Abuja schools shut down as truckload of bandits arrive in border town

Rumors of an intended attack on schools in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja yesterday, Wednesday, May 5, 2021, forced authorities of some private schools to hurriedly send their students home.

Despite several assurances by the police authorities that the capital is safe, online news portal, Leadership reported that 200 unidentified men suspected to be bandits were dropped by a truck in Sabon Wuse area of Niger State, a border town with Bwari, Abuja.

The country has been faced with insecurity challenges including banditry and kidnapping.

This has forced some private schools to close their schools with instructions to students to remain at home till further notice.

Some parents who do not want their identities revealed told our correspondent that the schools gave the instructions on various group WhatsApp platforms of the schools, Dailytimes reports.

In the last two weeks, over ten persons have been kidnapped in Bwari area council with a ransom of about N10million paid to secure their release.

Last week, about seven persons were kidnapped in Sabon Fulani area of the council and about N5 million ransom was said to have been paid, says Daily Times.

According to residents, the fear was heightened following the report that over 200 unknown persons were dropped from a truck in the Sabon Wuse area.

A parent who spoke to LEADERSHIP said, “We were asked to come for our children in their school before the time they were supposed to close for the day.

"I don’t know if they will be going to school tomorrow because we are still waiting for further directives from their school group WhatsApp platform”, the parent, who does not want her identity revealed said.

"The Joint Security Team of the FCT wishes to refute the mischievous publication targeted at creating palpable tension amongst the well-spirited residents of the FCT.”