A reported kidnapping scare at a primary school in the Gbagalape area of Abuja Municipal Area Council, on Thursday triggered panic among pupils, teachers and parents before police investigations confirmed that no abduction had taken place.
The incident, which occurred at Phase 1 Primary School, prompted an emergency response by officers from the Nyanya Police Division after a distress call was received around 10:30 a.m. alleging an ongoing kidnapping at the school.
The alarm also spread to neighbouring schools, with some reportedly dismissing pupils early amid fears that kidnappers or armed attackers had invaded the area.
However, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command said extensive searches of the school and surrounding communities found no evidence of any kidnapping incident.
The Command in a statement on Thursday, clarified that officers were immediately deployed to the school when the report was received.
The statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, disclosed that preliminary findings showed that pupils suddenly began shouting “kidnappers” and running out of the school premises, causing panic among teachers and residents.
She said the school was subsequently secured and searched by police officers.
“Following extensive search and questioning of persons within and around the school premises, no kidnapping incident was established, no suspect was sighted, and no victim was identified,” the statement said.
The police spokesperson added that officers also searched surrounding hills, boundaries and adjoining areas, while nearby schools were visited as part of precautionary security measures.
The police clarification came as one of the affected schools informed parents that investigations indicated the alarm may have originated from a fight involving two youths in the Gbagalape area, which later fuelled rumours of kidnappers operating within the community.
In a notice to parents, the school urged residents to verify information before reacting in order to avoid panic and disruption.
The school stated that rumours circulating in the area had claimed that kidnappers or armed attackers were operating around Phase 4 and neighbouring communities, but noted that the reports later turned out to be false.
It nevertheless assured parents that the safety of pupils remained its top priority and promised to communicate promptly whenever there was any verified security threat.
The FCT Police Command urged residents to remain calm and refrain from spreading unverified information capable of causing unnecessary panic and tension within communities.
The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, encouraged residents to promptly report suspicious activities and emergencies to the nearest police station or through the command’s emergency lines.
