By Tony Adibe
The Enugu State Police Command has described as ‘fake’, a viral video which purported that helicopter dropped hundreds of unknown persons at Ologo/Jamboree in Coal Camp areas of Enugu North Local Government Area within Enugu capital city.
Dismissing the viral video as “false, unfounded and figment of the imagination of the creator”, the police also advised members of the public to disregard the rumour mongers and mischief makers, who are out to cause panic among the residents as well as mislead them.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), DSP Daniel Ndukwe, said in a statement issued Friday night that the video currently being shared on the social media was doctored to cause confusion among law-abiding citizens.
He emphasised that there was no record of such incident in the areas mentioned or any other part of the State.
Ndukwe stated that the state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Ammani has already ordered the conduct of “intelligence-guided discreet investigation to fish out the creators and peddlers of the fake video” and reiterated the “Command’s unwavering commitment to ensure maximum public security and safety of citizens of the State.”
The statement reads:
“RE: VIRAL VIDEO OF ALLEGED HELICOPTERS DROPPING HUNDREDS OF UNKNOWN PERSONS OLOGO/JAMBOREE/COAL CAMP AREAS OF ENUGU; RESIDENTS URGED TO DISREGARD FAKE AND DISINFORMATIVE VIDEO
“As CP Ammani orders discreet investigation to fish out its creators
“Following the receipt of a viral video, with female voices alleging, in a mixture of Igbo and English languages, that in the afternoon hours of 14/10/2022, helicopters dropped unknown persons, numbering about one hundred (100), on the top of Ugwu-Ajali hill, bordering Ologo, Jamboree and Coal Camp areas of Enugu;
” the State Police Command wishes to inform residents of the said locations and the entire State, that the clearly doctored video and information therein is fake and purely a product of the mongers’ figment of imagination and disinformation, aimed at misleading and creating panic and confusion amongst law-abiding citizens of the State.
”2. Consequently, the Command being mindful of the negative impacts of disinformation on public peace, security and safety in this age, is calling on the citizenry to totally disregard the unfounded and fake video, as there is no record of such incident in the mentioned locations or any other part of the State.
“3. Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, *CP Ahmed Ammani, fdc*, has ordered the conduct of intelligence-guided discreet investigation to fish out the creators and peddlers of the fake video, while reiterating the Command’s unwavering commitment to ensure maximum public security and safety of citizens of the State.
“4. The Commissioner further calls on residents of the State to always remain law-abiding, vigilante and endeavour to analyze and/or verify tensive and misleading social media information of this nature, before acting on them.
“5. He also enjoins them to continue to promptly report criminals and acts of criminality to the nearest Police Station or by calling the Command’s hotlines on: 08032003702, 08075390883 or 08086671202. Or alternatively send emails to infoenugupolice@gmail.com.
“DSP Daniel Ndukwe, anipr
Police Public Relations Officer,
State Headquarters,
G.R.A., Enugu.’
