The Ogun State Police Command has assured residents that the state is safe, calling recent social media reports about bandit attacks in Ota and Ifo false and misleading.
In a statement from Abeokuta, the Command said there have been no bandit attacks, kidnappings, terrorist activities, or any security breaches anywhere in Ogun State.
This includes Oluke Community High School, Sango Ota High School in the Ijoko area, Atan-Ota, Sango-Ota, Agbado, Ifo, and nearby communities.
After the false alerts spread, police officers quickly went to the mentioned areas to check the situation and reassure residents with patrols.
The Command’s School Protection Squad, along with Divisional Police Officers, checked the schools mentioned in the reports.
They found that all schools were safe and operating as usual, with students and staff having a normal school day without any problems.
The Command said it was concerned about the unnecessary worry caused by the spread of unverified information and expressed sympathy for residents who felt alarmed.
Checks in the affected areas showed that schools, businesses, and social activities were continuing peacefully, with no danger to people or property.
The police clarified that 38 foreign nationals from Côte d’Ivoire, comprising 19 men and 19 women aged 25 to 35, were arrested in Kajola-Ilese, Atan-Ota.
Officers acted on credible information and found them living in an apartment without valid immigration documents.
The group said they came to Nigeria for online business. After officers identified and screened them, they were handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further checks on their immigration status.
The Command made it clear that these arrests were not related to banditry or violent crime and warned people not to connect them to such activities.
Residents were requested to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information, and go about their daily activities without fear, while making sure that officers remain fully deployed across the state through sustained patrols and intelligence-led operations.
If you have an emergency or a credible tip, you can contact the Ogun State Police Command at 0800 000 9111, 0906 283 7609, 0912 014 1706, 0915 102 7369, or 0708 497 2994.