False Alarm Sparks Chaos at Delta Girls’ School as Police Debunk Herdsmen Attack Claim
A wave of panic swept through Otagba-Ogbe Girls Secondary School on Monday, November 24, 2025, after a rumour of an impending herdsmen attack triggered a frantic stampede, momentarily plunging the quiet academic community into confusion before Police Authorities debunked the alarm as entirely false.
The scare erupted when students reportedly caught sight of two herdsmen entering the school compound from a bushy rear path. Already on edge due to weekend rumours that suspicious movements had been noticed around the school, the girls bolted from their classrooms in fear, setting off widespread alarm throughout Kwale, headquarters of Ndokwa West LGA.
Residents who spoke to Global Mirror News said the tension was fuelled by long-standing unease over herdsmen-community relations in the Area.
“There had been whispers that herdsmen were seen hovering around the School on Saturday,” a Community source disclosed. “So when the girls saw two herdsmen entering today, they panicked. Nobody knew their mission, whether they were searching for cattle or something else.”
Parents stormed the school to evacuate their children, while social media quickly amplified unverified claims of gunshots and an ‘ongoing attack,’ intensifying the fear.
But the Delta State Police Command swiftly intervened, dismissing the claims as baseless and warning against the consequences of spreading false information.
Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, ordered an immediate security sweep of the school. A team led by SP Udofia Kufre, Divisional Crime Officer of Kwale Division, arrived at the scene and conducted on-ground investigations.
Their findings: no attack, no gunshots, and no threat.
Interviews with school administrators, including the Vice Principal and the security guard on duty confirmed that the chaos was purely a result of panic triggered by misinformation.
Security operatives also visited neighbouring schools in the Kwale axis to rule out any related threats. All institutions were reported calm, safe, and operating normally.
The Police Commissioner urged parents to refrain from reacting to unverified reports, stressing that such rumours could destabilise communities and undermine school operations.
He reiterated the Command’s readiness to respond decisively to credible security threats while assuring residents that surveillance across educational environments would be strengthened.
School administrators were advised to improve internal communication systems, promptly report unusual activity, and maintain close cooperation with local security bodies.
With calm restored, authorities appealed for vigilance, not panic, as Kwale returns to its normal rhythm after a scare that turned out to be no more than a false alarm.
