*As IGP orders Lagos CP to investigate, nab culprit
*Says alarmist’s act punishable under law
By KEMI KASUMU
The Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja has described as work of a mischievous alarmist, the viral video in which a woman claimed in Yoruba Language that Buhari Estate Badagry, Lagos State had been invaded and dominated by armed men to launch attack on Nigerians.
The DEFENDER Saturday afternoon had been sent a copy of the video by an apparently panicking member of the public to investigate whether or not there is an estate called Buhari Estate along the Badagry axis.
By way of first-aid, it was carefully watched, claims therein studied and thus we had provided an analysis while promising to get in touch with the police to seek its position, having discovered some grey areas in the video, one, that the woman, apparently literate enough going by number of identity cards hung on her chest, should have alerted security agencies especially the police which has made information sending simplified for members of the public.
Not only she did not do that but also she was quick to lump it with Owo Church attack and then in the end, her finishing exposed her mischief in attempt to get at something best known to her and then what she represents, our analysis had revealed.
While that investigation of the video was ongoing, the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters made a release via its Public Relations’ platform, which finally cleared the issue as it debunked the woman’s claims in the video, which confirmed our earlier analysed position.
In the statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, with Ref No. CZ.5300/FPRD/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.4/138 dated June 11, 2022, the police accused the maker of the video of maliciously creating and circulating the piece of falsehood to cause unnecessary panic.
The statement read, “The Nigeria Police Force wishes to state categorically that the Muhammadu Buhari Estate situated at Agemowo, Badagry, Lagos State, is the property of the Nigeria Police Cooperative Multipurpose Society and by extension, the Nigeria Police Force.
“The Estate is occupied by Police Officers, who purchased the property under the Police Cooperative Scheme, and their families, and not armed men as speculated in a viral video where a mischievous alarmist alleged that the estate has been invaded and dominated by armed men, in an attempt to launch an attack on Nigerians resident in Lagos State.
“It is unpatriotic and indeed saddening that the maker of the video, who seemed educated and ought to know the dangers of disinformation, hurriedly and maliciously created and circulated the piece of falsehood, with a clear intent to cause unnecessary and avoidable panic. Members of the public are hereby advised to discountenance the video as the claims are totally false and frivolous.
“The Nigeria Police Force urges the general public on the importance of carrying out due diligence before churning out narratives with sentimental colourations to prevent causing disaffection in light of the multi-ethnic nature of the nation.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, fdc, has directed the Force Intelligence Bureau of the Nigeria Police Force and the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Lagos State, CP Abiodun Alabi, to commence discrete investigation into the video, and possibly bring the originator to book as the alarmist’s act is punishable under the law,” the Force PRO said.
