The Oyo State Police Command on Friday dismissed as false and malicious reports circulating on social media alleging that one of the schoolchildren abducted during the recent attack on a school in Ahoro-Esiele community of Oriire Local Government Area had died in captivity.
The statement comes amid heightened concern over the fate of pupils and teachers abducted during the attack on the school in Oriire Local Government Area, with security agencies continuing intensive efforts to secure their safe return.
According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the Command described the report as “entirely unfounded, misleading and mischievous,” stressing that no security agency involved in the ongoing rescue operation had confirmed such a development.
According to the police, the publication was deliberately fabricated to create panic, spread fear among residents and undermine efforts being made by security agencies to secure the release of the abducted pupils and teachers.
“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, has died while in captivity,” the statement read.
The Command maintained that at no point had it, or any other recognised security agency participating in the rescue operation, announced the death of any victim, urging members of the public to disregard the report in its entirety.
The police further accused the authors of the publication of exploiting emotional narratives and unverified claims to manipulate public sentiment and generate anxiety among residents.
“It is particularly disturbing that the authors of the report deliberately employed emotional narratives, speculative claims and unverified accounts in a calculated attempt to manipulate public opinion and generate anxiety among residents,” the statement added.
The Command warned that such conduct not only violates the ethics of responsible journalism but also serves the interests of criminal elements who seek to thrive on fear, uncertainty and public distress.
Reassuring residents of ongoing efforts to rescue the abducted victims, the police said security agencies remained fully committed to the operation and were pursuing all available leads with professionalism, diligence and confidentiality.
The Command noted that the spread of false information at a sensitive stage of the operation could jeopardise rescue efforts, inflict additional trauma on affected families and mislead the public.
Consequently, it cautioned bloggers, social media influencers, online content creators and media organisations against publishing or amplifying unverified security-related information.
“The indiscriminate sharing of false reports, particularly those capable of inciting fear or causing public disorder, is irresponsible and unacceptable,” the statement said.
The police appealed to media practitioners and digital content creators to uphold professional standards by verifying information before publication and avoiding becoming tools for the spread of misinformation and fearmongering.
Residents were advised to rely exclusively on official information released by the Nigeria Police Force and other authorised government agencies regarding developments surrounding the abduction.
The Command reiterated its commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state, assuring residents that verified updates on the rescue operation would be communicated through official channels as circumstances warrant.