BY G9ija
The Rivers State Police Command has denied reports making rounds on social media that a Divisional Police Officer shot dead an Inspector attached to his division.
Spokesperson of the Command, Grace Iringe-Koko said this in a statement sent to newsmen in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
Iringe-Koko said there was neither a shooting nor a police facility called ‘9th Mile Police Station’ in any part of Rivers state as contained in the trending publication.
She describes the publication as the handiwork of mischievous elements aimed at creating panic in the minds of the public and disaffection within the police.
The statement reads, “The attention of the Rivers State Police Command has been drawn to a social media publication making the rounds that the DPO of 9th Mile Division shot an Inspector of Police attached to his division.
“The command wishes to notify the general public that there is no truth in the said publication; as no such incident has been reported in any part of the command.
“It is important to point out that there is no Division known as “9th Mile Police Station” in Rivers State. Moreover, there is no record to show that the named DPO is serving in Rivers State.
The command said that as a matter of fact, there has been no shooting incident in the Command Formation (divisions and tactical teams) since January 2023.
Therefore, the publication is a figment of the imagination of some mischievous persons who want to create fear in the minds of the public and create rancour and disaffection within the police.
Also, the statement noted that the Commissioner of Police, Okon Effiong, affirmed that the Rivers State Police Command is committed to exercising the highest level of professionalism in the discharge of its onerous responsibilities.
Effiong urged all law-abiding citizens in the state to go about their lawful businesses without fear, as the Police are well able to protect them.
The CP therefore urged media platforms and journalists to ensure the verification of stories before publication.