The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has debunked the alleged d3ath of a corps member who was almost lynched by angry voters in Abuja, on Saturday over alleged electoral malpractice.
The said to have occurred at the polling unit inside LEA Primary School in the Lugbe area of the FCT.
An eyewitness told journalists that the NYSC member was caught allegedly thumb-printing ballot papers in favour of a political party.
However, the spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, Josephine Adeh, in a statement on Sunday said its officer that was seen in the video, alongside his colleagues, didn’t tamper with thumb-printed ballot papers, but only assisted officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission in salvaging the electoral materials.further noted that the incident began when INEC officials arrived at the Polling Unit with incomplete electoral materials which angered the electorate who resorted to attacking the officials and destroying the materials alleging an attempt at disenfranchisement.
Adeh said: “The FCT Police Command wishes to set the records straight concerning a case of misinformation and disinformation on social media alleging that a police officer was caught with thumb-printed ballot papers.
She added that the incident began when INEC officials arrived the Polling Unit with incomplete electoral materials which angered the voters.
The altercation resulted in the mob attacking the officials and destroying the materials alleging an attempt at disenfranchisement.
Adeh said: “The FCT Police Command wishes to set the records straight concerning a case of misinformation and disinformation on social media alleging that a police officer was caught with thumb-printed ballot papers.
“This is not the fact as the officer was only assisting INEC staff to salvage electoral materials after they were attacked by the electorate at the polling unit.”
The officers, in an attempt to prevent the officials from being mobbed and the materials destroyed, assisted in moving some of the items to the annoyance of the electorate who poured their anger on the officers as well as the officials.
“It is equally pertinent to state that the corps member who was attacked in the video was shielded and taken to safety by the Divisional Police Officer and his men from the Lugbe Divisional Headquarters. He was not murdered as alleged in trending news.
“The FCT Command hereby warns the electorate to maintain decorum and desist from attacks on lawful authority while all grievances should be channelled through the proper process for resolution.”