By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
Pandemonium erupted at a school complex in Ojokoro, Lagos, on Wednesday, 10 June, 2026 after students and teachers mistook a teacher dressed as a bandit for an actual armed criminal, triggering a stampede that sent hundreds fleeing for safety.
The incident occurred during the weekly National Awareness Day programme at Ijaiye Ojokoro Junior College, Tigbetigbe Street, Ojokoro.
The theme of the day’s exercise was banditry, and a teacher reportedly dressed in bandit-like attire to give students a practical understanding of the subject.
However, the awareness exercise quickly descended into chaos when the teacher emerged from his vehicle and headed towards the assembly ground.
Believing they were under attack, students immediately raised the alarm and took to their heels, shouting, “Bandits! Bandits!”
The panic spread rapidly to three other schools within the same educational complex, prompting students and some teachers to flee the premises in fear.
Within minutes, the entire school environment and adjoining streets were thrown into confusion as frightened students streamed out of the schools.
The situation also sparked anxiety among parents and guardians, many of whom rushed to the area after receiving reports of an alleged bandit attack.
An eyewitness, who was on an early morning walk when the incident occurred, said he encountered groups of students running frantically from the school.
“I stopped some of them to find out what was happening, and they told me bandits had invaded the school and were killing people,” he said.
Disturbed by the report, the eyewitness said he proceeded to the school complex to ascertain the situation firsthand.
On arrival, he met one of the principals in the complex, who requested anonymity and explained that the panic was caused by a dramatization designed to support the day’s awareness programme.
According to the principal, a teacher had chosen to dress as a bandit to create a realistic presentation on the dangers of banditry and help students better understand the topic.
The school administrator, however, acknowledged that the exercise produced an unintended reaction as students interpreted the appearance of the costumed teacher as a genuine security threat.
Although no injuries or casualties were reported, the incident temporarily disrupted academic activities and caused widespread panic among students, teachers, parents and residents.
Normalcy was eventually restored after school authorities clarified that there had been no attack and reassured stakeholders that the incident was part of an awareness exercise.
The episode nevertheless underscores the need for schools to properly plan and communicate practical demonstrations to prevent unnecessary panic and public alarm.
