A late-night incident at the Government Girls College (GGC) in Maiduguri, Borno State, saw students flee their hostels after claiming they sighted men in black with face masks, though police authorities have since dismissed the alarm as false.
The incident, which occurred around 8:25 pm on Monday, led to a brief stampede as frightened students rushed onto nearby streets. Security operatives were immediately deployed, and state government officials quickly arrived at the school to restore order.
Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, remains highly sensitive to security threats due to its long history as the epicenter of the Boko Haram insurgency. The psychological impact of past attacks, particularly the infamous 2014 mass abduction of schoolgirls in Chibok, means that any unverified sighting or noise can easily trigger massive fear and panic, especially in female boarding schools.
Police investigation revealed the tension started after some students near the staff quarters’ gate claimed to have sighted unidentified figures behind the school fence.
A student, quoted by a Facebook user, begged the government to let them go home “so they won’t be kidnapped like the Chibok girls”.
Top government officials, including the Commissioner of Education, quickly mobilized to the school to assure students and parents that the situation was under control.
Despite the stampede, the Police Public Relations Officer confirmed that no loss of life or major injuries were recorded during the incident.
The police authorities confirmed that order has been fully restored, warning the public to refrain from spreading unverified information.
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