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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

38 Ivorians arrested in Ogun not bandits, police clarify

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Context piece
  • Ogun State Police Command denies reports of bandit attacks and invasions in communities and schools.
  • The command clarifies that the arrest of 38 Ivorians in Atan-Ota was unrelated to banditry and that the state remains secure.
  • Security assessments confirmed schools are safe and operational, with commercial and social activities proceeding normally.

Ogun State Police Command has refuted claims circulating on social media alleging bandit attacks and invasions in various communities and schools within the state. The command's Public Relations Officer, Babaseyi Oluseyi, stated on Tuesday that the state is safe, calm, and secure, urging residents not to cause alarm based on unverified information.

Oluseyi specifically addressed reports concerning Oluke Community High School, Sango Ota High School, and areas like Fadunsin, Atan-Ota, Sango-Ota, and Agbado. He confirmed that security operatives deployed to these locations found no evidence of banditry, kidnapping, or any terrorist activities. School Protection Squads and divisional police officers conducted security assessments, verifying that all mentioned schools were safe, secure, and fully operational, with academic activities continuing without interruption.

The suspects claimed to have entered Nigeria for online business activities. Upon conclusion of preliminary police procedures, they were duly handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further investigation and appropriate administrative action in line with extant immigration laws and protocols.

— Babaseyi OluseyiOgun State Police Command's Public Relations Officer explaining the outcome of the operation involving 38 Ivorians.

The command expressed concern over the tension generated by the spread of unverified security information. Assessments across affected communities indicated that commercial, academic, and social activities were progressing normally without any threat to lives or property. The police emphasized that there was no cause for alarm.

Regarding the arrest of 38 foreign nationals from Côte d’Ivoire in Kajola-Ilese, Atan-Ota, Oluseyi clarified that this operation was intelligence-led and unrelated to banditry. The individuals, comprising 19 males and 19 females aged 25 to 35, were found in an apartment and could not produce valid immigration or travel documents. They claimed to have entered Nigeria for online business activities. Following preliminary police procedures, they were handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further investigation and appropriate action.

At no time during the operation were bandits, kidnappers or terrorists arrested.

— Babaseyi OluseyiOgun State Police Command's Public Relations Officer refuting claims linking the arrest of Ivorians to banditry.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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