Oyo State Police Deny Reports of Abducted Child’s Death
The Oyo State Police Command has refuted claims that one of the school children kidnapped during a recent terrorist attack in the Ahoro-Esienle Local Government Area of Oriyele has died. Authorities describe these reports as not only malicious but entirely unfounded.
In a statement released on Friday, the police spokesperson, DSP Ayanlade Olinka, emphasized that the circulating information is a product of disinformation. He affirmed the command’s commitment to addressing the matter with the seriousness it deserves.
According to the police’s public relations officer, the command expressed deep concern over the spread of inaccurate allegations claiming that a child had died in captivity during the recent kidnapping incident at Ahoro-Esier in Ori-Ire Local Government Area. The statement categorically labeled the reports as false, misleading, and concocted by individuals intent on instigating panic.
The Oyo State Police Command, alongside other authorized security agencies involved in the ongoing rescue efforts, confirmed that no such developments have been verified. This false narrative, the statement asserts, serves only to incite unnecessary public emotion and disrupt critical security operations.
Particularly alarming is the use of emotionally charged narratives, unverified claims, and speculative explanations aimed at manipulating public sentiment, according to the police. Such tactics undermine responsible journalism and play into the hands of criminal entities that thrive on fear and chaos.
The police reiterated their dedication to professionalism and confidentiality in all operational activities linked to the incident. They cautioned that spreading false information at this delicate time could hinder ongoing rescue efforts and inflict additional trauma on affected families.
In light of these developments, the Oyo State Police Command urged individuals—including bloggers, social media influencers, and media platforms—to refrain from publishing or disseminating unverified security-related information. The indiscriminate sharing of misleading reports could incite fear and disrupt public order, which authorities condemn as irresponsible.
The command called upon all media professionals and content creators to approach their responsibilities with integrity and diligence. They emphasized the need to avoid becoming unwitting enablers of misinformation and fear-mongering for ulterior motives.
DSP Olinka encouraged the public to disregard the unverified claims and to rely solely on information shared through official channels of the Nigeria Police Force and other legitimate government agencies. The command remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring public safety and will continue to provide updates based on verified information as necessary.
