The Nigeria Police Force has strongly criticized Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his recent accusations against the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, and the police force.
Fubara, during a press conference in Port Harcourt on Friday, made harsh remarks about the IGP, accusing the police of attempting to steal election materials during the Rivers State local government elections. He also warned that the IGP would be held responsible if law and order collapsed in the state.
In response, the police, through their spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi, issued a statement urging the governor to exercise caution and decency in his political pursuits. “It is shocking to see the state governor storming the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RIEC) office at night, accusing the police of unlawful actions and using unprintable words to describe the Inspector-General of Police,” Adejobi said.
The police firmly rejected Fubara’s accusations, describing them as false and baseless. “The Nigeria Police takes exception to the governor’s unwarranted outburst and the false accusations he made against the IGP and the entire force,” Adejobi added. He further emphasized the need for politicians to conduct their activities with respect and decency.
Adejobi clarified that there was a standing court order preventing the police from directly participating in the Rivers State local government election. “There is a subsisting Federal High Court order barring the Nigeria Police Force from participating in the Rivers State election. This order was served on both the police and the state government,” he explained.
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Following the court order, the IGP instructed the Rivers State Commissioner of Police to adhere to the ruling by staying away from the election process. However, on the evening of October 3, 2024, reports surfaced that police officers from the Rivers State Government House were deployed to the RIEC office. The IGP responded by directing the commissioner to replace those officers with police from the command’s Operations Department, whose sole duty was to secure the RIEC office overnight.
“The actions taken by the police to protect the RIEC office were professional and based on intelligence that indicated the need for security around the facility,” Adejobi stated. He noted that the police’s actions were necessary due to recent security concerns in the state, which had arisen from multiple court orders and counterorders during the election process.
“The mandate of the officers was to prevent any attacks on the RIEC office. This proactive response was fully supported by the IGP,” Adejobi reiterated.
In his final remarks, Adejobi called for calm and urged political leaders to be more responsible in their language and actions, especially when addressing sensitive matters involving security forces. He emphasized that the police would continue to operate within the law to ensure peace and order in Rivers State.