The Imo State Police Command has dismissed reports alleging that students of Government Girls Secondary School, Okigwe Road, Owerri, were abducted by suspected herdsmen, describing the claim as false and misleading.
Reports had earlier circulated that four students of the school were kidnapped on Monday, sparking concern among residents.
However, in a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, said the report was entirely unfounded and should be disregarded by the public.
According to Okoye, following the circulation of the report, the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, CP Audu Garba Bosso, directed the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations and Coordinator of the Safe School Initiative, ACP Abdullahi Wase, to immediately verify the claim.
He said ACP Wase visited the school and met with the Principal, Mrs. Amadi Apolonia, as well as members of staff and students, all of whom confirmed that no abduction had occurred.
“The report is entirely false and misleading,” Okoye stated.
He added that all students and staff members were safe and accounted for, while academic activities at the school continued without disruption.
The police spokesperson further clarified that there was no abduction involving any school within Owerri metropolis or any part of Imo State.
The command also explained that the early dismissal of students from government secondary schools in Owerri was purely administrative and unrelated to any security threat.
According to the statement, the arrangement was necessitated by a scheduled meeting involving teachers and school staff at the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Secretariat.
The Commissioner of Police urged residents to remain calm and vigilant and to avoid spreading unverified information capable of causing unnecessary panic.
He also warned that the deliberate dissemination of fake news and misinformation is a criminal offence, stressing that anyone found culpable would be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
