Pandemonium enveloped Akure and other parts of Ondo state on Tuesday as parents stormed both Primary and Secondary schools to withdraw their children after rumours made the round that some school children died after being administered vaccines by some unidentified soldiers.
Fear and anxiety gripped the state capital as efforts by some parents to withdraw their children from school before the official closing hour were resisted by the management of the schools.
As early as 9.00am, rumours were making the round in some parts of the state that soldiers numbering 20 invaded some schools in Ore, headquarters of Odigbo Local Government Area of the state and allegedly administered vaccines on some school children after which three of them allegedly died.
However, it was discovered that the rumour which also went viral on the social media was unfounded as visits to most of the schools in Akure and its neighbouring towns of Oba-Ile, Ilaramokin and Ifon showed that no soldier was in any of the schools for any purpose.
Anxious parents consequently stormed many of the public and private schools in the state capital in a bid to withdraw their children from school, a development which caused chaos at Fiwasaye High School located at Alagbaka area of the town.
Also, Police officers were drafted to many of the schools and the gates of the schools were locked, a situation which made it difficult for any individual to gain entry into the school compounds.
However, the management of Ejioba High School, Oba-Ile, a surbub of Akure hurriedly released their students and the principal of the school refused to speak with newsmen, claiming that the state Ministry of Education had instructed all principals not to make public comment on the matter.
But the army authorities denied the allegation, saying that no officer of the Nigerian Army was involved in administering any vaccine in any part of the state.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Nigeria Army artillery in Akure, Major Ojo Adelegan who spoke on a private radio station, Adaba fm, said that no officer of the Nigerian Army could administer vaccine on any child for any reason, urging the public to consider the rumour as handiwork of detractors.
He said, “there was nothing like that. No officer administered vaccine on any child in any part of the state. It was a mere rumour which only exists in the minds of those peddling it. Students should continue with their studies and parents should not be worried over the rumour.”
Also, the Ondo State government described the rumour as baseless and unfounded, urging the people to disregard it.
In a statement issued by the state commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Yemi Olowolabi the state government said “real time investigation across the state has shown that none of such things exist in Ondo State.”
The state government enjoined the public, schools, students and teachers to go about their normal activities peacefully, stressing that “should there be any strange occurrence; the appropriate quarters should be informed immediately.
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