The Nigeria Police Force has dissociated itself with some police personnel who were captured scooping fuel from a fallen tanker.
A viral video showed two men who wore camouflage that resembles that of the Nigeria Police Force, struggling with some civilians to scoop fuel from the wreckage of a tanker that fell on the road.
However, a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Monday, disclosed that the security agents are not members of the NPF.
Adejobi said, “The viral video circulating in the media that depicts uniformed personnel in camouflage scooping fuel from the wreckage of an accidented tanker was just released to discredit the Nigeria Police Force. It is essential to clarify that the individuals in the video are not officers of the Nigeria Police Force.”
He said they are uniformed personnel from a neighbouring francophone country whose camouflage uniforms bear a resemblance to the Nigeria Police’s.
“The captured officers were speaking in french languages, not a Nigerian language or English,” the police spokesman added.
“We strongly condemn the spread of such disinformation and unverified news and contents aimed at tarnishing or discrediting the image of the Nigeria Police Force. Such actions not only undermine the integrity of the force but also have far-reaching negative consequences for the nation and its people.
“The Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of the IGP, remains committed to upholding discipline, professionalism, and dedication to the safety and security of all Nigerians. Acts that compromise the reputation of the force are unequivocally unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
“We urge all Nigerians to exercise caution and verify information before sharing it, to foster national unity and uphold the credibility of institutions working tirelessly for public safety,” Adejobi stated.
