In an effort to address the growing waves of fake news fabrication, cybercrime, cultism, and other threats affecting schools and the environs in Akwa Ibom State, Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare had a high-level security meeting with the Commissioner for Education, senior officials of the Ministry of Education, and all secondary school principals across the state on Tuesday.

Speaking at the meeting, CP Azare expressed grave concern over recent incidents where students deliberately created and circulated fake security alerts, doctored videos, false allegations, and other misleading social media content aimed at causing panic and disrupting academic activities.

He described such actions as criminal, stressing that the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act prescribes penalties for both the fabrication and dissemination of false information.

The Commissioner further disclosed that, the Police Command has recorded increasing cases of student involvement in cyber offenses including impersonation, internet fraud, online bullying, and scams as well as other troubling campus issues such as cultism, drug abuse, bullying, gangsterism, and sexual misconduct.

CP Azare assured the Ministry and school administrators of intensive police patrols around schools, deployment of more school safety officers, strengthened intelligence gathering, and swift response to all reported incidents.

He warned that students found engaging in the fabrication of harmful falsehoods, cultism, drug abuse, bullying, or any form of cybercrime will face appropriate legal action.

To strengthen discipline and campus security, the Commissioner issued directives requiring all principals to conduct mandatory sensitization programmes on fake news, cyber responsibility, and digital safety.

The CP further directed heads of schools to report all security-related incidents immediately to both the Police Command and the Ministry of Education, strengthen internal monitoring structures, including setting up counseling units and ‘School Safety Committees’.

Azare also requested the reinforcement of supervision of students’ access to mobile phones and online platforms, identify ‘at-risk students’ early and involve their parents, counselors, and security agencies, and cooperate fully with Police Community Safety Officers assigned to their zones.

In his response, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ubong Umoh, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to safeguarding learning environments in Akwa Ibom State, and emphasized that, the Ministry will continue to enforce school policies, enhance administrative oversight, and partner with the Police in sustained statewide sensitization campaigns.

Also speaking, the Principal of Mary Hanley Secondary school, Oron, Mrs. Emmanuel UbongAbasi James provided clarity on a viral false alarm on the kidnap of some students in that school.

She confirmed that, no kidnap occurred in the school last week, describing the hoax as the handiwork of a 15 year old student seeking social media clout.

CP Azare however, reiterated that Akwa Ibom remains one of the safest states in the country and assured the residents that, the Police Command will continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Education and school authorities to maintain a secure and digitally responsible learning environment.