The Bauchi State Police Command on Saturday refuted the rumour making the round on social media that the residence of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, was attacked and vandalised.
The police described the viral video of the attack as “fabricated and false”.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, debunked the rumour in a statement on Saturday.
He said “Such an incident never occurred in the state as the report is fake and should be disregarded by Nigerians.”
According to Wakil, a Superintendent of Police (SP), “The attention of the Bauchi State Police Command has been drawn to a viral video making rounds in sections of the media purporting that the residence of the chairman Independent National Electoral Commission. (INEC) was attacked in Bauchi by some “angry Nigerian.”
“We wish to clarify that such an incident never occurred in the state as the report is fake and should be disregarded by Nigerians.
“Being mindful of the negative impacts of disinformation on public peace and security, particularly during the post-election period, the Commissioner of police CP Aminu Alhassan psc (+) has immediately ordered a discreet investigation to unravel the origin of the viral video and to bring anyone found behind the fabrication of the video to face the wrath of the law.
“For the sake of emphasis, the command wishes to unequivocally states that there was no attack of any nature on the residence of the INEC Chairman and in Bauchi in general.”
While enjoining the public not to panic and disregard the viral video, the police spokesman warned rumour mongers and social media users to jettison the habit of either “fabricating or feasting on fake news and eschew such unprofessional conduct of journalism and society at large”.