Fear spread across several parts of Nigeria on Wednesday as schools in Kogi, Edo and Niger states shut down early following security threats and reports of bandit activities, forcing students to rush home while parents scrambled to ensure the safety of their children.
The panic was fuelled by a deadly attack on UBE Secondary/Primary School in Iluke, Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, where armed bandits killed three people, including a vice principal and a six-year-old child.
According to the Kogi State Police Command, the attackers stormed the community on motorcycles with the intention of abducting students and residents. Security operatives, including police officers, military personnel and local vigilantes, responded swiftly and engaged the criminals in a gun battle, preventing what authorities described as a possible mass abduction.
Three people lost their lives during the attack, while one bandit was killed and a security operative sustained injuries.
The incident heightened fears in other parts of the country, particularly in Edo State, where intelligence reports from the Department of State Services warned of a planned attack on schools in Edo North Senatorial District.
The DSS disclosed that suspected bandits intercepted during surveillance operations revealed plans to target schoolchildren after previous attempts to kidnap wealthy individuals failed to yield substantial ransom payments.
Following the alert, the Edo State Government ordered the temporary closure of Ososo Grammar School, Ososo Comprehensive High School and Makeke Secondary School in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area.
The Ministry of Education stated that the closure was a precautionary measure, although candidates currently sitting for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination would still be allowed to write their papers under strict security arrangements.
In Niger State, rumours of an imminent terrorist attack on schools caused widespread panic in Minna, with many pupils abandoning classes and rushing home before the end of the school day.
Concerned parents flooded school authorities with calls while others personally went to schools to pick up their children. Some school administrators admitted that fear among parents and students was overwhelming despite the absence of any confirmed attack.
However, the Niger State Police Command dismissed the reports as false, describing them as the handiwork of mischief makers seeking to create panic.
Police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun said investigations had begun to identify those responsible for spreading the rumour, while security patrols around schools had been intensified to reassure residents.
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The wave of fear comes weeks after the abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo State, an incident that sparked widespread outrage and renewed concerns over the safety of students across the country.
Civil society groups and community organisations have also raised alarm over the growing insecurity. Amnesty International condemned the attack in Kogi State, stressing6 that no child should have to fear violence while pursuing education.
Similarly, the National Association of Okun Students described the Iluke attack as evidence of worsening insecurity in Okunland and called for an urgent security summit involving traditional rulers, political leaders and security agencies to develop lasting solutions.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police Command dismissed reports circulating on social media alleging that terrorists had infiltrated forests around Ogbomoso and the Old Oyo National Park.
The command described the claims as false and misleading but assured residents that intelligence officers and security operatives had been deployed to vulnerable communities as a precautionary measure.
As fears continue to mount, stakeholders have urged governments at all levels to strengthen security around schools and communities to prevent further attacks and restore public confidence in the safety of educational institutions.
