The Rivers State Police Command has refuted claims that the Port Harcourt residence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, was attacked and set on fire by hoodlums.
Some online media platforms had reported on Sunday night that Wike’s home was under siege and had been torched by unidentified individuals. However, the police have dismissed these allegations as false and misleading.
In a statement issued on Monday, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Grace Iringe-Koko, described the reports as “malicious and misleading,” urging the public to disregard them.
“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,” Iringe-Koko stated.
She emphasized that the police had no record of any such attack and assured residents that the state remained peaceful.
“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 clearly intended to cause panic and destabilize the relative peace and security enjoyed by the good people of Rivers State,” she added.
Iringe-Koko also warned against the spread of false information, stressing that those responsible would face legal consequences.
“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 warned.
Reaffirming the police command’s commitment to maintaining security in the state, Iringe-Koko encouraged residents to rely on credible sources for information and to report any suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies.
The police’s swift response to the reports aims to curb misinformation and ensure continued stability in Rivers State.
