The Nigeria Police Force
has noted with concern the recent statements made by the Governor of Rivers
State, His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara, in which several unfounded allegations
were leveled against the Office of the Inspector-General of Police and the
Nigeria Police Force. In light of these claims, it has become necessary to set
the record straight.
Firstly, it is important
to clarify that there is a subsisting Federal High Court order barring the
Nigeria Police Force from participating in the Rivers State elections. This
order was duly served on both the NPF and the Rivers State Government. As a law-abiding
institution, the IGP instructed the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State to
strictly adhere to this court order by refraining from any direct involvement
in the election process.
However, in the evening
of 3rd October,2024, The commissioner of police Rivers State, received reports
that policemen from Rivers State Government house have been deployed to the
office of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RIEC) to aid the conduct
of the election. This report was also relayed to the Inspector-General of
Police who gave clearance to the Commissioner of Police to withdraw the
policemen from the Government house and replace with policemen from the Command
Operations department. The mandate of the men from the Operations Department,
was to provide overnight security for the RIEC to prevent any attack on the
facility.
It is also important to
note that prior to this, there had been series of security breaches in the
state following the spate of court orders and counter orders and reactions to
them by supporters of the different political parties involved. The response of
the Command to secure RIEC overnight was therefore professional and supported
by the Inspector-General of Police. For emphasis sake, the policemen deployed
to RIEC from the operations department of Rivers State Command on the night of
3rd October,2024 were with the sole mandate to protect the RIEC office from
attack overnight. This action was proactive and responsive to intelligence at
the disposal of the State Command.
It is therefore shocking
to see the state governor storming the RIEC office at night, wrongly accusing
the police on lawful duties, deriding the Police institution and using
unprintable words to describe the Inspector-General of Police. The Nigeria
Police takes exception to the unwarranted outburst of the Governor and
particularly the weighty accusations which he falsely levied against the
Inspector-General of Police and the entire Nigeria Police Force and advise
caution and decency in the pursuit of individual political goals.
Threatening to shed blood
and to burn down the State because of a Local Government election is not
acceptable to us. The Nigeria Police Force is committed to protection of lives
and properties and will work with other security agencies in Rivers State to
ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order in the State. To this end,
the Inspector-General of Police has ordered increased deployment into Rivers
State to beef up security throughout the state. Citizens of Rivers state are
advised to go about their lawful businesses.
ACP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra, fCAI,
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
FOR: THE
INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE,
FORCE HEADQUARTERS,
ABUJA.
4TH OCTOBER 2024.
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