Tension gripped Government Girls College, Maiduguri, on Monday night when students fled their hostels in fear after claiming they saw “men in black wearing face masks” around the school premises.
The incident, which occurred at about 8:25 p.m., sent shockwaves through the school community. According to eyewitnesses, the students ran out of their dormitories in large numbers, spilling into nearby streets, many without proper clothing, as they attempted to escape what they believed was a real threat.
Security personnel, including police and local vigilante groups, were immediately deployed to the scene to secure the area and prevent further chaos.
The spokesperson for the Borno State Governor, Dauda Illiya, confirmed the panic in a statement posted on Facebook. He assured residents that security agencies had swiftly responded, adding that senior government officials were already at the school to conduct an on-site assessment.
“A panic incident occurred this evening at the Government Girls College in Maiduguri. Security agencies were immediately deployed and have successfully restored order,” Illiya said. He also urged the public to disregard circulating rumours and avoid sharing misleading information.
The incident sparked a wave of reactions online after a Facebook user, Amos Adziba, uploaded a video showing distressed students running across the school compound and into the streets. Adziba claimed one of the students told him that masked figures entered the hostel area while others were praying in the school mosque. The student pleaded with the government to allow them go home, expressing fear of a possible attack.
Adziba also appealed to security agencies and state authorities to intervene urgently to address concerns and reassure parents.
However, the Borno State Police Command later dismissed claims of an attack, calling it a false alarm. Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Daso, said preliminary investigations revealed that the panic originated from a small group of students who believed they saw unidentified figures near the fence close to the staff quarters’ gate.
According to Daso, the fear quickly spread throughout the hostels, leading to a brief stampede. He stressed that no intruder was found and that no student sustained injuries.
The police statement, titled “False Alarm on Alleged Attack at Government Girls College, Maiduguri,” also noted that a team led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Garba Audu Bosso, was dispatched to the school to assess the situation and calm students and staff.
Borno State Commissioner of Police, Naziru Abdulmajid, urged the public to stay calm and refrain from sharing unverified information that could increase anxiety or disrupt public order. He assured parents that the situation was under control and that additional security measures had been put in place around the school.
Normal activities reportedly resumed later in the night, though some students remained shaken by the experience. Authorities say more information will be released as investigations continue.
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