Panic erupted across several schools in Minna, the Niger State capital, on Wednesday following rumours of an alleged bandit invasion, forcing hundreds of pupils and students to abandon classes and rush home.
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The unverified reports, which spread rapidly across the city, claimed that armed bandits had entered Minna and were targeting schools, particularly Christian-owned institutions. The rumour triggered widespread fear among students, parents, and school administrators.
Many pupils reportedly left their classrooms before the end of the school day, while concerned parents frantically contacted school authorities to confirm the safety of their children.
One parent, Chinenye Nwadike, said she immediately began calling her husband after hearing reports of a possible terrorist attack in the city.
“Our three children attend Catholic schools in Bosso. As soon as I heard the rumour, I started calling my husband to make sure they had left school safely. Nobody wants to take chances with the lives of their children,” she said.
The rumour also prompted some parents to personally visit schools to pick up their children.
A Catholic school principal, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said she received numerous calls from worried parents seeking confirmation about the alleged attack.
“Since around 11:30 a.m., I have been receiving calls from parents asking if the school was under attack or if students had been asked to go home. I also heard the rumour, but I did not see any terrorists. I contacted the police, and they assured me that there was no such incident,” she said.
Despite the reassurance, she noted that recurring incidents of school abductions in parts of the country have heightened fears among parents and school authorities.
Another parent, Isah Usman, said he rushed to his son’s school after hearing the reports.
“This situation is frightening. The rate at which bandits attack schools and abduct children is alarming. I did not want to take any chances, so I went straight to my son’s school and brought him home,” he said.
Usman also urged the Niger State Government to consider suspending academic activities temporarily to calm public fears, especially with the Democracy Day public holiday approaching.
Meanwhile, the Niger State Police Command has dismissed the reports as false and misleading.
In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, the command said security personnel visited all the schools mentioned in the rumours and found no evidence of any attack.
“The Niger State Police Command wishes to respond to the false and misleading reports circulating in public spaces alleging attacks on schools in Bosso, Kpakungu, Sabon-Wuse and Lambata areas. No such attack occurred in any school within the state,” the statement said.
The police described the report as the handiwork of mischief-makers seeking to create fear and panic among residents.
According to the command, investigations have commenced to identify those responsible for spreading the false information, while security patrols around schools have been intensified.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, also directed divisional police officers to work closely with school administrators as part of ongoing school protection initiatives.
Although calm was gradually restored after the police clarification, the incident underscored growing concerns about school security and the impact of misinformation on communities already grappling with fears of insecurity.
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