NIGERIA, UYO – The Akwa Ibom State Government has dismissed a trending social media claim alleging the abduction of students of Mary Hanney Secondary School, Oron, describing it as “malicious and fabricated” in a statement issued by the Ministry of Information.
Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, said the report was entirely false and intended to cause panic, stressing that “no abduction or security incident occurred anywhere in Oron.” He urged parents and residents to ignore the rumour.
Umanah noted that security agencies had confirmed no incident took place and warned that strict actions would be taken against individuals spreading false information to ignite fear or destabilise public order within the state.
The Ministry of Education, through Commissioner Ubong Umoh, also appealed for calm. He explained that students were safe, adding that authorities remained committed to protecting schools and ensuring a secure learning environment across Akwa Ibom.
The government maintained that Governor Umo Eno places top priority on the safety of lives and property. According to Umanah, the governor “expects full cooperation with security agencies to ensure that peddlers of fake news face consequences.”
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Meanwhile, the Office of the Secretary to the State Government announced fresh appointments aimed at strengthening the state’s agric-business initiatives under the ARISE Agenda. In the release signed by SSG Enobong Uwah, Pastor Godwin Ukwat was named Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agric-Business.
Uwah stated that Ukwat would coordinate major agricultural programmes, including the Ibom Model Farm, AKADEP, the Tree Crop Revolution, and farm settlement expansions. He added that Ukwat would liaise with the Ministry of Agriculture and AKICORP to drive food value chains.
The SSG also confirmed the appointment of Ofonmbuk Nelson as Director of Agric-Business. The release said Nelson would serve as Secretary to the Agriculture and Food Security Committee and support ongoing interventions to boost productivity and reduce food insecurity.
According to Uwah, the appointments take immediate effect and align with the administration’s plan to enhance efficiency and deliver measurable results in the agricultural sector.
Residents were encouraged to rely on verified government statements and avoid circulating unconfirmed information capable of disrupting public peace. The government reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, security, and improved service delivery across all sectors.