The Nigeria Police, has refuted social media reports claiming that Bishop Uka Uka Osim of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, his wife, and son were kidnapped in Abia.
Commissioner of Police, Abia State, CP Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, in a statement Sunday, said that the alleged abduction did not occur in Abia but Anambra State.
The statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Moureen Chinaka, advised bloggers to always verify their facts before going to the press to avoid misinforming the public.
The statement made available to Vanguard read in part:”The Abia State Police Command wishes to unequivocally refute misleading online reports alleging that gunmen on Wednesday, 01/05/2024, abducted an Archbishop of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, Uka Uka Osim, in Abia State.
“On Saturday 04/05/2024, some online reports had quoted one Bishop Dennis Onuoha of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, as having stated that Archbishop Osim, his wife, son, and three other priests of the religious group were kidnapped in Abia while on their way to Anambra State.
“Abia State Police Command has investigated the story, and contacted Bishop Dennis Onuoha, who denied stating that the incident occurred in Abia State. The Bishop confirmed that the kidnapping incident did not occur in Abia but rather in Awka, Anambra State, on Wednesday 1 May 2024.”
The CP reiterated the Command’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that Abia State is safe for all, and urged members of the public to go about their lawful businesses without fear.
In a separate statement, the Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Alex Otti, Mr Kazie Uko, urged members of the public to disregard the misleading on-line reports.
It read:”The general public is hereby advised to disregard a misleading online report alleging that gunmen on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, abducted an Archbishop of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, Uka Uka Osim in Abia State.
“This is outright falsehood as the police in Abia State have since confirmed that no such incident occurred anywhere in the State.”.
