Nasarawa State Police Command has dismissed widespread reports claiming that students of St Peter’s Foundation Secondary School, Rukubi, in Doma Local Government Area, were abducted yesterday.
A statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Ramhan Nansel, described the viral accounts circulating across social media and some news outlets as “false” and not reflective of the actual events.
According to the statement, the alarm was triggered when students heading to the school field for Physical and Health Education classes sighted armed hunters in the area and fled in panic, mistaking them for kidnappers. Their teachers subsequently escorted them back to the school premises.
Nansel said the Commissioner of Police, Shettima Mohammed, immediately deployed a joint team of police officers and military personnel stationed within the vicinity after receiving the initial distress report.
“Upon arrival, it was discovered that the students had sighted some hunters carrying Dane guns and, out of fear, fled, mistaking them for kidnappers. The area was thoroughly combed and normalcy was immediately restored,” the statement said.
The proprietor of the school confirmed that no abduction took place, describing the alarm as a false one. Security operatives have continued to monitor the area closely to prevent any possible breach.
The command urged the public to disregard the circulating report and advised journalists and media organisations to verify information before publication to avoid creating unnecessary panic.
“The report is a mere rumour unworthy of publication as factual news,” the statement added.
