By Rasheed Lateef
The Edo State Police Command has arrested a social media personality, Uzebor Emmanuel, popularly known as “Aza Woman,” over a viral report alleging the kidnapping of students in Benin City.
The arrest followed investigations into claims circulated on social media that students of Green Park Academy, Aduwawa, and Western Boys’ College, Ikpoba Hill, had been abducted by suspected kidnappers operating in commercial buses across the city.
Police authorities had earlier dismissed the reports as false, insisting that no such incident occurred.
Spokesperson of the command, SP Eno Ikoedem, said investigators traced the viral publications to the suspect, who allegedly spread unverified information that triggered concern among residents and parents.
According to the police, the posts claimed that several victims were kidnapped through mini-buses, with some allegedly escaping while others reportedly secured their freedom after paying ransom.
The command said the reports sparked widespread anxiety and generated fears about security within the state.
Ikoedem noted that preliminary investigations indicated that the claims lacked factual basis and warned against the growing trend of using social media platforms to circulate unverified security information.
She stressed that false security alerts could create panic, mislead the public and divert law enforcement attention from genuine emergencies.
“The deliberate spread of false information, particularly on matters relating to public safety and security, is a serious offence with far-reaching consequences,” she said.
The police spokesperson disclosed that the suspect would face prosecution at the conclusion of investigations.
The command also urged residents to verify sensitive information through official channels before sharing it on social media, warning that individuals found spreading false security reports would be held accountable under the law.
