The Bauchi State Police Command on Saturday debunked 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 under attack, describing it as “fabricated and false”.
In a statement released by the Bauchi Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, said an incident never occurred in the state.
He said 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”.
However, the INEC has also described the purported attack on a property belonging to the INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, by some youths in a viral video clip circulating on social media, as desperate smear campaign efforts by mischief makers.
A statement, signed by the chief press secretary to INEC chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, a copy of which was made available to Newsflash Nigeria on Saturday, debunked the insinuation, saying the INEC chairman does not own the property in question in either Bauchi or anywhere else around the world.
He urged the public to disregard the news.
“This narrative is indeed the latest in the series of desperate smear campaign efforts by mischief makers. The public should disregard it,” he added.
