Apprehensive students fleeing their schools following rumours that the army had allegedly commenced forceful vaccination of school children in Bayelsa were injured yesterday in Yenagoa, the state capital.
Many unverified messages were also being circulated on social media in the capital, warning parents to ensure that their children were safe since some soldiers were allegedly moving around schools, forcing school proprietors to allow them have access to their pupils.
But the Spokesman of 16 Brigade, Nigerian Army, stationed in Yenagoa, Captain Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, told journalists that the army was not conducting any such exercise and urged the public to shun rumour-mongering.
He said though the military as part of activities earmarked for the period of Operation Crocodile Smile II, intended to include community relations activities like medical outreaches, but it had yet to start.
The army assured that when the time comes, the targeted recipients of the medical outreach would be informed, calling on the public to always verify information before acting.
But the response from 16 Brigade, which is anchoring the operation in Bayelsa was not enough to douse the growing panic as parents and guardians began withdrawing their children and wards over the alleged “killer” vaccine.
Following the stampede, the Bayelsa government also ordered the immediate closure of all activities pertaining to children’s health in all schools in the state.
Among those injured were two students who were said to have been run over and injured by a moving vehicle while rushing to get home during the panic, but were said to be recuperating at a hospital in Yenagoa.
Many schools, both public and private, especially in Agudama, Akenfa, Opolo, and Okaka were also shut as a result of the hullabaloo, while many parents were seen with their children in the streets.
In suspending any health-related programmes in schools across the state, the Bayelsa government said it had become necessary to take the action to calm the tension that was building in the state.
The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, who announced the suspension at a joint press briefing with his health counterpart, Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu, described the rumour as “deliberate misinformation.”
Iworiso-Markson said the government would monitor the situation and ensure strict compliance while urging the management of schools to verify the identity of those who come around their premises for one thing or the other.
He lamented that the development had led to panic and withdrawal of students by parents from schools and stressed that there was no such thing as forceful injection.
Speaking also, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Etebu debunked the rumour, saying it was unhealthy and called on parents to return their children back to schools as the government was on top of the situation.
“I want to say that there is no vaccination against ‘MonkeyPox’. So proprietors of schools should not allow any stranger to come and administer such on their pupils. Anyone dressed in army uniform, clinical or lab cloth injecting children should be reported.
