Okechukwu Nwanguma, Executive Director of the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), has called for calm, improved security measures, and responsible reporting following panic triggered by a recent security incident around Eziobodo, Ihiagwa, and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) axis in Imo State.
In a statement issued on May 15, 2026, Nwanguma said available information indicated that the incident involved “an attempted abduction along the Eziobodo-Ihiagwa Road”, which was reportedly resisted through the intervention of security operatives, local vigilantes, and community members.
He noted that while the victim reportedly sustained a gunshot injury, there was “no verified evidence supporting widespread claims of mass killings or coordinated terrorist attacks circulated on social media.”
Nwanguma expressed concern over what he described as the spread of misinformation surrounding the incident.
“RULAAC is deeply disturbed by the circulation of misleading videos, recycled footage, edited content, and unverified claims that amplified fear and panic among students, parents, and residents,” he said.
According to him, the dissemination of false or manipulated information during security emergencies could “trigger chaos, worsen public anxiety, obstruct investigations, and inflame ethnic and communal tensions.”
However, he also cautioned authorities against dismissing the genuine security fears of residents and students in the area because of the misinformation circulating online.
“The area has witnessed recurring incidents of kidnappings and violent crimes in recent times, including the reported abduction of a student weeks ago. These incidents have understandably created fear and heightened public sensitivity to security threats,” he stated.
Nwanguma further warned against the premature attribution of criminal attacks to specific ethnic groups without verified evidence.
“The hasty characterisation of the incident as a ‘Fulani herdsmen attack’ despite the absence of verified identification of the perpetrators risks deepening ethnic profiling, hatred, and reprisals,” he said.
“Criminality should be addressed through evidence-based investigations rather than assumptions or collective blame.”
He called on the Imo State Police Command and other security agencies to conduct “a transparent and professional investigation” into the attempted abduction and related incidents in the area.
Nwanguma also urged authorities to publicly disclose verified findings to counter rumours, strengthen intelligence-led policing around FUTO and neighbouring communities, improve crisis communication, and ensure that tactical responses comply with human rights and accountability standards.
He acknowledged the deployment of the newly established Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) to the area but stressed that public confidence in the unit would depend on “its conduct, professionalism, respect for human rights, and accountability.”
“The mistakes associated with disbanded or controversial tactical units must not be repeated under new labels,” he warned.
Nwanguma also appealed to media organisations, bloggers, and social media users to exercise caution and professionalism in reporting security-related incidents.
“Verification must take precedence over sensationalism,” he said.
He maintained that parents, students, and residents deserved “both truthful information and effective protection,” adding that authorities must address security concerns in the FUTO axis “while avoiding denial, misinformation, or ethnic scapegoating.”
