Osun

Academic Activities Disrupted Over Bandits Scare in Osogbo

ByHafsoh Isiaq

PublishedJune 2, 2026

Academic activities were disrupted across parts of Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Tuesday following widespread panic sparked by rumours that armed bandits had infiltrated communities on the outskirts of the city.

The development led to anxiety among parents and guardians, many of whom hurried to schools to withdraw their children from classes amid fears of a possible attack.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the panic was triggered by reports circulating across the metropolis that suspected bandits had taken over areas around Egbeda and Boredun, communities located close to Osogbo.

Although there was no official confirmation of the claims, the rumours spread rapidly through schools, residential areas and social media platforms, causing concern among residents.

Along the Oke-Baale axis and adjoining neighbourhoods, schools witnessed unusual scenes as parents arrived in large numbers to pick up their wards before the close of school hours. Some students were seen leaving school premises in the company of their parents and relatives as fears of insecurity heightened.

One of the affected parents told OSUN DEFENDER that she rushed to her children’s school after receiving an alarming phone call from her daughter who lives in Ilorin, Kwara State.

“My daughter called me from Ilorin and said she had heard that bandits had taken over areas close to Osogbo. She begged me to immediately go and pick up the children from school. As a mother, I could not ignore such information, so I left everything I was doing and rushed to the school,” she said.

Another parent said the current security situation in the country has made many Nigerians extremely sensitive to reports of attacks, adding that no parent would want to take chances where the safety of their children is concerned.

The panic in Osogbo comes amid heightened fears among teachers, students and parents across the country following the recent abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The attack, which occurred in May, saw armed men invade Community High School and Baptist Nursery and Primary School in the Ahoro-Esiele/Yawota area, abducting 39 pupils and students as well as seven teachers. The incident sent shockwaves across the Southwest and reignited concerns over the safety of schools in the region.

Since the abduction, several disturbing videos released by the kidnappers have surfaced online, showing traumatised teachers and pupils appealing to the Federal Government and Oyo State Government to secure their release.

In one of the videos, some of the teachers, speaking under apparent duress, begged authorities to meet the demands of their captors and rescue them from captivity.

The incident has left many teachers, students and parents across Nigeria living in fear, particularly in communities located near forests and remote settlements.

Education stakeholders have repeatedly warned that persistent attacks on schools could negatively affect learning and school attendance if urgent measures are not taken to improve security.

As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from security agencies confirming the presence of bandits in any community around Osogbo.

However, residents have called on security authorities to increase surveillance around the state capital and provide timely information to calm public fears.

Hafsoh Isiaq

Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.