Police dismiss kidnap rumour at Nasarawa school

The Nasarawa State Police Command has denied claims that two pupils of St. Peter’s Academy, Rukubi, in Doma Local Government Area, were kidnapped during school activities. The police described the reports as “false” and “mere rumours unworthy of publication as factual news.”

The unverified claims, which circulated on social media and some blogs, had caused anxiety among parents and residents.

In a statement on Friday, Police Public Relations Officer Ramhan Nansel said the command was alerted to the posts suggesting that kidnappers had taken two pupils from the school.

He explained, “The report is false and does not reflect the true state of affairs.”

Nansel said an unverified alert came around 10 a.m., claiming the pupils had been abducted while participating in sports activities. In response, the Commissioner of Police, Shetima Jauro Mohammed, deployed a joint team of police and military personnel to the area.

“Upon arrival, it was discovered that the pupils had seen some hunters carrying Dane guns and, out of fear, mistook them for kidnappers and ran,” the statement said.

The area was thoroughly combed, normalcy restored, and the school proprietor confirmed that the alarm was false.

Nansel urged the public to ignore the rumour and called on journalists to always verify information before publishing.

The false alarm at St. Peter’s Academy comes on the same day as a serious security incident in Niger State, where armed men stormed St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, and abducted students and staff. According to the Niger State Government, the school had reopened despite prior security warnings.

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