Teenage student arrested for faking own abduction

The operatives of the Imo State Police Command have arrested a 17-year-old student of Imo State University (IMSU), Jesse Chidebere, for faking her abduction and death.

The command’s spokesperson, ASP Henry Okoye, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, October 29, 2024.

Okoye noted that the hoax caused distress to Chidebere’s family and the university community.

He stated: “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.

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“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 police spokesman said an investigation was ongoing to ascertain the student’s motive for the fake abduction, adding that she would face prosecution.

He further stated that the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, expressed concern over the “irresponsible behaviour, which wasted valuable resources and caused public panic”.

Okoye, who urged parents to caution their children against engaging in dangerous pranks and spreading misinformation, added: “The command remains committed to combating misinformation and ensuring a safe environment for all and sundry in the state.”

The Star