Bandits’ invasion: Schools shut in Osun as panic spreads

By Isa Isawade

The rumour of bandits’ invasion of some parts of Osun, particularly Ikirun and Ila, on Tuesday led to a widespread panic in the state, making both public and private schools to abruptly shut down and drove both students and teachers home.

Communities in the state were thrown into serious panic on getting information that suspected bandits dropped a letter to one of the public schools.

The fear started in Ikirun and later extended to Obaagun, Iree, Eripa, Otan Ayegbaju in Boluwaduro Local Government and Ila-Orangun in Ila Local Government.

Some public and private schools in Ila, Odo Otin, Boripe, Ede, Osogbo and Olorunda Local Government Area, shut down before 11am following the rumour.

Students of the Community Second Grammar School, Obaagun, NUD in Iree, Kidvarc in Iree, Baptist Day School, Iree, Eripa, Otan-Ayegbaju, Ila-Orangun, and many other schools in Osogbo and Owode Ede were seen on the road, running in fear.

At Sasa Area, Oke Baale, Osogbo, many parents stormed public primary school in the area to pick their kids as the rumour spread.

Also in Eweta Area, a community located in Ikirun, off/Ikirun Inisa Road, many parents rushed to schools to pick their children before closing time.

Another factor that fueled the rumour was the earlier news of an alleged abduction of a schoolgirl at Faaje village along Oyan Road in Ila Orangun.

However, further investigation proved the story to be false, as the girl involved was said to have gone into hiding to avoid going to school. This was too late as news of the purported abduction had spread through communities in Ila and Oyan like a wild fire.

Meanwhile, the Osun State Governor has debunked the rumour and urged residents of the state to ignore what it regarded as false alarms.

The governor, Ademola Adeleke, in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, reassured the residents that his government has taken proactive steps to secure schools in the state.

He described the rumour as the handiwork of “evil opposition elements.”

He asked residents to go about their normal activities without fear, assuring that government has taken steps to secure schools in the state.

Adeleke added that “the Ministry of Education and the relevant security agencies have worked out a security strategy that is being implemented.”

According to him, the state’s Armoured Personnel Carriers have been fully refurbished and ready for deployment to deal with any security threats.