Abduction: Panic in Lagos

•Parents besiege schools to withdraw children

Panic erupted in some parts of Lagos State yesterday when news of alleged abduction of school children spread like wildfire. Parents were seen running helter skelter to pick their wards in various schools in Ijeshatedo and Iyana Ipaja areas of the state.

Also in Mushin area of  Lagos, parents rushed to Premier school to pick their children when they heard rumours that Boko Haram insurgents raided the school and abducted 10 children.

It took the timely intervention of  policemen from Area D command in Mushin to prevent parents from forcefully taking their children while the school was still in session.

Saturday Sun learnt that news went viral on the social media while some claimed that they heard the information on Radio.

Others who immediately debunked the rumour said that they realised that it was false when Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umaru Manko allegedly sent out a message on twitter that the alarm was false.

When Saturday Sun visited Baruwa Nursery and Primary school along Ijesha road, parents and relatives were seen struggling to gain access into the school which was already barricaded by policemen. The policemen who kept shouting that it was a false alarm battled to control the desperate parents. Spotted was a middle aged woman who was lying on the floor while the police and passersby battled to resuscitate her. She was said to have fallen down while the desperate crowd unknowingly stepped on her.

A teacher, who pleaded that her name should not be mentioned, told Saturday Sun that shortly before the official closing, parents started trooping in and moved straight to their wards’ classes. “We were surprised when about 10 parents walked into the school and went straight to the classes requesting to pick their children. Surprised, we asked why and they told us that they heard that gunmen stormed the school and took away 10 children. At that point, the headmistress alerted the police who helped us to control the crowd and locked the gate. This was necessary to protect the lives of these children and avoid casualties.

“We wanted to be sure that miscreants will not take advantage of the situation and actually abduct a child,” she stated.

A parent was spotted along Baruwa street weeping uncontrollably, shouting that the school should allow her to carry her children. “ They are not telling us the truth. The news is all over town that 10 children were kidnapped from this school. If it is a lie, why did they lock the gate and invite the police to drive us away? I want my children, oh,” she screamed.

Another parent, Mrs Vivian Onyebukwa, said she received a distress call that gunmen were visiting schools and abducting children.

“I was terrified considering the security situation in the country. I quickly alerted my sister-in-law who is also the proprietress of a school in Ijesha. She calmed my nerves when she told me that they had locked their gates and secured the children. I thanked God that they did not visit that school. Even if it is a lie, there is always an element of truth in every rumour. We heard that 40 children were picked at a school in Olodi Apapa, 10 in Mushin, 10 in Baruwa primary school and another 10 in Iyana Ipaja”, she added.

Yet another parent who spoke with Saturday Sun said: “ When I heard the news, I knew it was just a false alarm. I only decided to go and pick my children because I knew that there might be a stampede.”

When Saturday Sun also visited Premier school, Mushin, the Principal, Femi Erinle said: “It was all a rumour. I also heard about it on 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 parent has complained that his or her child is missing.”

A parent in Mushin, Nuga Babatunde said he also heard the rumour and rushed down to the school and discovered it was a rumour. “I have four children in the school, that was why I rushed down only to see my children attending classes.”

Briefing the press on the situation, Lagos State Police spokesperson,Ngozi Braide said it was all rumour “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.” Braide advised members of the public to stop raising false alarm.