Students of Ayetoro-Iloro High School in Ekiti State were sent home early after rumours of suspected bandits in nearby areas triggered panic among students, parents and residents.
Students of Ayetoro-Iloro High School in Ekiti State were forced to flee in panic after rumours of suspected bandits near the community prompted authorities to close the school early on Thursday.
Videos shared online showed frightened students running along major roads and seeking help from motorists and residents as tension spread across the area, with many parents rushing to locate their children.
As of the time of reporting, no attack or kidnapping had been confirmed, though the incident renewed concerns about insecurity in rural schools across the state.
Residents called on security agencies to increase surveillance around schools and establish checkpoints on major roads linking villages in the area.
“We cannot continue to live in fear every day. Government must deploy more security personnel to these rural communities before something terrible happens,” one resident said.
By Thursday evening and Friday morning, neither the Ekiti State government nor the police had issued an official statement confirming the presence of bandits or any security breach in the area.
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