From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has debunked rumours making the rounds over alleged heavy gunfire that took place around Dantata Bridge in Lugbe and Minister’s Hills in Maitama, on Tuesday night.
The command said there was no truth in the report which went viral on social media and urged the public to disregard the report. The command also said it has commenced investigations into sources of countless maliciously crafted and panic-generating write-ups.
The Police Public Relations Officer, FCT Command, Josephine Adeh, who made the disclosure in a statement, said operatives from the command’s intelligence department deployed to the scene of the alleged shooting found the incident to be fake.
She, therefore, called on the public to shun the promulgation of fake/unverified news and go about their lawful businesses without fear of being harassed from any quarters.
The statement reads: “The attention of the FCT Police Command has been drawn to a series of erroneous write-ups and publications making the rounds, especially on the social media spaces, suggesting that there was heavy gunfire simultaneously around Dantata bridge in Lugbe, and Minister’s hills in Maitama, yesterday, July 26, 2022, at about 19:38hrs.
Following the receipt of the news, the Command’s intelligence and tactical assets drifted to the scene where the news was found false.
“Having maintained monitoring and surveillance of the area all night, and with the intelligence at the disposal of the Command, it is important to categorically state that the news is on every scale unfounded and should be disregarded.
“Members of the public are, therefore, enjoined to eschew the generation and promulgation of fake/ unverified news and go about their lawful business without the fear of harassment or molestation of any kind from any quarters.”
Meanwhile, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Babaji Sunday, while reassuring residents of an unalloyed commitment to the safety of all and sundry in the territory, called for calm, noting that an investigation has commenced into the sources of this and many other maliciously crafted write-ups targeted at promoting panic and apprehension in the territory. He urged residents to only believe information released from official stables.
While the police continue its quest on bringing crime and criminality to the barest minimum in the territory, residents are urged to remain vigilant, and report any suspicious or abnormal occurrence to the police.