Police deny kidnapping reports at Abuja school

The FCT Police Command has denied claims of an attempted kidnapping at a primary school in Gbagalape, Nyanya. Reports of this incident surfaced on Thursday regarding Phase 1 Primary School in the area.

In a statement by spokesperson Josephine Adeh, the police said they conducted thorough searches and investigations in the community but found no evidence of any kidnapping or arrests related to the claims.

"On June 4, 2026, around 10:30 a.m., officers from the FCT Police Command at Nyanya Division received a distress call about a kidnapping happening at Phase 1 Primary School, Gbagalape, Abuja. After receiving the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) quickly sent officers and surveillance teams to the location.

"Initial investigations showed that students began shouting 'kidnappers' and running out of the school, which caused panic among teachers and community members. As a result, police cordoned off the school and conducted a thorough search.

"After searching and questioning people within and around the school, no kidnapping was confirmed, no suspects were seen, and no victims were found. Police also patrolled the nearby hills and boundaries and checked other schools as a precaution," the police command stated.

The police urged the public to stay calm and avoid spreading unverified information that might cause unnecessary fear and tension in the community. They also asked residents to report any suspicious activities or emergencies to the nearest police station immediately.

In light of the panic, PREMIUM TIMES visited schools in nearby Kurudu and Nyanya and found that some parents hurried to pick up their children. Some schools also sent students home to prevent any potential issues.

"My daughter's principal at Kurudu Government School told them to leave early today because of the incident. My daughter mentioned that some police officers visited their school," one parent shared with this newspaper.

Another parent said he also went to pick up his child early from school. "I had to go and fetch my child from school because we heard about a kidnapping at a school in Orozo a few weeks ago. We felt it was necessary to act quickly," he stated.

Kabiru Musa, Head of Information at the FCT Education Secretariat, said he had not received any reports about a kidnapping. "As far as I know, we have not received any report, and we did not authorize any school to shut down," Mr Musa said during a phone call with PREMIUM TIMES.