Owerri, Imo State – A 17-year-old student of Imo State University, Jesse Chidebere, was apprehended by the Orji Police Division for allegedly faking her own abduction and death. The incident reportedly caused significant distress among her family and the university community.
Police spokesperson Henry Okoye disclosed in a statement on Monday that authorities received a distress call last Saturday reporting Chidebere missing. A WhatsApp message, sent from her account, claimed she had been abducted and killed, advising her family to confirm the news at the Orji Police Station.
Following the report, police operatives initiated a search and discovered the next day that Chidebere was alive and had fabricated the story as a prank on social media. An investigation is ongoing to determine her motives, and she is expected to face prosecution.
The Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, condemned the act, labeling it as “irresponsible behavior” that wastes resources and causes public alarm. He urged parents to caution their children against engaging in dangerous pranks and spreading misinformation, emphasizing the police command’s dedication to maintaining public safety and combating misinformation in the state.
