The Oyo State Government has dismissed claims that it paid ransom to secure the release of pupils and teachers abducted by bandits in Oriire Local Government Area, describing the allegation as false and intended to mislead the public.
The government specifically rejected the allegation made by social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), insisting that no payment was made to the kidnappers.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said the claim was entirely untrue and accused what he described as irresponsible bloggers of spreading misinformation to create unnecessary panic and confusion.
According to him, the reports circulating on social media do not reflect the true situation surrounding the ongoing efforts to rescue the abducted victims.
Prince Oyelade explained that both the Oyo State Government and the Federal Government have continued to work tirelessly through appropriate security channels to secure the safe release of the kidnapped pupils and their teachers.
He stressed that at no point did the government pay ransom, either directly or indirectly, to those responsible for the abduction.
“The claim that the Oyo State Government paid ransom to secure the release of the abducted pupils and teachers is far from the truth.
“It is the handiwork of irresponsible bloggers whose intention is to create confusion and misinform the public.
“Although the Oyo State Government and the Federal Government have been making concerted efforts to secure the safe release of the abducted children and their teachers, no ransom has been paid to the bandits, either directly or indirectly,” the statement read.
The commissioner urged members of the public to ignore the claims and avoid relying on unverified reports circulating online.
He advised residents to obtain updates only through official government communication channels to avoid being misled by false information capable of undermining ongoing security operations.
Oyelade reiterated that the state government remains fully committed to collaborating with security agencies until all the abducted victims are safely reunited with their families.
He assured residents that efforts to secure the release of the children and teachers are continuing without interruption.
“Members of the public are advised to disregard these false reports and rely only on information released through official government channels.
“The Oyo State Government remains committed to working closely with security agencies to ensure the safe release of the abductees and bring this sad event to a close,” he added.
The government maintained that the safety of the abducted pupils and teachers remains its priority and appealed for public cooperation as security agencies continue their rescue operations.
