The Oyo State Police Command has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that pupils and teachers abducted from communities in Oriire Local Government Area have regained their freedom.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, described the reports as false, misleading and capable of undermining ongoing rescue operations.

According to the police, there has been no official confirmation of the release of the victims abducted from Ahoro Esiele and Yawota communities.

“The Oyo State Police Command wishes to categorically debunk the viral messages currently circulating across various social media platforms alleging that the pupils and teachers abducted from Ahoro Esiele and Yawota Communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have been released by their abductors,” the statement said.

The Command urged members of the public to disregard the reports, stressing that efforts to secure the safe release of the victims remain ongoing.

The police assured families of the abducted pupils and teachers that security agencies are working tirelessly and deploying all available resources to rescue the victims unharmed.
It added that operations are also focused on tracking down and prosecuting those responsible for the abduction.

While acknowledging widespread public concern over the incident, the Command warned against the spread of unverified information, noting that misinformation could create panic, heighten anxiety and interfere with ongoing security operations.

Residents were advised to rely only on information released through official channels of the Nigeria Police Force and other authorised government agencies.

The police further appealed to the public to remain calm, vigilant and supportive of security efforts by refraining from sharing unverified reports on social media.

“The Command remains committed to ensuring the safe return of the victims and will continue to provide timely and accurate updates as developments unfold,” the statement added.

The advisory comes amid growing concern over the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, an incident that has attracted attention across Oyo State and beyond.

The Command encouraged residents to report emergencies through the Oyo State Call Response Centre toll-free line 615 or the Oyo State Police Command Control Room numbers 08081768614 and 07055495413.