THE Rivers State Police Command on Monday, described as false, social and conventional media reports alleging eruption of riot in Port Harcourt, the state capital leading to the burning down of the residence of Mr. Nyesom Wike, current minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In a release signed by Superintendent of Police (SP) Grace Iringe-Koko, Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), the state police command stated that the alleged riot in Port Harcourt, was a deliberate attempt by mischief makers to incite unrest and spread fear among the city’s residents.
The statement made available to SummitNews reads: “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 command urged the general public to disregard these unfounded claims, saying they are clearly intended to cause panic and destabilize the relative peace and security enjoyed by the good people of Rivers State.
Furthermore, the Police Command sternly warned those responsible for spreading such incendiary falsehoods to desist from engaging in activities capable of inciting public disorder.
It said 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.”
According ti the statement, “the Rivers State Police Command remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents. We urge members of the public to rely on credible sources for information and to report any suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies.
“Citizens should remain calm and go about their lawful activities without fear.”
SummitNews recalls that the state had for several months now become a theatre for power struggle between the former Governor Barrister Nyesom Wike, who is currently the FCT minister, and the state Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
