Claim of School Abduction Suspects Arrested Is False -Oyo Police

The Oyo State Police Command on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, dismissed as entirely false viral claims circulating widely on social media that six suspects linked to the Oriire Local Government Area school abduction had been arrested in Ibadan, warning the public against spreading unverified reports that could cause mass panic and undermine ongoing security operations.

Police spokesperson DSP Ayanlade Olayinka described the reports as ‘false from the pit of hell’ and said the command had traced the origin of the fake story to a social media account with no connection to official law enforcement sources. He urged Nigerians to verify news about sensitive security operations from official police handles before sharing such information.

Legit.ng confirmed that no official statement existed supporting the arrest claims, and that police sources in Oyo State had not authorised any information suggesting that suspects had been apprehended in connection with the abduction, which now enters its fourth week. The warning comes as multiple unverified claims have circulated on X, WhatsApp, and Facebook about the status of the rescue operation.

Misinformation Complicates Rescue Operations

Security analysts said the spread of false arrest reports was not merely a nuisance but a genuine operational hazard. When inaccurate information about arrests or breakthroughs circulates widely, it can trigger premature celebrations, lower public vigilance, and even alert criminal networks that investigators may be closing in, potentially causing abductors to move victims to harder-to-reach locations.

However, the persistence of misinformation also reflects the public’s desperate desire for good news after nearly a month of anxiety over the fate of the abducted teachers and pupils. Furthermore, the information vacuum created by the absence of official updates has given room for speculation and fabrication to fill the gap. The Oyo State government and security agencies have been consistently tight-lipped about operational details, citing the need to protect the rescue mission.

Still, civil society groups said authorities must strike a better balance between operational secrecy and public communication, arguing that families of the victims deserved more regular factual updates even if specific tactical details could not be disclosed. Notably, Governor Seyi Makinde had earlier assured families that the situation was under active management, but the lack of visible results has strained public confidence. Meanwhile, the Oyo State House of Assembly had already passed a resolution calling for intensified rescue operations and security upgrades at vulnerable schools. Consequently, pressure on the state and federal governments to produce a breakthrough is intensifying with each passing day.

FCT Police Warn Against Begging for Criminals’ Release

In related law enforcement news, a former senior police officer warned Nigerians on Monday against publicly begging for the release of suspected criminals awaiting trial, describing the practice as shameful and counterproductive to the rule of law. The warning followed a pattern of social media campaigns in recent months in which supporters of arrested individuals had mounted public pressure on security agencies and the judiciary. In addition, the FCT Police Command said its newly launched Violent Crime Response Unit had begun active deployments across Abuja in pursuit of kidnapping and armed robbery networks.