Command describes footage as false and designed to incite panic
The Rivers State Police Command has strongly refuted a viral video circulating on social media that falsely claims Fulani herdsmen launched an attack in the state and were subsequently repelled by Ijaw youths. The Police described the widely shared footage and accompanying narrative as “entirely false, misleading, and designed to incite panic among the public.”
In a statement released on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the Command stressed that it has not received any official report of Fulani herdsmen attacks in any part of Rivers State. According to the spokesperson, the alarming narrative was deliberately fabricated by unknown individuals whose primary objective is to disrupt the current peace and stability enjoyed within the state.
Call for calm amid unverified reports
This clarification by the Police comes days after the circulation of another viral video, which reportedly showed young men, alleged to be Fulani, being brutally attacked in a bush, some bearing visible gunshot wounds. Such content, often unverified, contributes significantly to ethnic tension and security anxiety in the region.
The Police Command urged members of the public to disregard such unverified content and strictly refrain from sharing materials capable of generating tension, fear, or damaging the state’s reputation. SP Iringe-Koko emphasized that the Command, under the leadership of CP Olugbenga A. Adepoju, remains committed to transparent and accountable policing.
Commitment to security and verification of information
The Command assured residents that it is working in robust collaboration with other security agencies to safeguard lives and property, prevent crime, and maintain peace across Rivers State. Iringe-Koko noted that comprehensive security measures—including increased patrol teams, surveillance units, and tactical squads—are actively deployed throughout the state.
To combat the spread of misinformation, the Police advised residents to remain calm, stay vigilant, and always verify information through official channels before circulating it on any media platform. This warning highlights the critical role social media plays in either maintaining or fracturing public peace through the rapid dissemination of both accurate and fabricated security reports. The intervention by the Rivers State Police Command is aimed at halting the dangerous spread of the false claim and restoring public trust in official sources of information.
