The Nigeria Police Force has expressed concern with the recent statements made by the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara, in which several unfounded allegations were leveled against the Office of the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force.

The Police in a statement issued and signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, maintained that there is a subsisting Federal High Court order barring the Nigeria Police Force from participating in the Rivers State elections adding that, this order was duly served on both the NPF and the Rivers State Government.

It noted that as a law-abiding institution, the IGP instructed the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State to strictly adhere to this court order by refraining from any direct involvement in the election process.

Reacting to the claim by Governor Fubara, in the evening of 3rd October, 2024, the commissioner of police Rivers State, received reports that policemen from Rivers State Government house have been deployed to the office of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RIEC) to aid the conduct of the election.

The statement added that this report was also relayed to the Inspector-General of Police, who gave clearance to the Commissioner of Police to withdraw the policemen from the Government house and replace with policemen from the Command Operations department.

It added that the mandate of the men from the Operations Department, was to provide overnight security for the RIEC to prevent any attack on the facility.

According to the statement, prior to this, there had been series of security breaches in the state following the spate of court orders and counter orders and reactions to them by supporters of the different political parties involved.

The Police added that the response of the Command to secure RIEC overnight was therefore professional and supported by the Inspector-General of Police saying, the policemen deployed to RIEC from the operations department of Rivers State Command on the night of 3rd October,2024 were with the sole mandate to protect the RIEC office from attack overnight.

The Force therefore expressed shock and disbelief that the state Governor storming the RIEC office at night, wrongly accusing the police on lawful duties, deriding the Police institution and using unprintable words to describe the Inspector-General of Police.

It noted that threatening to shed blood and to burn down the State because of a Local Government election is not acceptable promising that, the Nigeria Police Force is committed to protection of lives and properties and will work with other security agencies in Rivers State to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order in the State.

Not only that, the Inspector-General of Police has ordered increased deployment into Rivers State to beef up security throughout the state. Citizens of Rivers state are advised to go about their lawful businesses.

End.