A 17-year-old student of Imo State University, Owerri, identified as Jesse Chidebere, has been apprehended by police for allegedly staging her own kidnap and death as a social media prank. The Orji Police Divisional Headquarters in Imo State received a distress call reporting Chidebere missing after a message circulated on her WhatsApp, claiming she had been abducted and killed, urging her family to contact the Orji Police Station for confirmation.
According to the Imo State police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, the message caused severe distress among her family and the university community. In response, police launched an immediate investigation and found her alive the following day, confirming the kidnapping story as a hoax.
Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, condemned the act as “irresponsible behavior” that wasted valuable police resources and caused unnecessary panic. He urged parents to caution their children against engaging in dangerous pranks, noting that the command remains dedicated to combatting misinformation and ensuring a secure environment for all residents in Imo State. Chidebere is expected to face prosecution following the completion of the investigation.
