The Enugu State Police Command has refuted reports alleging a reign of terror and the killing of 25 persons by insurgents in the state, describing the claims as entirely false, sensational, and mischievous.
According to the Command, the report is a calculated attempt to misinform the public and undermine the efforts of security agencies in maintaining peace and security in Enugu State.
Some media platforms reported that about 25 people were killed in recent days, with many others injured in the agrarian communities of Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, following a brutal wave of violence allegedly carried out by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
According to the reports, the latest attacks have overwhelmed local communities, leaving behind a trail of death, displacement, and growing despair among residents who are fleeing their villages to Anambra and Kogi States’ neighbouring communities for safety.
The Command, however, in a statement on Tuesday, by its Spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, asserted that the report contains fabricated names and incidents that never occurred in Enugu State.
“The report is speculative and lacks credibility, particularly in its use of vague terms such as ‘at least’, which have no place in factual journalism,” said Ndukwe.
Ndukwe noted that the State Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, strongly condemned the dissemination of such inaccurate and baseless reports designed to mislead and cause unnecessary panic.
“While we acknowledge the media’s duty to publish news, including attention-grabbing headlines, we condemn the dissemination of such inaccurate, baseless, and mischievous reports,” Ndukwe quoted the CP to have said.
The Command, however, reaffirms its unwavering commitment to combating crime and criminality in Enugu State, urging the public to disregard the false report and remain confident in the state’s security apparatus.