The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has set up a panel of investigation to look into the crisis that characterized the Rivers legislative rerun elections.

This was made known by the Force Public Relations Officer, Don Awunah, in a statement released on Saturday.

He noted that a major aspect of the investigation would be to determine the authenticity of an audio clip published by some media platforms, in which Governor Nyesom Wike was purportedly heard threatening to kill a staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, if the official refused to do his bidding.

“They should return what they gave them or I will kill them,” the governor was allegedly heard saying.

The office of the Rivers State governor has since disowned the audio clip, insisting that Wike did not get in touch with any INEC official either in person or through phone during the election.

The Police PRO, Awunah, stated that the investigation was in response to the claim by the INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, that there were 70 recorded incidents of violence in the re-run election.

According to Awunah, the team of detectives and experts are to “conduct a thorough investigation into the incidents mentioned by the INEC chairman with a view to unravelling those who directly or indirectly are responsible for such incidences and bring them to justice”.

“The investigative team is also mandated to conduct forensic analysis on the audio report released by Sahara Reporters purportedly to be the voice of the Executive Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Chief (Barr.) Nyesom Wike (CON) pertaining to the concluded elections,” he added.

The Police spokesman urged the government of Rivers State and INEC to provide the investigative team with facts at their disposal and grant them the desired cooperation and assistance to achieve a comprehensive and conclusive investigation.

He also called on “election observers, civil society groups, Human Rights watchers and other stakeholders … to assist the team with valuable information they may have.”

Awunah noted that investigation will be led by a Deputy Commissioner of Police who has “vast experience in investigation.”

The team has 30 days to complete the investigation and submit its report which would be made public.