The Enugu State Police Command has dismissed the viral clip and media report that the Enugu-Ugwogo road is not safe.
Some online medium yesterday reported that hoodlums on Friday took over the said road and kidnapped at least three persons.
But, the Enugu police spokesman, DSP Dan Ndukwe in a statement on Saturday, described the report as untrue and misleading.
The statement read, “Enugu State Police Command is in receipt of a viral video clip depicting gunshots and people running in a forest, with the accompanying message that “Enugu-Ugwogo is not safe now… Yesterday, hoodlums kidnapped three times yesterday. The first was by 12pm, 2pm and 6pm.” This was similarly published in some news blogs and webpages with the title: “kidnappers conduct marathon operations at Nsukka-Ugwogo-Nike-Enugu Road”.
“The Command, therefore, wishes to state categorically that the video, with the accompanying message and the news publications, are not only untrue, but highly unfounded and misleading.
“This is because there was no such serial or repeated incident of kidnapping on the same day as reported, or shooting and chaotic incident as relayed in the video, at the mentioned location or any other part of the State.
“As a matter of fact, forensic analysis of the video indicates that it did not happen anywhere in the country, let alone Enugu State. In the same vein, the Command sees the unverified and unfounded report of repeated kidnapping incidents on the same day, as a misleading and mischievous act of misinformation, aimed at creating panic in the State.
“Nonetheless, the Command, while acknowledging the recent reoccurrence of acts of abduction/kidnapping at some locations of the said road, wishes to clearly state that sensationalizing and blowing the situation out of proportion, as intended by peddlers of the video clip and the publication, will never be in the best interest of the security and safety of the State and her people.
“Consequently, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Ammani, fdc has ordered the massive deployment of the Command’s policing resources to the said location and other of such locations, to sustain onslaught against criminal elements.
” He reiterates the unwavering commitment of the Command to contain such acts of crime and criminality in the State and to bring their perpetrators to book.
“The CP, therefore, enjoins citizens of the State, especially those of locations where acts of abduction/kidnapping and other criminality are perpetrated, to assist the Command with credible information and intelligence required to tackle the situations headlong. This they can do by reporting at the nearest Police Station or by calling the Command’s emergency hotlines on: 08032003702, 08075380883, 08086671202 or 08098880172, or send email to infoenugupolice@gmail.com.”
