By Demola Akinyemi
ILORIN — Panic swept across Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Thursday following rumours of an impending bandit attack, prompting hundreds of parents and guardians to rush to schools to pick up their children.
The scare, which spread rapidly across the city, led to anxiety among residents, particularly around public and private schools, as unverified reports circulated that suspected bandits had invaded the ancient city.
In response to the rumours, forest guards and other security personnel were deployed to strategic locations across Ilorin to prevent any breach of security and reassure residents.
Visits to several schools, including ECWA Secondary School, United Secondary School, Sheikh Abdulsalam School and Methodist Secondary School in the Taiwo-Isale area, showed large numbers of parents scrambling to collect their children.
Similar scenes were recorded in the Lanjorin area, where parents converged on schools such as Cherubim and Seraphim Secondary School, His Grace School, St. Barnabas School and Mercy T Secondary School.
Meanwhile, the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ojo Adekimi, condemned the spread of false security alerts capable of causing fear, panic and public disorder.
He warned that the dissemination of unverified information, particularly on security matters, undermines public confidence and could divert security resources from genuine emergencies.
“The command has commenced efforts to identify the individual responsible for raising the false alarm,” Adekimi said.
“The person, upon identification, will be invited for questioning and made to face the full weight of the law in accordance with extant legal provisions relating to the spread of false information and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.”
The police commissioner urged residents to remain calm, vigilant and avoid spreading rumours or unverified security information.
He advised members of the public to verify security-related information through appropriate channels and promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest police station or security agency.
Adekimi assured residents that adequate security measures remain in place across the state.
“The Kwara State Police Command remains committed to safeguarding lives and property and assures residents that all necessary security measures are in place to guarantee their safety,” he said.
