No terror group, mass kidnapping in Ebonyi – Police

The Police Command in Ebonyi says there is no new terror group and mass kidnapping in Izzi Local Government Area of the state.

The command also cautioned members of the public, particularly journalists and social media users, against sensational and unverified reports capable of creating fear and panic among residents.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Joshua Ukandu, made the clarification in a statement issued to reporters on Friday in Abakaliki.

Ukandu was reacting to a social media report which alleged that a new terror group had emerged in the state and that scores of persons had been kidnapped.

Police described the report as “falsehood,” “baseless” and “misleading,” saying that it was reportedly based on a telephone conversation with a family member of one of the alleged victims.

The PPRO explained that the incident referenced in the social media post was reported to the command on July 28 by one Okemini Ogbonna.

According to Police, Ogbonna said that his three brothers left home on July 27 to watch a football match but did not return.

“Ogbonna subsequently received a message purportedly from a group calling itself “Bloody Vampires”, claiming responsibility for the disappearance of his brothers,” the PPRO explained.

The alleged group reportedly threatened to kill the three men unless the state government paid five million U.S. dollars within 62 hours.

Ukandu said that immediately the report was received, police operatives commenced investigation and deployed resources to trace the source and activities linked to the telephone number used to issue the threat.

He said the investigation led the operatives to a location around the Ogun State Correctional Centre.

He further explained that during the investigation, the police encountered another victim who had allegedly been targeted by members of the same syndicate using a similar method to extort money.

“The victim, upon realising that he was dealing with scammers, threatened to report the matter to the Police.

“Subsequently, an acquaintance of the victim, who had been used by the syndicate in furtherance of their scheme, emerged from a neighbouring village where he had been hiding,” he said.

The PPRO, however, said the command had continued its investigation to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident, identify those involved and bring them to justice.

He said the allegation that more than 100 Ebonyi indigenes were being held captive, or that scores of people had been kidnapped in Izzi, was a gross exaggeration.

“The claim, without any corresponding reports, incidents or widespread security concerns within the state, is a gross exaggeration and an allegation taken too far,” Ukandu said.

Ukandu said the command, under the leadership of the CP Hope Okafor, remained committed to protecting lives and property and maintaining peace across the state.