… involved in electoral malpractice
Juliana Francis
The Rivers State Police Command said it has arrested its personnel caught on a viral video carrying out electoral malpractice.
This was also as some Nigerians, reacting to the announcement of the arrest, expressed doubt that the command actually arrested its personnel. These Nigerians, while expressing doubt, asked for pictorial evidence of the arrest, including names, ranks, and stations of the arrested personnel.
The Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), a Superintendent of Police, Grace Iringe-Koko, who shared information about the arrest on the command’s tweeter handle, explained that an investigation was launched following the video that trended on social media.
According to her, the video suggested the involvement of some police personnel operating in a pickup vehicle with the inscription “RRT 050” in alleged electoral malpractice.
Iringe-Koko said that Rivers State Police Command has arrested and taken into custody one officer and three Inspectors for interrogation.
She further stated: “The police pick-up van in the trending video has also been impounded for a thorough investigation. The Command hereby assures the electorate in Rivers State of its unalloyed commitment to promoting the rule of law and ensuring that all offenders found culpable are adequately sanctioned. The Command urges all residents to remain calm and await the official announcement of the result of the election.”
Tweeter users, reacting to Iringe-Koko’s information, demanded transparency from the Nigeria Police Force in arrests that involved its personnel. Many also expressed doubt over the likelihood of the personnel being given due punishment if found guilty.
One of them, Ukwubile Ileje Inelo@Ukwubile_Ileje, noted: “Weldon for the arrests. But keep us posted on their jail terms as speculated in our laws. Let us have their pictures and video coverage as they enter prison. We can then engage the prison officers for daily activities in the prison till they finish jail term.”
Another tweeter user, Engr OseghaleVictor@OseghaleVictor_ said: “Show us proof, we don’t want story. If na citizen break law una go snap their pictures put all over social media.”
Nwa Obi@anyidepgm also has something to add, “No evidence of arrest. No names, no divisions, or any form of pictorial evidence. How then do we know if you will follow through with this, or is this a smokescreen?”
Uncle Rukus@ryanblaize stated: “Please we are tired of suspension and dismissal. If we get a good government, the change will also affect the NPF but some of your officers say no and that they will choose to do evil. We want to see proper jail terms for these officers.”
