The Imo State Police Command has detained 17-year-old Jesse Chidebere, a student of Imo State University (IMSU), for allegedly staging her own abduction and death in a social media prank.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, ASP Henry Okoye, disclosed this in a statement released in Owerri on Tuesday.
According to Okoye, the incident caused significant distress among Chidebere’s family members and the university community.
“On October 26, around 10:00 p.m., police received a distress call from concerned citizens, reporting Chidebere missing. A message sent from her WhatsApp account claimed she had been abducted and killed, instructing her family to visit the Orji Police Station for verification.
“In response, police launched a search and discovered on October 27 that Chidebere was alive, and had fabricated the story as a social media prank,” the statement read.
Okoye confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine her motive and that she will face prosecution.
Commissioner of Police, Mr. Aboki Danjuma, expressed concern over what he described as “irresponsible behavior that wasted valuable resources and sparked public alarm.”
He urged parents to caution their children against engaging in dangerous pranks and disseminating false information.
The Police Command reiterated its commitment to addressing misinformation and maintaining a secure environment for residents in the state.
