Kidnapping Scare: Edo schools shut down as parents withdraw their children

Some schools were on Thursday, shut down in parts of the Edo North senatorial district over a kidnapping in the schools.

DAILY POST gathered that there were reported cases of abduction of students from St-James Grammar School, Afuze, Owan East and Holy Trinity Grammar School, Sabogida Ora, Owan West local government areas.

The invasion of schools by suspected kidnappers was also reported in Auchi, Aviele, Agbede in Etsako West and Iruekpen and Ekpoma in Esan West local government areas.

In viral videos, students of Holy Trinity Grammar School were seen running from the school.

In one of the viral videos, a narrator was heard saying suspected kidnappers invaded the Holy Trinity Grammar school and that some of the students were abducted.

In Aviele, a man and children were reportedly abducted by gunmen.

It was gathered that parents have also invaded the schools in the localities to pick their children.

Meanwhile, the principal of the senior secondary school of St-James Grammar School, Afuze, who identified himself as Mr Ayo Musa, described the information on the alleged invasion of the school as false and most unfortunate.

Musa said there was not even a strange face that would warrant the alleged invasion of the school by suspected kidnappers.

According to him, it is just quite unfortunate that people are spreading false information. There was no strange face or faces in the school to warrant school information. Only God knows where they got the false information from that there are kidnappers at St James Grammar School, Afuze

Meanwhile, the Edo State Police Command has debunked the claims, insisting they are false.

A statement by the Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, said a 42-year-old male native has been arrested in connection with the rumour of the alleged kidnapping in Afuze.

“The Edo State Police Command has identified one Ernest Ugbomoiko, male, 42 years, of Afuze Community, as the individual responsible for originating and circulating the false information, alleging that bandits and kidnappers had abducted school children in parts of Edo State, including Afuze, Ehor, Otuo, Agbede and Igueben.

“The Command wishes to state unequivocally that the report is false, misleading and capable of causing unnecessary panic among residents. There was no incident of school children being kidnapped in the mentioned areas or any other part of Edo State.

“The Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, Monday Agbonika, wishes to reassure the public that the deployment of security personnel to schools and other vulnerable locations across the state was not in response to this false report.

“Nevertheless, these deployments, which were part of proactive policing strategies, have been intensified throughout the state, on the directives of the Commissioner of Police.

“Parents, guardians, school administrators and students are therefore advised to go about their lawful activities without fear, as adequate security measures remain in place to guarantee their safety,” he said.

The Command, however, warned that individuals who deliberately spread false information capable of threatening public peace, undermining security operations or causing public disorder would be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

She encouraged members of the public to verify security-related information through official channels before sharing such reports.