Nigeria Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has ordered the arrest of yet to be identified internet user who posted a video with a caption suggesting a robbery incident in the nation’s capital territory, Abuja at a traffic stop point.

IGP in a statement made available by the Force public relations officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Thursday, said the forensic department of the Nigeria Police Force has investigated the video and found out that the video was first posted in South Africa, suggesting an incident that may have occurred in Ethiopia.

The Statement reads in quote: “The Nigeria Police Force wishes to address the recent circulation of a video on social media, where motorists at a traffic stop point were being harassed and robbed by armed individuals, purporting to depict an incident that occurred in Abuja, Nigeria.

After conducting a thorough digital forensics analysis, the NPF-National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has determined that the incident actually took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The video which was originally posted by an individual from South Africa on the 22nd of April 2024 on X social media platform, with the caption suggesting that it is dangerous to travel in Ethiopia without a handgun, was reposted by some mischief makers who alleged that the incident happened in Abuja in order to disinform the public, and thereby caused grave panic amongst residents in the Federal Capital, and its environs; and sent a wrong signal across the country which is counterproductive to our national safety and integrity.

In response to this disinformation, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has ordered a comprehensive investigation to identify the individual or group responsible for falsely claiming that the incident took place in Nigeria. Once identified, appropriate legal actions will be taken to sanction those involved.

The Inspector General of Police hereby re-emphasizes the importance of accurate information dissemination and urges the public to exercise caution and verify the authenticity of videos and news circulating on social media platforms as all forms of misleading contents can cause unnecessary fear and panic among the populace.

He also reiterated that the Police remains steadfast in combating all forms of misinformation and disinformation in its quest to ensuring public safety and security”.

On the other hand, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has taken a  step towards addressing the housing challenges faced by officers in the Nigeria Police Force with the midwifing and launch of the maiden Nigeria Police Housing Summit.

“The summit, themed “Renewed Hope for Police Housing in Nigeria,” evidences the IGP’s priority for the welfare of officers through the provision of appropriate, adequate, and affordable housing.

The IGP equally highlights the pressing need to revamp the existing framework for providing housing to Nigeria Police Officers. With only about 10% of the workforce’s housing needs currently being met, the IGP emphasizes that the summit aims to develop strategies to bridge this gap and ensure accessible and affordable housing for all ranks.

The objectives of the Nigeria Police Housing Summit are ambitious and far-reaching, including articulating a vision for effective housing as an essential welfare tool, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, proposing actionable strategies for rapid delivery of affordable housing, and aligning housing initiatives with sustainable practices.

The housing summit also focusses on the establishment of a 100 billion Naira Police Housing Fund, aimed at financing sustainable housing development for officers. The IGP notes that preliminary assessments and engagements with key stakeholders are already underway in this regard.

The Inspector General of Police expresses gratitude to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Honourable Minister of Housing, Architect Ahmed Dangiwa, for their leadership in delivering affordable housing to Nigerians.

He similarly assured that the launch of the Nigeria Police Housing Summit is part of a significant step towards realizing his administration’s vision of providing accessible and affordable housing to its officers”, the Force Spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi stated in a statement issued on April 22nd, 2024.