Lagos State Government has appealed for calm following panic in the Ojokoro area of the state over reports of an alleged bandit attack at a school complex, which prompted anxious parents to rush to the premises to check on their children.
Reacting to the incident, the Lagos State Education District I, which supervises 99 public junior and senior secondary schools across the Agege, Alimosho and Ifako-Ijaiye areas, clarified that no case of banditry or kidnapping occurred, describing the situation as a misunderstanding caused by a poorly communicated educational exercise.
According to the district, the incident originated from a weekly co-curricular programme at Ijaiye Ojokoro Junior College, one of the four schools located within the Ojokoro school complex.
The authorities explained that the exercise was designed to educate students on contemporary security issues and often incorporates practical demonstrations to enhance learning and engagement.
However, during Wednesday’s session, a member of the teaching staff reportedly adopted an overly dramatic approach while illustrating the dangers of kidnapping and banditry, inadvertently triggering panic among students and members of the surrounding community.
Officials said the demonstration involved the use of a vehicle and simulated security-style operations, including costumes and behaviour intended to resemble those of criminal elements.
The realistic nature of the exercise reportedly caused confusion, with many students believing the school was under attack and fleeing the premises in fear.
The resulting alarm quickly spread beyond the school environment, leading concerned parents to make frantic inquiries about their children, while residents of nearby communities, including the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation, LSDPC, Estate in Ojokoro, reacted to reports circulating on social media.
In a statement, the Residents Association of the LSDPC Estate acknowledged that the exercise may have been conceived as an educational role-play but criticised its execution, describing it as inappropriate given prevailing security concerns across the country.
The association noted that the teacher involved failed to notify school authorities, staff members and students about the planned dramatization, which included realistic special effects.
“Furthermore, the teacher failed to inform the school authority, other staff, and the rest of the student body about his proposed drama, which included the use of realistic special effects. This lack of communication resulted in severe panic within the school,” the association stated.
“In the ensuing rush to escape what they believed to be a real threat, a large number of students fled into our estate, causing the rowdiness and alarm that many witnessed.
“We want to assure all residents that there was no actual security breach, kidnapping or bandit attack within or around our estate. The police were immediately contacted and are fully involved. The teacher responsible for the false alarm has been taken to the police station for questioning, and the situation has been completely brought under control.”
Authorities maintained that the incident was the result of miscommunication rather than any security threat and reassured parents and residents that students and staff remained safe.
Meanwhile, a visit to the police station where the teacher was reportedly taken showed the staff member present at the facility. However, inquiries into the matter were declined by the Divisional Police Officer, who referred journalists to the spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command for further information.