By Ogochukwu Isioma
The Police authorities have explained the reported arrest of some individuals with electoral materials and Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) machines during the collation of results for the 2023 general elections, in Abuja.
Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, offered the explanation in a statement issued early Wednesday morning, a copy of which was made available to metrowatchxtra.com in Abuja.
On Tuesday, a video went viral alleging that some suspects were arrested by the police in a residential building at No. 15, Ganges Street, Maitama, Abuja.
The video caption alleged that their arrest followed a tip-off from unidentified sources that the location was being used as a base to manipulate last Saturday’s elections.
It also claimed that the police recovered numerous BVAS machines and several laptops and desktop computers, as well as other materials from the suspects.
The trending video seen by this Reporter shows the hands of two men opening packages containing the machines. Their faces were, however, hidden from cameras.
In its explanation, the police said no arrest or seizure was made as operatives of the Force Intelligence Bureau, acting on a tip-off from the residents, only visited the location, interviewed the occupants and conducted a search on the house.
According to the police spokesman, in the course of the search, the electoral materials and BVAS machines were discovered in their possession.
However, the police said the suspects were identified by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as staff of Emperor Technology, the outsourcing engineering services to INEC.
Based on the explanation offered by the electoral commission, the police said the suspects were immediately released to go about their lawful business.
The police, therefore, urged members of the public to discountenance the news and avoid the creation and spread of misinformation capable of causing disaffection between the populace and state actors.
Read the full statement below;
GENERAL ELECTIONS: POLICE CONFIRM OFFICIALS IN VIRAL VIDEO TO BE INEC ENGINEERS, NO ARRESTS OR SEIZURE MADE
The Nigeria Police Force wishes to debunk, in strong terms, the trending news in the media confirming the arrest of some individuals in Maitama, Abuja, with electoral materials and some Bi-Modal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force.
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB), acting on a tip from residents of an area in Maitama who reported suspicious activities, visited the location, interviewed the occupants, and conducted a search on the house.
In the course of the search, some electoral materials and BVAS machines were discovered in their possession. However, the Independent National Electoral Commission, when contacted, confirmed that the occupants of the house are staff of Emperor Technology, outsourcing engineering services to the INEC, and they were immediately released to go about their lawful business.
The Force, while urging well-meaning members of the public to discountenance the false and ascertain the veracity of the information on the public space before spreading such to avoid being victims of the “breaking news syndrome”.
Furthermore, the Nigeria Police urges all and sundry to avoid the creation and spread of misinformation and disinformation which is capable of causing disaffection between the populace and state actors more so as we are at a critical and sensitive moment in our democracy.
E-Signed
CSP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra,
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
FORCE HEADQUARTERS,
ABUJA.
1st March, 2023
