- The Nigerian Police Force has denied claims by the Rivers state governor Nyesom Wike that the inspector general of police Ibrahim Idris is plotting to assassinate him
- The police said allegations by the governor against the police chief is malicious and capable of misleading the public
- Over the weekend, the Rivers state governor had alleged plans by the inspector general of police to assassinate him
- He said the IGP had instructed the commissioner of police in the state to kill him
The Rivers state governor had alleged plans by the inspector general of police to assassinate him
The Nigerian Police Force has denied claims by the Rivers state governor Nyesom Wike that the inspector general of police Ibrahim Idris is plotting to assassinate him.
The police said allegations by the governor against the police chief is malicious and capable of misleading the public.
Over the weekend, the Rivers state governor had alleged plans by the inspector general of police to assassinate him.
The governor had raised alarm stating that his life was in danger. He said the IGP had instructed the commissioner of police in the state to kill him.
READ ALSO: Breaking: Efe wins Big Brother Naija 2017; read how it happened
But in a statement released on Sunday, April 9, the spokesperson for the force headquarters Jimoh Moshood said Wike's comments against the IGP is causing disaffection between the people of Rivers state and the police.
NAIJ.com gathered that Moshood said the governor was currently being guarded by 221 police officers which he said were more than the number of officers in some police area command in various states.
He also said the contrary to the governor's claim that nine commissioners of police have served in Rivers state since Idris assumed office as IGP, only three have been deployed to the state.
"There was no time either recently or in the past that the inspector general of police gave an order or assignment to the commissioner of police, Rivers state or any police officer anywhere in the country to kill Mr. Nyesom Wike, the Governor of Rivers State or directs the commissioner of police, Rivers state to cage the governor as alleged.
READ ALSO: 15 days after receiving tiger, Oba of Benin gets 117-year old tortoises
“It is incumbent on the Nigeria Police Force to educate the general public and draw the attention of the governor to the facts and figures available for press and members of the public to verify that there are 221 police personnel attached currently to Governor Nyesom Wike for his personal and official protection," Moshood said.
He added that among police personnel attached to the governor include one aide-de-camp, one chief security officer, one unit commander (Special Protection Unit); one unit commander (Counter-terrorism Unit) and one escort commander.
Others are one camp commander; one administrative officer to administer the police personnel, 54 inspectors, 136 sergeants and 24 corporals.
READ ALSO: How army captain, four policemen were killed by militants in Lagos – Police commissioner
Moshood noted that 28,000 police officers and personnel of other security agencies were also deployed in Rivers state in December last year for the rerun election.
He said the officers operated under the umbrella of Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security platform created by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the NPF to ensure the security and safety of the electorate, INEC officials, election materials and other critical stakeholders before, during and after the polls.
He further cautioned the Rivers state governor to desist from making statements that will undermine the operations of the force and national security.
Watch this NAIJ.com video of family of a petty trader killed by stray bullets cry for justice below:
