..Warns against misleading news publication by media
By Gabriel Udeh, Kaduna
The remaining twenty-seven (27) students of the Federal College of Forestry and Mechanisation, Mando, Afaka Kaduna State, are now in stable condition and ready to be reunited with their respective families.
The Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command CP UM Muri disclosed this during a press briefing on Friday in kaduna.
He said the 27 kidnapped students were subsequently released to the Command on the 5th day of May, 2021 at about 4:15pm (1615hrs), without any casualty.
The CP said upon arrival at the Police Headquarters, “all the victims were admitted immediately at the Police Clinic for evaluation and resuscitation, giving their bad looks and poor health conditions. Basic routine laboratory investigations were carried out and all medical concerns have been sorted out.
“As we speak, the victims are all clinically stable and ready to be reunited with their respective families.
“Let me use this opportunity to once again caution the gentlemen of the press and all social media users, as I have done in my previous press briefings, to desist from the habit of misleading the general public on events that are unfolding in the State and the country at large, particularly issues that borders on security, especially at this critical and challenging moment of our time.
“We should realise that publication of false information is criminalised by Section 104 of the Penal Code Law of Kaduna State, 2017.
“Note also that where the said false information constitutes injury to the person or reputation of another, same becomes an offence known as ‘Injurious Falsehood’ punishable under Section 373 of same Penal Code Law of Kaduna State, 2017.
“This same offence also exists in the Federal Act which is referred as Cyber-stalking under the Cybercrime Act.
“The Command is hereby advising all participators in the press world and social media to always seek clarification or confirmation from the relevant authorities on any issue they intend to publish to avoid any clash with the criminal laws of the State and that of the Federation, not-withstanding their freedom of speech as enshrined in Section 39 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.
“Once again, I want to thank the Federal Government, Kaduna State Government and the Acting Inspector General of Police for the robust support rendered to the Command in ensuring the release of the abducted students of the College of Forestry and Mechanisation, Mando, Afaka.
“Concerted effort is being made to ensure the Green Field University Students who were abducted on the 20th April, 2021 regain their freedom soon.
“As usual, the Command is appealing to the general public for more support in terms of information sharing and prompt report of incidents via our dedicated phone numbers being 08075391105 and 07039675856”, he stated.
He also stated that “Since the kidnap of the said students, the Federal/State Governments, Inspector General of Police as well as the Kaduna State Police Command became greatly concerned and deeply engaged every means deemed necessary within the ambit of the law for the rescue of the students.
“In the process of this strategy, many security meetings were held at the Kaduna State Government House, presided over by His Excellency, Mallam Nasir Ahmad EL-Rufai, the Executive of Kaduna State where more proactive measures were thoroughly discussed and carefully analysed with a view to ensuring that all the students are rescued unhurt”, he added.
