Panic In Lagos Over Rumours Of Mass Abduction Of School Pupils

Pandemonium Friday broke out at Mushin area of Lagos after a false rumour made the rounds that members of the  Boko Haram sect had infiltrated a school in the neighbourhood and made away with over 100 students.

Once the story which emanated from the social media filtered in, parents in a panic, rushed to the school, which was identified as Premier Schools to pick  up their children.

It was gathered that personnel from the Area D, Mushin, were immediately drafted to the area to beef up security as well as investigate the claims.

However, at that point, the school authority had already prevented the worried parents from taking their children home as the news was a mere rumour.

The school principal, Femi Erille said, "It was a mere rumour. I also heard about it in the radio. We have 700 children both in the secondary and primary school and all of them are still in the school.

"No one is missing and no parents has complained that his or her child is missing. In fact, it was false news."
Also, one of the parents who heard the rumour and rushed to the school, said he was relieved when he discovered it was baseless news put together by some idle people.

Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ngozi Braide said it was a rumour, adding that although they knew it was a false alarm, they still beefed up security.
She said, "We knew it was a false alarm but we responded swiftly and sent our men to the school to assure the public that we are ever ready to attend to their distress calls.

"We call on members of the public to stop raising false alarm because many innocent people have been attacked on the accusation that they are kidnappers.
"Well, you have heard from the school authority and parents that there was nothing like Boko Haram abducting children in Lagos."