…Parents Rush to Withdraw Children from Schools

Residents of some part of Osun State were on Tuesday thrown into panic following unconfirmed reports of suspected bandits sighted around Ila Orangun and neighbouring communities, leading to the withdrawal of pupils from schools by some parents.

Residents from adjoining towns, including Iree, Eripa, Iragbiji, Ikirun and other neighboring towns said the development triggered fear and confusion, forcing parents to rush to schools to pick up their children.

Reacting to the development, the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has reassured Osun people that his government has taken proactive steps to secure Osun schools, urging the public to ignore recent false alarms about school kidnappings in some parts of the state.

The Governor, who described the rumour as the handiwork of evil opposition elements said fact checks from the border areas and across the state confirmed that there was no case of kidnappings.

“I task our people to go about their normal activities without fear. Our government has taken steps to secure our schools.

“The Ministry of Education and the relevant security agencies have worked out a security strategy that is being implemented”, the governor noted.

He reiterated that parents and guardians should not panic as the said alarm was false and the handiwork of opposition elements seeking to plunge the state into chaos.

The governor, in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed and made available to journalists in Osogbo, further updated the public about the armoured vehicles which according to him were abandoned by the Oyetola administration in various locations, briefing the public that Armoured Personnel Carriers have been fully refurbished and ready for deployment.

The governor said his administration inherited the knocked down APCs in various locations, noting that they were reworked and rehabilitated for deployment in areas of need under joint operations by security agencies.

“The Oyetola administration inherited the APCs from the Aregbesola administration.

“The last administration however left them to rot. My government has rehabilitated them and the public will soon witness a new security plan to strengthen the security of lives and properties in Osun state”, the governor noted.

He warned against incitement to criminal conduct by evil opposition elements, warning that the local intelligence network is monitoring and watching the border towns and identified hot spots.

“No stone will be left unturned to guarantee the security of our schools, our pupils, residents, citizens and properties”, the governor added.