Students at Government Girls College in Maiduguri abruptly fled their dorms on Monday night, claiming to have seen “men in black with face masks.” This caused panic.
Around 8:25 p.m., terrified students—many of whom were still wearing their dorm clothes—raced onto the surrounding streets. The school was immediately visited by security personnel.
Dauda Illiya, the governor of Borno State’s spokesperson, said security forces had taken control and asked the populace to remain composed.
He said on Facebook: “This evening, the Government Girls College in Maiduguri experienced a panic event. Security forces responded by deploying them right away, and they were successful in reestablishing order.
He urged the people to ignore any misleading information, adding that high-ranking government officials were already present at the school.
A video of the pupils escaping was shared on Facebook by Amos Adziba. One of them told him that while they were praying at the mosque, “men in black with face masks entered their hostels.”
The student pleaded with the government to allow them to return home “so they won’t be abducted like the Chibok girls.”
“We are calling on the Chief Security Officer of the state, the Commissioner of Police… and the Commissioner of Education… to quickly intervene before we hear bad news,” Amos added in his appeal to the authorities.
The police subsequently declared the warning to be false, though.
According to a statement made by ASP Nahum Daso, the Police Public Relations Officer, investigations revealed that the terror began when some kids panicked close to the gate of the staff quarters, claiming to have seen unidentifiable persons behind the fence.
According to the statement, “False Alarm on Alleged Attack at Government Girls College, Maiduguri,” there was a brief stampede due to the hysteria, but no one was hurt.
Officers under the command of Garba Audu Bosso, Deputy Commissioner of Police, promptly came and evaluated the situation, it further stated.
“The situation caused fear, which resulted in a small stampede, but no fatalities were reported,” Daso stated.
Naziru Abdulmajid, the Borno State Commissioner of Police, asked people “to stay calm and refrain from spreading unverified information capable of causing unnecessary panic.”
According to the police, things have returned to normal and there will be additional updates.
