By Patrick Titus, Uyo
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has dismissed reports circulating in the social media alleging that a police officer threw an object at a moving motorcycle, resulting in a minor sustaining a serious heart injury, as false and misleading.
Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John in a statement in Uyo on Friday, denied the report, stating that the incident did not occur as reported.
According to the statement, “The attention of the Command has been drawn to a misleading report circulating on social media alleging that a police officer threw an object at a moving motorcycle, resulting in a minor sustaining a serious heart injury
“The Command wishes to categorically state that the allegation is false, misleading, and did not occur as reported. At no time was any police officer involved in throwing any object at a motorcycle or engaging in any act that led to the said injuries.
“Preliminary findings reveal that the incident in question was a road traffic accident involving a cyclist, one Akaninyene Noah “M” who was riding against traffic (one-way) and collided with another motorcyclist conveying two school children to school. As a result of the collision, the riders and passengers fell and sustained injuries,” DSP John stated.
DSP John further stated that the injured children were immediately taken to a hospital for medical attention while the cyclist who violated traffic regulations was arrested and taken to the police station.
The state police image maker also stated that the statement obtained from the cyclist was currently being investigated in line with extant laws.
On the peddler on the social media report, DSP John said, “the Command has arrested the originator and circulator of the false and misleading information, whose actions caused unnecessary panic and attempted to misinform the public. The suspect, one Imoh Emmanuel “M” is currently in custody and will be charged to court accordingly upon the conclusion of investigations.”
The Command, however, urged members of the public to disregard the false and misleading narrative being circulated on social media and to rely solely on information from official and credible sources.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command remains committed to professionalism, transparency and the protection of lives and property, DSP John assured.
