The Nasarawa State Police Command has dismissed widespread reports claiming that pupils of St. Peter’s Foundation Secondary School, Rukubi, in Doma Local Government Area, were abducted on Friday.
However, the denial came at a time when the country was already on edge. As outrage spread over the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi and the attack on worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State, the Federal Government on Wednesday blamed the renewed wave of violence on recent remarks by the United States.
In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Ramhan Nansel, the Nasarawa command described the viral claims as “false,” noting that the panic began when students heading for Physical and Health Education classes sighted armed hunters and fled, mistaking them for kidnappers. Teachers quickly returned them to safety.
Nansel added that Commissioner of Police Shetima Jauro Mohammed deployed police and military personnel immediately after receiving the initial distress report. When operatives arrived, they discovered that the pupils had run after sighting hunters carrying Dane guns. The area was searched and calm restored. The school proprietor also confirmed that no abduction occurred.
While the police urged the public to ignore the reports, advising journalists to verify information before publishing, the Federal Government was dealing with a much broader security fallout.
Transitioning to the growing national tension, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, blamed the resurgence of violent attacks on comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump. In late October and early November, Trump claimed Christians were facing genocide in Nigeria and threatened to deploy American troops if the killings did not stop.
Akume argued that these remarks had “emboldened opportunistic violent groups” attempting to exploit international narratives. According to him, insurgent networks had been weakened before the statements but were now seeking visibility by hitting soft targets.
He maintained that Nigeria does not need foreign troops and that the Armed Forces have reclaimed territories and degraded Boko Haram and ISWAP. What the country needs, he said, is intelligence, technology and equipment support — not intervention forces.
Akume also rejected the “Christian genocide” label, insisting that attacks by insurgents have targeted both Christians and Muslims. He stressed that Nigeria remains a secular state, and government appointments reflect national diversity.
Even as the Federal Government tried to calm tensions, the situation on the ground continued to worsen. Early Monday morning, bandits stormed Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu LGA of Kebbi State, killing Vice Principal Hassan Makuku and abducting at least 24 students. Two girls who initially escaped have been reunited with their families.
Barely 24 hours later, gunmen attacked the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Isegun, in Eruku, Kwara State, killing at least two people and abducting about 35 worshippers during a live-streamed service. The attack, captured on video, triggered panic across the state.
As security forces launched a manhunt, President Bola Tinubu cancelled planned trips to South Africa and Angola, choosing instead to remain in Abuja to receive briefings. He ordered the deployment of additional security personnel to Eruku and directed agencies to rescue the Kebbi schoolgirls.
Yet local frustration remained high. During a visit to Eruku, Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq called for a new Forward Operating Base and a Mobile Police Squadron, accusing police officers in the community of failing to respond during the attack. Residents also blocked the Ilorin–Kabba road in protest, saying they felt abandoned.
Amid the growing chaos, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam condemned the Kebbi school attack, calling it “one tragedy too many.” The group noted that repeated abductions from Chibok to Dapchi and now Maga suggest that the country has not learned from past failures.
Political parties also weighed in. The African Democratic Congress warned that the government’s refusal to confront the security reality was making the “Christian genocide” narrative a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Prominent politicians, including former Kano governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and ex-transport minister Rotimi Amaechi, joined the criticism, accusing the Federal Government of failing its primary duty of securing lives and property.
The Nigeria Labour Congress also expressed deep concern, describing the Kebbi abductions as alarming and calling on the Federal Government to “do more.”
Public anger intensified as celebrities and activists entered the conversation. Omoyele Sowore, Falz, Inibehe Effiong, Debo Macaroni, Femi Adebayo and Simi took to social media demanding accountability. Several called on President Tinubu to resign, arguing that he had failed to protect Nigerians.
Macaroni warned that the attacks affected every region and every citizen. Adebayo described a viral video of the Kwara church attack as a painful reflection of Nigeria’s security collapse. Simi lamented that citizens’ grief had become routine, saying the government’s silence showed where its priorities lie.
As Nigeria grapples with fear on one hand and frustration on the other, the government faces mounting pressure to restore confidence, strengthen security, and convince a restless public that the violence sweeping across the country can be brought under control.
