Imo Police parades prophetess for raising false alarm over herdsmen attack
A self acclaimed prophetess, Rev. Ijeoma Nwosu of Assembly Church, Irete, has been arrested by the Imo State Police Command for allegedly raising false alarm on planned Fulani herdsmen attack on the people of Umuoba, Irete community in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State.
DSP Henry Okoye, the Imo State Command Police Public Relations Officer, stated this while parading the suspects before news men at the Command’s headquarters, Owerri.
Okoye posited that following painstaking investigations by the Command, police apprehended an individual recently responsible for circulating the threatening message in the Umuoba community of Irete.
“The message, which created significant public concern over a potential herdsmen attack, prompted an immediate and thorough investigation by the Command.”
He disclosed that Mr. Chidi Emma Azonibe, 35, a native of Umuelele in Irete, admitted to posting the message, revealing that the message was composed by his prophetess, Rev. Ijeoma Nwosu and that he, along with his brother, Amanna Azonibe, were instructed by the prophetess to disseminate the message within the community, so as to probably raise alarm, fears and caution.
Azonibe further alleged that the prophetess told him that she received the “divine revelation” from God warning that Fulani herdsmen were planning an attack on the residents of Irete, prompting her to compose the message as a means of alerting the community.
Recall last week a threatening and ongoing WhatsApp message titled, “FULANI HERDSMEN: WE ARE COMING, WAIT FOR US AT ANYTIME ANY MOMENT NOW WAIT FOR US,” was unleashed in the social media and the message went viral within days, and significantly contributed to the heightened level of anxiety among local residents of Irete and Owerri metropolis.
This prompted Imo State Police Command to intensify efforts in authenticating the source and truth of the message so as to be strategically proactive.
Okoye noted that the Command has equally intensified efforts to apprehend some of the suspects at large so as to face the wraths of the law.
He reiterated that the Command has also issued a stern warning against the spread of false news and misinformation, stating that anyone found inciting panic or unrest will face the full wraths of the law.
