The Oyo State Government has dismissed reports of a kidnapping at the Oyo State College of Nursing and Midwifery campus in Kishi, describing the claims as false and misleading.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olusegun Olayiwola, said the alarm was unfounded and spread rapidly among students, staff and residents, triggering unnecessary panic. He reassured parents and the public that no abduction occurred and emphasized the administration’s commitment to safeguarding educational institutions across the state.
The clarification comes at a time when concerns over campus security remain heightened in parts of Nigeria, where previous incidents of school-related abductions in other regions have fueled public anxiety. In that climate, unverified social media claims can quickly gain traction and intensify fear.
Oyo State authorities said the Kishi report followed a wave of online messages that suggested a security breach at the nursing college, prompting calls and inquiries from worried families.
According to officials, the rumour began circulating early, spreading through student networks and local communities before being amplified online. The situation prompted immediate checks by campus authorities and state officials to verify the claims.
The Provost of the college, Dr. Gbonjubola Owolabi, confirmed that internal assessments were carried out in collaboration with security personnel stationed at the institution. Those checks found no evidence of any intrusion or criminal activity on campus.
State officials moved swiftly to counter the narrative. Olayiwola cautioned against the dissemination of unverified information, warning that spreading false claims online could constitute a cybercrime under Nigerian law.
The college management has also initiated steps to trace the source of the rumour. Administrators said security protocols are being reviewed and strengthened to prevent similar incidents and to reassure students and their families.
The turning point came after security personnel completed on-site inspections and reported no signs of a breach. That confirmation enabled the state government to issue a formal rebuttal and calm mounting fears among parents and guardians.
Officials stressed that rapid verification was essential to prevent escalation and to maintain order within the academic community.
As the clarification circulated, tension on campus reportedly eased. Authorities have continued to monitor the situation while reinforcing internal communication channels to ensure accurate information reaches students and staff promptly.
Parents and guardians have been advised to rely solely on official communication from the institution and the state government rather than reacting to unverified social media posts.
By the close of the day, state officials reiterated that no kidnapping occurred and that all students remained safe. The government maintained that accountability would follow if individuals were found responsible for deliberately spreading false information.
The episode underscores the speed at which misinformation can destabilize communities, particularly in an environment already sensitive to security concerns. For the Oyo State Government and the college leadership, the priority now is restoring confidence and reinforcing trust in official channels, while ensuring that campus security remains vigilant and transparent.
