The Oyo State Police Command has debunked a report that a traditional ruler was invited for questioning on his alleged role in the abduction of school pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area.
The report went viral on the cyberspace alleging that High Chief Tajudeen Abioye, the Elesinele of Esinele, was invited as regards the ongoing investigations into the abduction in his community on 15 May, 2026.
The law enforcement agency however stated that there was no time that High Chief Abioye was invited for questioning in relation to the ongoing investigation on the incident.
Questioning Traditional Ruler, A Falsehood
The state PPRO, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, described the report as a total falsehood in a rebuttal titled “RE: Disclaimer of False Report Regarding Invitation of Traditional Ruler for Questioning.”
The PPRO categorically stated in the rebuttal, dated 24 June, 2026, that the report was false, unfounded, and misleading.
“The attention of the Oyo State Police Command has been drawn to a report currently circulating across cyberspace alleging that High Chief Tajudeen Abioye, the Elesinele of Esinele in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, has been invited for questioning in connection with ongoing investigations into the abduction of teachers and schoolchildren within the community.
“The Command wishes to categorically state that this report is false, unfounded, and misleading.
“At no time was the said traditional ruler invited for questioning in relation to the ongoing investigation,” it was stated in the press release.
The law enforcement agency in the state further stated that the report was part of a deliberate campaign of misinformation and disinformation orchestrated by criminal elements.
It stated that it was “aimed at creating division, generating unnecessary tension, and undermining coordinated security efforts currently directed at securing the safe rescue of the abducted victims and bringing perpetrators to justice.”
Members of the public were therefore advised to disregard the report in its entirety and refrain from sharing unverified information capable of jeopardising ongoing security and rescue operations.
The Command re-affirmed its commitment to working in synergy with relevant stakeholders and security agencies to ensure the safe rescue of the victims of the Oriire Abduction.
It also urged residents of the state to continue to support lawful efforts to rescue the abductees by providing credible and timely information through appropriate channels.
The latest rebuttal by the police has, again, brought to the fore the negative roles of the social media in the efforts to rescue the abducted school pupils and their teachers.
Since the occurrence of the sad and unfortunate incident, purveyors of fake news have taken it upon themselves to spread deliberate falsehoods, thus creating anxiety and panic in the public.
There was a report that one of the abducted school pupils was dead in captivity, a report which eventually turned out to be untrue.
This was as there was an unconfirmed report that the pupils and their teachers were transported in trucks and helicopters from the Old Oyo National Park to Kaduna State.
The Oyo State government and the security agencies in the state have, on several occasions, had causes to come to the public to deny these false and misleading reports.
While the state governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has been constrained to give a regular update in order not to jeopardise the rescue mission, he had, on several occasions, assured of the safety of the victim, adding that efforts were ongoing to ensure their safe return.
The proliferation of fake news, through the social media, has assumed a more worrisome dimension, with several stakeholders calling on the government to monitor and censor social media contents.
This was as several stakeholders have been calling on the security agencies to be more proactive and take decisive steps to arrest and prosecute purveyors of far news.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State chapter, under the leadership of Comrade Akeem Abas, recently held an interventional seminar on news reporting in the era of insecurity and fake news.
It was organised to discuss the growing challenges posed by misinformation, disinformation, insecurity and the implications of cybercrime laws on the practice of journalism
The seminar brought together journalists, media executives, legal practitioners, security experts and communication stakeholders.
Participants at the seminar frowned on fake news and urged all stakeholders to promote accurate and balanced reporting, and strengthen security-conscious journalism.
