A mother has narrated how she rushed to her child’s school earlier this week after rumours of bandits sighted in nearby bushes triggered panic among parents, students and school authorities in an unidentified community.
The incident reportedly led to chaotic scenes as guardians scrambled to evacuate children from multiple schools in the area.
According to the mother, fear spread quickly after reports emerged that armed groups had allegedly been seen within surrounding bushes, raising concerns about a possible attack.
She said the situation escalated rapidly as parents abandoned their daily activities and converged on schools to pick up their children, causing traffic congestion and confusion across the community.
Describing the scene, the mother said transport operators, parents and students crowded the streets in a desperate effort to get children to safety.
“Students and pupils from different schools were all over the place. Parents were running up and down, bikes everywhere, tricycles everywhere. Everyone was in a hurry,” she said.
She noted that the atmosphere reflected the level of anxiety many communities face amid recurring security concerns in parts of the country.
The mother further revealed that her daughter became visibly distressed when she arrived at the school gate and immediately expressed fear about returning to class.
“As soon as my daughter saw me, she started crying that she does not want to go to school again because bandits will carry her and kill her if she goes,” she recounted.
The emotional reaction, she said, left her worried about the long-term psychological effects that insecurity may be having on children.
The incident has revived concerns about school safety, particularly following several high-profile school abductions recorded between 2021 and 2023, which led to temporary school closures and emergency evacuations in affected areas.
Since the account surfaced online, many parents and education stakeholders have expressed concern about the impact of insecurity-related fears on children’s sense of safety and willingness to attend school.
Reactions
“This is the saddest part of insecurity. Children are growing up afraid of going to school.”
“Even if the rumour turned out to be false, the trauma and fear it caused are very real.”
“No child should have to worry about being kidnapped just for attending classes.”
“Parents can replace many things, but they can never replace their children. The panic is understandable.”
“The government must do more to secure schools and reassure both parents and students.”
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Published by Ejoh Caleb
