Panic grips Minna as rumours of school attacks trigger mass withdrawal of pupils

By Wole Mosadomi
MINNA — Panic swept through Minna, the Niger State capital, on Wednesday as parents rushed to schools to withdraw their children following rumours of an impending attack by armed groups on educational institutions in the city.
The scare also forced many shop owners to close their businesses and return home amid fears of possible insecurity.
The development followed the circulation of unverified reports claiming that a violent group had threatened to attack some communities in the state. The rumours, which had been making the rounds for several days, intensified on Wednesday morning, sparking widespread anxiety among residents.
Sources said that by about 11 a.m., c...