Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun has urged residents to disregard false alarms about alleged school kidnappings in parts of the state, describing the reports as fake news.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Osogbo by his spokesperson, Malam Olawale Rasheed, the governor assured citizens that the government had taken proactive measures to secure schools across the state.
Adeleke described the kidnapping rumours as the handiwork of mischief-makers, noting that fact checks conducted in border communities and other parts of the state confirmed that no such incidents had occurred.
“I urge our people to go about their normal activities without fear. Our government has taken decisive steps to secure our schools.
“The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with relevant security agencies, has developed and is implementing a comprehensive security strategy,” he said.
He reiterated that parents and guardians should remain calm, stressing that the alarm was false and intended to create panic and destabilise the state.
The governor also provided an update on armoured vehicles abandoned by the previous administration, stating that Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) had been fully refurbished and were ready for deployment.
According to him, his administration inherited the damaged APCs, which had been left in disrepair, but has since rehabilitated them for use in joint security operations.
“The previous administration inherited these APCs but failed to maintain them.
“We have now restored them, and the public will soon witness a strengthened security architecture to protect lives and property across the state “, he said.
Adeleke warned against acts capable of inciting criminal behaviour, adding that local intelligence networks were actively monitoring border towns and identified hotspots.
“No stone will be left unturned to guarantee the safety of our schools, pupils, residents, and property,” he said.
