Fear spread across parts of Etung and Ikom Local Government Areas of Cross River State on Friday after rumours of an alleged bandit invasion sparked panic among parents, forced children out of school, and later gave way to fresh claims by a local farmer who reported encountering armed strangers inside a forest between Grassfield and Mankono.
The day's events began after popular Cross River-based activist and social commentator, MC Okrika, said he received a distress call alleging that armed bandits had attacked a school in Etung Local Government Area and shot two students.
According to him, the information was alarming enough to make him immediately abandon other engagements and travel to the school to verify the claims.
𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗙𝗹𝗲𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻
On arrival, MC Okrika said he witnessed scenes of panic as parents hurriedly evacuated their children from the school.
He described seeing mothers carrying frightened children while many pupils ran into nearby bushes believing kidnappers had arrived.
"I received a call that bandits had attacked a school in Etung and had even shot two students. I tried to verify the information but couldn't get any confirmation, so I decided to come here myself," he said.
"The first thing I saw was students running with their parents. Mothers were carrying their children. The school was almost empty because everyone had fled."
While attempting to calm the children, he said many screamed "Kidnappers! Kidnappers!" before disappearing into nearby bushes.
𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱
The Head Teacher of Express Pathway Academy, located near Effraya Market in Etung LGA, explained that the school itself was never attacked.
According to her, the panic began after a parent arrived with information allegedly received from her sister claiming that bandits had been spotted around a Government School at Las Motto.
Initially unwilling to dismiss the pupils based on an unverified report, the head teacher said he decided to monitor the situation while seeking confirmation.
However, more parents soon arrived to collect their children.
She explained that as dozens of parents continued arriving, anxiety spread among the remaining pupils, many of whom became frightened after watching classmates leave.
The school management subsequently contacted the Local Government Assistant Chairman and another government official responsible for education.
According to the head teacher, neither official could immediately confirm the report.
The Vice Chairman later visited the area said to be affected but reportedly found no evidence of an attack, although widespread panic had already spread throughout surrounding schools.
By then, nearly fifty parents had removed their children.
With many younger pupils crying uncontrollably and fearing for their safety, school authorities decided to dismiss the remaining children.
𝗠𝗖 𝗢𝗸𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗮 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘀
Following his visit, MC Okrika strongly condemned individuals responsible for spreading unverified security information.
He warned that anyone deliberately circulating false security alerts capable of causing panic should face prosecution.
According to him, such misinformation creates unnecessary fear and disrupts education while putting innocent children under severe psychological stress.
He commended the Cross River State Government's security efforts, noting that the state has generally remained relatively peaceful and recalling that suspects connected with an earlier security incident in Yala were quickly arrested.
He lamented that the scenes of terrified children running through bushes and roads would likely leave lasting trauma.
𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗧𝘄𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿
Later the same Friday, the situation took another turn.
MC Okrika said he received a call from the Youth President of Grassfield community in Ikom Local Government Area, who claimed there may indeed be genuine security concerns inside nearby forests.
Acting on the information, MC Okrika visited Grassfield where he interviewed a farmer who narrated his experience while working on farmland located between Grassfield and Mankono.
𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝘀 𝗛𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗻
According to the farmer, he had gone to his farm after clearing it before deciding to harvest mangoes.
While gathering the fruits beneath a tree, he suddenly heard movement nearby.
He said he initially assumed another farmer was approaching but became frightened after seeing what he described as an unfamiliar man carrying what appeared to be a rifle fitted with a magazine.
The farmer claimed he remained hidden until the individual walked away.
As he attempted to quietly leave the area, he alleged that he encountered another armed man.
Fearing for his safety, he abandoned his harvest and immediately fled the forest.
MC Okrika stressed that he could not independently confirm the identities of the individuals the farmer reported seeing and said he would not conclude they were herdsmen.
Nevertheless, he argued that the account raised fresh concerns about safety around farming communities.
𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆
Following the farmer's account, MC Okrika appealed to the Commissioner of Police and the Assistant Inspector General of Police to strengthen surveillance across Cross River State, particularly around farming communities and schools.
He urged community leaders and youth groups to become more vigilant while cooperating with security agencies.
He advised farmers not to travel alone into remote forests until security concerns are properly investigated.
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
During the video, MC Okrika also made a controversial statement urging residents to defend themselves if they encountered unknown armed persons whom they believed were not government security personnel.
He further alleged that residents had previously reported seeing groups of unfamiliar armed men moving through forests on motorcycles and claimed that some commercial motorcycle operators had allegedly registered unknown riders.
However, these allegations were not supported by independent evidence at the time of reporting.
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗬𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official confirmation from the Cross River State Police Command or other security agencies regarding reports of bandits operating around Las Motto, Grassfield, or the forests between Grassfield and Mankono.
Similarly, there is no official confirmation that any school in Etung was attacked.
Security agencies are expected to investigate both the origin of the rumoured school attack and the farmer's claims of encountering armed men inside the forest.
Residents have been advised to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information, and promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest security agency.
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