Onitsha, Nigeria — Panic triggered by reports of a suspicious helicopter landing in Okudugbo and neighbouring communities has been traced to a fabricated social media video, with the suspect behind the viral post reportedly arrested for further investigation.
Community leaders said findings from a fact-finding mission confirmed that no helicopter landed in the area as claimed in the widely circulated footage. Authorities disclosed that the individual behind the video admitted during interrogation that he did not witness any such സംഭവം and relied on unverified information.
The alarm prompted swift intervention by the President General (PG), who led a security team to conduct on-the-spot assessments across Okudugbo and adjoining communities.
“While a helicopter was sighted flying over the area, there was no evidence of any landing or suspicious activity,” a community source involved in the verification exercise said.
Residents also noted that helicopters occasionally pass through the airspace without incident, dismissing claims of unusual activity.
Sources close to the investigation revealed that the suspect allegedly recorded the video from a location near CKP and was not present at the scene he claimed. He reportedly admitted to creating the content based on hearsay, which sparked fear and tension among residents.
The suspect is expected to be handed over to police authorities in Anaocha for further investigation over allegations of spreading false information and causing public panic.
Community leaders across neighbouring areas have condemned the act, warning against the dangers of circulating unverified security reports on social media.
They urged residents to remain vigilant and report credible threats through appropriate channels, stressing that responsible information sharing is critical to maintaining peace and public safety.
