The Imo State Police Command has debunked the news making the rounds on social media published by a national newspaper – Daily Post Newspaper dated 5th of October, 2021, captioned “How a Police Officer Allegedly Killed a DSS Operative in Imo.
The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abattam in a statement, described the report as “most unfortunate”, saying “the command is pained by this publication especially, when it’s from a notable newsprint.”
The statement read: “The Imo State Police Command has been drawn to a false news making the rounds on social media published by a national newspaper – Daily Post Newspaper dated 5th of October, 2021, captioned ” HOW A POLICE OFFICER ALLEGEDLY KILLED A DSS OPERATIVE IN IMO.”
“This is most unfortunate and the command is pained by this publication especially, when it’s from a notable newsprint. It is unfounded that, a national newspaper will published a story without verifying same to ascertain the facts and even when told by the police authority that there was no such incident recorded involving any police officer will still go ahead and published same .
“The command viewed this with all seriousness and believed it to be a calculated attempt by the publishers to incite, dent and embarrassed the already gained popularity the command has build over time and also to cause disaffection between security agencies in one hand and the general public on the other hand.
“While the command frown at this unverified report of Daily Post Newspaper , May I state emphatically here, just to set the record straight that, there was no recorded incident on 4th October, 2021, involving a police officer from Imo Command at Mgbidi – Awo/ Owerri Onitsha Road, Imo State. Not minding the claim of the publisher of Daily Post Newspaper that “a police officer on a joint task force, in the bid of firing warning shots in the air accidentally shot and killed a DSS OFFICER on Monday, the 4th of October, 2021”. A report the command regards as malicious and does not portray the the publisher in a good light.
“The command considers this publication not only unprofessional but also beleive it’s at variance with the ethics of journalism profession. To this effect the Nigeria Police, Imo State Command , Owerri, hereby demands a retraction / or correction of your offensive news within twenty – four hours of receipt of this Rejoinder of which , if this is not done, the command will have no choice but to take appropriate legal action.
“The Commissionenr of Police, Imo State Command, CP Rabiu Hussaini, psc, commended the good people of the state for their unalloyed support to the Command and enjoined them to disregard such false news believing it could cause palpable tension , as well as installing fear in Imolites. He further warns mischief makers to desist from spreading fake news, else they will face the full wrath of the law if caught.”