THE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has debunked reports of shootings in the Maitama and Lugbe areas of Abuja.
There were reports in the social media that gunmen attacked residents in the areas earlier in the week.
However, in a statement released by the Public Relations Officer Jospehine Adeh, the FCT Police Command said the reports were false.
The statement noted that the reports were aimed at causing panic among FCT residents.
“The attention of the FCT Police Command has been drawn to a series of erroneous write-ups and publications making the rounds, especially on the social media spaces, suggesting that there was heavy gunfire simultaneously around Dantata bridge in Lugbe and Minister’s Hills in Maitama yesterday 26th July 2022 at about 19:38Hrs.
“Following the receipt of the news, the Command’s Intelligence and Tactical asset drifted to the scene where the news was found false,” the statement said.
Adeh urged members of the public to ignore the information, adding that the police would investigate and apprehend those behind the said reports.
“Members of the public are therefore enjoined to eschew the generation and promulgation of fake/unverified news and go about their lawful business without the fear of harassment or molestation of any kind from any quarters.
“Meanwhile, the FCT Commissioner of Police CP Babaji Sunday psc, while reassuring residents of an unalloyed commitment to the safety of all and sundry in the Territory called for calm noting that an investigation has commenced into the sources of this and many other maliciously crafted write-ups targeted at promoting panic and apprehension in the Territory,” the statement added.
Ijeoma Opara is a journalist with The ICIR. Reach her via [email protected] or @ije_le on Twitter.