Fear and confusion swept across several communities in Osun State on Tuesday after rumours of a possible bandit invasion triggered the abrupt closure of many public and private schools.

The panic affected parts of Ila, Odo Otin, Boripe, Osogbo, and Olorunda local government areas, where anxious parents rushed to schools to withdraw their children before the official closing time.

In some schools, academic activities reportedly ended before 11 a.m. as concerns spread rapidly among residents.

At Sasa Area in Oke Baale, Osogbo, large numbers of worried parents gathered at a public primary school to pick up their children following reports that armed men had allegedly invaded parts of the state.

A similar situation unfolded in Eweta community in Ikirun, located along the Ikirun-Inisa Road, where parents hurriedly stormed schools after hearing claims of a schoolgirl being kidnapped.

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Investigations later revealed that the rumoured abduction did not occur.

According to reports, the false alarm started around the Ila-Orangun axis early Tuesday morning after claims circulated that a schoolgirl had been abducted at Faaje village along Oyan Road in Ila Orangun.

The rumour quickly spread across neighbouring communities, creating panic among school authorities and parents already worried about rising insecurity in parts of the country.

However, security sources later clarified that the girl at the centre of the rumour had merely gone into hiding to avoid attending school and was not kidnapped.

A security source quoted in reports explained that the misinformation spread rapidly before authorities were able to verify the facts.

Reacting to the development, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke assured residents that there was no confirmed case of school kidnapping anywhere in the state.

In a statement issued through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor said security agencies had conducted checks across border communities and other sensitive areas and found no evidence of any bandit attack or abduction.

Adeleke described the rumours as the handiwork of “evil opposition elements” attempting to create fear and destabilise public peace in the state.

The governor urged residents, parents, and guardians not to panic, insisting that the government had already strengthened security around schools and vulnerable communities.

According to him, the Ministry of Education and security agencies had developed and begun implementing a coordinated security strategy aimed at protecting schools, pupils, and teachers.

Adeleke also disclosed that Armoured Personnel Carriers previously inherited in poor condition had been refurbished and were now ready for deployment to support security operations where necessary.

He said local intelligence networks were actively monitoring border communities and identified flashpoints to prevent any possible security breach.

The governor warned individuals spreading false security information to desist immediately, stressing that such rumours could trigger unnecessary panic and disrupt public order.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state, particularly within schools and educational institutions.

The incident highlights growing public anxiety over insecurity in Nigeria, especially following recent reports of school abductions in other parts of the country.

Although the Osun rumour was eventually debunked, the speed at which it spread demonstrated the heightened fear among residents over the possibility of attacks on schools and vulnerable communities.