It was never imagined that two schools could be
targeted by bombers within two days in Niger
State , but it happened.
The first was a tertiary institution – Federal
College of Education, Kontagora – while the other
was Maryam Babangida Science College named
after a former first lady, Maryam Babangida, by
the government of Dr. Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu.
Two bombers were involved. That of the Federal
College of Education, Kontagora was perpetrated
by a female and the mission was accomplished
but with low casualty while that of Minna by a
male was aborted.
Maryam Babangida Science College is a female
college planned to be a model school.
On the fateful Thursday, the students were at the
assembly ground not knowing that there was a
sinister move meters away by a bomber. At about
7.30 a.m., a female teacher hurrying to school
suspected strange movements in the bush. She
also perceived the odour of Indian hemp which
sent a signal to her that something strange was
happening nearby.
This led her to quickening her steps, but ahead of
her was a young man carrying a school bag who
pretended as if he was answering nature’s call.
Then her phone rang and this caught the
attention of the suspect who stopped her and
threw some questions at her in Hausa.
Suspect- Where are you heading for?
Teacher- To school for today’s job.
Suspect- Are you not aware that there is no
school today.
Teacher- I am not aware because nobody told us
of any holiday.
Suspect- Whether there is holiday or not, I want
to advise you to go back home now in your own
interest if you don’t want to lose your life!
It was at this point that the teacher knew that
the man had a sinister mission. She immediately
put off her shoes and rushed to the school
premises to alert the principal and other staff of
her encounter.
The suspect was dressed in the school uniform,
covering her head with Hijab, thereby pretending
to be a female student.
PANIC
Confusion enveloped the school premises
immediately, but the situation was calmed by the
authorities. By the time people rushed to the
scene, the suspect had taken to his heels. The
police and other security agencies were informed
and took over the security of the school with the
gates closed to visitors and movement in and out
restricted.
When our correspondent got to the school, some
officials of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) ,
a pick up van of the army, police and SSS were
directly opposite the principal’s office,
strategizing while normal classes were going on.
Principal of the school, Hajiya Fatima Madugu,
who also spoke with our correspondent, said,
“Just help us thank God for the alertness of our
staff and intervention by God. The mission of the
suspect was to disguise as one of our students
and sneak to the assembly ground to carry out
his dastardly act but God intervened.
Before we
could mobilise to the scene, the suspect had fled
but we immediately alerted the police and other
security agencies who mobilised to our
compound.”
The female teacher told a correspondent that
as the conversation was going on between her
and the suspect, fear has gripped her and she
was left with no option than to take to her heels.
The state police spokesman, DSP Ibrahim
Gambari, confirmed the incident but said the
attempt should not be seen as an invasion by
Boko Haram.
“‘The suspect could be a lunatic but, not
withstanding, our men have been drafted to the
school for further investigations and I can tell you
that the bush around the school has been combed
and nothing incriminating found with no arrest
made’’.
Meanwhile, the Niger government has suspended
morning assembly and other religious gatherings
in all schools in the state in order not to attract
the attention of criminals. Similarly, because of
the porous nature of Maryam Babangida Girls
Science College and similar schools, all girls
schools in the state will be fenced by next year in
order to check insecurity to the affected schools.
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