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Information circulating on social media that bandits attacked Ajaawa, headquarters of Ogo-Oluwa Local Government Area of Oyo State, on Friday night, killing three persons and injuring several others, has been dismissed as false by community leaders and security authorities.
The report, published by an online medium, claimed that armed bandits invaded the community, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries, thereby heightening fears following recent cases of kidnapping and killings in parts of the Ogbomoso zone.
However, findings revealed that the incident was neither a bandit attack nor did it occur in Ajaawa as widely reported.
Sources disclosed that the victim was a commercial motorcyclist who was shot dead by an unidentified gunman after leaving Ipeba in Oriire Local Government Area along the Ogbomoso-Oyo Road.
The deceased was reportedly conveying two women traders who usually sell bread and other items to travellers at Ipeba and were returning to their village in Ladanu, located in Ogo-Oluwa Local Government Area.
Narrating the incident, one of the women, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said another motorcyclist had trailed them shortly after they departed Ipeba.
“Friday night, he came to take us home as usual. Another motorcyclist started following us, but we didn’t suspect anything. At a lonely spot before the Oba River Bridge between Ipeba and Ajaawa, we suddenly heard a gunshot. The bullet hit our rider and we fell into the bush.
“Unfortunately, the okada rider died while the gunman sped away,” she recounted.
Reacting to the reports, the Alajaawa of Ajaawa, His Royal Majesty, Oba Thompson Adeyeye Oyetunji, Olumole II, described the incident as unfortunate but condemned what he called the deliberate misrepresentation of facts.
“It was a despicable occurrence, but to claim that bandits attacked Ajaawa and killed my subjects is completely wrong. Ajaawa remains peaceful. Even the Friday incident occurred before the victims reached the Oba River Bridge, which marks the boundary between Oriire and Ogo-Oluwa local government areas,” the monarch stated.
He expressed sympathy to the family of the deceased and prayed for divine comfort, while urging residents and members of the public not to spread unverified information.
Oba Oyetunji further lamented what he described as a growing trend of fake news targeting the community.
“Last week, there was also a report alleging that bandits attacked schools and killed people in Ajaawa. That report was equally false. People outside Ajaawa should be cautious of rumours and verify information before sharing it,” he added.
Police sources in Ajaawa also dismissed reports of a bandit invasion, maintaining that Ogo-Oluwa Local Government Area remains peaceful.
According to the sources, preliminary findings indicated that the incident was a case of murder carried out by an unidentified assailant and not an attack by bandits.
“Ajaawa is peaceful and Ogo-Oluwa is peaceful. Based on accounts from the passengers, this was a murder case and it occurred within the jurisdiction of the Ikoyi-Ile Divisional Police Headquarters.
People should disregard fake news and rumours capable of causing unnecessary panic,” the police source said.
The clarification comes amid growing concerns over security challenges in parts of Ogbomoso zone and renewed calls for responsible reporting and verification of information before publication.
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