Oyo Police Reject Viral Claim of Abducted Schoolchild’s Death

The Oyo State Police Command has strongly denied a viral report alleging that one of the schoolchildren kidnapped during a recent attack on schools in Esinele, Oriire Local Government Area, died while in captivity.

Authorities described the story as entirely fabricated and misleading, warning that it was capable of causing unnecessary panic and disrupting ongoing rescue operations.

In a statement released on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Ayanlade Olayinka, the command stressed that no security agency involved in the operation had confirmed any death among the abducted pupils.

It added that the report did not originate from credible or verified sources and should be ignored by the public.

The command said the false narrative appeared to have been deliberately constructed using emotional language and unverified claims aimed at stirring public anxiety and distorting facts about the situation.

It warned that the spread of such misinformation could undermine security efforts, put victims at further risk, and encourage criminal activity.

The police also issued a stern warning to bloggers, influencers, content creators and media platforms, urging them to avoid sharing unverified reports, especially those related to security operations.

“The Oyo State Police Command has observed with grave concern the circulation of a malicious and entirely unfounded report alleging that one of the schoolchildren abducted during the recent incident at Ahoro-Esiele, Oriire Local Government Area, died while in captivity,” the statement read.

The command further described the indiscriminate circulation of unconfirmed information as irresponsible, noting that it could trigger fear and public disorder.

Residents were advised to rely solely on official updates from the Nigeria Police Force and other authorised security agencies for accurate information.

Reaffirming its commitment, the command assured that efforts were ongoing to secure the safe rescue of all abducted children.

It also appealed for responsible journalism and urged media practitioners to verify information thoroughly before publication, warning against becoming conduits for misinformation or panic-driven narratives.