Bandits’ invasion: Panic in Osun as parents withdraw children from schools

There was panic in Osun State, on Friday morning as parents and guardians started withdrawing their children massively from schools following insinuation that some bandits had stormed a school in the Ofatedo community to kidnap pupils.

The source of the alarm was not known, but as the news spread to other parts of the community, many parents rushed to schools to take their children.

It was gathered that around 10:00 am, many private schools at the Ofatedo axis of the state were shut as a result of this.

But some that did not shut theirs protected their gates firmly with guards. 

Newsflash Nigeria gathered that a resident had raised the alarm that suspected bandits had pasted a notice on the wall of a private school in Ofatedo, saying they would soon attack the school and kidnap pupils.

A resident, identified as Jamiu Oladokun, in a chat told our reporter, that he was forced to rush back home from work to pick his children from their school, after news reached him in Osogbo that bandits had stormed Ofatedo to attack schools.

Newsflash Nigeria gathered that when the information reached Osogbo, the state capital, some students were instructed to vacate their various schools while the parents of the young pupils were called on the phone to pick up their children.

But while reacting to the incident, the spokesperson of Pain Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, told our reporter that “it was a false alarm.

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“Tactical teams had been deployed to the area since then. Residents told us that the person that raised the alarm late ran away. The state is safe.”

Mrs Yemisi Opalola said: “Osun State Commissioner of Police, CP Olawale Olokode psc, being mindful of his primary constitutional responsibilities of protection of lives & properties and unrelenting efforts to ensure the residents of the state go about their lawful businesses and sleep with their eyes closed, has re-strategised and re-engineered the security architecture of the Police Command.

“This becomes imperative and is necessitated by the threatening letter of invasion written to some communities in the state by some unscrupulous elements which the Police Command in collaboration with other security agents and local security outfits are working tooth and nail to arrest the criminals and brought them to justice.

“The CP is using the avenue to reassure the good people of the state of the Command’s readiness to tackle all forms of criminal activities, threat and urged members of the public to comport themselves and jettison fear of insecurity in the state.

“Also, the citizens are advised to be security conscious, vigilant, cooperate and collaborate with the security agents by giving useful and timely information to them and report any suspicious movement or activities of criminals to the police.”

Meanwhile, the Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Ismail Omipidan, assured the residents of the state of adequate security, adding that security operatives would prevent any form of attack within the state.

“The Police, Amotekun corps, Department of State Services, Vigilante Group of Nigeria and Hunters Group of Nigeria are on their toes. People should go about their normal activities without fear,” he said.

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