Lagos government denies bandit attack rumor, explains school panic.

The Lagos State Government has urged residents to remain calm after a wave of panic swept through the Ojokoro area following reports of a supposed bandit attack at a local school complex. The scare prompted anxious parents to rush to the premises to check on their children.

In response, Lagos State Education District I, which oversees 99 public junior and senior secondary schools in the Agege, Alimosho and Ifako‑Ijaiye areas, clarified that no banditry or kidnapping took place. The district said the incident was a misunderstanding caused by a poorly communicated educational exercise.

According to the district, the event began during a weekly co‑curricular programme at Ijaiye Ojokoro Junior College, one of four schools in the Ojokoro complex.

The exercise was intended to teach students about contemporary security issues and often includes practical demonstrations to enhance learning and engagement.

During Wednesday’s session, a teacher reportedly adopted an overly dramatic approach while illustrating the dangers of kidnapping and banditry, inadvertently triggering panic among students and nearby residents.

Officials said the demonstration involved a vehicle and simulated security‑style operations, including costumes and behaviour designed to resemble criminal elements.

The realistic nature of the exercise caused confusion, with many students believing the school was under attack and fleeing in fear.

The alarm quickly spread beyond the school, leading concerned parents to make frantic inquiries about their children. Residents of nearby communities, including the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) Estate in Ojokoro, reacted to reports circulating on social media.

In a statement, the Residents Association of the LSDPC Estate acknowledged that the exercise may have been conceived as an educational role‑play but criticised its execution, describing it as inappropriate given prevailing security concerns across the country.

The association noted that the teacher involved failed to notify school authorities, staff members and students about the planned dramatization, which included realistic special effects.

“Furthermore, the teacher failed to inform the school authority, other staff, and the rest of the student body about his proposed drama, which included the use of realistic special effects. This lack of communication resulted in severe panic within the school,” the association stated.

“In the ensuing rush to escape what they believed to be a real threat, a large number of students fled into our estate, causing the rowdiness and alarm that many witnessed.”

“We want to assure all residents that there was no actual security breach, kidnapping or bandit attack within or around our estate. The police were immediately contacted and are fully involved. The teacher responsible for the false alarm has been taken to the police station for questioning, and the situation has been completely brought under control.”

Authorities maintained that the incident was the result of miscommunication rather than any security threat and reassured parents and residents that students and staff remained safe.

Meanwhile, a visit to the police station where the teacher was reportedly taken showed the staff member present at the facility. However, inquiries into the matter were declined by the Divisional Police Officer, who referred journalists to the spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command for further information.