Imo State Police Command Clarifies Reports On Abduction Of 15 Anambra UTME Candidates

The Imo State Police Command has dispelled reports of the alleged abduction of 15 students from Eminent Scholars Imperial Academy, Onitsha, Anambra State.

The students had departed Onitsha on May 16, 2025, aboard a chartered bus en route to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre in Okigwe Zone, Imo State, for their rescheduled Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Concerns were raised on Saturday when the students, along with the school proprietor, his wife, and the driver, were reported missing and unreachable.

However, in a statement released on Monday, the Command’s spokesperson, Henry Okoye, confirmed that no abduction took place.

According to Okoye, the students successfully arrived in Imo, completed their exams, but encountered a mechanical fault on their return journey in the Amuro area of Okigwe, a location with poor mobile network coverage.

“This unforeseen breakdown caused a communication gap, which led to unfounded speculation and concern online,” the statement noted.

The police, in collaboration with other security agencies, swiftly conducted a coordinated search and located the stranded group. They were safely escorted to Owerri, where the vehicle was repaired. The students and staff returned to Onitsha on May 17, all in good health.

The Command thanked the public for their concern and urged citizens to refrain from spreading unverified information, while supporting efforts to maintain safety across the state.