FULANI PLANNED CHURCH ATTACK, FALSE, INCITING — ANAMBRA CP
REPORTER: KEVIN EKEDIEGWU
The Police Command in Anambra State has denied the rumours making the rounds that four Fulani terrorists sneaked into the state to burn a Church in Awada, Onitsha.
A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Tochukwu Ikenga, described the story as false and mischievous aimed at causing tension in the state by inciting ethnic and religious hatred and conflict.
It explained that the rumour followed a Facebook publication by one Chinasa Nworu, who alleged that four Fulani terrorists sneaked into Grace of God church, Awada on Sunday in the evening to bomb the church when few people were still in the church.
The statement said that Nworu in the said publication claimed that one of the suspected terrorists was captured and burnt to ashes, while three others escaped into the military barracks in that area.
The statement said that contrary to the wide spreading rumour, the Command received a distress call that a male criminal, whose name and address were unknown, was set ablaze on NEPA Road, Awada.
The statement explained that police operatives, on arrival at the scene, made enquiries from eyewitness.
The information gathered showed that the victim was a criminal caught in an attempt to rob an innocent citizen before he was lynched and set ablaze by a mob.
The statement also explained that from the geographical map of the area, there was no Military Barracks close to where the incident occurred.
It pointed out tgat the Command condemned the act of mob action by some members of the public who resorted to jungle justice whenever they arrested suspects in respect of any crime without recourse to the Police for proper investigation.
Meanwhile, the statement noted that the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Echeng Echeng, had ordered immediate investigation on the Facebook user, and warned originators and peddlers of false information to desist from such as they would not be spared if apprehended.
EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
