By Mandy Park
The Office of the Chief Press Secretary/ Special Adviser Media to the Imo State Governor has disassociated itself from a statement that the state government provided free buses for state-bound travellers from Lagos during this Christmas season
It warned all state-bound travellers from Lagos or any other part of the country to ignore and disregard the press statement” urging them to book for free transportation from Lagos to Owerri, Okigwe and Orlu.”
In a statement issued by Chief Press Secretary/ Special Adviser Media to the Governor, Mr. Oguwike Nwachukwu, on Sunday, the purported press statement was both false and deceptive, and did not emanate from the government.
“The trending statement is fraudulent” it noted.
His words: “A group of persons believed to be fraudsters, and poised to take advantage of the massive return of Imo indigenes resident in Lagos for the Yuletide, has devised devious means to defraud the unsuspected ones among them in the guise of providing them with free transportation from Lagos to Owerri, Okigwe and Orlu.
“To make their devilish intention look real, they have raised a press statement they purport was issued from my office for such a project.
“In their warped imagination, they have deliberately fixed December 24, 2024 and January 4, 2025, as the days their prey and unsuspecting home-bound Lagos residents should approach them for a trip back home and return trip back to Lagos, respectively.”
Below is part of their poorly written press statement:
“The buses are free for Imolites from *Lagos to Imo State on *24th December* and back to Lagos on 4th January .
“Interested persons should please call (ISTDAL) 08033255565, 08092362966 or 07089303866 for seats reservation.
“Please the buses are free and is on first come accreditation bases, once the seats are fully booked, the registration closes, ( PLS DO NOT PAY ANYBODY ONE KOBO)
“Please the buses are NOT LUXURY BUSES , so only passengers with a small sizable luggages will be allowed. (no big boxes or load is allowed).
“The buses will leave on Tuesday 24th December at exactly 7.15am to Owerri, Okigwe and Orlu.
“The departure point will be made available after your registration, (if you are not captured on accreditation, pls don’t bother coming as only accreditated passengers are allowed) and please indicate your direction.
“Note: the bus will not stop or drop any passenger until it passes Ihiala unto Imo State.
“Thanks and best regards.”
