Stampede in Lagos after banditry warning sparks panic

Students, teachers and nearby residents at Ijaiye Ojokoro Junior College in Lagos’s Ojokoro area were thrown into confusion and panic on Wednesday morning after a classroom demonstration on banditry was mistaken for a real attack, sparking a stampede.

The incident unfolded on Tigbetigbe Street during the weekly National Awareness Day programme observed by schools across the state. The day’s session focused on banditry.

To make the lesson more engaging, a teacher reportedly dressed as a bandit to show students the appearance and tactics of criminal groups.

When the teacher arrived at the school assembly ground, the exercise took an unexpected turn. An eyewitness said the teacher’s costume caused immediate panic, as students believed an actual bandit had entered the school.

“As soon as the teacher stepped out of his vehicle and approached the assembly ground, confusion erupted. The students thought he was a real bandit and began running in different directions,” the witness said.

The panic spread beyond the school, affecting students in three other schools within the same educational complex.

“Students from the neighbouring schools heard people shouting, ‘Bandits! Bandits!’ and also fled. Some teachers joined in the rush to safety, and the entire school environment, including nearby streets, became chaotic,” the eyewitness added.

Concerned parents and guardians rushed to the schools to evacuate their children after hearing reports of an alleged attack.

Another resident who witnessed the incident recounted how rumours of a violent invasion spread rapidly.

“I was on my morning walk when I saw students running frantically. When I asked what was happening, they said bandits had entered their school and were killing people,” the resident said.

Alarmed by the claims, the resident went to the school premises to verify the situation.

“On getting there, I met one of the principals, who explained that the panic was caused by a teacher attempting to dramatise the awareness topic on banditry,” the witness added.

Joshua Ekong, a local resident, also confirmed that the misunderstanding generated widespread anxiety among residents and caused significant disruption in the community before the true circumstances became known.