The Imo State Police Command has detained Jesse Chidebere, a 17-year-old student of Imo State University (IMSU), for staging her own abduction and death in a social media prank.
The incident, confirmed by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Henry Okoye, on Tuesday, caused significant alarm within her family and the university community.
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According to ASP Okoye, police received a distress call on October 26 at around 10:00 p.m., after a WhatsApp message was sent from Chidebere’s account claiming she had been kidnapped and killed, advising her family to confirm the news at the Orji Police Station.
“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 statement explained.
ASP Okoye noted that an investigation was underway to understand her motives, and that Chidebere would face prosecution. He added that Commissioner of Police Aboki Danjuma condemned the prank, stating that it “wasted valuable resources and caused public panic.”
The commissioner also urged parents to counsel their children against engaging in harmful pranks and spreading false information. “The command remains committed to combating misinformation and ensuring a safe environment for all and sundry in the state,” Okoye emphasized.
Police arrest fake officer extorting public in Kano
Earlier, Daily News 24 reported how police in Kano arrested a 31-year-old man, Salisu Bala, who had been impersonating a police officer to extort and terrorize residents in the state.
Bala was nabbed by members of the Police Special Constabulary at Koki Quarters, where he was spotted wearing a black uniform with a camouflage peak cap.
According to a statement by the Kano State Police Command spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, Bala had been masquerading as a member of the Police Special Constabulary. His arrest followed numerous reports of public outcry about individuals extorting money from residents, particularly in Sabon Gari, Fagge, and Koki Quarters.
