The Edo State Police Command has arrested a woman identified as Uzebor Emmanuel, popularly known on social media as “Aza Woman,” over an alleged false claim that students were abducted from two schools in Benin City.
The police said the suspect circulated a viral video in which she alleged that kidnappers invaded Green Park Academy, Aduwawa, and Western Boys’ College, Ikpoba Hill, abducting several students.
According to the video, six students were allegedly whisked away in different minibuses, with claims that some escaped from their captors while others reportedly paid ransom to secure their freedom.
The command, however, described the allegation as false, noting that the publication triggered panic among residents and heightened public anxiety across the state.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Eno Ikoedem, said the suspect was taken into custody and would be prosecuted after investigations are concluded.
The police maintained that the dissemination of unverified information, particularly on social media, could erode public trust in the state’s security framework and disrupt public order.
The command urged residents to verify information through credible channels before sharing it and warned against spreading false reports capable of causing fear and unrest in the society.
It also reiterated its commitment to maintaining security in the state and ensuring that individuals found culpable of spreading misinformation are brought to justice.