Police Have No Hand In The Killing Of DSS Personnel In Imo — CP

The Imo State Police Command has dismissed the rumours of their involvement in the killing of DSS personnel in Owerri, the capital of Imo State.

Commissioner of Police, Imo State, CP Hussiani Rabiu said this in a statement issued in Owerri by the Public Relations Officer CSP Michael Abatham.

He described the information making the rounds on social media published by a national newspaper – Daily Post Newspaper dated 5th of October, 2021, captioned “HOW A POLICE OFFICER ALLEGEDLY KILLED A DSS OPERATIVE IN IMO” as false.

The CP described the report as “the most unfortunate”, adding that the command was pained by the publication especially, when it’ was from a notable newsprint.

He said: “it is unfortunate that, a national newspaper will publish a story without verifying same to ascertain the facts and even when told by the police authority that there was no such incident recorded involving any police officer, will still go ahead and published same”.

The CP said that the Command viewed that with all seriousness, describing it as “a calculated attempt by the publishers to incite, dent and embarrass the already gained popularity which the command has built over time and also to cause disaffection between security agencies in one hand and the general public on the other hand”.

CP Rabiu said that the Command frowned at the unverified report of Daily Post Newspaper.

He said: “May I state emphatically here, just to set the record straight that, there was no recorded incident on 4th October, 2021, involving a police officer from Imo Command at Mgbidi – Awo/ Owerri Onitsha Road, Imo State.

“Not minding the claim of the publisher of Daily Post Newspaper that “a police officer on a joint task force, in the bid of firing warning shots in the air accidentally shot and killed a DSS OFFICER on Monday, the 4th of October, 2021”.

According to the CP, “the command regards the report as malicious which does not portray the the publisher in a good light”.

CP Rabiu pointed out that the Command “considers this publication not only unprofessional but also believe it as at variance with the ethics of journalism professio”n.

The Imo State Police Command according to the CP demanded a retraction /or correction of the offensive news within twenty four hours of receipt of the rejoinder, adding that “if this is not done, the command will have no choice but to take appropriate legal action”.

The Commissioner of Police commended the people of the state for their unalloyed support to the Command and enjoined them to disregard such false news believing it could cause palpable tension as well as installing fear in Imolites.

He further warned mischief makers to desist from spreading fake news, else they would face the full wrath of the law if caught.