Panic swept through parts of Minna, the Niger State capital, on Wednesday after rumours of a possible bandit invasion forced many pupils and students to abandon classes and rush home for safety.
Several schools reportedly witnessed a sudden exodus of children who left before the end of the school day amid fears that armed terrorists had entered the city and were targeting educational institutions.
Concerned parents also flooded school authorities with phone calls to verify the reports and confirm the safety of their children.
One parent, Chinenye Nwadike, said she immediately contacted her husband after hearing the rumours to ensure their children had safely left school.
“Nobody wants to take chances with their children’s lives. As soon as I heard about the alleged invasion, I started calling my husband to confirm that our children had left school and were safe,” she said.
A Catholic school principal, who spoke anonymously, confirmed that many students left school in fear after the rumours spread across the city.
“Parents kept calling to ask whether their children were safe and if the school had been closed. I also heard the rumour but had no confirmation of any attack. I contacted the police, and they assured me there was no security breach,” she explained.
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Another parent, Isah Usman, said he personally went to his son’s school to bring him home, insisting he was unwilling to take any risks.
“The situation is frightening. Bandits have attacked schools in different parts of the country, so when people hear such rumours, they naturally panic. Parents are worried because they feel the government is struggling to protect vulnerable communities,” he said.
Usman also urged the Niger State Government to consider suspending academic activities temporarily to calm public fears.
Reacting to the development, the Niger State Police Command dismissed the reports as false and misleading.
Police spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, said officers visited the schools mentioned in the rumours and found no evidence of any attack.
“The Niger State Police Command wishes to categorically state that no school in Bosso, Kpakungu, Sabon-Wuse, or Lambata was attacked by hoodlums. The information circulating is false and intended to create panic among residents,” the statement read.
The command disclosed that investigations had begun to identify those responsible for spreading the misinformation, while assuring residents that security measures around schools had been strengthened.
Police Commissioner Adamu Abdullahi Elleman also directed divisional police officers to work closely with school administrators and maintain regular patrols around schools to ensure the safety of students, staff, and surrounding communities.
Despite the police assurances, the incident highlighted growing public anxiety over insecurity and the increasing fear of attacks on schools across the country.
