An attempted attack on the Maryam Babangida Girls Science College, Minna, Niger State by two unidentified men was foiled on Thursday by a teacher of the school, The Eagle Online reports.
It was gathered that the teacher, a female, was rushing early in the morning through the footpath to the school when she was accosted with the smell of Indian Hemp and stopped to look around.
She sighted two men that had already changed into the school uniform and were about to wear the Hijab.
The men asked her to return to where she was coming from if she wants to remain alive.
Out of fear, she took to her heels and headed back, but rather than run home, she went through the main gate to alert the school that had already gathered for general assembly.
When the students got wind of the information, pandemonium broke out as they were uncontrollable, running in various direction out of panic.
The school authority alerted the police, the Military and the Department of State Service, whose quick arrival, it was further gathered, helped to calm the students down.
Speaking with newsmen in her office, the Principal of the School, Hajiya Fatima Madugu, said the information given by one of the teachers at 7:30am saved the school from being attacked.
Maiduguri explained that when the information arrived that two men disguised as students and were getting prepared to join the assembly, it created a lot of panic among the students and teachers, but quickly, the military, the police and the DSS were alerted and on arrival, their presence assisted in calming down the situation.
According to her: “When the security agencies came, they questioned the teacher, especially with the security challenges confronting the nation, people got scared that some have disguised themselves and planning to join on the assembly.
“You can imagine the fear that will be created in the minds of these children.”
Also, speaking the female staff, Bezat Doma, stated that she followed the footpath (short cut) to enable her get to school early and meet up with her 8am lesson, only to be accosted by the two unknown men that asked her to return home, if she wants to be safe.
She said: “I was really scared, when I saw them almost dressed in the school uniform.
“They have already worn the trouser, shirt and about to put on the Hijab when I sighted them and it was because of the smell of Indian Hemp that made me looked around.
“And one just walked to me and said, go home, there is no school today.
“Go if you love your life.
“I just took off my shoes and ran back.
“But, instead of going home, I went to inform our principal who was already at the assembly ground.”
But, the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Ibrahim Abiodun Gambari, said the men in question were lunatics, whose presence early that morning created fears in the school.
According to Gambari, “They were able to gain entrance into the school due to the porous nature of security in schools.
“But I can tell you that adequate security will be given to schools by the police as well as security tips to help them in case of any eventuality.”
The Eagle Online
