The Imo State Police Command has dismissed as false reports circulating on social media claiming that suspected herdsmen attacked and set a student hostel ablaze near the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri.
The viral Facebook post alleged that more than 80 students were trapped inside a hostel that was reportedly set on fire by suspected herdsmen.
Reacting to the claim on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Henry Okoye, described the report as entirely false, misleading, and capable of causing unnecessary panic among residents.
Okoye urged the public to disregard the viral publication and avoid sharing unverified information that could incite fear or disrupt public order.
According to him, residents should always confirm the authenticity of information through credible and official sources before reposting it on social media or other platforms.
The police spokesperson reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state, assuring residents that it would continue to provide timely and accurate information on security-related issues.