Panic grips Abuja residents over suspected bandits’ arrival at border town

….Schools, businesses hurriedly shut down

Palpable fear gripped residents of Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Thursday, after truck loads of bandits allegedly stormed Sabon Wuse area of Niger State, which shares border with Bwari, Abuja.

It was learnt that some schools in Bwari quickly sent their students home, upon learning that more than 200 unidentified men suspected to be bandits arrived Sabon Wuse.

Some businesses in the area, it was also learnt, hurriedly shutdown their activities to avoid being victims of possible bandits attack.

Sources in the area said that some private schools closed down hurriedly with instructions to students to remain at home till further notice.

Some parents, who did not want their identities revealed, said that the schools gave the instructions on various group WhatsApp platforms of the schools.

One of the parents said, “We were asked to come for our children in their school before the time they were supposed to close for the day.

”I don’t know if they will be going to school tomorrow (Thursday) because we are still waiting for further directives from their school group WhatsApp platform.”

Another parent said, ”My children came back home before the usual closing hour. When I enquired, the school said there were reports that kidnappers had surrounded Bwari area council and they (school authorities) do not want to be responsible for any kidnapped student, hence the closure of the school.

”As we speak, the school has been shut down indefinitely.”

The development is coming as Boko Haram terrorists recently threatened to attack the National Assembly and other strategic places in the FCT.