Accusations that the terrorist organization Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) penetrated the territory’s borders have been refuted by the Federal Capital Territory Police Command.
In a statement on Wednesday, August 24, the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Josephine Adeh, referred to news of the alleged invasion as false and unfounded.
The PPRO urged residents to avoid panic and go about their lawful daily activities without fear of harassment and molestation of any kind.
“In a bid to sustain and strengthen the territory’s security in recent times, the existing Security Architecture hss been reviewed and corresponding solutions proferred to the emerging dynamics of crime and criminality in the Territory,” the statement read.
“Consequent upon the above the Command in a short while has recorded several arrests of gunrunners, interrupted channels of prohibited substances/drug peddling, and arrested perpetrators
“The detection and destruction of imminent criminal hideouts and execution of a general security sweep from the city centers to the suburbs displacing criminal elements have also been evident with the above
“In the light of the above, it is in the constructive interest of all and sundry to state that an end has to come to the era of panic-driven generation and promulgation of fake news
“The latest of such is an erroneous publication in circulation in some sections of the media suggesting a Terrorist invasion of the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) into the outskirts of the Territory making war chants as they stormed the Karshi resident of a Defence journalist
“The news is baseless on all fronts as the said journalist refuted all highlighted parts maliciously amplified to suggest a terrorist invasion
“Preliminary investigation also shows that nothing of such happened in the mentioned area and the FCT as a whole
“Residents are therefore urged to go about their lawful duties without the fear of harassment and molestation of any kind or from any quarters
“The Commissioner of Police CP Babaji Sunday while reassuring residents of the command’s unflinching commitment to bringing crime and criminality to the barest minimum enjoined members of the public to always verify news before circulation
“He emphasized the need to maximize the availability of the various channels of complaint of the command in promptly reporting suspicious or abnormal activities as follows: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883, while the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) desk, could be reached on: 0902 222 2352”
