The Rivers State Police Command has dismissed as false a viral audio recording alleging an attempted kidnap involving four women disguised as market traders along Woji Bridge in Port Harcourt, stating that investigations found no evidence that such an incident occurred.
In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP, Agabe Blessing Kaborlo, the Command said it immediately launched a verification process by contacting all Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), heads of departments and police formations across the state after the audio and photograph began circulating on social media.
According to the police, comprehensive checks confirmed that no report of the alleged attempted kidnap was received at any police division or formation in Rivers State.
The Command also disclosed that efforts to reach the originator of the viral voice recording were unsuccessful.
It further revealed that a preliminary digital assessment of the photograph accompanying the audio indicated that the image was generated using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and should not be regarded as authentic evidence.
The police said a full-scale investigation has commenced to identify those responsible for creating and circulating the false content, warning that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted under Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
The Command reassured residents that Rivers State remains peaceful and secure, stressing its commitment to intelligence-led policing, proactive crime prevention and the protection of lives and property.
It also urged members of the public to refrain from creating, sharing or amplifying unverified reports, manipulated content or AI-generated images capable of causing panic, and advised residents to verify security-related information through official channels before sharing it.
The police encouraged anyone with credible information relating to the viral content or any other security concern to report through the Office of the Police Public Relations Officer or the Complaint Response Unit.
