Following the reported cases of fake news fabrication, cybercrime, cultism and other unwholesome activities in some secondary schools n Akwa Ibom State, the State Police Command has summoned principals and other heads of schools for a meeting on how to tackle the menace.
This is coming after a secondary school student in Oron was said to have made a viral video raising false alarm of kidnapping in her school which had brought tension in the state.
Addressing education stakeholders during a joint strategic meeting with the Commissioner for Education at the Command’s headquarters, Ikot Akpanabia Uyo on Tuesday, CP Azare told the principals to warn their students that the fabrication or spread of false information is punishable under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act.
He noted that a situation whereby a student deliberately generates and circulates fake security alerts, edited videos, false allegations, and misleading social media posts to cause panic and disrupt academic activities is criminal and punishable under the law.
The commissioner further noted that the Command has observed increasing involvement of students in cyber-related offenses such as impersonation, internet fraud, online bullying, and scam activities.
He therefore, assured the ministry and all principals that the Command will intensify patrols around schools, deploy more school safety officers, strengthen intelligence gathering, and ensure prompt intervention in all reported cases.
He equally warned that any student caught fabricating or spreading harmful falsehoods, engaging in cultism, bullying, drug abuse, or any form of cybercrime will face appropriate legal action.
The commissioner also charged the school heads to conduct mandatory sensitization on fake news, cyber responsibility, and digital safety as well as reporting all security-related incidents to both the Police Command and the Ministry of Education.
Other tips handed down to principals for security strengthening include “strengthening internal monitoring teams, including counseling units and School Safety Committees, reinforcing supervision of students’ access to mobile phones and online platforms, Identify at-risk students early and engaging their parents, counselors, and security agencies”.
The police commissioner however stated that Akwa Ibom remains one of the safest states in Nigeria pledging his commitment to partner with relevant stakeholders to sustain a secure and digitally responsible school environment.
Speaking at the meeting, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ubong Umoh, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to ensuring safe and conducive learning environments across Akwa Ibom State.
He stated that the ministry will continue to enforce compliance with school policies, strengthen administrative oversight, and partner with the police in rolling out statewide awareness programmes
Also speaking, the Principal of Mary Hanney Secondary School, Oron, Mrs Emma Ubongabasi James, confirmed that there was no kidnap incident in the school last week, regretting that the viral hoax was a social media clout chasing adventure by a 15-year-old student.
Akwa Ibom: Police summon principals over rising cases of cybercrime, cultism in schools
