-Ota, led to the apprehension of 38 citizens of Côte d’Ivoire, comprising 19 males and 19 females aged between 25 and 35 years.

According to him, the individuals were found in an apartment and could not provide valid immigration or travel documents during preliminary screening.

He said: “the suspects claimed to have entered Nigeria for online business activities. Upon conclusion of preliminary police procedures, they were duly handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further investigation and appropriate administrative action in line with extant immigration laws and protocols.”

The police spokesman stressed that the operation had no link whatsoever with banditry, terrorism or any other violent crime.

“At no time during the operation were bandits, kidnappers or terrorists arrested, nor was any security-related incident recorded in connection with the apprehension. Any attempt to link the arrested foreign nationals to banditry or any violent criminal activity is entirely false, misleading and capable of creating unnecessary panic and disturbing public peace,” he added.

Babaseyi assured residents that officers and men of the Command remain fully deployed across the state, conducting intelligence-led operations, routine patrols and other proactive measures to safeguard lives and property.

He urged residents of Ota, Ifo, Atan-Ota, Ijoko, Sango-Ota, Agbado and neighbouring communities to remain calm and continue their lawful activities without fear, reiterating that the entire state remains safe and secure.

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