Police, ministry meet principals over rising fake news, school threats

Etim Ekpimah

The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, Baba Mohammed Azare, on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, convened a joint strategic meeting with the Commissioner for Education, senior officials of the Ministry of Education, and all secondary school principals to address the alarming rise in fake news fabrication and other security threats within schools.

In his remarks, Azare expressed deep concern over recent incidents in which students deliberately created and circulated fake security alerts, edited videos, false allegations, and misleading social media posts aimed at causing panic and disrupting learning.

DSP Timfon John, Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom State Command, said Azare described the acts as criminal and warned that fabricating or spreading false information is punishable under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act.

She noted that the CP further disclosed that the police have recorded an uptick in student involvement in cyber-related offences, including impersonation, internet fraud, bullying, and various scam activities.

According to her, the CP also highlighted other disturbing trends such as cultism, drug abuse, gangsterism, and sexual misconduct in some schools.

“The command will intensify patrols around schools, deploy additional school safety officers, strengthen intelligence gathering, and ensure swift response to all reported cases.

“Any student caught fabricating harmful falsehoods or participating in cultism, bullying, drug abuse, or cybercrime will face the full weight of the law,” Azare said.

She said Azare had issued directives to school heads to reinforce discipline and tighten security measures. Schools are now required to conduct mandatory sensitisation on fake news, cyber responsibility, and digital safety; report all security-related incidents promptly to both the police command and the Ministry of Education; and strengthen internal monitoring systems, including counselling units and School Safety Committees.

Other directives include stricter supervision of students’ access to mobile phones and online platforms, early identification of at-risk students, enhanced engagement with parents and counsellors, and collaboration with Police Community Safety Officers assigned to each zone.

Speaking at the meeting, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ubong Umoh, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to maintaining safe and conducive learning environments across the state.

He said the ministry would continue enforcing school policies, enhancing administrative oversight, and partnering with the police to roll out statewide awareness campaigns.

Also commenting, the Principal of Mary Hanney Secondary School, Oron, Mrs Emma Ubongabasi James, clarified that there was no kidnap incident in the school last week, describing the viral claim as a social-media hoax orchestrated by a 15-year-old student seeking online attention.

Azare reiterated that Akwa Ibom remains one of the safest states in the country and assured continued collaboration with the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders to sustain secure, disciplined, and digitally responsible school environments.