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The Imo State Police Command has debunked reports alleging the mass kidnapping of passengers travelling from Owerri to Aba along the Ngor-Okpala axis, describing the claims as false and urging members of the public to disregard them.
The command, through its spokesperson, DSP Henry Okoye, said in a press statement made available to journalists that the clarification was issued in response to a misleading viral video circulating on social media, which falsely claimed that 14 passengers were kidnapped at Ngor-Okpala.
Okoye explained that, following a thorough investigation, the command confirmed that the video originated from an incident earlier this year and has been recirculated online to create unnecessary panic. He added that concerted efforts were made at the time to ensure the safe release of the victims.
Read Also: Ex-CDS Musa Meets Tinubu; Irabor Denies B’Haram Recruitment
“CP Aboki Danjuma urges the public to disregard the misleading video and cautions against sharing unverified information capable of generating fear and tension. The command has deployed adequate security along the axis, in synergy with other sister security agencies and local security outfits, to ensure the safety of commuters, particularly during the holiday season of celebration,” the statement affirmed.
The command’s spokesperson also advised residents, especially those living in the area in question, to remain calm, stay vigilant, and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station or via the command’s emergency contact line 0803 477 3600.
In other news, Nigeria’s immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa (retd.), made an unannounced visit to President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Monday, a development that coincided with a sharp rebuttal from another former CDS, General Lucky Irabor (retd.), over claims that deradicalised Boko Haram members were being drafted into the armed forces.
Musa arrived at the State House at 7:03 p.m., wearing a dark green northern-style kaftan with cropped sleeves, and was escorted through the presidential wing by a senior security aide. It marked his first public engagement with the President since leaving office on October 24, 2025. The purpose of the meeting remained unclear, as the Presidency offered no immediate details.
His appearance at the Villa came at a time when the administration is confronting intensifying security pressures. President Tinubu recently declared a national security emergency and outlined sweeping measures that include recruiting twenty thousand additional police officers, deploying forest guards, and strengthening protection around schools, churches and mosques in vulnerable communities.
Security agencies have also been ordered to deepen joint operations across the North-West and North-Central, where coordinated attacks over a thirteen-day period resulted in the abduction of at least four hundred and ninety people. Recent incidents include the kidnapping of twenty five schoolgirls in Kebbi, the seizure of thirty eight worshippers in Kwara, and the dramatic mass abduction of students and teachers at a Catholic school in Niger State.
