The Nasarawa State Police Command, alongside the proprietor of St. Peter’s Foundation Secondary School in the Rukubi area of Doma Local Government Area, has officially and unequivocally dismissed widespread reports of a student abduction. The Command described the claims, which quickly circulated across social media platforms, as “false” and a product of mass panic triggered by a simple case of mistaken identity involving local hunters.
This swift denial came amidst heightened national anxiety over the safety of students, especially following confirmed incidents of school abductions in other parts of Northern Nigeria. The Police Command utilized multiple channels, including a formal statement and a voice chat with the school management, to rapidly restore calm and assure parents of the students’ safety.
Mistaken sighting of armed hunters triggers panic
The incident that sparked the widespread panic occurred on Friday morning after students from St. Peter’s Foundation Secondary School were heading to the school field for their Physical and Health Education practicals.
According to the account provided by the school proprietor, Peters Ezegwoya, the pupils sighted some armed individuals carrying Dane guns—traditional firearms often used by hunters in rural areas. Out of fear, and likely influenced by the recent spate of security breaches targeting schools across the North, the students immediately mistook the hunters for kidnappers and raised a frantic alarm.
The panic was instantaneous. The students reportedly fled back to the school premises, accompanied by their teachers. However, as the news spread beyond the school gates, some pupils and parents exaggerated the encounter, spreading unverified claims that an abduction had taken place and that two pupils were missing. This exaggeration quickly translated into viral reports on social media, prompting genuine fear within the community and beyond.
The proprietor, Ezegwoya, confirmed that while some students went home due to the ensuing chaos and panic, subsequent checks revealed that no student was missing or abducted. He strongly described the entire episode as a “rumour blown out of proportion” and totally false.
Police deploy joint team to restore normalcy
In response to the initial unverified reports alleging that two pupils of St. Peter’s Academy had been abducted, the State Police Command acted decisively. The Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed, promptly deployed a combined team of Police operatives and military personnel stationed within the general area to the scene.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ramhan Nansel, the rapid deployment was a necessary response to the security alert. Upon arrival and comprehensive investigation, the combined team discovered that the scare was indeed the result of the students fleeing after sighting the hunters.
“The area was thoroughly combed, and normalcy was immediately restored,” the PPRO confirmed in the official statement. The Police team also interviewed the proprietor, who confirmed to the operatives that the alarm raised was “a false one.” Security operatives have since intensified monitoring in the general area to prevent any future security breaches or similar scares.
Call for media verification and public calm
The Nasarawa State Police Command utilized the opportunity to caution the public and media against the uncritical dissemination of unverified information.
Nansel urged the public to disregard the viral report, labeling it as “mere rumour unworthy of publication as factual news.” He specifically advised journalists and media platforms to always verify information before rushing to publish, highlighting the severe consequences of creating unnecessary panic in a sensitive security climate.
This incident, coming at a time of heightened vulnerability for educational institutions, underscores the delicate balance security agencies must strike between swift response to potential threats and managing public anxiety fuelled by unverified social media reports. The quick action by the police, coupled with the collaboration of the school proprietor, was instrumental in debunking the false report and stabilizing the community.
