By Pamela Eboh
The Anambra State Government has debunked a recent, trending story of abduction and rape that allegedly occurred in Ukwulu, in Dunukofia Local Government Area of the state.
This was contained in a statement by Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s Press Secretary, Christian Aburime on Tuesday.
The statement read in part, “In recent times, the state government has observed that certain individuals, motivated by political agendas, have persisted in spreading false and baseless stories in an attempt to undermine the peace and security enjoyed by Ndi Anambra and residents of our state.
‘The trending story, which surfaced on various online platforms demanding the attention of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo CFR, was found to be another concocted narrative, void of credibility and substance and mischievously circulated to paint a scenario of insecurity within our peaceful state.
“The supposed female victim of the abduction, in her unsigned and poorly articulated tale, claimed to have been kidnapped alongside her husband and housemaid by Fulani herders near Abba Junction in Ukwulu community, where they were purportedly taken into the bush and endured days of heinous acts before being released upon payment of ransom.
‘However, the traditional ruler of Ukwulu, Igwe Peter Anukwu Uyanwa, has unequivocally denounced the story of abduction and rape as patently false. He said that nothing of such happened in his community.
“Also, the Anambra State Police Command, through its Public Relations Officer, SP Ikenga Tochukwu, has confirmed that no such incident of abduction and rape has been reported or verified.
“Thus, the absence of a credible source and the denial from the traditional ruler of Ukwulu and state police command strongly indicate the malicious intent behind this fabricated story. It is evident that faceless individuals, driven by ulterior motives, have engaged in a false alarm to tarnish the image of our state and create unwarranted fear among our people.”
He reiterated that Anambra State, under the vigilant leadership of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all Ndi Anambra, residents and visitors alike, saying,
“The Governor urges the public to disregard the rampant fake news and baseless allegations by remaining vigilant against attempts to sow fear of insecurity within the state.
‘The government also encourages the public to rely on verified sources of information and refrain from spreading unverified claims that may destabilise our society.
“To report security related matters and convey security information at any time, the public is encouraged to reach security agencies in the state through any of the following lines: 07039194332, 08039334002 and 07039896429.
“All organs of the state government remain resolute in the commitment to uphold the rule of law and foster a peaceful, secure and prosperous environment for Ndi Anambra and all residents of the state.”
