Kogi Police Respond to Viral Video of Arrests

The Kogi State Police Command has warned people to stop sharing information without checking if it is true.

This is to avoid misunderstandings between security agencies as we get closer to the 2027 general election.

A statement from the command’s spokesperson, ASP Salisu Oyiza Afusat, was released on Friday. It aimed to correct the false impression spreading online about an incident from the 2023 governorship election.

The statement said, "The command has taken note of a video currently circulating on social media, captioned ‘Police Don Buy Soja Job,’ and wishes to clarify that the footage relates to an incident during the 2023 Kogi State Governorship Election, not a recent occurrence."

It explained that the incident involved police officers assigned to the then Deputy Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Ahmed. These officers were with him in his hometown, Abache, to vote.

Military personnel were also on duty for the election and detained the police officers for not following movement restrictions.

The officers were taken into custody, and the case was passed to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further action.

The spokesperson said, "The command considers it necessary to correct the misleading impression created by the circulation of this old footage without its historical context."

She added, "It is pertinent to emphasise that the command currently enjoys an enviable level of synergy, mutual respect and operational cooperation with the military and other sister security agencies in Kogi State."

This partnership is key to ongoing joint security operations and the shared goal of peace and safety for everyone.

The spokesperson warned that sharing old videos in a way that creates distrust or conflict among security agencies is harmful. It can damage the cooperation that has been built over time.

She urged the public and social media users to check if information is true and its context before sharing. She also asked people to avoid using old materials to mislead others or spread false information.

The spokesperson concluded by saying, "The Kogi State Police Command remains committed to professionalism, accountability and sustained collaboration with all sister security agencies in the protection of lives and property."