Panic erupted on Monday night at Government Girls College, Maiduguri, as students fled their hostels in fear after claiming to have spotted “men in black with face masks” around the school premises.
The alarm, raised around 8:25 p.m., sent dozens of students running into nearby streets, some still dressed in their nightwear. The confusion prompted a swift deployment of security personnel to the area.
The spokesperson to the Borno State Governor, Dauda Illiya, appealed for calm, assuring that security agencies had taken full control of the situation.
He wrote on Facebook: “A panic incident occurred this evening at the Government Girls College in Maiduguri.
In response, security agencies were immediately deployed and have successfully restored order.”
Illiya also noted that senior government officials had arrived at the school, urging the public to ignore circulating rumours and avoid spreading misinformation.
A Facebook user, Amos Adziba, shared a video showing the students running for safety.
He quoted one of them as saying that “men in black with face masks entered their hostels while they were praying in the mosque.”
The frightened student pleaded with authorities to allow them return home “so they won’t be kidnapped like the Chibok girls.”
Amos further appealed to the government, saying, “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.”
However, the police later dismissed the alarm as unfounded.
A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Daso, said investigations revealed that the fear began when a few students near the staff quarters’ gate thought they saw unidentified movement behind the fence.
The statement, titled “False Alarm on Alleged Attack at Government Girls College, Maiduguri,” noted that the panic resulted in a brief stampede, adding that no injuries were recorded.
It added that senior officers, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Garba Audu Bosso, promptly arrived at the scene and assessed the situation.
“The situation triggered fear, leading to a minor stampede, with no loss of life recorded,” Daso said.
The Borno State Commissioner of Police, Naziru Abdulmajid, urged residents “toStudents flee Borno Girls’ College after sighting “men in black” around school
Panic erupted on Monday night at Government Girls College, Maiduguri, as students fled their hostels in fear after claiming to have spotted “men in black with face masks” around the school premises.
The alarm, raised around 8:25 p.m., sent dozens of students running into nearby streets, some still dressed in their nightwear.
The confusion prompted a swift deployment of security personnel to the area.
The spokesperson to the Borno State Governor, Dauda Illiya, appealed for calm, assuring that security agencies had taken full control of the situation.
He wrote on Facebook: “A panic incident occurred this evening at the Government Girls College in Maiduguri. In response, security agencies were immediately deployed and have successfully restored order.”
Illiya also noted that senior government officials had arrived at the school, urging the public to ignore circulating rumours and avoid spreading misinformation.
A Facebook user, Amos Adziba, shared a video showing the students running for safety.
He quoted one of them as saying that “men in black with face masks entered their hostels while they were praying in the mosque.”
The frightened student pleaded with authorities to allow them return home “so they won’t be kidnapped like the Chibok girls.”
Amos further appealed to the government, saying, “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.”
However, the police later dismissed the alarm as unfounded.
A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Daso, said investigations revealed that the fear began when a few students near the staff quarters’ gate thought they saw unidentified movement behind the fence.
The statement, titled “False Alarm on Alleged Attack at Government Girls College, Maiduguri,” noted that the panic resulted in a brief stampede, adding that no injuries were recorded.
It added that senior officers, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Garba Audu Bosso, promptly arrived at the scene and assessed the situation.
“The situation triggered fear, leading to a minor stampede, with no loss of life recorded,” Daso said.
The Borno State Commissioner of Police, Naziru Abdulmajid, urged residents “to remain calm and refrain from spreading unverified information capable of causing unnecessary panic.”
Police authorities confirmed that normalcy had been fully restored, with further updates expected as investigations continue.
remain calm and refrain from spreading unverified information capable of causing unnecessary panic.”
Police authorities confirmed that normalcy had been fully restored, with further updates expected as investigations continue.