By Deborah Nnamdi
The Rivers State Police Command has refuted claims that hoodlums attacked and set fire to the Port Harcourt residence of Chief Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
On Sunday night, several online media outlets reported that Wike’s home was under siege and had been set ablaze by unknown assailants. However, in a statement released on Monday, Police Public Relations Officer Superintendent Grace Iringe-Koko labeled these reports as false and misleading.
Iringe-Koko stated: “The attention of the Rivers State Police Command has been drawn to a misleading and malicious report circulating on various online media platforms, falsely claiming that riots have erupted in Rivers State, leading to the burning of the residence of the former Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, along with other acts of violence.”
“The Command categorically states that this report is entirely false, baseless, and a deliberate attempt by mischief makers to incite unrest and spread fear among law-abiding residents. There is no record of any such incident, and normalcy prevails across the state. The general public is urged to disregard these unfounded claims, which are intended to cause panic and destabilize the relative peace and security enjoyed by the good people of Rivers State.”
“Furthermore, the Police Command sternly warns those responsible for spreading such incendiary falsehoods to desist from engaging in activities capable of inciting public disorder. The full weight of the law will be brought to bear on individuals or groups found guilty of spreading misinformation or attempting to disrupt the peace in any form.”
She reassured the public of the police command’s commitment to maintaining security in the state and urged residents to rely on credible sources for information while reporting any suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies.
