The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has dismissed as misleading an altered viral video showing Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, addressing police personnel, saying the footage has been manipulated to create a false narrative.
The command said the video originated from an incident in 2024 when police officers were deployed to the Labour Party national headquarters in Utako, Abuja, to restore order during a leadership dispute within the party.
In a statement issued to newsmen on Monday by the command’s Spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the command said the video had been edited with political campaign posters and captions to falsely suggest that the Nigeria Police Force was involved in a political engagement or endorsement.
The statement reads: “The attention of the FCT Police Command has been drawn to a video circulating on social media depicting some Nigeria Police personnel being addressed by Mr. Peter Obi. The Command also observed that the video has been altered with political campaign posters and captions to create a mischievous and false narrative suggesting a political engagement or endorsement from personnel of the Nigeria Police Force. This misrepresentation is entirely false and does not reflect the true facts of the incident.
“The interaction captured in the video occurred in 2024, when the Command received a distress call reporting unrest/protests stemming from party leadership tussle at the Labour Party Headquarters in Utako Area of the FCT.
“Responding to the distress call, personnel of the FCT Police Command were immediately deployed to the scene to restore law and order. During the operation, Mr. Peter Obi, who was present at the location, briefly addressed the officers while clarifying the circumstances surrounding the party dispute. The interaction was purely incidental to the police response and had no political undertone whatsoever as otherwise mischievously suggested in the viral video.
“While the Commissioner of Police FCT Command, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi PhD. FCai., has ordered a thorough investigation into the origin of the video, the FCT Police Command remains an impartial and apolitical institution committed to the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities. The Command will not allow its operational activities or personnel to be misrepresented or exploited for partisan propaganda or any other vested interest.
“The Command therefore urges members of the public to refrain from creating, altering, or disseminating misleading content capable of deceiving the public or undermining confidence in public institutions. Citizens are encouraged to verify information through official channels before sharing such content.”