The Rivers State Police Command has refuted allegations made by the state governor, Siminalaiyi Fubara, who claimed that cops had been trying to unlawfully take away delicate electoral supplies from the Rivers State Unbiased Electoral Fee.
In a press release launched Friday by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the command clarified that policemen’s presence on the RSIEC workplace was solely for safety functions, primarily based on intelligence reviews of an impending assault on the premises.
“The Rivers State Police Command needs to state categorically that the deployment of our officers to the RSIEC was strictly in response to credible intelligence suggesting that hoodlums had been planning an arson assault on the electoral physique’s workplace,” the assertion learn.
Iringe-Koko additional defined that the police had earlier withdrawn officers from RSIEC in compliance with a Federal Excessive Courtroom ruling on September 30, 2024, which prohibited police involvement within the scheduled native authorities elections.
“It ought to be famous that our officers from the Rivers State Authorities Home had been beforehand deployed at RSIEC, however had been promptly withdrawn following the Federal Excessive Courtroom’s directive barring police participation within the elections,” she acknowledged.
The command reiterated its dedication to making sure peace and stability throughout the electoral course of.
“We stay devoted to sustaining regulation and order. Our presence on the RSIEC workplace was purely precautionary, and we urge residents to stay law-abiding as we proceed to guard lives and property,” she mentioned.
The police referred to as on all residents to cooperate and chorus from actions that might disrupt the peace.
“We ask the great individuals of Rivers State to behave inside the confines of the regulation. The Police will take all needed steps to protect the peace and guarantee a protected setting for all,” the assertion added.
Earlier, Fubara lamented a number of makes an attempt to forestall the state’s October 5 native authorities election from holding, saying authoritatively that the elections might be held.
The governor’s response was a sequel to an incident which occurred round 1 am on Friday (as we speak), by which some males wearing police uniforms tried to take over the workplace of the Rivers State Unbiased Electoral Fee.
