The Oyo state police command has dismissed reports claiming that one of the schoolchildren abducted in Ahoro-Esiele, Oriire LGA, died while in captivity.
In a statement issued on Friday, the command described the report as false, misleading and designed to incite panic among residents.
The police said neither the police nor any security agency involved in efforts to rescue the abducted pupils had confirmed such a development.
“The report is false, misleading, mischievous, and without any factual basis whatsoever,” the statement reads.
The command accused the authors of the report of deliberately using unverified claims and emotional narratives to manipulate public opinion and create fear.
“It is particularly disturbing that the authors of the report deliberately employed emotional narratives, speculative claims, and unverified accounts in a calculated attempt to manipulate public opinion and generate anxiety among residents,” the statement added.
The police said ongoing rescue operations are being pursued with professionalism and confidentiality, warning that the spread of false information could undermine security efforts and inflict further trauma on affected families.
The command cautioned bloggers, social media influencers, online content creators and media organisations against publishing unverified security-related information.
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