…Kidnappers allegedly sighted near Gbagalape primary school
- Police debunk kidnapping report
…We have all it takes to crush terrorists, says FG
By Teddy Nwanunobi, Hosea Parah and Olawumi Oyehan
Fear on Thursday gripped residents including school authorities, students, parents and guardians of Mararaba, an Federal Capital Territory (FCT) border community located in Karu Local government of Nasarawa state, following report that suspected kidnappers were allegedly operating within the Mararaba axis which prompted schools proprietors to abruptly dismiss their students and pupils as a precautionary measure. Also, some shop owners quickly locked up their shops and fled the markets.
But the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command dismissed reports of an alleged kidnapping incident at Phase 1 Primary School, Gbagalape, Abuja, describing the claim as false and unsubstantiated.
This was even as the Federal Government reassured Nigerians that it has what it takes to crush terrorists.
According to the information gathered by our correspondent, rumors of suspected Fulani kidnappers moving around parts of Mararaba spread rapidly during the day, creating apprehension across several neighbourhoods. In response, some school authorities reportedly decided to send students home early to ensure their safety.
It was particularly reported that schools at the Aso A and Aso B as well as other parts of Mararaba reportedly suspended academic activities as parents and guardians rushed to pick up their children and wards.
At Aso B, parents were seen arriving at schools to take their children home. Among the affected schools were Henjodan Primary and Secondary School and Merit Gate Scholar Academy, which are located close to each other.
Sources said the management of both schools directed students to return home as concerns spread over reports of an alleged attack on a school in Nyanya by persons suspected to be bandits.
A student of Henjodan said that their Principal instructed students to leave the premises, following the circulating reports.
“There was information that something happened in Nyanya and we were asked to go home,” the student said.
The situation led to confusion and traffic congestion in parts of the area as concerned parents and guardians hurried to various schools to take their children and wards home.
Residents expressed concern over the growing insecurity in the area and called on security agencies to strengthen surveillance and provide adequate protection for communities.
Some eyewitnesses claimed that the alarm was triggered by reports of suspected kidnappers allegedly sighted within the Mararaba area. However, as of the time of filing this report, the claims had not been independently verified.
Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Mararaba Police Division were unsuccessful. Repeated attempts to reach police authorities for comments were not responded to before filing this report.
However, as at press time, there was no official confirmation of any school attack or abduction linked to the incident.
Community leaders have since appealed to residents to remain calm and vigilant, while avoiding the spread of unverified information capable of causing unnecessary panic.
Meanwhile, residents are urging security agencies to provide a clear update on the situation and take proactive measures to prevent any potential security breach in the area.
As uncertainty continues to linger, many families remain concerned about the safety of their children and the overall security situation within the Karu and Mararaba communities.
Meanwhile, the FCT Police Command debunked reports of an alleged kidnapping incident said to have occurred at Phase 1 Primary School, Gbagalape, Abuja.
”On the 4th of June, 2026, at approximately 10:30 AM, officers of the FCT Police Command attached to Nyanya Division received a distress call alleging an ongoing kidnapping incident at Phase 1 Primary School, Gbagalape, Abuja. Upon receipt of the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Nyanya Division, immediately mobilized officers and surveillance teams to the scene.
”Preliminary investigations revealed that students had suddenly started shouting ‘kidnappers’ and running out of the school premises, creating panic among teachers and members of the community. Consequently, the school premises were cordoned off and thoroughly searched by responding officers.
”Following extensive search and questioning of persons within and around the school premises, no kidnapping incident was established, no suspect was sighted, and no victim was identified. Additionally, surrounding hills, boundaries, and adjoining areas were patrolled and searched, while nearby schools were also visited as part of precautionary security measures,” a statement issued by SP Josephine Adeh, Police Public Relations Officer, FCT Police Command, Abuja, read.
The Command, therefore, urged members of the public to remain calm and refrain from spreading unverified information capable of creating unnecessary panic and tension within communities.
The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, encouraged residents of the FCT to promptly report suspicious activities or emergencies to the nearest police station or through the Command’s emergency lines
In a related development, the Federal Government has assured Nigerians that ongoing security operations will lead to the safe rescue of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in recent attacks across parts of the country, insisting that coordinated intelligence-driven efforts are already yielding results.
The assurance was given yesterday at a special national security briefing in Abuja, where the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the government remains fully committed to ending attacks on schools and communities and ensuring that no victim remains in captivity.
The briefing comes amid renewed public concern following recent abductions in Oyo State and a terrorist attack on a school in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, where dozens of children were reported missing. The incidents have further heightened anxiety over insecurity in parts of the country.
Idris described the latest wave of attacks as deeply troubling but insisted that security agencies are actively tracking those responsible.
“The safe return of every child and every teacher currently in captivity remains a top national priority. No Nigerian child should be in captivity, and every available lawful instrument of the state is being deployed to ensure their rescue,” Idris said.
He added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed security agencies to intensify operations, including the deployment of specialised rescue teams and the strengthening of surveillance in vulnerable forest corridors.
The minister also disclosed that 1,000 forest guards would be recruited to support security operations in high-risk communities, particularly in areas increasingly used as hideouts by criminal elements.
According to him, multiple security and intelligence agencies, including: the Armed Forces, DSS, Nigeria Police Force, NIA, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and the National Counter Terrorism Centre are jointly coordinating rescue missions and intelligence gathering.
“We are not relenting. Intelligence operations, aerial surveillance and search-and-rescue missions are ongoing across affected areas. Operational details cannot be disclosed, but Nigerians can be assured that progress is being made,” the reiterated.
He noted that the administration’s response to insecurity goes beyond military action, stressing the importance of intelligence-led policing, technology deployment and structural reforms, including the planned introduction of state policing.
“We are dealing with a complex and evolving security challenge. What we have adopted is a comprehensive strategy that combines force, intelligence, cooperation and long-term reforms to ensure lasting peace,” he said.
The Federal Government urged citizens to remain calm, vigilant and supportive of security agencies by providing credible information, while warning against misinformation that could aid criminal groups.
Idris also cautioned against narratives that could embolden terrorists, saying insecurity must be confronted collectively by all Nigerians.
“Terrorism has no tribe, no religion and no political affiliation. Its only objective is destruction,” he said. “We must deny them the fear and division they seek to create.”
He assured families of abducted victims that government efforts are ongoing and unwavering.
Fielding questions from journalists, security chiefs at the briefing insisted that Nigeria possesses the capacity and coordination required to defeat terrorist groups and rescue abducted victims.
A senior military spokesperson, Brigadier General Samaila Uba, said recent attacks should not be seen as a sign of weakness but rather a reflection of pressure being mounted on insurgents.
“We have gone to every nook and cranny where these terrorists are located, and destroyed their logistic hubs, their bases and camps. Many of them are fleeing to other areas that hitherto had no insecurity issue,” he said.
He added that the armed forces would continue to pursue criminals wherever they operate, warning that “anyone who takes up arms against Nigeria will be tracked and neutralised.”
Also speaking, Director of Legal Services at the Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari Mijinyawa, said hostage rescue operations require careful planning rather than rushed interventions driven by public pressure.
He explained that security agencies must prioritise the safety of victims in all operations.
“The objective of security is to save lives, not to impress. It is to ensure that victims return safely to their families and communities. That is always the guiding principle,” Mijinyawa explained.
The Nigeria Police Force also assured Nigerians that intelligence-led operations are ongoing nationwide, though operational details are being withheld to protect the victims