● Police dismiss report as “false”, Adeleke govt says armoured vehicles now rehabilitated
Fear swept across Osun State Tuesday after an alleged letter from suspected bandits was reportedly dropped at a public school in Ikirun, triggering mass school closures and parents rushing to pick up their children.
The panic began in Ikirun, Ifelodun LGA, then spread to Obaagun, Iree, Eripa, Otan-Ayegbaju, Ila-Orangun, and eventually Osogbo.
–“Students were seen running in fear”–
In Ikirun, schools shut down immediately. Students were seen running on roads as parents stormed school gates.
Community Secondary Grammar School Obaagun, NUD Iree, Kidvarc Iree, Baptist High School Iree, Eripa Grammar School, and several schools in Otan-Ayegbaju and Ila-Orangun sent pupils home.
Even some private schools in Osogbo called parents to evacuate their wards.
–Armoured vehicles row erupts–
The incident sparked a political clash over security.
Engr. Olalekan Badmus, NPA Executive Director, Marine & Operations, alleged Governor Ademola Adeleke’s government withdrew armoured vehicles from strategic Osun locations for over a year for “refurbishment” without explanation.
“Continued hoarding of armoured vehicle services could hinder operations against attacks by bandits, kidnappers, and other armed criminals — especially as security issues are increasing,” Badmus said.
Governor Adeleke, through spokesperson Olawale Rasheed, countered that the APCs were “left to rot” by the previous Oyetola administration. He said his government rehabilitated them and will soon unveil a new security plan for schools.
Adeleke urged residents to “ignore false alarms,” insisting fact checks showed “no case of kidnappings” in Osun schools.
–Police: “False and misleading”–
Osun State Police Command described the reports as “false and misleading” and warned against spreading unverified security alerts.
“Security assessments and intelligence gathering did not substantiate the claims,” the command said. It added that anyone spreading fake alerts could be investigated and prosecuted.
Police urged residents to remain calm and report suspicious activity
to the nearest station.
