Oyo Police Deny Arrest of Pastor Over School Abduction, Warn Against False Reports

The Oyo State Police Command has dismissed reports claiming that a pastor was arrested for supplying arms and ammunition to suspects involved in the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, describing the allegations as false and misleading.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the command said no pastor had been arrested by the police or any other security agency participating in the ongoing rescue operation.

The police said the claim, which originated from a Facebook post and was later circulated by some media platforms, alleged that the unnamed cleric acted as a gunrunner for the abductors.

“The Command wishes to categorically state that this claim is entirely false, misleading and unfounded,” the statement said.

According to the police, the viral post neither identified the alleged pastor nor provided any address or verifiable details to support the claim.

The command stressed that investigations into the abduction of the pupils and teachers were still ongoing and urged the public to rely only on official updates issued through its verified communication channels.

It described the publication as a deliberate attempt to distract security operatives from ongoing rescue efforts and undermine public confidence in the professionalism of security agencies.

The police warned individuals and media platforms against spreading unverified information capable of jeopardising security operations.

It said anyone found deliberately disseminating false information would be identified, investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The command reaffirmed its commitment to securing the safe rescue of the abducted victims and maintaining public safety across Oyo State.