The Rivers State Police Command has dismissed as false the online reports claiming that riots erupted in parts of the state and that the residence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, was attacked.
Social media had been raging with claims that aggrieved individuals set fire to the former governor’s residence along Ada George Road in Port Harcourt on Sunday amid the ongoing political crisis in the state.
However, in a statement issued on Monday, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, refuted the claims, describing them as baseless fabrications aimed at inciting fear and unrest.
She affirmed that there had been no violence or arson at Wike’s residence, warning that those spreading such falsehoods would face the full weight of the law if they failed to desist.
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The statement 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 alleging that riots have broken out in Rivers State, resulting in the burning of the residence of the former Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, along with other violent incidents.
“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 public is advised to disregard these unfounded claims, which 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 warns those responsible for spreading such incendiary falsehoods to desist from actions 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 public peace.”
The statement further reassured residents of the Police Command’s commitment to ensuring their safety and security.
“We urge members of the public to rely on credible sources for information and report any suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies. Citizens should remain calm and go about their lawful activities without fear.”
