Residents of Osun State were thrown into panic on Wednesday night after several posts and voice notes circulated on social media, claiming that bandits had attacked travellers along the Osogbo–Iwo Road.
The messages, which spread across Facebook and WhatsApp, alleged that armed men were spotted around the Osuntedo–Idoo axis. However, none of the viral posts contained concrete details as many people simply said they “heard” the information from others.
But the Osun State Police Command has now dismissed the reports, describing them as false and misleading.
Police spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, said in a statement on Thursday that there was no bandits’ or herdsmen attack on the road, contrary to the viral rumours.
According to him, the entire scare began from a misunderstanding after a minor traffic accident.
Ojelabi explained that on November 18, a Toyota Sienna driver collided with the rear of a bus travelling from Benin to Osogbo. The bus continued its journey, believing the damage was insignificant. Angered by this, the Sienna driver allegedly raised an alarm, accusing the two men in the bus of being kidnappers.
This false alarm drew the attention of nearby residents, who formed a mob, chased the bus, and attacked the occupants. The mob even vandalised the vehicle and attempted to lynch the two men.
Fortunately, a local hunter from Gaa Saidu Ikofin intervened and rescued the victims, taking them to the Iwo Divisional Police Headquarters for safety. However, the mob followed them to the station, causing tension until reinforcements arrived from Osogbo to restore order.
Ojelabi confirmed that the victims are safe and under police protection, while investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest those involved in the mob action.
The police command condemned the spread of unverified information that can cause unnecessary panic and put innocent lives at risk. It also warned against resorting to jungle justice.
The statement urged residents to always verify information and promptly report any suspicious activity to the police via its emergency numbers: 08039537995 or 08123823981.
This incident follows a similar case in September 2025, when the command dismissed another viral claim about a supposed bandit attack, an event later traced to a location in Kwara State, not Osun.
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