There was panic in a community in Oyo State on Tuesday after frightened parents reportedly rushed into Ijeru Baptist Basic School I and III to withdraw their children over rumours of a possible bandit invasion in nearby areas.
The tension reportedly began after unverified information spread within the Ajawa axis suggesting that armed bandits had invaded surrounding communities, sparking fear among residents.
A video and photos seen by SaharaReporters showed chaotic scenes at the school gate as anxious parents forced their way into the premises, breaking through the gates and hurriedly taking their children home.
A community source said the panic was triggered by misinformation about alleged attacks in neighbouring communities.
“The parents stormed the school, forced the gate open, and began taking their children away by force,” the source said.
According to the source, school authorities repeatedly tried to calm the situation, insisting that there was no bandit invasion affecting the school environment.
“The information they heard was that bandits were around Ajawa, which is not true,” the source added.
The source further explained that teachers reached out to security operatives in the area to clarify the situation, after which they were told the incident being reported was actually linked to a local clash and not a bandit attack.
“The teachers came out saying they had contacted the police command within that district and were informed that the violence had to do with a fight between Fulani people and farmers,” the source said.
The incident comes amid rising tension in parts of Oyo State following recent attacks on schools in the Ogbomoso axis, where pupils and teachers were abducted and one teacher was later killed.
One of the kidnapped teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly killed in captivity, with a video circulating online showing him before his execution, further heightening fear in affected communities.
The latest panic at Ijeru Baptist Basic School disrupted academic activities, as many pupils were withdrawn early amid growing concerns about safety in schools across the region.