Police Debunks Rumour Of School Bus Hijack In Rivers

The Rivers State Police Command on Tuesday debunked claims that gunmen attacked a bus carrying students from the Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, in the Khana region of Rivers.

According to the Nigerian News Agency (NAN), news of the abducted students went viral online on Monday, with allegations that the gunmen demanded a ransom of two million naira for their release.

In a statement released in Port Harcourt, the command’s spokesman, SP Nnamdi Omoni, said it was false and unfounded.

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“The Rivers Police Command’s attention has been drawn to phantom online news on: ‘Gunmen abduct buses full of students in Rivers, demand two million naira ransom,’ he said.

“The command wishes to state that the suspected abduction of a commercial bus carrying students is unfounded, baseless, and unverifiable, as it exists only in the minds of mischief-makers.

“A preliminary investigation, which included interfaces and interviews with school administrators, found that nothing of the sort occurred.

“It’s also worth remembering that no relatives or parents have identified a missing person case to us,” he said.

According to Omoni, the polytechnic was closed for the holidays and only reopened for the academic year on March 1.

Since the arrest and death of suspected kidnapper Bobisky, he says that the security situation in the polytechnic’s host communities has improved.

“As a result, the command is advising the public to ignore the article as fake news, as it is only meant to inflame the security situation in Rivers state.

“However, Mr Eboka Friday, the new Commissioner of Police in Rivers, has ordered an inquiry into the report and warned purveyors of false news to stop immediately or face prosecution.

He went on to state, “The CP is irrevocably committed to protecting the lives and resources of all citizens and is seeking everyone’s support and cooperation.”