By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Imo State Police Command has dismissed viral reports alleging the abduction of 15 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidates in Imo State, clarifying that the students were merely stranded due to a vehicle breakdown.

The students, all from Eminent Scholars Imperial Academy in Onitsha, Anambra State, had traveled to Okigwe Zone in Imo State on May 16, 2025, for their rescheduled JAMB examination.

According to a statement issued by the Command?s spokesperson, DSP Henry Okoye, there was no kidnapping incident as reported on social media platforms.

?The Imo State Police Command wishes to clarify reports concerning fifteen students of Eminent Scholars Imperial Academy, Onitsha, Anambra State, who departed Onitsha for their rescheduled JAMB examinations at the CBT centre in Okigwe Zone, Imo State. The Command unequivocally confirms that no abduction took place.

The students, together with their proprietor and support staff, safely arrived in Imo State and sat for their examinations as scheduled,? Okoye stated.

Trouble began on their return journey when the school bus suffered a mechanical fault around the Amuro area of Okigwe, an area known for poor mobile network coverage. As a result, the students were unable to reach out, triggering panic among family members and the public when they could not be contacted.

"The lack of network connectivity fueled online speculation and misinformation about a possible abduction.?

However, DSP Okoye confirmed that as soon as the Command received information about the incident, police operatives, in collaboration with other security agencies, launched a coordinated patrol to locate the students. The team successfully found them and ensured they were safely escorted to Owerri.

Arrangements were made in Owerri for the bus to be towed and repaired. After the vehicle was fixed, the students, along with their proprietor, continued their journey and returned safely to Onitsha.

DSP Okoye commended the public for their swift concern and for alerting the police, which enabled prompt intervention. He also urged citizens to avoid spreading unverified information, especially in sensitive matters involving the safety of schoolchildren.

The Command reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety of all residents and visitors in the state and warned against sensationalizing incidents that could cause unnecessary panic.