Fear spread across the University of Nigeria, Nsukka campus on Saturday after a Facebook post claimed that terrorists were planning to attack the school and abduct students in large numbers.
The post, shared by a page called “Anonymous Syndicate,” alleged that suspected Islamist militants had entered the university town disguised as okada riders and were preparing to strike through the Obukpa axis within the coming weeks. It called on authorities to act quickly to prevent what it described as a major invasion.
The message caused panic among students, parents and residents, with some people calling for the suspension of ongoing exams to avoid any possible danger.
But the university management has now come out to say the claim is false and not backed by any security report.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Acting Public Relations Officer of the university, Inya Agha Egwu, said the institution had checked and found no evidence to support the viral post.
“The university wishes to state that there is no credible security intelligence or verified threat to the University of Nigeria that supports the claims contained in the post. The information being circulated is therefore unsubstantiated and should not be regarded as factual,” the statement read.
Even though there is no confirmed threat, the university said it has taken steps to tighten security across the campus to calm staff, students and visitors.
According to the statement, police and army personnel have been stationed at major entry points to help the university’s security team. Some gates have also been closed temporarily to control movement in and out of the campus.
In addition, the university has banned motorcycle operations within the campus with immediate effect. Staff who use okada to commute have been told to park them outside the university gates.
“No motorcycle will be permitted beyond the university gates except those belonging to authorised security personnel,” the statement added.
The management urged members of the university community to stay calm and continue with their normal activities without fear. It also warned against sharing unverified information that could cause panic.
Students, staff and residents were advised to stay alert and report any suspicious persons or activities to the university security department or other security agencies.
The university reaffirmed its commitment to safety and urged everyone to treat anonymous online posts with caution unless confirmed by official sources.
