The Intelligence Response Team of the Inspector General of Police, IGP IRT, has denied the allegation purportedly made and circulated on the social media by the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Edo State agains the team.

The NBA through the publicity secretary, alleges that a colleague, HRH Godwin Aigbe Esq., the Enogie Of Ukiri,near Benin City, was kidnapped and later released, after being brutally maimed by the Kidnappers.

According to the NBA, the kidnappers were caught by the Edo State Police Command through Intelligence, but the said kidnappers were released by the IRT.

"The Nigeria Police IGP IRT Team from Abuja led by DC Kyari came from Abuja, took over the case file from the Edo State Police Command and released the dare devil kidnappers despite protestations from the Edo State Police Command.

There are numerous complaints against the said IGP IRT Team that has (sic) come to the attention of the Lion Bar and it has come to its height. HRH Godwin Aigbe aside being a colleague is also a retired CSP and a traditional ruler. You can imagine what the IGP IRT Team has done to even their own colleague," the allegation stated.

The NBA purportedly calls on members to converge and show solidarity against the alleged action of the IRT.

"We must all turn up en masse to show solidarity with our own. Far reaching resolutions shall be taken against the said IGP IRT at the NBA Benin emergency meeting taking place today (Wednesday) by 3pm at the NBA Benin Bar House.

The Lion is about to roar," concluded the NBA publicity whose name was conspicuously missing in the allegation.

In a swift reaction, the leader of IRT, Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari denied the allegation in its entirety.

In a statement issued Wednesday afternoon and sent to News Express, Kyari said his team has nothing whatsoever to do with the said kidnappers, talk less of releasing them for any reason.

Read the full statement by Abba Kyari below:

“Friends, please disregard the false and misleading statement circulating on social media credited to the publicity secretary of NBA Benin City ,Edo State Chapter.

“The Publicity Secretary falsely claimed that Some police officers Of the IRT came to Benin City from Abuja led by DCP Abba Kyari and released some kidnappers earlier arrested by the police.

“Though I am seriously irked by this false statement from a publicity secretary Of a reputable association like the NBA Benin City Chapter, but as first step I believe it’s good for all Nigerians and my good friends to be fully abraced of the truth.

“Firstly, it’s glaringly clear that it might be another independent police unit from Abuja that went to Benin City, not IRT or I. A call to the Police PRO in Benin City or me would have given the writer the true status of the case.

“Secondly, I have not stepped my foot in Benin City in the last two years hence I was surprised to see on social media today (Wednesday) that I led a team to Benin City to release kidnappers while I was in Kaduna and Katsina States all these while fighting Kidnappers. We are not linked to this case in any way because my Unit is not handling it, and we have not taken over the case from the state police Command as mentioned by the false statement.

“Thirdly, we have directed our legal department to take immediate action against this person(s) though senior members of the NBA in Benin City promised to retract the false statement immediately which they did and they promised to address the press and make more clarifications.

“But still, many good Nigerians and many of my friends might not see the retraction hence my post.

DCP Abba Kyari."

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