Bayelsa Police Clear Up False Alarm About Bandits

The Bayelsa State Police Command has confirmed that the alarm about bandits in a school in Yenagoa was not true.

On Friday, some areas in Yenagoa were tense. Many schools in Bayelsa State closed suddenly after a Facebook user, Senator Promise Etete JP, claimed that militants had captured bandits in Bayelsa and were asking for ₦50 million ransom for each person.

This false news spread quickly, causing fear among parents. They rushed to schools in Ogbuna, Pulaku, and other areas to pick up their children.

As the panic grew, the Commissioner of Police for Bayelsa State, CP Iyamah Daniel Edebor, took action. He sent his officers into the town immediately.

He deployed the School Protection Squad, Tactical Teams, and Drone Unit to Ogbuna, Pulaku, Sabagreia, and Kaiama to check the situation.

The police team secured schools like Ijaw National Academy in Kaiama, Gbarainowei Grammar School in Okolobiri, and Fun-Tari Academy in Sabagreia. They also patrolled the areas to reassure the public that security was in place.

Now, the area is calm. Life has returned to normal, and people are going about their daily business without fear. The police are still watching the situation to prevent any further issues.

In a press statement on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Musa Mohammed, urged everyone to ignore unverified news and not share information that can cause panic.

He said, "The Bayelsa State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that the chaos and fear reported in some parts of the state in the early hours of today, 5th June 2026, is false and baseless. Preliminary investigation reveals that it originated from a false alarm arising from a recent Facebook post by a user identified as Sen Promise Etete JP, which alleged that ‘Militants seize bandits, demand ₦50 million ransom per captive in Bayelsa State.’

"The misleading post caused widespread panic, resulting in parents rushing to schools in Ogbuna, Pulaku, and other parts of the state to pick up their wards.

"In swift response, the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, CP Iyamah Daniel Edebor, PSC, IICFIP, FOOSIS, immediately deployed and led operational assets including the School Protection Squad, Tactical Teams, and the Drone Unit to Ogbuna, Pulaku, and nearby areas like Sabagreia and Kaiama for on-the-spot assessment and restoration of order in Ijaw National Academy, Kaiama; Gbarainowei Grammar School, Okolobiri; and Fun-Tari Academy, Sabagreia. Following the deployment, confidence-building patrols were also undertaken to reassure citizens of their safety. Normalcy has since been restored, and residents are going about their lawful businesses without hindrance, while monitoring continues.

"The command urged members of the public to disregard unverified reports and avoid sharing information capable of causing panic. Citizens are advised to rely only on official communication channels for security updates. Members of the public with useful information should report to the nearest police station or contact the Command emergency lines: 0703 457 8208 / 0916 732 2691."