The Oyo State Government has dismissed rumours of a purported kidnapping at the College of Nursing campus in Kishi, describing the report as false and misleading.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, the government explained that the rumour, which originated from a false alarm raised by certain individuals, created unnecessary fear among students, lecturers, and residents within the institution.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olusegun Olayiwola, assured the public that no kidnapping incident occurred, emphasising that the government remains fully committed to maintaining security across the state.
He further stressed that the safety of students and staff in all educational institutions remains a top priority and warned that spreading false information online constitutes a serious cybercrime, punishable under the law.
Speaking on behalf of the College management, the Provost of the College of Nursing, Eleyele Ibadan, Dr. Gbonjubola Owolabi, described the report as misinformation capable of causing panic among students and members of the public.
She added that immediate steps had been taken by relevant security agencies to investigate the source of the rumour, strengthen surveillance, and monitor the campus to prevent future false alarms.
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Dr. Owolabi urged parents and guardians to remain calm and to always verify information through the official communication channels of the government and the College before reacting to unverified re
The Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal, during a working visit to Kishi, said: “The wild rumours on possible lurking of bandits around villages close to Old Oyo Forest Reserve and Kishi have indeed landed on the tables of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, as well as other state and non-state actors on security matters.”
He commended the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and all security heads in Kishi, Irepo Local Government, for their continuous collaboration and urged them to maintain the same vigilance.
Reports indicate that the Old Oyo Forest Reserve, located between Kishi and Igbeti, has become a haven for bandits due to the ongoing issuance of illegal permits to Fulani herders, who openly graze their cattle within the reserve.
Mr. Lawal therefore called for the termination of open grazing permits, as well as a halt to nocturnal hunting expeditions and illegal mining activities in the area.
He warned that these practices could encourage banditry, noting that experiences in the North East and North West confirm that such activities can be exploited as pathways for criminal operations.