The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has denied reports that a corps member working as a polling unit agent was lynched by angry voters in Abuja on Saturday.
The Police Command also stated that the officer seen in the video, along with his colleagues, did not tamper with thumb-printed ballot papers, but only assisted officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission in salvaging the electoral materials.
The FCT Police Command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, revealed this in a statement on Sunday.
Adeh said, “The FCT Police Command wishes to set the records straight concerning a case of misinformation and disinformation on social media alleging that a police officer was caught with thumb-printed ballot papers.
“This is not the fact as the officer was only assisting INEC staff to salvage electoral materials after they were attacked by the electorate at the polling unit.”
Adeh further noted that the incident which occurred at Polling Unit 009, Lugbe Local Education Authority began when INEC officials arrived the Polling Unit with incomplete electoral materials which angered the electorate who resorted to attacking the officials and destroying the materials alleging an attempt at disenfranchisement.
She added, “The officers, in an attempt to prevent the officials from being mobbed and the materials destroyed, assisted in moving some of the items to the annoyance of the electorate who poured their anger on the officers as well as the officials.
“It is equally pertinent to state that the corps member who was attacked in the video was shielded and taken to safety by the Divisional Police Officer and his men from the Lugbe Divisional Headquarters. He was not murdered as alleged in trending news.
“The FCT Command hereby warns the electorate to maintain decorum and desist from attacks on lawful authority while all grievances should be channeled through the proper process for resolution.”
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