Private and public schools in the Nyanya suburb areas of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, were thrown into panic on Thursday following allegations that groups of bandits stormed the environs to abduct pupils for ransom.
The alleged invasion, said to have emanated from Phase 1 Primary School, Gbagalape, Abuja, immediately went viral, forcing parents to rush to schools to withdraw their children for safety.
Also hit by the development were virtually all schools in Mararaba, Koroduma and Ado Communities in the Karu local government area of Nasarawa State.
Most parents who were alerted on phones about the alleged bandit invasions of schools hurriedly abandoned their work and forcefully pulled out their children from the schools.
However, contrary to the allegations, some of the schools visited by our correspondent were found calm, although they confirmed that they had been told to be on security alert.
The gates of schools, which are usually thrown open till the closing period, were immediately put under lock and key to prevent unlawful entrance and to secure the safety of the pupils.
At Newphase Academy, the principal, who did not want her name mentioned, confirmed receiving information on the alleged bandit invasions but said that her school was calm because adequate security measures had been put in place.
The school, however, allowed the pupils to go to their respective homes by 2 pm, as against the usual 3 pm based on the request of the parents.
Okada riders and Tricycle operators were seen making brisk business, charging exorbitant fees to transport the apprehensive parents and pupils to their various destinations.
However, the FCT Police Command, in a swift reaction, debunked the bandit invasions allegations, insisting the panic arose out of a false alarm by students.
