From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command, Edward Egbuka, has denied Media Report that over 15 passengers were missing as a result of the activities of kidnappers on Anyigba-Itobe Highway in the state.
The CP described the report as false, malicious and mischievous with a strong warning against irresponsible journalism capable of adding more injuries to the already battered security situation across the country.
The CP in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Police Command in the state,SP William Aya, which a copy was made available to Our Correspondent in Lokoja, Thursday, vowed to clamp down on media reports without any iota of truth.
The CP said: ” The Command wish to unequivocally say that, the report is not only the figment of the imagination of the author, but totally false, malicious and highly mischievous.
“On Wednesday 6/4/2022, the Command received a report that one Toyota bus with Registration Number Benue 192 XA, driven by one Bernard Ejeh, conveying 16 passengers from Abuja, heading to Benue State via ANKPA ran into kidnappers at Ojuwo-Ajebgo village of Ofu Local Government Area along Anyigba road.
“Immediately, the operatives of Quick Response Unit stationed at Itobe promptly swung into action, pursued the hoodlums into the bush and rescued 12 passengers, including the driver while 4 other passengers are yet to be seen.”
The Commissioner of Police, who said he was on a visiting tour to Kogi East Senatorial Zone, said he got the information while he was on his way to Ejule, adding that he immediately moved to the scene.
At the scene, he added that he met with the rescued passengers and ordered that they should be moved to Itobe Division for debriefing and immediately deployed tactical team to the area to continue trailing the hoodlums, with a view to rescuing other victims.
CP Egbuka, therefore, urged members of the public, the media; particularly social media handlers to always verify facts of incidents from the Police before publishing stories to guard against misinforming the general public.
