In a statement issued on Friday, RULAAC described the event as an attempted abduction along the Eziobodo-Ihiagwa Road. According to available details from RULAAC, the attempt was resisted through the combined efforts of security operatives, local vigilantes, and community members. The victim sustained a gunshot injury, but the group said there is currently no verified evidence of the mass killings or coordinated terrorist attacks that have circulated widely on social media.
RULAAC, in the statement signed by its executive director Okechukwu Nwanguma, expressed deep concern over the rapid spread of misleading videos, recycled old footage, and edited content, which it said amplified fear and confusion among students, parents, and residents of the area.
“The dissemination of false or manipulated information during security emergencies can trigger chaos, worsen public anxiety, obstruct investigations, and inflame ethnic and communal tensions,” the statement read.
However, the advocacy group cautioned against using the prevalence of misinformation to downplay genuine security challenges in the FUTO axis. It noted recurring incidents of kidnappings and violent crimes in the area, including the reported abduction of a student in recent weeks, which have heightened public sensitivity.
RULAAC warned against the premature attribution of the attack to specific ethnic groups, particularly the hasty labeling of the incident as a “Fulani herdsmen attack” without credible evidence. Such actions, it said, risk deepening ethnic profiling, hatred, and potential reprisals.
The group 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.
It also advocated for intelligence-led policing and preventive measures around FUTO and neighboring communities.
While acknowledging the recent deployment of the newly established Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) to the area, RULAAC stressed that public confidence in the unit would depend on its professionalism, respect for human rights, and accountability, warning against repeating past mistakes of controversial tactical units.
The organization also appealed to media organizations, bloggers, and social media users to exercise restraint and prioritize verification over sensationalism in reporting security incidents.
“Parents, students, and residents deserve both truthful information and effective protection,” RULAAC said, adding that sustainable security in the area can only be achieved through professionalism, transparency, community trust, and adherence to the rule of law.