Police say 38 Ivorians arrested in Ogun are not bandits

The Ogun State Police have cleared the air about reports of bandit attacks in the state. They said the arrest of 38 Ivorians in Atan-Ota is not linked to banditry or terrorism.

Babaseyi Oluseyi, the police public relations officer, shared this in a statement on Tuesday.

The police assured everyone that the state is safe and calm. This goes against claims on social media that there were attacks on schools and communities in Ota, Ifo and nearby areas.

Oluseyi stated that there have been no bandit attacks, kidnappings, terrorist activities or any security issues in places like Oluke Community High School and Sango Ota High School. These schools are in Ijoko, Fadunsin, Atan-Ota, Sango-Ota, Agbado, Ifo and surrounding communities.

After the reports started spreading, police officers were sent to check the areas and reassure residents. The police also sent their School Protection Squad and divisional police officers to check the schools mentioned in the reports.

“The checks showed that all schools were safe, secure and operating normally. School activities continued without any interruptions, with students and staff finishing their day successfully,” the statement said.

Oluseyi expressed worry about the fear caused by the spread of unverified security information. He assured the public that there was no need to panic.

He added that investigations in the affected communities showed that everyday activities like business and social events were going on without any danger to lives or property.

He explained that the operation in Kajola-Ilese, Atan-Ota, which some on social media linked to banditry, led to the arrest of 38 foreign nationals from Côte d’Ivoire.

The suspects, 19 men and 19 women aged between 25 and 35, were found in an apartment during an intelligence-led operation. They could not show valid immigration or travel documents when screened.

Oluseyi mentioned, “The suspects said they came to Nigeria for online business activities. After initial police procedures, they were handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further investigation and appropriate action according to immigration laws.”

“At no point were bandits, kidnappers or terrorists arrested. Any connection between the arrested foreigners and banditry or violent crime is completely false, misleading and could cause unnecessary panic,” he added.

This clarification comes as worries rise over insecurity in the South-West, especially after 42 students and teachers were kidnapped in Oyo State.

The police's statement follows the recent arrest of a tailor, Qawiyu Oloyede, for allegedly making and sharing a fake video claiming that bandits invaded Atan-Ota. During questioning, he admitted that the video was fake and meant to gain followers on TikTok and other platforms.

The false video caused panic among residents and raised fears of bandit activities in Ogun State.

The police have warned the public against sharing unverified security information that could create fear and disorder. They urged everyone to check the facts through official channels before sharing news. The police promised that their officers are on patrol and conducting operations to keep everyone safe.