Edo: Police arrest man over false school abduction alarm

The Edo State Police Command has arrested a 42-year-old man identified as Ernest Ugbomoiko for allegedly circulating false information alleging that bandits kidnapped schoolchildren in the State.

Recall that on Thursday, schools across the state hurriedly closed, while parents and guardians stormed schools to pick up their wards, following a viral video alleging the kidnapping of schoolchildren in some parts of the state.

The video, however, caused panic and chaos as residents ran helter-skelter, while business owners shut down their shops and rushed home.

The police, in a statement by the Command’s spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem, said the suspect was responsible for originating and circulating the false information alleging that bandits and kidnappers had abducted schoolchildren in parts of Edo State, including Afuze, Ehor, Otuo, Agbede and Igueben.

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The statement described the report as false, misleading and capable of causing unnecessary panic among residents.

The statement said, “There was no incident of schoolchildren being kidnapped in the mentioned areas or any other part of the state.”

He advised parents, guardians, school administrators and students to go about their lawful activities without fear, as adequate security measures had been put in place to guarantee their safety.

He warned individuals against spreading false information capable of threatening public peace, undermining security operations or causing public disorder, saying those found guilty would be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

He advised members of the public to verify security-related information through official channels before sharing such reports.

He noted that the deployment of security personnel to schools and other vulnerable locations across the state was not in response to the false report but part of proactive policing strategies to nip crime in the bud.

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