There was confusion in Kwale, Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State, on Monday following reports that bandits had invaded Girls’ Secondary School, Utagba-Ogbe, forcing students and parents into panic.
The rumour, which spread rapidly around 9:30 a.m., prompted some panicked parents to rush to the school to evacuate their children.
But the Delta State Police Command has dismissed the report as false and misleading, insisting that no such incident occurred.
In a statement made available to Razornews the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, noted that the entire panic was triggered by misinformation among students.
“There was no bandits’ invasion in Kwale. The rumour was completely false. What happened was panic caused by misinformation among students, which was unfortunately amplified by unverified online reports,”Edafe stated.
Following the alarm, the Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, ordered an immediate security response. The Divisional Crime Officer, SP Udofia Kufre, led a patrol team to the school for on-the-spot assessment.
According to Edafe, officers interviewed the vice-principal and the security guard on duty. “Both of them confirmed to us that no attack occurred. There were no gunshots, no invasion, nothing,” he stressed.
He added that adjoining schools in the Kwale axis were also visited as a precaution, and all were found calm with normal academic activities ongoing.
Edafe warned the public against spreading unverified claims that could trigger fear and disrupt schooling. “People must stop circulating false alarms,” he said. “The Command is fully committed to responding swiftly to credible threats, but we cannot allow panic to be created by lies.”
He urged school administrators to strengthen their internal communication and report suspicious activity promptly.
False Bandit Attack Rumour Causes Panic in Kwale School – Police
