Lokoja, Kogi State — Panic swept through parts of Lokoja on Thursday after widespread social media reports claimed that terrorists and bandits had invaded several communities in the state capital. The rumoured attack, which mentioned areas such as Zango, Crusher, and Felele, led to fear-driven reactions across the city.
According to eyewitness reports, some schools hurriedly closed and asked parents to pick up their children. Shops and small businesses also shut down as residents ran for safety, believing a coordinated assault was underway.
However, security authorities have now debunked the claim, calling it fake news deliberately spread to cause public fear.
The Kogi State Police Command, led by Commissioner of Police Naziru Bello Kankarofi, issued a statement assuring residents that no terrorist or bandit invasion occurred in Lokoja. Police patrol teams were immediately dispatched to all reportedly affected communities, but officers confirmed that no attack took place.
The Lokoja Local Government Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, also dismissed the reports as false, describing them as the handiwork of “mischief makers” attempting to destabilize the city.
Kogi State’s Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, added that there was no security threat to any school or community in the capital, urging residents to resume normal activities and avoid spreading unverified reports.
While Lokoja itself remains calm, security analysts note that the broader Kogi region continues to experience real banditry threats. Earlier this week, troops of the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army foiled a bandit ambush near Obajana, rescuing a kidnapped victim. In another incident today, suspected bandits attacked Aiyetoro Kiri in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, killing two residents before vigilantes intervened.
Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant but avoid panic, reminding citizens that sharing false information can lead to arrests and prosecution.