Nigeria Police say pastor was not arrested in connection with Oyo student kidnappings

The Oyo State Police Command has officially refuted claims that a pastor was apprehended for providing arms, ammunition, or logistical support to the bandits responsible for the Oriire school abductions.
In a formal press release, the state command characterized the viral rumors circulating on social media as entirely false, misleading, and unfounded. Social media posts and broadcast snippets suggested that a local cleric was caught engaging in gunrunning and smuggling operational equipment through checkpoints.
The source of the misinformation was traced back to a recycled video from an unrelated arrest in August 2020 in Imo State, where a different pastor was showcased in connection with a separate kidnapping syndicate.
Official Police Clarification: Oyo State Police spokesperson DSP Ayanlade Olayinka confirmed that neither the police nor any collaborating security agency has detained any pastor in relation to the Oriire incident. In a statement, the Command described the reports as a deliberate attempt to disrupt the ongoing rescue mission and mislead the public.
Security forces are actively pursuing the armed bandits within the Old Oyo National Park. Official police records indicate that several students and teachers remain unaccounted for following raids on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, as well as Community Grammar School.
While security operatives have arrested six suspects and three local informants accused of providing intelligence and logistical support to the armed gang, none of these individuals are local religious leaders.
The Oyo State Police Command urges the public to disregard the viral report, cautioning against the dissemination of unverified information that could hinder rescue efforts, and encourages individuals to consult their verified official channels for authentic security updates.