The Lagos State government has called for calm following a wave of panic triggered by a school exercise at Ijaiye Ojokoro Junior College in the Ojokoro area. False reports of a bandit attack at the school complex led to parents rushing to secure their children and widespread alarm on social media.
Miscommunication Sparks Fear
The Lagos State Education District 1, which oversees 99 public junior and senior secondary schools across Agege, Alimosho, and Ifako-Ijaiye zones, clarified that there was no actual banditry or kidnapping. The panic stemmed from a miscommunication during the school's weekly co-recreational exercise, which used practical demonstrations to teach students about security threats.
Over-Dramatised Demonstration
According to the authorities, a supervising teacher over-dramatised the theme of the day, staging a realistic scenario involving a truck and paramilitary-style props to illustrate kidnapping and banditry. The performance included actors in bandit gear, which caused students and nearby residents to believe a real attack was underway.
The Guardian visited the school during the incident and noted that while the school often uses practical teaching methods, the current security climate made the approach particularly alarming. The lack of prior communication about the drill exacerbated the situation.
Community Reaction
Parents frantically sought information about their children, and residents of the nearby Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) Estate also reacted to the spreading rumors. The Residents Association of the LSDPC Estate criticised the exercise as ill-timed and poorly coordinated, given the country's security challenges.
“The teacher failed to inform the school authority, other staff, and the rest of the student body about his proposed drama, which included the use of realistic special effects. This lack of communication resulted in severe panic within the school,” the association stated. “In the ensuing rush to escape what they believed to be a real threat, a large number of students fled into our estate, causing the rowdiness and alarm that many witnessed.”
The association assured residents that there was no actual security breach, kidnapping, or bandit attack. Police were immediately contacted, and the teacher responsible was taken to the station for questioning. The situation has been fully brought under control.
Police Involvement
When The Guardian visited the police station, the teacher was seen behind the counter, but the Divisional Police Officer declined to comment, directing inquiries to the Police Force Public Relations Officer.
