The Rivers State Police Command has dismissed claims that the residence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, in Port Harcourt was attacked or set on fire.
Over the weekend, several online media platforms reported that hoodlums had allegedly stormed and burned down Wike’s house. However, in a statement released on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Grace Iringe-Koko, said these reports were completely false and misleading.
Iringe-Koko noted, “The attention of the Rivers State Police Command has been drawn to a misleading and malicious report circulating on various online media platforms, falsely claiming that riots have erupted in Rivers State, leading to the burning of the residence of the former Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, along with other acts of violence.”
She further stated that there was no official record of such an incident and described the news as an attempt by mischief-makers to cause panic and destabilize peace in the state. According to her, the situation in Rivers remains calm, and there is no unrest as suggested by the false reports.
“The Command categorically states that this report is entirely false, baseless, and a deliberate attempt by mischief makers to incite unrest and spread fear among law-abiding residents. There is no record of any such incident, and normalcy prevails across the state. The general public is urged to disregard these unfounded claims, which are clearly intended to cause panic and destabilize the relative peace and security enjoyed by the good people of Rivers State,” she stated.
She also warned those spreading false information to desist from such actions, adding that they could face legal consequences for attempting to incite disorder.
“Furthermore, the Police Command sternly warns those responsible for spreading such incendiary falsehoods to desist from engaging in activities capable of inciting public disorder. The full weight of the law will be brought to bear on individuals or groups found guilty of spreading misinformation or attempting to disrupt the peace in any form,” she added.
Iringe-Koko assured residents that the police remain committed to maintaining security across the state. She urged people to rely on credible sources for information and to report any suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies.
