Oyo Police Deny Reports of Schoolchildren Deaths in Captivity

The Oyo State Police Command issued a statement on Friday, categorically denying reports that any schoolchildren had died in captivity following an abduction incident in Oriire Local Government Area. The police spokesperson, Ayanlad Olayinka, labeled the claims as malicious and unfounded, asserting that they were designed to incite panic and undermine ongoing rescue operations.

The police expressed grave concern over the circulation of these misleading reports, which they believe could manipulate public opinion and generate anxiety among residents. They emphasized that no security agency involved in the rescue efforts has confirmed any deaths among the abducted pupils.

The police warned individuals, bloggers, and social media influencers against spreading unverifiable security-related information, which could jeopardize ongoing operations and cause distress to the families of the victims. They urged the public to rely on credible updates from the police and other authorized security agencies.