Police Officer Denies Beating Abuja Resident to Death
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command denies
allegations that a man was maltreated to death by policemen while enforcing the
ban on the restriction of movement to contain the spread of COVID-19.
They said the clarification became necessary following a
misleading information and video trending in some sections of the social media
on the alleged death.
According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, DSP Anjuguri Manzah, on Tuesday evening, contrary to the misleading information in circulation, the incident in question was not in any way linked to the action of police personnel.
He said it was a pathetic case of a man who slumped around
Bannex junction and was assisted by some operatives of the Nigeria Security and
Civil Defence Corps.
The statement reads: “The attention of the FCT Police
Command has been drawn to a misleading information and video trending in some
sections of the social media, on the alleged death of a man who was maltreated
by police operatives, while enforcing the ban on the restriction of movement to
contain the spread of covid-19.
“Contrary to the misleading information in circulation, the
incident in question is not in any way linked to the action of police
personnel.
“Rather, it is a pathetic case of a man who slumped around
Bannex junction and was assisted by some operatives of the Nigeria Security and
Civil Defence Corps, as it can be clearly seen in the video.
“It is therefore important to state that prior to the
commencement of this exercise, the Command has properly briefed its personnel
to be professional and civil in the enforcement of the directive. So far, the
police personnel deployed for this task have displayed high level of
professionalism that requires the commendation and support of FCT residents.
“While reaffirming the Command’s commitment to provide maximum security for FCT residents and ensure strict enforcement of the restriction of movement, to contain the spread of Covid-19, the Command wishes to advice members of the public to disregard the misleading information.”