By Stanley Onyekwere
The Commissioner of Police (CP), FCT Police Command, Babaji Sunday has urged residents to outrightly disregard unverified news of criminal elements on the rampage in the Territory.
In particular, the FCT Police Chief said the purported news, targeted at creating panic in the Territory is a brainchild of malicious elements, and lacks credence.
According to a statement from the FCT Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Josephine Adeh, the command is not ignorant of the generation and promulgation of fake news as seen in some sections of the media, suggesting that criminal elements are on the rampage in the FCT.
It added that the CP while presiding over a sitting of very senior officers of the command on Tuesday, urged members of the public to outrightly disregard such news.
He noted with gratitude the level at which members of the public have been executing their Civic obligations through the rendition of prompt and concise information towards the advancement of the Command’s onward crusade against crime and criminality.
The statement read: “The ember month, especially the yuletide window is characterized by undue pressure and the urge to end the year on the high side.
“ These often lead to a rise in crime and criminality in its dynamics which demands that the Police stand resolute before the drawing board constantly coming up with crime-fighting strategies to match up and surmount the emergence of crime.
“While the command continues to foster its relationship with the members of the public in compliance with the global best practice of community policing, members of the public are urged not to relent in partnering with the police, particularly in the already lauded aspect of information rendition.
“It is pertinent to state at this point that the command is not ignorant of the generation and promulgation of fake news as seen in some sections of the media, suggesting that criminal elements are on the rampage in the FCT”.
It continues: “The Command wishes to state categorically that the news, targeted at creating panic in the Territory is a brainchild of malicious elements and lacks credence.
“Consequently, members of the public are urged to outrightly disregard such news, especially those not verified by any official quarters and are enjoined to go about their lawful duties without the fear of Harassment or molestation of any kind or from any quarters
“he command wishes to assure the good people of the FCT of its commitment to the sustenance and improvement of the relative peace enjoyed in the Territory.
“While vigilance is strongly advised, suspicion or abnormal occurrence is to be reported through the following numbers: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883, while the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) desk, could be reached at: 0902 222 2352”.
