The Ogun State Police Command has dismissed widespread social media reports alleging bandit attacks and insecurity across Ota, Ifo and adjoining communities, insisting that the state remains peaceful and under firm security control.
The Command described the viral claims linking schools and residential communities in the Ota and Ifo corridors to armed bandit attacks as false, misleading and capable of triggering unnecessary panic among residents.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, there was no record of kidnapping, terrorism, bandit invasion or any coordinated attack in any part of Ogun State.
The police specifically debunked reports suggesting that criminal elements invaded Oluke Community High School, Sango Ota High School, Fadunsin Area, Atan Ota, Agbado, Ifo and other neighbouring communities.
The Command disclosed that following the circulation of the reports online, tactical and conventional police operatives were immediately deployed to all the affected areas for verification, confidence building patrols and security reinforcement.
Security teams reportedly carried out on the spot assessments across the communities and found no evidence of any breach or criminal attack as alleged in the viral messages.
Police authorities also confirmed that the Command’s School Protection Squad worked with Divisional Police Officers to inspect all schools mentioned in the reports.
The assessments, according to the Command, showed that academic activities continued peacefully without disruption, while students and teachers completed their daily activities normally before schools closed for the day.
The police expressed concern over the anxiety created by the false security alerts, warning against the growing trend of spreading unverified information capable of creating fear within communities.
It stated that coordinated assessments conducted across Ota, Ifo, Atan Ota, Ijoko and surrounding areas confirmed that commercial, academic and social activities were progressing peacefully without threats to lives or property.
The Command further clarified circumstances surrounding the arrest of 38 foreign nationals in Kajola Ilese area of Atan Ota, which some social media users allegedly linked to banditry.
Police authorities disclosed that the suspects, comprising 19 males and 19 females from Côte d’Ivoire, were discovered in an apartment during an intelligence driven operation.
According to the Command, the individuals, aged between 25 and 35 years, could not provide valid immigration or travel documents during preliminary screening and claimed they entered Nigeria for online business activities.
The police stressed that none of the foreign nationals arrested was linked to terrorism, kidnapping or violent crimes, adding that they had since been transferred to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further investigation and administrative procedures in line with immigration laws.
Reaffirming its commitment to public safety, the Ogun State Police Command urged residents across Ota, Ifo, Sango Ota, Atan Ota, Agbado and neighbouring communities to remain calm, avoid spreading false security reports and continue their lawful activities without fear as security agencies sustain surveillance, patrols and intelligence led operations across the state.