The Police Command in Bauchi State has dismissed rumours emanating from video reports that the Bauchi residence of Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was attacked by hoodlums.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Spokesman of the Command, SP Ahmed Wakil, and made available to Journalists on Saturday in Bauchi.
He noted that the the attention of the Command has been drawn to a viral video, making the rounds in the media, that the Bauchi residence of the INEC Chairman was attacked.
“We categorically wish to state that the video and its content are entirely fake, as no such event occurred within or around Bauchi metropolis earlier today,” he said.
Wakil said the Bauchi Commissioner of Police, CP Aminu Alhassan, is cognisant of the negative impacts of disinformation to public peace and security.
“However, we have already ordered a discreet investigation to unravel the origin of the video, with a view to ensuring that the fabricator of the viral clip faces the full wrath of the law.
“The Command reiterates that there was no attack of any nature on the residence of the INEC Chairman in Bauchi,” he said.
The Spokesman, however, urged the general public not to panic, while also disregarding the fake video and its malicious content.
Attack on Yakubu’s property false — INEC
Similarly, INEC had debunked speculations in social media that the property vandalised by some youths in a video clip, belonged to its Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu.
Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, said Yakubu had no such property anywhere in the world.
He urged members of the public to disregard the claim.
“The property being purportedly attacked by some youths in a video clip, circulating on the social media, does not belong to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
“The INEC Chairman does not own the property in question in either Bauchi or anywhere else around the world.
“This narrative is indeed the latest in the series of desperate smear campaign efforts by mischief makers. The public should disregard it,” Oyekanmi said.