A 17-year-old girl, identified as Jesse Chidebere, has been apprehended by the Imo State Police Command for faking her abduction and death, News About Nigeria reports.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Henry Okoye, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
He noted that the claimed abduction and death of Chidebere, who is a student of Imo State University (IMSU), caused lots of distress to both her family and the school.
Okoye stated that a distress call was made to the station on the 26th of October, reporting the suspect missing.
According to him, 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.
He noted that it was, however, discovered the next day that she had fabricated the story as a prank on social media.
He revealed that an investigation is ongoing to ascertain her motive for the mischief, adding that she would face prosecution.
Okoye further stated that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Aboki Danjuma, expressed concern over the irresponsible behaviour, which wasted valuable resources and caused public panic.
He, therefore, urged parents to caution their children against engaging in dangerous pranks and spreading misinformation.
He said, “On October 26, at approximately 10:00 p.m., 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 the following morning, October 27, that Chidebere was alive and had fabricated the story as a prank on social media.
“The command remains committed to combating misinformation and ensuring a safe environment for all and sundry in the state.”
