The Lagos State Government and the police have dismissed reports of alleged bandit attacks in parts of the state, describing the claims as false and urging residents to disregard unverified information circulating on social media.
The rumours sparked panic on Monday in communities around Eleko and Imota, leading many concerned parents to rush to schools to pick up their children amid fears of an impending attack.
According to reports, anxiety spread across schools in Eleko, located in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, after messages circulated claiming that armed bandits had invaded the area.
One parent whose children attend a nursery and primary school in Eleko said she received an urgent call from school authorities asking parents to immediately collect their children.
“I was called from my children’s school that bandits were around Eleko and that parents should come and pick up their children,” she said.
The parent, who spoke anonymously, disclosed that the directive was reportedly issued to several schools within the community, resulting in a mass exodus of pupils from classrooms.
“Children were being sent home across schools in the area. Parents rushed to the schools because everyone was frightened by the reports,” she added.
However, officials later clarified that there was no security threat in either Eleko or Imota, attributing the widespread panic to misinformation.
The alarm was further fuelled by claims made during a radio phone-in programme, where callers alleged that bandits had attacked a primary school in Imota Local Council Development Area and killed two schoolgirls.
Reacting to the claims, the Headmaster of LG Nursery and Primary School, Agbowa, Odumeru Adekunle, explained that the incident which triggered the rumours was actually an accident and not a bandit attack.
Similarly, the Chairman of Imota LCDA, Benson Ayodele, issued a statement dismissing the reports as entirely false.
According to him, there was no verified security report or official record to support the allegations being circulated online and through broadcast platforms.
“We wish to state categorically that the information is false, misleading and completely unfounded. There is no verified report or credible security intelligence confirming such an incident within Imota LCDA,” the statement read.
Ayodele warned against the spread of unverified information, noting that such reports could create unnecessary fear and confusion among residents. He urged members of the public to rely on official channels and security agencies for accurate information regarding public safety.
Following the controversy, the radio station involved apologised for airing the claims without proper verification.
In its statement, the station acknowledged that callers had reported that “Imota was on fire” and that bandits had attacked a public school. It admitted that the information was broadcast in the rush to inform the public before it had been confirmed by security agencies or community leaders.
The Lagos State Police Command also rejected the reports, describing the alleged attacks as false.
Police spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, said the command would review the viral videos and other materials being circulated online before issuing a comprehensive statement on the matter.
The police nevertheless reassured residents that there was no confirmed security threat in the affected communities and urged the public to avoid spreading unverified information capable of causing panic.