The Command said the suspect circulated claims alleging that students of Green Park Academy, Aduwawa, Benin City, had been kidnapped. The police had earlier debunked the report, confirming that no such incident occurred.
In a statement on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Eno Ikoedem, said the false publication caused unnecessary alarm and disrupted public calm.
According to the Command, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect knowingly shared misleading content on social media, alleging multiple abductions involving students from Green Park Academy and Western Boys’ College, Ikpoba Hill. ...s further claimed that victims were transported in minibuses, with some allegedly escaping while others paid ransom.
The police described the information as entirely false and noted that it triggered widespread apprehension and placed avoidable pressure on security resources.
“These publications generated widespread apprehension, heightened public anxiety, and could undermine public confidence in the security architecture of the state,” the statement said.
The Command warned that the deliberate spread of false information relating to security matters is a criminal offence with serious consequences, stressing that it can incite panic, disturb public order, and divert security attention from genuine emergencies.
SP Ikoedem cautioned against using social media platforms to seek attention through unverified claims, adding that the suspect will be charged to court upon completion of investigations.
The police further urged members of the public to verify information from credible sources before sharing, and to avoid the dissemination of false reports capable of threatening public peace and safety.