The Plateau State Police Command is probing a viral Facebook post that threatened Hausa residents in the Tudun Wada community to vacate the area before April 29th.
It was learnt that the post, which was deemed unacceptable, prompted the Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Adesina, to convene a meeting with stakeholders from the community on Thursday
In a statement issued on Thursday evening after the meeting by the Command’s spokesman, Alabo Alfred, the police said the post poses a threat to some segments of the Tudun Wada community and will not be tolerated.
The statement emphasised the dangers of fake news and its potential to cause chaos and called on community members to collaborate with security agencies and report any suspicious activities.
The statement read, “The Plateau State Police Command, through its Social Media Monitoring Team, has come across a viral post from a Facebook handle (barrywhytesoftouch) which reads; “We Plateau Youths give all Hausa in Tudun Wada from now till 29th April to vacate,” which poses a threat to some segments of Tudun Wada community, and is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the Command.
“In response to the above, the Commissioner of Police Plateau State Command, CP Emmanuel Olugbemiga Adesina, psc and his management team today held a meeting with stakeholders from Tudun Wada community at the Command headquarters here in Jos.
The command also advised against spreading fake and unverified news, emphasising the need to restore peace on the Plateau.
“In his address, the Commissioner of Police stated that fake news, especially when spread through social media, has the capacity to cause chaos and inestimable damage to the peace and security of any State in the Nation. He noted that there are certain crisis merchants whose intention is to cause crisis in the state; hence, he called on all community members to join forces and outsmart them through due collaboration with security agencies and proper/timely reportage of any suspicious activities around their environment.
“The CP encouraged them to use their capacities as community and youth leaders to sensitise their members on the need to pursue and maintain peace throughout the state. He assured them that the Command’s Social Media Monitoring Team is actively working towards fishing out the originator(s) of the post and will ensure that they face the full weight of the law.
“The community leaders thanked the Commissioner of Police for convening the meeting in the interest of peace in Tudun Wada. They assured him that the originator of the post is not from Tudun Wada, and that they would do everything possible to help the Police in apprehending the person(s) behind the post,” the statement said.
The Police Command urged the public to go about their lawful businesses without fear, assuring that necessary deployments have been made to prevent any attack or breakdown of law and order
“To this end, the Plateau State Police Command urges the good people of Plateau State to go about their lawful businesses without any fear of intimidation, as the Command has made all necessary deployments to forestall any attack or breakdown of law and order. They are also advised not to allow themselves to be used as tools for spreading fake and unverified news. The peace on the Plateau must be restored.
