Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Nigeria Police, Enugu State Command, has dismissed alleged claims that 25 people were killed and many injured in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State last week.
Multiple sources have alleged that Fulani herdsmen attacked some farming communities in Uzo Uwani and Aku in Igbo-etiti Local Government Areas, killing and injuring many people while others fled their farm settlements.
A farmer, who on the condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that he lost three siblings in the purported attacks.
“Three of my blood brothers (farmers ) were killed in their farmlands in Aku,” he said.
However, in a statement released to newsmen on Tuesday by the command’s spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, the police dismissed that such attacks took place.
According to the spokesman, the news was false and calculated at causing fear in the area and the entire state.
Ndukwe added that the story was also meant to portray the police and other security agencies in bad light that they are not doing enough to check insecurity in the state.
“The Enugu State Command wishes to inform the public that the report alleging a reign of terror and the killing of 25 persons by insurgents in the state is entirely false and deliberately misleading.
“The command categorically states that this sensational report is a calculated attempt to misinform the public and undermine the efforts of the police and other security agencies in maintaining the prevailing peace and security in Enugu State.
“Upon thorough review, the report was found to be baseless, containing fabricated names and incidents that never occurred in Enugu State.
“Furthermore, the report is speculative and lacks credibility, particularly in its use of vague terms such as “at least,” which have no place in factual journalism.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, psc, while acknowledging the media’s duty to publish news, including attention-grabbing headlines, strongly condemns the dissemination of such inaccurate, baseless, and mischievous reports designed to mislead and cause unnecessary panic.
“He reaffirms the unwavering commitment of the Police and other security agencies to combat crime and criminality in Enugu State,” Ndukwe said.
