Reports circulating on social media alleging that bandits attacked Ajaawa, the headquarters of Ogo-Oluwa Local Government Area of Oyo State, on Friday night, killing three persons and injuring several others, have been dismissed as false and misleading.
The reports, which heightened fears among residents following recent security challenges in parts of the Ogbomoso zone, claimed that armed bandits invaded the community and unleashed violence on residents.
However, independent findings revealed that the incident was neither a bandits’ attack nor did it occur in Ajaawa.
Investigations showed that the victim was an unidentified commercial motorcyclist who was shot dead while transporting two women from Ipeba in Oriire Local Government Area along the Ogbomoso-Ilorin Road.
The deceased reportedly conveyed the women, who sell bread and other items to travellers at Ipeba, to their village in Ladanu, located in Ogo-Oluwa Local Government Area.
Narrating the incident, one of the women, who pleaded anonymity, said the trio left Ipeba on Friday night unaware that another motorcyclist was trailing them.
“Friday night too he was there to convey us when another motorcyclist began to follow us, but we didn’t suspect anything,” she said.
“At a lonely spot before the Oba River Bridge between Ipeba and Ajaawa, we suddenly heard a gunshot. The bullet hit our motorcyclist and we all fell into the bush. Our rider eventually died while the unidentified gunman rode away.”
Reacting to the reports, the Alajaawa of Ajaawa, HRM Oba Thompson Adeyeye Oyetunji Olumole II, described the incident as unfortunate but condemned attempts to portray it as a bandits’ invasion of the town.
“It was a despicable occurrence, but to write or spread the news that Ajaawa was attacked by bandits who killed my subjects is wrong. Ajaawa remains peaceful,” the monarch said.
He explained that the incident occurred before the victims reached the Oba River Bridge, which serves as the boundary between Oriire and Ogo-Oluwa local government areas.
“Even Friday’s killing happened on the soil of Oriire Local Government because the bridge marks the boundary between the two councils, and the incident occurred before they got there. We sympathise with the family of the deceased. God will comfort them and help us overcome these criminals,” he added.
The traditional ruler also expressed concern over what he described as a growing trend of misinformation targeting the community.
“I need to express dissatisfaction with the recent spike in fake news surrounding Ajaawa. Last week, rumours circulated that bandits attacked schools and killed people in Ajaawa.
That was also false. People outside the town should be careful about the sources of information they rely on and avoid spreading rumours,” Oba Olumole stated.
Police sources in Ajaawa equally refuted claims of a bandits’ attack, maintaining that both Ajaawa and Ogo-Oluwa Local Government Area remain peaceful.
“Ajaawa is peaceful and Ogo-Oluwa is peaceful. The incident on Friday was a case of murder and not a bandits’ attack, based on accounts provided by the passengers of the deceased motorcyclist,” a police source said.
The source further noted that the incident fell within the jurisdiction of the Ikoyi-Ile Divisional Police Headquarters and urged members of the public to disregard unverified reports capable of creating unnecessary panic.
Residents and community leaders have therefore called on media organisations and social media users to verify information before publication, stressing that inaccurate reports could undermine public confidence and generate avoidable fear in peaceful communities.
