The Enugu State Police Command has described as mischievous and fake a trending video which alleged that a helicopter dropped hundreds of people on top of a hill in the State capital.
It was reported that the video, which was accompanied by a female voice, created tension in the State.
But in a statement made available to journalists by DSP Daniel Ndukwe, Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu Command, he said “the unfortunate viral video clip of alleged helicopters dropping hundreds of unknown persons on the top of Ugwu-ajali hill, bordering Ologo, Jamboree and Coal Camp areas of Enugu is fake and should be disregarded.
He said a manhunt had been launched to fish out those behind the mischievous content.
“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.
“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.
“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Ammani, 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.
“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.
“He also enjoins them to continue to promptly report criminals and acts of criminality to the nearest Police Station,” he said.
Meanwhile, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State on Friday presided over the State Security Council Meeting.
The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Governor, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, the Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward Uchenna Ubosi, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya and heads of security agencies in the state, namely; the Garrison Commander, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. M.K Ibrahim; the Commander, 553 Base Services Group, Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Enugu, Air Commodore Isaiah Taiwo; the Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Ammani; the Director, Department of State Services (DSS), H.M Daluwa and the Commandant, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, Aloysius Obiora.
The meeting reviewed the security situation in the State and took far-reaching decisions.