Police Arrest Woman Over False Kidnap Claims in Edo

The Edo State Police Command has arrested a social media personality, Uzebor Emmanuel, popularly known as “Aza Woman,” over alleged false claims of student kidnappings in Benin City.

The command said Emmanuel was arrested for circulating viral posts alleging that students of Green Park Academy, Aduwawa, and Western Boys’ College, Ikpoba Hill, had been kidnapped, claims which police had earlier dismissed as false.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Eno Ikoedem, said preliminary investigations showed that the suspect knowingly spread misleading information on social media, claiming that about six persons were abducted through mini buses, with some victims allegedly escaping while others paid ransom.

According to the police, the publications caused widespread panic and heightened public anxiety, while also threatening public confidence in the state’s security system.

“The Edo State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that one Uzebor Emmanuel (female), popularly known on social media as ‘Aza Woman,’ has been arrested in connection with the viral publications,” the statement said.

The command noted that spreading false information, particularly on issues relating to public safety and security, is a serious offence capable of causing panic, disrupting public order and diverting security resources from genuine emergencies.

Ikoedem warned against using social media to chase relevance, engagement or online popularity at the expense of public peace and security.

He added that Emmanuel would be charged to court after investigations are concluded.

The police also urged residents to verify information from credible sources before sharing it and to avoid spreading unverified reports that could threaten public order.