The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has debunked a viral social media message alleging the presence of 79 terrorists in the Lugbe area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and announcing a curfew, describing it as false and misleading.
In a statement on Sunday, the Force Headquarters urged the public to disregard the claim, stating that intelligence reports from the Force Intelligence Unit and other security agencies confirm that no terrorists are taking refuge in Lugbe.
The police further clarified that the message, which was falsely attributed to “ACP Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Public Relations Officer (FPRO) Police Command Headquarters, Abuja,” is entirely fabricated.
Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, reaffirmed this in a counter-statement issued Sunday night, stressing that the police had not issued any such alert and warning against the spread of misinformation.
“The Police Force categorically debunks the claims made in the message.
“The Force believes this message was generated by a devious person/persons with intents to create tension, incite panic and distabilize the existing peace in the FCT.
“We urge citizens to digest only news and information from the official handles of the Nigeria Police Force on social media, viz @PoliceNG on X, @ngpolice on Facebook, and @nigeriapoliceforce on Instagram and verified news sources.
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“The Nigeria Police Force urges the public to exercise caution when sharing information online and to verify the authenticity of any security-related alerts with official sources before disseminating them.
“Citizens should disregard news and information not originating from authentic police sources and should not panic due to unverified news circulating on social media.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens and residents of the Federal Capital Territory and the entire country”.
Adejobi encouraged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station or through the emergency contact lines.
He said: “He Nigeria Police Force appreciates the cooperation of the public and assures them of our unwavering dedication to protecting lives and property.