Governor Adeleke

Author: Gist Correspondent

Panic swept through several communities in Osun State on Tuesday following reports that suspected bandits had allegedly dropped a threatening letter at a public school, triggering fears of possible kidnappings and forcing many schools to shut down.

The alarm reportedly began in Ikirun, headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government Area, before rapidly spreading to neighbouring communities including Obaagun, Iree, Eripa, Otan-Ayegbaju, Ila-Orangun and eventually Osogbo, the state capital.

As news of the alleged threat circulated, parents rushed to schools to pick up their children, while many students were seen fleeing school premises amid confusion and fear. The situation led to the immediate closure of several public and private schools across the affected areas.

Among the schools reportedly affected were Community Secondary Grammar School, Obaagun; NUD School, Iree; Kidvarc School, Iree; Baptist High School, Iree; Eripa Grammar School, as well as schools in Otan-Ayegbaju and Ila-Orangun, where students were directed to return home as a precautionary measure.

The scare later reached Osogbo, prompting some private schools in the state capital to contact parents and guardians to collect their children before the end of the school day.

Amid the growing concern, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, moved to strengthen security measures across the state, directing security agencies and local vigilante groups to intensify surveillance around schools and vulnerable communities.

According to a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the governor convened a series of security consultations involving both formal security agencies and local security groups, including hunters, the Oodua Peoples Congress, Agbekoya operatives and the Amotekun Corps.

The statement explained that the meetings formed part of a broader strategy aimed at aligning formal and informal security networks to improve intelligence gathering and enhance protection of lives and property across the state.

It added that the government had received intelligence reports identifying potential security threats, vulnerable border communities and possible hotspots requiring closer monitoring.

As part of the ongoing efforts, the State Security Council, comprising heads of security agencies operating in Osun, also met at the Governor’s Office in Osogbo to review the security situation and develop preventive measures.

Speaking after the meeting, the Governor’s Security Adviser, Samuel Ojo, said security agencies had agreed on proactive measures designed to forestall any attempt to target schools or students.

He assured residents that detailed security plans had been activated, although specific operational strategies would remain confidential for security reasons.

The heightened security response comes against the backdrop of increasing concerns over school abductions in parts of the country and growing public anxiety generated by the alleged threat circulating in Osun communities.

However, the Osun State Police Command dismissed reports of an imminent kidnap attack as false and misleading, insisting that available intelligence did not support the claims being circulated.

In a statement, the command warned members of the public against creating or spreading unverified security alerts capable of causing panic and disrupting public order.

The police said ongoing security assessments and intelligence gathering had not revealed any credible threat to schools in the state, urging residents to rely on information from official channels rather than social media rumours.

The command further cautioned that individuals found spreading false security information could face investigation and prosecution under relevant laws.

Despite the police reassurance, the incident exposed widespread public fears over insecurity and underscored the sensitivity of school safety issues in many communities.

Authorities have urged residents to remain calm, cooperate with security agencies and promptly report any suspicious movements or activities while government efforts to safeguard schools and communities continue across the state.