The Enugu State Police Command has dismissed viral reports alleging the gruesome murder of five women who reportedly went missing after being lured by a man in a minibus under the pretense of buying corn from his farm.
In a statement released on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, described the reports as “entirely false, unfounded, and fabricated to cause public panic.”
Ndukwe clarified that there had been no reports of missing persons fitting the description in circulation, nor had any mutilated bodies been discovered as claimed.
“This story is a deliberate attempt to incite fear, distort public perception, and undermine the relative peace and security currently being sustained in the state,” he said.
Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, urged residents to disregard the fake news and assured them of the Command’s commitment to maintaining public safety and preventing crime.
He also ordered the arrest and prosecution of individuals behind the viral misinformation, warning that the spread of fake news constitutes a criminal offence and will henceforth be treated seriously.
The police further advised the public to always verify the authenticity of information before sharing and encouraged citizens to report any suspicious activity or security concerns through the Command’s emergency lines: 08032003702, 08086671202, or the state’s control centre at 112.
Leave a comment