THE Nigerian Police Force has denied claims of its officers arresting some individuals with electoral materials and several Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) equipment, in Maitama, Abuja, during the recently ended general elections.
CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer, said in a statement today that operatives of the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) responded on a tip from residents of a Maitama neighborhood who reported suspicious activity.
Adejobi stated that the team went to the area, interviewed the residents, and searched the residence, and that during the search, some electoral materials and BVAS machines were discovered in their possession.
“However, the Independent National Electoral Commission, when contacted, confirmed that the occupants of the house are staff of Emperor Technology, outsourcing engineering services to the INEC, and they were immediately released to go about their lawful business,” the statement read.
The Force advised well-meaning members of the public to discountenance the “false and misconstrued” narrative propagated by what it described as some elements of the media concerning the arrest of these individuals and their relation with BVAS manipulation.
Adejobi advised reporters and media outlets to conduct due diligence and verify the accuracy of material in the public domain before disseminating it, to avoid being victims of the “breaking news syndrome.”
The statement added, “Furthermore, the Nigeria Police urges all and sundry to avoid the creation and spread of misinformation and disinformation which is capable of causing disaffection between the populace and state actors more so as we are at a critical and sensitive moment in our democracy.”
