From Muhammad Ibrahim, Kaduna
Students of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU),Zaria, were yesterday thrown into confusion as soldiers stormed the school premises raising alarm about possible attacks by the dreaded Boko Haram sect, thereby ordering the students to return to their respective hostels.
Reports from the school said the soldiers stormed the school in vehicles alongside the private security guards of the university around after 9pm and ordered all students that were outside to go back to their respective hostels and remain inside.
A panic-stricken student told our correspondent on phone last night that the sight of the heavily armed soldiers sent shivers down the spines of the students as they took to their heels.
“We were outside talking while some of the students were in the classrooms reading when we saw the solders, heavily armed alongside our security guards, ordering us to go back to our hostels. They said they received a security threat alert”, the student said.
It was also gathered that the female students were heard screaming and crying when they saw the soldiers on campus.
“I heard the female students crying and screaming when they saw the solders. We were all worried because we don’t know what is happening”, another student said.
It was also gathered that the soldiers ordered all shop owners within the school premises to shut down and leave.
Up to 10.30pm last night some of the students were said to have refused to enter into the hostels for fear of the unknown, despite pleas by the soldiers.
There were reports that the University management received a threat letter that the school would be attacked yesterday.
When contacted last night, spokesperson of the One Mechanized Division of the Nigerian Army, Colonel Usman Abdul, confirmed the report, saying the soldiers were deployed to the school after the military got a report “that some elements were planning to attack the school”.
He said that soldiers were only at the school premises to protect the students based on the information they heard.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
