Citing spiritual attack, Universal Basic Education (UBE) Junior Secondary School located in the Nyinma area of Makurdi Benue State has been shut down.
The students were sent home today, Monday when seven of them were hit by the attack.
Reports say that four of the female students were attacked on Friday while the other three were attacked today, 1st March.
The development prompted the school authorities to send all the students home.
The headteacher, Catherine Ahom said that the pupils experienced a seizure and complained of chest pain. Thereafter, “they will fall down and some others would be running around.”
The headteacher said the spiritual attack is called “Iyor genen” in Tiv language.
On his part, the Education Secretary, Makurdi Local Government Area Education Authority, Patrick Aese said it was really nothing to worry about.
According to him, the attack is not contagious but a merely spiritual that is rampant in a part of Tiv land.
He added that “If it were to be in the village, traditionalists know what to administer and within an hour, they become normal. They know how to control it to make subside.
“It is a spiritual matter. Just go back to school tomorrow, those children will be normal.”
“There is a particular group of Tiv that is mostly known for it but to other places, it is alien.
The Education Secretary further revealed that, “Within the area where it happens frequently, we don’t fear it.
“We know the limitations ad how it can be contained, it is not transferable. The thing started many years ago, our forefathers in inherited it.
“It is most common during burial and in most cases while whistling. Noise and some colours like red trigger it among the affected people and when attacked, the affected people will be running and manifesting uncommon strength.”
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