“My five-year-old said she doesn’t want to go to school anymore after the rumors about robbers” — complains the mother

AND mother said she rushed to her child’s school earlier this week after rumors of bandits seen in the nearby bush caused panic among parents, students and school authorities in the unidentified community.

The incident reportedly led to chaotic scenes as custodians scrambled to evacuate children from multiple schools in the area.

According to the mother, the panic started when word got out that armed groups had been seen inside the surrounding bushes, which immediately raised fears of possible attacks.

She said the situation quickly escalated as parents abandoned their daily routines and gathered on school premises to pick up their children, resulting in heavy traffic and confusion.

Panic when picking up at school

The mother described the scene as unbelievable, noting that transporters and parents filled the streets in a rush to ensure the children’s safety.

“Students and students from different schools were everywhere. Parents were running up and down, bikes everywhere, tricycles everywhere. Everyone was in a hurry,” she said.

She added that the atmosphere reflected the deep anxiety that has become common in communities affected by persistent insecurity in parts of the country.

Child’s fear and emotional impact

The mother said her daughter became visibly upset when she saw her at the school gate and expressed fear of returning to the classroom.

“As soon as my daughter saw me, she started crying that she didn’t want to go to school anymore because bandits would take her and kill her if she went.” she recounted.

She further expressed emotional distress at the child’s reaction, questioning the long-term psychological effect of insecurity on young students.

Similar incidents of school panics have been reported in recent years, including during the 2021-2023 period when school hijackings in northern Nigeria led to repeated lockdowns and emergency evacuations in several states, sparking a nationwide debate on school safety and child protection.

The latest report has sparked renewed concern among parents and education stakeholders, with many expressing fear about how stories of insecurity are shaping children’s perceptions of safety and schooling in Nigeria.

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