…or face death at the hands of Police
Juliana Francis
The Delta State Police Command said that it was on the trail of the suspect involved in threatening people in a viral video to vote for a particular political party or face being beaten to death by the Police.
Speaking on the matter, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bright Edafe, said the Command was aware of a viral video clip on social media, of a man in the Orogun community, Ughelli North LGA, Delta State, speaking at night time, in Urhobo dialect, as a Town Crier, with doctored English transcription in which a message was sent out to the effect that an unnamed retired senior Police officer, directed him to announce that all residents of the community must vote for a particular candidate in the governorship election or in default be “taken to the Police Area Command, beaten to death by the Police and buried by the government.”
According to the image maker, acting proactively on the inciting content of the clip, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ari Muhammed Ali, directed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Orogun Division, to carry out a discreet investigation into the matter.
“The Town Crier was subsequently arrested for interrogation. He admitted that he was merely acting on his own and that no serving or retired senior police officer gave him such directive. He however denied knowledge or involvement in the making of the latest version of the clip with English transcription as not being in line with his earlier message.
“Emerging facts revealed that some mischievous elements, who are out to cause tension and discontent in the state, edited and magnified the message of the Town Crier, which he had since retracted, beyond his original intention, added English transcription and put same in the social media, to serve their selfish purpose. This is not just malicious but criminal. The Command is gradually closing in on characters behind the said video clip, with a view to bringing them before the law.”
Edafe explained that the Commissioner of Police wished to remind every resident of Delta State that officers and men of the Command remained apolitical and committed to the success of the electoral process and will not be used by any individual or group to subvert the popular wish of Deltans.
He added: “No citizen will be arrested, harassed, or assaulted for exercising his or her franchise. He equally wishes to remind Deltans of the Command’s commitment and readiness to protect the fundamental rights of every citizen, with respect to their freedom of speech and choice of candidates during this electioneering season. He thus urges every resident in the State, particularly indigenes of the Orogun community, to come out en-masse and exercise their franchise on Election Day without fear, as modalities have been put in place to ensure that the election on March 18th, 2023 is hitch-free. The following dedicated phone lines are available to the public to reach the command for quick response to any complaint or distress situation during the election. 08036684974, 08125958005, 09053872287.”
