17-year-old student arrested for faking kidnap in Imo
The Orji Police Divisional Headquarters has arrested a 17-year-old woman, Jesse Chidebere, a student of Imo State University, Owerri, for allegedly faking her own abduction and death.
In a statement signed by the police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, on Monday, he noted, “This hoax caused significant distress to her family and the university community.”
Okoye gave the details of the incident, “Last Saturday, police received a distress call from concerned citizens reporting Chidebere missing. A message sent from her WhatsApp account claimed she had been abducted and killed, urging her family to go to the Orji Police Station for confirmation.”
“In response, police operatives launched a search and discovered on Sunday that Chidebere was alive and had fabricated the story as a prank on social media. An investigation is ongoing to ascertain her motives for such mischief and would certainly face prosecution”.
The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, Aboki Danjuma, has expressed concern over such irresponsible behaviour, which wastes valuable resources and causes public panic. He urged parents to caution their children against engaging in dangerous pranks and spreading misinformation.
Danguma said, “The Command remained committed to combating misinformation and ensuring a safe environment for all and sundry in the State”.
