by Nurat Uthman
The Police in Enugu State on Saturday confirmed the kidnap of three students of the State College of Health Technology, Oji-River, in the Oji-River Local Government Area of the state.
In a viral video, some people who claimed to be residents of the area raised the alarm that some students of the college had been kidnapped since Wednesday evening.
They accused the authorities of keeping silent over the incident.
It was gathered that some gunmen suspected to be herdsmen invaded the school complex and abducted students, around 7:30 pm.
However, in a statement on Saturday night, the Command’s spokesman, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed the kidnapped incident.
He disclosed that two students had been rescued while three others were still missing.
Ndukwe, however, dismissed the viral video, claiming that countless students were kidnapped at the College, describing it as false and an act of “mischief and misinformation aimed at misleading and creating panic among unsuspecting citizens.”
The statement partly read, “Contrary to the spurious narrative in the viral video, in the evening hours of August 15, 2024, Police Operatives at the Oji-River Division of the Command received information alleging an act of abduction around the said college.
“They immediately hastened to the scene, rescuing two of the victims allegedly abducted, while three others are yet to be found. However, vigorous operations are ongoing to locate and rescue them, as well as apprehend the abductors.
“A preliminary investigation proves that the victims were driving out of the college when the seemingly targeted incident occurred.”
The Command’s spokesperson noted that the Commissioner, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, has ordered the operatives to ensure that the missing victims are found and rescued, while also arresting the perpetrators.
He, however, quoted the commissioner to have cautioned against such mischievous and malicious social media narratives, aimed at creating unwarranted panic and jeopardising police operational and investigative actions over such incidents.
