The Imo State Police Command has dismissed widespread reports claiming that gunmen abducted passengers in a 14-seater bus along the busy Aba road in Owerri on Tuesday.
Residents had circulated claims that a fully loaded commercial bus travelling from Owerri to Aba was intercepted by gunmen in the morning, with all passengers allegedly whisked away. A video purporting to show the incident also went viral on social media, heightening tension across the state.
However, the police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, in an interview on Tuesday evening, described the reports as false and aimed at creating panic. Okoye said the video being shared was an old clip being recycled to give the impression of a fresh attack.
During a live video call, Okoye showed police operatives—including the Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma—alongside Army and vigilante personnel conducting a show of force in Umuneke, near Ihitte Junction, close to the alleged crime scene.
“As you can see for yourself, we are here for an on-the-spot assessment, and I can tell you that there was no kidnapping on this road today,” Okoye said. “People should disregard the trending video; it is an old clip being recycled. The Police, Army, and vigilante operatives are on the ground to ensure the safety of travellers.”
He confirmed that while there was a kidnapping incident elsewhere in Owerri on Monday, no such incident occurred along Aba road on Tuesday. As of 6pm, the command had received no report of abduction in the area.
Okoye also expressed surprise at reports that the advance convoy of Abia State Governor Alex Otti was attacked the same day, saying the command was yet to receive a formal report from Abia authorities.
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Despite the police assurance, residents in Owerri remain anxious over what many described as a sudden spike in attacks along Aba road, which leads to the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport. Some eyewitnesses insisted that a bus was attacked in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area earlier in the day, with gunmen reportedly moving passengers into another vehicle in a swift operation.
The conflicting reports have deepened concerns among travellers and residents. An Owerri-based activist, Nnamdi Paulcy Iwuala, said he cancelled his planned trip to Aba after hearing multiple accounts of kidnapping along the route.
Another resident appealed to security agencies to intensify operations along the long, bushy stretches of the road, which have become recurring targets for gunmen.
Security patrols were ongoing as of Tuesday night as authorities attempted to restore public confidence.