The Office of the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force have been the target of numerous baseless accusations in recent remarks made by His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara, the governor of Rivers State, which have been observed with concern by the Nigeria Police Force.
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It is now required to correct the record in light of these assertions. First and foremost, it is crucial to make clear that the Nigeria Police Force is prohibited from taking part in the Rivers State elections by an order from the Federal High Court. The NPF and the Rivers State Government both received proper service of this order.
The IGP, a law-abiding organization, gave the Rivers State Commissioner of Police specific instructions to follow this court order and abstain from getting involved in the election process directly. On October 3, 2024, in the evening, the Rivers State commissioner of police was informed that Rivers State government house police officers had been assigned to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RIEC) headquarters in order to assist with the election’s administration.
This report was also transmitted to the Inspector-General of Police who gave approval to the Commissioner of Police to withdraw the policemen from the Government residence and replace with policemen from the Command Operations department. The personnel from the Operations Department were tasked with securing the RIEC overnight in order to thwart any potential attacks. It’s also crucial to remember that there had previously been a number of security lapses in the state as a result of a barrage of court orders, counterorders, and responses to them from the opposing political parties.
As a result, the Command’s reaction to securing RIEC over night was expert, and the Inspector General of Police endorsed it. For the purpose of emphasis, the officers from Rivers State Command’s operations section who were sent to RIEC on October 3, 2024, had the only responsibility of defending the RIEC office against any midnight attacks. This was a proactive response to the State Command’s available intelligence.
Therefore, it is startling to witness the state governor breaking into the RIEC office at night, falsely accusing law enforcement officials of carrying out their official responsibilities, mocking the Police institution, and disparaging the Inspector-General of Police in language that cannot be printed. The Nigeria Police condemns the Governor’s unjustified outburst, especially the serious charges he made against the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force as a whole.
The Police also urge care and civility when pursuing personal political objectives. We do not accept threats to spill blood or set the State on fire over a local government election. In order to prevent a breakdown in law and order in Rivers State, the Nigeria Police Force is dedicated to preserving lives and property, and it will cooperate with other security organizations in the area. In order to strengthen security throughout the state, the Inspector-General of Police has directed a greater deployment into Rivers State.
It is advised that Rivers State residents conduct their legal business.
THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE, FORCE HEADQUARTERS, ABUJA; ACP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra, fCAI, FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER.
