ASABA—Panic swept through Kwale in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State on Monday after students of Otagba-Ogbe Girls Secondary School fled their classrooms over fears of a possible herdsmen attack.
The commotion began when students reportedly spotted two herdsmen entering the school premises from the rear, sparking a stampede as they fled in confusion. The alarm quickly spread beyond the school, throwing the surrounding community into chaos.
A community source said rumours had circulated over the weekend about herdsmen allegedly gathering near the school.
“Everyone is alert. There were rumours that some herdsmen met close to the school premises on Saturday,” the source explained.
“Today, as students were learning, two herdsmen entered the compound from the back. Whether they were looking for their cattle, I don’t know. But because of earlier information and the way they were dressed, the students started running. That escalated fears and the whole community went into panic. Even the herdsmen ran back into the bush.”
However, the Delta State Police Command has dismissed the incident as a false alarm.
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, said no attack occurred and urged the public to disregard the rumours.
“The Delta State Police Command wishes to inform the public that the rumour alleging an invasion of Girls’ Secondary School, Utagba-Ogbe, Kwale, on November 24, 2025, about 0930hrs, is entirely false and misleading,” the statement read.
“The panic originated from misinformation circulated among students and was further amplified by unverified online reports suggesting community anxiety and alleged gunshots.”
Edafe said the Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, immediately deployed the DCO of Kwale Division, Udofia Kufre, and a patrol team to carry out an on-site assessment.
“The Vice Principal and the security man on duty confirmed that no attack occurred. The panic came solely from misinformation among students,” he added.
Police also visited neighbouring schools within the Kwale axis and found all academic activities running smoothly.
Parents who rushed to retrieve their children were urged to remain calm as normalcy has been restored.
The Command assured residents that security around schools remains intact, emphasising that the situation was driven entirely by fear—not fact.