The Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) community experienced widespread panic on Wednesday evening following an attempted kidnapping on the Ihiagwa-Eziobodo road near Eziobodo.

According to the Imo State Police Command, suspected kidnappers tried to abduct a man in the area around 7 p.m. The victim resisted, and the suspected kidnappers shot him in the leg before fleeing. He was immediately taken to the hospital for treatment. He remains the only person injured in the incident.

The shooting triggered a chain reaction of panic. Okada riders operating near the scene heard the gunshot and fled for safety. As news spread among riders in Eziobodo, many bike riders fled out of Eziobodo with their bikes out of fear .

Students who observed the sudden movement approached the riders for information and the riders reportedly told them that gunshots were heard along the Ihiagwa-Eziobodo road. This led students to run to their lodges and hostels for safety, with many others joining the movement simply because others were running, even without witnessing any direct threat.

Importantly, the fleeing riders were not attempting to harm anyone. They were acting out of fear that angry indigenes might attack or burn their bikes because they felt that the indigenes might attack them with the belief that they were connected to the incident.

The situation escalated after videos of people running were circulated on social media. Several unregistered FUTO media outlets operating with WhatsApp channels shared the clips, with some adding artificial gunshot sounds. The doctored videos led many to believe an attack was ongoing inside the campus or Eziobodo community, causing unnecessary tension and confusion.

The Imo State Police Command later confirmed that there was no attack or security breach inside Eziobodo or FUTO campus. The incident was limited to the road outside the community.

Commissioner of Police CP Aboki Danjuma stated that the situation is now under control. He ordered the deployment of the newly established Violent Crime Response Unit and other tactical teams to the area to strengthen security and apprehend the perpetrators. The unregistered media outlets responsible for spreading the doctored videos have been declared wanted.

Intelligence-driven operations are ongoing, and additional security measures have been put in place to prevent a recurrence. The FUTO Students’ Union Government and the university management said they are collaborating with security agencies to improve safety around the campus and restore calm.

The police urged students and residents to rely on official and verified sources for information, avoid sharing unconfirmed videos, and remain calm while investigations continue.