A 17-year-old student of Imo State University, Jesse Chidebere, has been arrested by the Orji Police for faking her own kidnapping and death. Police spokesperson Henry Okoye stated that the hoax caused "significant distress" to her family and the university.
The incident began on Saturday when a distress call was made reporting Chidebere as missing, with messages from her WhatsApp claiming she had been abducted and killed, urging her family to confirm at the Orji Police Station. Following a search, police discovered on Sunday that Chidebere was safe and had staged the incident as a social media prank.
Imo State Commissioner of Police Aboki Danjuma condemned the act as "irresponsible," wasting resources and causing public panic. He urged parents to caution children against dangerous pranks and misinformation, reinforcing the command’s commitment to public safety.