By Premium Times
The police in Imo State, southeast Nigeria, have detained 17-year-old Jesse Chidebere, a student of Imo State University, for faking her abduction and death.
Henry Okoye, the state’s police spokesperson, said the hoax caused significant distress to Chidebere’s family and the university community.
“On 26 October, at approximately 10pm, police received a distress call from concerned citizens, reporting Chidebere missing,” he said.
“In response, police operatives launched a search and discovered the following morning … that Chidebere was alive and had fabricated the story as a prank on social media.”
Okoye said the investigation to ascertain her motive was ongoing and that she would be prosecuted.
Police commissioner Aboki Danjuma expressed concern over the “irresponsible behaviour, which wasted valuable resources and caused public panic”.
He urged parents to warn their children against dangerous pranks and spreading misinformation.
