A night of panic swept through Government Girls College, Maiduguri, on Monday after students fled their hostels, claiming they had seen “men in black with face masks” around the school premises. The incident created fear across the community, prompting the immediate deployment of security personnel and quick intervention from state authorities.
The scare took place at about 8:25 pm when students were inside their hostels preparing for the night. According to eyewitness accounts, the alarm began suddenly and spread rapidly, causing students to rush out of their dormitories into nearby streets. Many fled barefoot and without their bags, shouting for help and calling on the government to protect them.
Videos posted on social media showed groups of students running frantically, some still wearing nightwear or school wrappers. The video quickly gained attention online, raising concerns about another possible school attack in the state.
Shortly after the incident, the spokesperson for the Borno State Governor, Dauda Illiya, released a statement urging the public to remain calm. He said security operatives were immediately deployed to the school and that order had been restored within a short time.
Illiya wrote on Facebook, “A panic incident occurred this evening at the Government Girls College in Maiduguri. In response, security agencies were immediately deployed and have successfully restored order.”
He also noted that senior government officials had visited the school to assess the situation and address the students’ concerns. He advised the public to disregard any “false information” circulating on social media, saying the government was on top of the situation.
The panic began when some students claimed to have seen strange men wearing black clothing and face masks behind the school fence. In the video posted by Facebook user, Amos Adziba, a terrified student said the masked figures entered their hostel area while they were praying in the mosque.
The student appealed to the government to allow them to go home, saying, “We don’t want to be kidnapped like the Chibok girls.”
This reference to the 2014 Chibok school abduction reflects the deep fear that still lingers among students and parents in Borno State. The kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, by Boko Haram remains one of Nigeria’s most painful security tragedies. Many of the girls are still missing more than a decade later.
Such memories continue to influence public reactions, especially in a state that has suffered repeated attacks from insurgents over the years.
The video shared by Amos Adziba also included an appeal to government officials. Amos urged the Chief Security Officer of the state, the Commissioner of Police, and the Commissioner of Education to act swiftly to avoid “hearing bad news.”
His post increased public anxiety online, with many users expressing fear that the incident could be another attempted school attack. However, within an hour, authorities confirmed that the situation was under control.
Later that night, the Borno State Police Command released an official statement describing the incident as a false alarm. According to the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Daso, investigations revealed that the panic started after a few students thought they saw unidentified figures near the staff quarters’ gate.
The statement, titled “False Alarm on Alleged Attack at Government Girls College, Maiduguri,” explained that the sighting triggered fear, which spread quickly among students, resulting in a stampede.
“The situation triggered fear, leading to a minor stampede, with no loss of life recorded,” Daso said.
He added that officers led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Garba Audu Bosso, rushed to the school immediately and carried out a full assessment. After checking the premises, the police found no intruders and no sign of an attempted attack.
The Commissioner of Police, Naziru Abdulmajid, advised the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information that could cause panic. He stressed that the police are committed to protecting all schools in the state and will continue to monitor the area closely.
“Normalcy has been restored in the school,” the statement said, assuring the public that updates would be provided if needed.
Borno State, the birthplace of the Boko Haram insurgency, has suffered many school-related attacks over the years. The most widely known is the Chibok abduction in 2014, but several other schools have also been targeted in the past.
Many parents in Borno, especially in rural and semi-urban communities, still fear sending their children to boarding schools. Even rumours of an attack can cause chaos because people have lived through real tragedies before.
Government Girls College, Maiduguri, is one of the schools that has strengthened its security presence in recent years, following repeated threats from insurgents. Despite these efforts, fear remains a constant challenge among students and staff.
After videos of the fleeing students circulated online, many parents reportedly rushed to the school, demanding to take their children home. School authorities had a hard time assuring them that the situation was under control.
Some parents told reporters that their hearts “jumped” when they heard the news because the memory of past attacks has made them extremely cautious.
Following Monday night’s scare, government officials have promised to review the security arrangement around the school. They said more patrols would be introduced, especially at night, and additional lighting would be installed along the fence line to reduce fear among students.
