No bandits’ presence in Ogun community, CP allays fear
The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Bode Ojajuni, on Friday dispelled rumours of bandits’ presence in Lusada community in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of the state. In two separate voice notes—Yoruba and English—shared on social media platforms, especially WhatsApp, there were claims that some bandits have relocated to Lusada, triggering panic among members in […]
The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Bode Ojajuni, on Friday dispelled rumours of bandits’ presence in Lusada community in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of the state.
In two separate voice notes—Yoruba and English—shared on social media platforms, especially WhatsApp, there were claims that some bandits have relocated to Lusada, triggering panic among members in the community.
In the first voice note, the man who portrayed himself as an Islamic cleric spoke in Yoruba, claiming that bandits now reside in Lusada and asked people to be vigilant.
In the second voice note, the speaker, in English, forwarded the first audio to a WhatsApp group he belongs to, saying:
“Hello sir, hello ma, hello everyone. Please, this thing I sent to the platform, the man, an Islamic cleric, was saying in Yoruba that bandits are now in Lusada. So, what he is saying is confirming that even though Seriki is very aware, they have met with the Seriki Hausa.
“But the other Hausas are saying no, they would never operate here. So, this is an alert to everyone to be very, very careful and vigilant. May Almighty God be with every one of us and our families and our belongings.”
However, the Police Spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, in a statement on Friday, said the CP, in a ‘decisive and rapid response’ to circulating rumours of bandits’ presence in Lusada, promptly deployed the Area Commander, Agbara Area Command, ACP Folashade Tanaruno, to take charge of the situation and reassure residents.
According to him, upon arrival, the Area Commander led a robust, confidence-building patrol across Lusada and adjoining communities, sending a strong message of police visibility, readiness, and control.
“The operation effectively dispelled fear and restored public confidence as officers engaged directly with community members,” he said.
He explained that residents were sensitized on security awareness, while strategic interactions were held to strengthen cooperation between the police and the public.
The statement reads: “In a decisive and rapid response to circulating rumours of bandit presence in Lusada, the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Bode Ojajuni, psc, FCSS, MNIPR, promptly deployed the Area Commander, Agbara Area Command, ACP Folashade Tanaruno, to take charge of the situation and reassure residents.
“Upon arrival, the Area Commander led a robust, confidence-building patrol across Lusada and adjoining communities, sending a strong message of police visibility, readiness, and control. The operation effectively dispelled fear and restored public confidence as officers engaged directly with community members.
“Residents were sensitized on security awareness, while strategic interactions were held to strengthen cooperation between the police and the public. In a proactive move to enhance intelligence gathering and rapid response, phone numbers of Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and other key personnel were shared with community leaders to ensure seamless information flow.
“Additionally, coordinated convoy patrols involving all divisions under the Area Command were conducted, further reinforcing the Command’s dominance and zero tolerance for criminal elements.”
Quoting CP Ojajuni, the command reassured members of the public that it “remains vigilant, proactive, and fully committed to safeguarding lives and property across the State.”
He urged citizens to remain calm, law-abiding, and continue to support the police with credible and timely information.