CITIZENS COMPASS – ROAD users plying Enugu-Ugwogo Road in Enugu State can sigh a relief as the State Police Command has debunked a viral video alleging that the road is unsafe.
Spokesperson of the Command,
DSP Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, June 24, 2023.
“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 sustained 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.”
