Fear spread across parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) after reports of an alleged kidnapping attempt at a primary school in Nyanya sparked confusion among pupils, parents and school authorities.
The FCT Police Command has since clarified that no abduction took place, describing the reports as unfounded after investigations found no evidence of criminal activity at the school.
According to the police, security personnel were deployed following an emergency alert from Phase 1 Primary School, Gbagalape, where concerns had been raised over a suspected kidnapping situation.
Upon arrival, officers reportedly secured the school premises and conducted extensive checks within the school and surrounding communities. Investigators also interviewed teachers, residents and other relevant individuals.
The command said the exercise did not uncover any victim, suspect or indication that an abduction had occurred.
Police spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, explained that the alarm appeared to have originated after some pupils began shouting and running out of the school premises, creating fear among other students and residents in the area.
The incident nevertheless caused widespread concern, with reports indicating that several parents rushed to schools in Nyanya, Kurudu and neighbouring communities to pick up their children.
Some schools reportedly released pupils earlier than scheduled as a precautionary measure amid uncertainty surrounding the situation.
The development comes at a time when concerns over the safety of schools remain high following recent cases of student and teacher abductions in different parts of the country.
Reacting to the incident, the FCT Education Secretariat said it had not received any official report confirming a kidnapping and did not issue directives for schools to close.
While urging residents to remain vigilant, the police appealed to members of the public to verify information before sharing it, warning that false security alerts can generate unnecessary panic and disrupt normal activities.
The command assured residents that security agencies remain alert and committed to protecting schools and responding promptly to any genuine threat.
