Suleja Community Gripped by Fear as Bandit Scare Forces Schools to Shut Down

A sense of panic and fear has gripped residents of Suleja in Niger State, following reports of an alleged bandit invasion scare in the Chaza area. The incident, which occurred on a rainy Wednesday, sent shockwaves through the community, prompting schoolchildren and teachers to flee for safety. According to a resident who spoke to SaharaReporters, the situation was chaotic, with parents, pupils, and residents scrambling to escape after an alarm was raised about the presence of bandits in the community. 'My wife called me this afternoon while it was raining in Suleja, and there was an alarm that bandits were in Suleja (Chaza),' the source explained. The resident revealed that his son was among the many schoolchildren who abandoned classes and ran for safety, with some almost fainting due to the chaos. 'My son almost fainted because they were running from their schools for safety. Teachers couldn't even wait for the pupils,' he said. The incident has highlighted the escalating insecurity in Niger State and across communities in Nigeria, where residents have repeatedly been attacked, kidnapped, and killed by bandits and other violent armed groups. The Chaza community, where the incident occurred, is located within the Suleja axis of Niger State, and the resident revealed that he has a personal connection to the area, as he is currently constructing a house there. 'Chaza is a part of Suleja where I'm building my house, and it's 4 minutes away from where my wife and kids are living now,' he said. The reported scare has led to the closure of schools in the area, with the headmaster instructing children to stay at home until further notice. 'I just spoke with the headmaster now, and he said that the children should stay at home till further notice, that there is tension,' the source added. Efforts to confirm the incident from the Niger State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, did not answer calls made to his mobile phone number.