The Bauchi State Police Command has dismissed insinuating comments that its operatives shot and killed one of the violent protesters in Azare, headquarters of Katagum LGA of the state on Monday.

The Command stated that its attention has been drawn to a purported video circulating online and in some sections of the media that claimed security operatives gunned down a protester in Azare on Monday, August 5, 2024.

The Command PPRO, SP Ahmed Wakili in a statement on Tuesday wrote that, “The Command wishes to emphatically debunk this video and the accompanying news publications.”

According to him, “These claims are untrue and misleading. No such inhumane act incident was recorded by the Command at the mentioned location or any other part of the state.”

“The video is fabricated, and it is important for the public to know that the police were not involved in any such incident,” he claimed.

The PPRO explained that, “Prior to the nationwide protests, the 22nd Indigenous Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun PhD, NPM, issued a directive on July 31, 2024, that all officers are to appear in camouflage uniforms with a red band on the left-hand side. This is to provide clear identification of all policemen deployed nationwide.”

According to him, “In light of this, the video in circulation does not portray or indict any policeman as published by some sections of social media.”

He then disclosed that the Command has constituted a team of investigators comprised of seasoned detectives which has been tasked to aggregate all allegations, suspicions and insinuations from various sources.

The Commissioner of Police Bauchi State Command CP Auwal Musa Mohammed, called on the Media Practitioners not to relent in their firm commitments and dedication to ensure global best practice of ethical investigative journalism, aimed at seeking the truth and establishing national cohesion and patriotism to our great nation, Nigeria.

“Ordinarily, the Command would have overlooked this issue, but it has become expedient to set the record, as some members of the public are being misled by some section of the media,” he stressed.

According to him, “The Command, under the stewardship of CP MM Auwal, is committed to maintaining high standards of professionalism, accountability, and justice.”

He also called on members of the public to disregard this misinformation and always verify information through official channels. (Tribune)

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