The Enugu State Police Command has said the search for missing Flourish Uzodimma was not abandoned.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, also dismissed a report that the command collected ₦25,000 for tracking Flourish, a student of University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN).

In a statement on Saturday, Ndukwe stated that the claim by Flourish’s father, Charles Uzodimma and his counsel, Barr. Ege Obetta, was false.

“The Enugu State Police did not abandon the search for the alleged missing Flourish Nkwachi Uzodimma, nor was her father, one Charles Uzodimma, asked to rescue his daughter after allegedly paying a ₦25,000 tracking fee. The claims made by one Barrister Ege Obetta on X and sensationalized in a report by Sahara Reporters in their usual acts of junk journalism are misleading and baseless.

“Flourish, an 18-year-old first-year Computer Robotics student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), left her parents’ residence in Owerre-Eze Orba, Udenu LGA, on November 28, 2024, to an unknown destination. On December 3, 2024, her father, accompanied by the Chief Security Officer of UNN, reported her disappearance to the Nsukka Urban Police Station. Despite his insistence that the case be treated as mere information, the police initiated an investigation,” he said.

The Command’s Spokesman explained that Mr. Uzodimma engaged a private tracker. He added that Flourish’s father stopped interacting with police after he reportedly found out that her daughter was in Calabar, Cross River State.

“Mr. Uzodimma independently engaged a private tracker, allegedly paying ₦25,000, but efforts to track her phone were unsuccessful as it was switched off. Later, Mr. Uzodimma informed the police that Flourish was seen in a Facebook photo with another girl he had warned her against associating with. The girl’s phone number was tracked to Calabar, Cross River State.

“Contrary to claims of police inaction, Mr. Uzodimma stopped collaborating with the police, hampering the investigation. The case remains under investigation, but progress has been hindered by the non-cooperation of Flourish’s parents. Sensationalizing the matter serves no purpose and detracts from the ongoing efforts to resolve it,” Ndukwe added.