The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismissed a post on social media about the invasion of the Lugbe community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by 79 suspected terrorists.
The message claimed that some terrorists took refuge in Lugbe following a chase by security forces, prompting the FCT authorities to impose a curfew in the community on Saturday.
But the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Sunday, dismissed the claim and urged the public to disregard it.
Adejobi said: “The Police Force categorically debunks the claims made in the message. From intelligence gathered by the Force Intelligence teams and other security agencies, there are no terrorists taking refuge in the Lugbe area of the Federal Capital Territory.
“The Force believes this message was generated by a devious person/persons with intents to create tension, incite panic, and destabilize the existing peace in the FCT.
“We urge citizens to digest only news and information from the official handles of the Nigeria Police Force on social media, such as on X, Facebook, on Instagram and on verified news sources.
“The Nigeria Police Force urges the public to exercise caution when sharing information online and to verify the authenticity of any security-related alerts with official sources before disseminating them.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens and residents of the Federal Capital Territory and the entire country.
“We encourage the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station or through our emergency contact lines.
“The Nigeria Police Force appreciates the cooperation of the public and assures them of our unwavering dedication to protecting lives and property.”
Source: Ripples