Residents of Suleja in Niger State were thrown into panic on Wednesday following reports of an alleged bandits invasion scare in the Chaza area, forcing schoolchildren and teachers to flee for safety amid fears of an impending attack.
A resident who spoke to SaharaReporters described scenes of confusion and fear as parents, pupils, and residents reportedly scrambled to escape after the alarm was raised about the presence of bandits in the community.
According to the source, the incident occurred while it was raining in Suleja, worsening the panic as children rushed out of schools and residents sought refuge.
The source said his wife alerted him about the situation after reports emerged that bandits had been sighted in Chaza, a community located within the Suleja axis of Niger State.
“My wife called me this afternoon while it was raining in Suleja, and there was an alarm that bandits were in Suleja (Chaza),” the source told SaharaReporters.
The resident explained that the fear generated by the security alert had an immediate impact on schoolchildren, many of whom reportedly abandoned classes and ran for safety.
“My son almost fainted because they were running from their schools for safety. Teachers couldn’t even wait for the pupils,” he said.
The claim that teachers left in haste, abandoning the pupils, underscores the level of fear that gripped the area, although SaharaReporters could not independently verify the circumstances under which the schools were evacuated.
The source further revealed that the Chaza community is of personal significance to him because he is currently constructing a house there, while his family resides only a few minutes away from the area where the alarm was reportedly raised.
“Chaza is a part of Suleja where I’m building my house, and it’s 4 minutes away from where my wife and kids are living now,” the source said.
The reported scare comes amid escalating insecurity in Niger State and across communities and cities of Nigeria, where residents have repeatedly been attacked, kidnapped, and killed by bandits and other violent armed groups.
Communities in Niger State, particularly those bordering the FCT, have in recent years witnessed recurring attacks by bandits who often target villages, highways, and isolated settlements for kidnappings and other criminal activities.
The latest development has heightened fears among residents already worried about the security situation in the region, especially as reports of bandit activities continue to emerge from several communities across north-central Nigeria.
“I just spoke with the headmaster now, and he said that the children should stay at home till further notice, that there is tension,” the source added.
At the time of filing this report, SaharaReporters’ efforts to confirm the incident from the Niger State Police Command failed as the Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, did not answer calls made to his mobile phone number.