Widespread rumours of an alleged wave of kidnappings sent panic across Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Wednesday, forcing anxious parents to troop to schools to withdraw their children and disrupting commercial activities in the city.
The scare, which spread rapidly through social media platforms and telephone calls, created confusion in several public and private schools as worried parents and guardians besieged school premises to take their wards home before the close of academic activities.
The development prompted some schools to shut down early as fear gripped residents already concerned about the growing insecurity recorded in parts of the country.
Though no incident was officially reported in any school within the metropolis, the rumours were enough to trigger widespread anxiety among families.
In response, the Ondo State Government and the Ondo State Police Command issued statements dismissing the reports as false and assuring residents that there was no record of any kidnapping in schools within Akure.
The government said security agencies, including the Police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Amotekun Corps, had verified the situation and confirmed that normalcy prevailed across educational institutions.
However, by the time the official clarification came, the panic had already taken its toll. Residents hurried home earlier than usual, while many businesses and relaxation centres witnessed low patronage as people avoided staying out late over fears of possible attacks.
Commercial activities that normally thrive in the evening hours were noticeably subdued, with transport operators, traders and shop owners reporting reduced movement across parts of the state capital.
Many residents attributed the heightened tension to recent cases of kidnappings and attacks recorded in parts of Ondo State and neighbouring states, which have heightened public sensitivity to security threats.
While urging residents to disregard unverified information capable of causing unnecessary panic, authorities appealed to members of the public to report genuine security concerns to the nearest police station or Amotekun office.
Despite the government’s assurances, Wednesday’s events underscored the fragile state of public confidence and the growing fears among residents over the nation’s worsening security situation.
