By Samuel Ogude(Warri)
The Delta State Command says the Nigeria Police Command remained committed to see that elections in the state are conducted in an atmosphere devoid of rancor just it says, no Police Officer would be used by any individual or group to subvert the popular wish of Deltans as no citizen will be arrested, harassed or assaulted for exercising his/ her franchise in the election.
In a press statement by the Delta State Police Command spokes person, DSP Bright Edafe in Asaba, the state capital and made available to news men said, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ari Muhammed Ali FCIA, psc+, said the Command is ready to protect the fundamental rights of every citizen, with respect to their freedom of speech and choice of candidates during this electioneering season.
This information is sequel to the video clip which went viral in social media of a man in Orogun Community, Ughelli North LGA, Delta State who spoke nighttime, in Urhobo dialect, as a Town Crier, with doctored English transcription in which a message was sent out that an unnamed retired Senior Police Officer, directed him to announce that all residents of the community must vote for a particular candidate in the Governorship election or in default, be “taken to the Police Area Command, beaten to death by the Police and buried by the government”
Based on this, according to the statement, acting proactively on the inciting content of the clip, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ari Muhammed Ali FCIA, psc+, directed the Divisional Police Officer, Orogun Division, to carry out a discreet investigation into the matter which led to the Town Crier’s arrest for interrogation where upon, he was said to have admitted that he was merely acting on his own and that no serving or retired Senior Police Officer gave him such directives and denied knowledge or involvement in the making of the latest version of the clip with English transcription as not being in line with his earlier message.
According to the statement, facts revealed that some mischievous elements, who were out to cause tension and discontent in the state, edited and magnified the message of the Town Crier, which he had since retracted beyond his original intention, as those did the latest was to serve their selfish purpose.
According to statement, the action of these persons is not just malicious but criminal saying the Command is gradually closing in on characters behind the said video clip, with a view making them face the wrath of the law.
Parts of the statement reads:”Command is aware of a viral video clip in the social media, of a man in the Orogun Community, Ughelli North LGA, Delta State, speaking at nighttime, in Urhobo dialect, as a Town Crier, with doctored English transcription in which a message was sent out to the effect that an unnamed retired senior Police officer, directed him to announce that all residents of the community must vote for a particular candidate in the governorship election or in default be “taken to the Police Area Command, beaten to death by the Police and buried by the government”. The Town Crier was subsequently arrested for interrogation. He admitted that he was merely acting on his own and that no serving or retired senior.
According to the statement, the Delta State Police Commissioner CP Ari Muhammed Ali FCIA, psc+, urged every residents in the state, particularly indigenes of the Orogun Community, to come out en-masse and exercise their franchise on election day without fear, as modalities have been put in place to ensure that the election on March 18th, 2023 is hitch-free.