Nasarawa police debunk viral kidnapping claims at St. Peter’s Academy, Rukubi

Nasarawa police debunk viral kidnapping claims at St. Peter’s Academy, Rukubi

The Nasarawa State Police Command on Friday clarified that no pupils were abducted from St. Peter’s Academy in Rukubi, Doma Local Government Area, despite viral social media claims that triggered widespread panic.

A video circulating online showed distraught parents retrieving children dressed in yellow tops and blue skirts or shorts, sparking fears of a school kidnapping. The footage came hours after a separate student abduction at St. Mary’s Private Catholic Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara LGA, Niger State, heightened nationwide security concerns.

In a statement to THE WHISTLER, Police spokesperson SP Ramhan Nansel dismissed the abduction claims. He explained that pupils panicked after seeing hunters carrying Dane guns near the school premises during sports activities, mistaking them for kidnappers.

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According to Nansel, the Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Mohammed, immediately dispatched a joint team of police and military personnel to assess the situation.

“The report circulating on social media alleging that two pupils were abducted is false and does not reflect the reality on the ground,” Nansel said. “The children fled in fear upon sighting hunters, and normalcy was restored after a thorough sweep of the area.”

The school proprietor confirmed the incident was a misunderstanding, and authorities assured the public that the area would continue to be monitored for security.

The incident highlights the impact of viral misinformation on public perception of school security in Nigeria, underscoring the need for verified communication from authorities.

Nasarawa police debunk viral kidnapping claims at St. Peter’s Academy, Rukubi