The Enugu State Police Command has described as false, a disturbing social media post alleging that five women who deal in fresh corn at New Market, Enugu, were lured by a man in a minibus under the guise of buying corn from his farm, but were later allegedly murdered and their mutilated bodies found by the roadside.
In a statement made available to DAILY GAZETTE by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, on Friday, the command said the story is entirely false, unfounded and fabricated to cause public panic.
“No such incident has been reported, nor has any investigation or credible intelligence suggested the occurrence of the alleged crime.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, no report of missing or found persons matching the description in the viral post has been received, and no bodies have been discovered with missing organs as claimed.”
“This misinformation is clearly a deliberate attempt to incite fear, distort public perception, and undermine the relative peace and security currently being sustained in the State.
The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, urged residents to disregard the fake news and remain calm, while reaffirming the Command’s unwavering commitment to public safety and crime prevention.
He further directed operatives of the Command to identify and bring to book the originators and peddlers of the fake report for prosecution in accordance with extant laws.
CP Giwa warns that the dissemination of fake news is a criminal offence and will henceforth be treated with the seriousness it deserves.
He advised the public to always verify information before sharing, and encourages citizens to report suspicious activities or security concerns to the nearest Police Station, via the Command’s emergency numbers 08032003702 or 08086671202, or the Enugu State Command-and-Control Centre on 112
