*As Police, Education Commissioners meet Secondary School Principals
By Ime Silas
The Principal of Mary Hanney Secondary School, Oron in Akwa Ibom State; Mrs. Emma Ubongabasi James has cleared the air on the recent viral video in which a fifteen-years old student erroneously claimed that students of the school were abducted by kidnappers.
Mrs. Emma was speaking yesterday when Police and Ministry of Education met with all Secondary School Principals over rising cases of fake news fabrication, cybercrime, cultism and other school safety threats at the State Headquarters of Akwa Ibom State Command of the Nigeria Police, Ikot Akpanabia.
Describing the claims in the viral video as total false, the Principal in her speech regretted what she termed as “the viral hoax”, saying it was a social media clout chasing adventure.
In a post-briefing press release signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Timfon John, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare was quoted as assuring the school principals that the Command would intensify patrol around schools in the state with a view to ensuring optimal security of students, teachers and others.
“The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, fsi, today convened a joint strategic meeting with the Honourable Commissioner for Education, senior officials of the Ministry of Education, and all principals of secondary schools in the state to address the alarming rise in fake news fabrication by students and other emerging security threats within school environments”, the release stated.
The release further stressed that it was a criminal offence to deliberately generate a fake alert, while anyone who shared same without verification could also be liable upon prosecution.
The statement continued “In his remarks, the Commissioner of Police expressed serious concern over recent cases where students deliberately generated and circulated fake security alerts, edited videos, false allegations, and misleading social media posts intended to cause panic and disrupt academic activities. CP Azare described such behaviour as criminal, warning that the fabrication or spread of false information is punishable under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act.
“He further noted that the Police Command has observed increasing involvement of students in cyber-related offenses such as impersonation, internet fraud, online bullying, and scam activities. The CP also highlighted other worrying trends including cultism, drug abuse, bullying, gangsterism, and sexual misconduct within some schools.
CP Azare assured the Ministry and all principals that the Police Command will intensify patrols around schools, deploy more school safety officers, strengthen intelligence gathering, and ensure prompt intervention in all reported cases. He warned that any student caught fabricating or spreading harmful falsehoods, engaging in cultism, bullying, drug abuse, or any form of cybercrime will face appropriate legal action”.
Meanwhile, CP Azare has issued directives to all principals which, according to the force, are aimed at strengthening discipline and enhancing security.
According to the directives, schools are now expected to:
“Conduct mandatory sensitization on fake news, cyber responsibility, and digital safety.
“Report all security-related incidents immediately to both the Police Command and the Ministry of Education.
“Strengthen internal monitoring teams, including counseling units and School Safety Committees.
“Reinforce supervision of students’ access to mobile phones and online platforms.
“Identify at-risk students early and engage their parents, counselors, and security agencies.
“Cooperate with Police Community Safety Officers assigned to their zones”.
Speaking at the meeting, the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ubong Umoh reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring safe and conducive learning environments across the state.
He stated that the Ministry will continue to enforce compliance with school policies, strengthen administrative oversight, and partner with the Police in rolling out statewide awareness programmes.
