Students' terror alarm sparks panic in college

Police were yesterday holding two Meru Teachers Training College students for raising a false terror alert.

One of the students is accused of using unorthodox methods to take a female student he was eyeing out, and in the process sending the college and the police command on a wild goose chase.

The second year student is alleged to have hoodwinked the woman that he was privy to reports that the college would be attacked by terrorists over the weekend.

Police said the student's trick worked perfectly and the two spent Friday and Saturday nights lodging in Meru town.

"But the ruse would later prove to be costly because the female colleague took the opportunity to pass the "helpful" information to a few close friends so that they could escape terrorist dragnet," said one of the detectives investigating the case.

Some of the students notified fled to their homes where their parents informed the college's administration. The college later notified the police.

"We traced the rumour to a female friend of the originator but when we called her number, it was being picked up by the male colleague who said he was at home in Isiolo. He told us the girl had diverted her calls to his phone," said the detective.

With the help of mobile telecommunications companies, detectives traced both students to the lodging in Meru town and when they stormed in on Sunday afternoon, they found the two casually chatting.

The two students were taken into custody on Sunday night and were yesterday being interrogated by officers although a police source said they were likely to get off with a stern warning.

The college Deputy Principal Justus Maingi and Meru County Commisioner Wilfred Nyangwanga confirmed the two students were in custody but said the arrest had nothing to do with terrorism.

INDISCIPLINE CASE

"They could be in custody but it was simply a case of indiscipline that was beyond our capacity to act," said Mr Maingi.

Mr Nyangwanga said the two were not being treated as terrorism suspects unless compelling evidence was found later.

A college source said the male student was likely to be expelled for breach of trust and acting against rules and regulations he had committed himself to. Less severe sanctions were likely to be preferred against the female student.

Although students said 10 armed police officers were sent to the college on Saturday night and two were guarding the facility throughout yesterday, Maingi said they had beefed up security because 133 teachers from Isiolo County were attending a Strengthen Mathematics and Sciences Education  (Semase) weeklong course at the institute.

"Last week, we had another batch of 153 Isiolo teachers on the Semase course and we have not been taking any chances because criminal elements could take such an opportunity to sneak into the college," said Maingi.