The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has debunked claims that it confirmed the arrest of some individuals in illegal possession of electoral materials and some Bi-Modal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) in Maitama, Abuja.
The Police Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi in a statement today, said operatives of the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB), acted on a tip from residents of an area in Maitama who reported suspicious activities.
According to him, the operatives visited the location, searched the house and interviewed occupants of the house.
While confirming that indeed some electoral materials and BVAS machines were discovered in their possession, Adejobi however, disclosed that when the Electoral Commission was contacted, they confirmed that the occupants of the house are staff of Emperor Technology, a company outsourcing engineering services to the INEC. Consequently, they were immediately released to go about their lawful business.
The FPRO, while calling on members of the public to discountenance the false and misconstrued narrative, also charged reporters and media houses to, as a matter of necessity, and in consideration of the critical and sensitive moment in our democracy in which we are, avoid the temptation of being victims of “breaking news syndrome”, but rather always do due diligence to ascertain the veracity of any information on the public space before spreading them.
This, he said, would prevent the creation and spread of “misinformation and disinformation which is capable of causing disaffection between the populace and state actors”.
