Imo Police Debunk Alleged Abduction of Secondary School Students in Owerri

The Imo State Police Command has dismissed reports circulating on social media alleging that students of Government Girls Secondary School were abducted by suspected herdsmen in Owerri, describing the claims as false and misleading.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Command’s spokesperson, Henry Okoye, urged members of the public to disregard the report, insisting that no such incident occurred.

According to Okoye, the Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, immediately ordered an investigation upon receiving the report. The Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations and Coordinator of the Safe School Initiative, Abdullahi Wase, was directed to verify the claims at the school.

The police said ACP Wase visited the school and met with the principal, staff members, and students. Following the engagement, the school authorities confirmed that no student had been abducted and that the report was entirely fabricated.

The Command stated that all students and staff members were safe and accounted for, adding that academic activities at the school continued without interruption.

“There is no abduction involving any school within Owerri metropolis or any part of Imo State,” the police spokesperson said.

The Command also clarified reports concerning the early dismissal of students from government secondary schools in Owerri. According to the police, the development was purely administrative and had no connection to any security threat.

Officials explained that the temporary adjustment in school activities was necessitated by a scheduled meeting involving teachers and school staff at the NUT Secretariat.

The Commissioner of Police urged residents to remain calm and vigilant while avoiding the spread of unverified information capable of causing panic and confusion.

The Command warned that the deliberate dissemination of false information and fake news is a criminal offence and that anyone found responsible would be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

Reaffirming its commitment to public safety, the police said it would continue to strengthen collaboration under the Safe School Initiative to ensure the protection of students, teachers, and educational institutions across Imo State.