In the last few days, the Nigerian environment has been agog with news about the developing insecurity in Ahoada West Local Government Area and Owube community in Rivers State. Disturbed by the false news in the system, the Commissioner of Police in the State, Joseph G. Mukan psc, who took over the mantle of leadership of the Command two months ago as the 41st Rivers CP and has been giving a good account of himself by entrenching proactive approaches in his crime fighting strategies, decided to put the record straight through a signed statement by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police Nnamdi Omoni
The attention of the Rivers State Police Command has been drawn to a screaming headline on page 7 of the Punch Newspaper of today, credited to Akasike Chukwudi, the Port Harcourt correspondent with the false and unverifiable claim that “the Owube Community in Ahoada LGA has been sacked by cult boys, killing about 20 indigenes, kidnapping and intimidating them, leading to their leaving the Community”
2. The above Caption is misleading and not a true reflection of the State of affairs in that Community.
3. The Command is disturbed by this disparaging News report and therefore wishes to state as follows:-
i. That to the best of our knowledge, we had never at any time received complaint of cult attack from an individual or a group, at the Divisional, Area Command and /or Command Levels. There is no recorded incident of such nature in any Police Formation whatsoever.
ii. That the above News report with due respect, is unfounded and intended to
over-reach the Command, and hold her in bad light, suggesting that the Command is overwhelmed by the activities of cultists.
iii. In view of the above, therefore the general public is kindly advised to disregard and discountenance the report, as the Owube Community is as peaceful as any other Community in Ahoada West LGA.
iv. That the Punch Newspaper is one of the highly respected Newspapers in the country and therefore, ought to be cautious in its reports, especially this very report that was not balanced, as no reference was made to us for its authentification, which fell short of fair hearing.
4. The Commissioner of Police, CP Joseph G. Mukan psc (+) who took over the mantle of leadership of the Command two months ago is giving a good account of himself by entrenching proactive approaches in his crime fighting strategies, where all the Communities in the State are feeling the impact of the Police under his watch, and he remains committed to delivering quality policing services to the State. The primary responsibility of the Police is to protect lives and property in the society. The Command therefore is ever ready to fight crime and criminality in the State.
The Press still remains our worthy partners in the fight against criminality but should be objective and avoid sensational reports that will create unnecessary panic and tension in the State, as the consequences are dire.
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