The Ebonyi State Police Command has dismissed reports alleging that about 100 persons were being held captive by a newly emerged terror group in Izzi Local Government Area of the state, describing the claim as baseless, misleading and capable of triggering unnecessary fear and panic among residents.
The Command, in a statement issued on Friday by its Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, said there was no evidence of mass kidnapping or the emergence of a new terror group in Izzi, while urging members of the public to disregard unverified reports and rely on information from credible security authorities.
The police statement followed a social media publication by Chika Nwoba, who allegedly claimed that a new terror group had emerged in the state and that scores of people had been kidnapped, with approximately 100 victims being held in captivity.
The Command described the report as “yellow journalism,” expressing concern that the allegation was reportedly based on a telephone conversation with a family member of one of the persons said to be missing.
“The Command hereby condemns this falsehood which is baseless, misleading, and capable of unnecessarily creating fear and panic among residents of the State,” the police said.
Clarifying the incident that appeared to have triggered the report, the Command said that on July 28, 2026, one Okemini Ogbonna reported that his three brothers had left home the previous day to watch a football match but failed to return.
According to the police, Ogbonna subsequently received a message purportedly from a group identifying itself as “Bloody Vampires”, threatening to kill his brothers unless the state government paid $5 million within 62 hours.
The Command said its operatives immediately commenced investigation and mobilised resources to trace the source of the telephone number allegedly used to issue the threat.
The investigation, according to the police, led operatives to a location around the Ogun State Correctional Centre.
The Command further disclosed that during the investigation, its operatives encountered another victim who had allegedly been targeted by members of the same syndicate using a similar modus operandi to extort money.
The victim, the police said, realised that he was dealing with scammers and threatened to report the matter to the police, following which an acquaintance allegedly used by the syndicate in furtherance of the scheme emerged from a neighbouring village where he had been hiding.
Despite the development, the Command said it had continued its investigation with a view to establishing the circumstances surrounding the incident, identifying all persons involved and bringing them to justice.
It, however, rejected the claim that more than 100 Ebonyians were being held captive, stressing that there had been no corresponding reports, incidents or widespread security concerns consistent with such a large-scale kidnapping operation in the state.
“The claim that over 100 Ebonyi indigenes are being held captive, or that scores of persons have been kidnapped in Izzi Local Government Area, without any corresponding reports, incidents or widespread security concerns within the State, is a gross exaggeration and an allegation taken too far,” the Command said.
The police challenged Nwoba to provide credible evidence to substantiate the allegation or desist from disseminating unverified information capable of causing apprehension among members of the public.
The Command also urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities or genuine security concerns to the police.
It assured the public that it remained committed to maintaining peace and security across Ebonyi State, noting that it was working in collaboration with sister security agencies and relevant stakeholders to protect lives and property.
The Command said under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, CP Hope Urunwa Okafor, it would continue to investigate security threats and take appropriate measures to ensure that perpetrators of criminal activities were brought to justice.
It further advised members of the public to exercise caution in consuming and circulating information on social media, particularly reports relating to security incidents, urging them to verify such claims with the police or other competent authorities before publication or dissemination.
