The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has debunked the report regarding the
withdrawal of Police Mobile Force (PMF) officers attached to prominent
individuals, including Mrs Aisha Buhari, wife of former President Muhammadu
Buhari, and his brother, Mallam Mamman Daura.
In a signal that purportedly emanated from MOPOL 45 FHQ ABJ, it was stated
that the NPC ordered the removal of mopol officers attached to some former
governors, Boss Mustapha, the former Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, and Iyorchia Ayu, former National Chairman of the Peoples
Democratic Party.
Other politicians and personalities allegedly affected by the purported order
include Governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, former Governor of Bauchi State,
Adamu Muazu, former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, former
governor of Gombe State, Danjuma Goje, former governor of Ogun State,
Gbenga Daniel, former governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, former
Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, former Minister of State for
Petroleum Resources, Timipre Silva, and many others.
However, the NPF in a statement on Monday, July 17, 2023, has dismissed the
signal describing it as fake. The force added that the signal did not emanate
from the NPF or any of its formations.
In the statement signed by the force Public Relations officer, Olumuyiwa
Adejobi, the police said the fake signal deviates from the Police’s telegraphic
message structure and standard as it bears the signature of a Deputy
Commissioner of Police (DCP), instead of the signature of an Assistant
Commissioner of Police (ACP).
The statement reads in part, “The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) wishes to address
the ambiguity surrounding a signal that has been in circulation on social media,
purportedly originating from MOPOL 45 FHQ ABJ, ordering the removal of police
aides from certain top politicians and their relatives. The Police hereby
unequivocally clarifies that the signal is fake and did not emanate from the NPF
or any of its formations.
“More emphatically, the signal deviates from the Police’s telegraphic message
structure and standard as the signal bears the signature of a Deputy
Commissioner of Police (DCP), which is highly irregular, as a signal of this nature
would typically be signed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), who
heads such formations, and not a higher-ranking officer.”
However, the Acting Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, is said
to have ordered a thorough investigation into the source of the signal and
assured that appropriate action would be taken against those responsible for its
creation and dissemination.