There was confusion as parents withdrew their children from schools over a rumour that soldiers were embarking on administration of vaccine against monkey pox in Zuba, Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT.
Our reporter, who visited the Local Education Authority (LEA) in Zuba, yesterday morning, observed as some parents attempted to force the school gate open in order to pick their children, but some teachers and policemen prevented them from gaining entrance into the school.
A parent, Hausa Mukaila, who spoke with our reporter said she retrieved her two children from the school because of the information she received that some soldiers were vaccinating children across primary schools against monkey pox.
“Actually, I heard people saying that some soldiers were going round to vaccinate children in schools over monkey pox disease which prompted me to join other parents to come and pick my children from the school, “ she said.
She said she heard that the vaccines were poisonous and may endanger the lives of the children.
The headmaster of the school, Mohammed Falalu Salihu, said when the pupils were on break at 10:00a.m., some parents started coming into the school with lies that soldiers were vaccinating children against monkey pox disease.
“In fact, before I knew what was happening parents had gathered at the gate trying to come into the school and I quickly alerted the vigilantes and the police who came to contain the situation,“ he said.
“We tried to make the parents who insisted on carrying their children to understand that it was just a rumuor and we even allowed them to see the children in classes, “ he said.
City News also reports that a similar incident happened at Junior Secondary School (JSS) at Yimi village near Zuba, where some parents also besieged the school to pick up their children over the rumour of monkey pox vaccination.
Some parents were seen standing in front of the school gate, as the school management also prevented them from gaining entrance.
A part of the school’s fence was allegedly pulled down by some parents who attempted to forcefully gain entrance into the school to pick up their children, but police and vigilantes prevented them.
A housewife, Zainab Yakubu, who spoke with our reporter in anger insisted that she must stay and pick her children back home.
“I see no reason why my children that just recovered from illness will again be given injection to kill them for me. I will never allow that to happen. I will stay here until they released my children to me,” she said.
The principal of the school, Ramatu Ibrahim, declined to speak with our reporter, saying she was not authorised to speak to the press.
It was also gathered that LEA Primary School at Tungan Maje, also faced the same situation.
When contacted, the Zuba Divisional Police Officer (DPO), CSP Bashir Kontagora, who was seen at the JSS school gate with his men, declined speaking to our reporter.
“What do you want me to say, you are here already and you have seen everything with your eyes,” he said.
