The Edo State Police Command has debunked reports circulating on social media alleging that students of Green Park Academy in Aduwawa, Benin City, were kidnapped.
In a statement, the command said the false alarm originated from a TikTok user popularly known as “Azawoman.” According to the police, the woman shared a video claiming that someone had commented on one of her posts, alleging that students of the school who had gone to sit for their Junior Secondary School Certificate Examination (JSSCE) had been abducted.
The police stated that a thorough verification and preliminary investigation revealed that no kidnapping incident occurred at the school as claimed.
According to the command, its findings confirmed that the report was entirely false, lacked any factual basis, and was deliberately circulated to mislead the public and create unnecessary panic within the state.
The command strongly condemned the spread of false information, noting that such actions are capable of eroding public confidence, instilling fear among residents, and diverting attention from genuine security concerns.
It further described the dissemination of misinformation as a threat to public order and warned that such conduct would not be tolerated.
The police also disclosed that steps have been taken to identify and apprehend the originator of the false report for questioning and possible prosecution in accordance with existing laws.
