The Akwa Ibom State Police Command and the Ministry of Education have intensified efforts to curb the rise of fake news, cybercrime, cultism, and other security threats in secondary schools across the state.
The joint strategic meeting, convened by Commissioner of Police CP Baba Mohammed Azare, fsi, brought together all secondary school principals, senior ministry officials, and education authorities to address the alarming trend of students fabricating false information, circulating edited videos, and posting misleading content on social media to incite panic and disrupt academic activities.
Describing such acts as criminal offenses under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, CP Azare warned that students involved in cybercrime, cultism, drug abuse, bullying, or other forms of misconduct would face legal consequences. He emphasized that school safety and digital responsibility are now non-negotiable priorities.
Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John in a statement quoted him thus,
“Schools are centres for learning and growth, not platforms for spreading falsehoods or engaging in criminal activities.”
He announced that the Police Command would step up patrols, deploy additional school safety officers, strengthen intelligence gathering, and respond promptly to all reported incidents.
Principals were issued clear directives, including conducting mandatory digital safety and cyber responsibility sessions, reporting all security incidents immediately, monitoring student access to online platforms, identifying at-risk students, and cooperating fully with Police Community Safety Officers.
Education Commissioner Prof. Ubong Umoh reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to safe and conducive learning environments, pledging ongoing collaboration with the Police to enforce school policies and deliver statewide awareness programs.
The meeting also addressed the recent viral kidnapping hoax at Mary Hanney Secondary School, Oron, which was traced to a 15-year-old student seeking social media attention. Principal Mrs. Emma Ubongabasi James confirmed there was no incident, highlighting the dangers of online misinformation.
CP Azare concluded by reassuring the public that Akwa Ibom remains one of the safest states in Nigeria, committing the Police and Ministry to sustained vigilance in protecting students and promoting responsible digital conduct.
Akwa Ibom Cracks Down on School Fake News, Cybercrime
