Man arrested for circulating old video accusing policemen of armed robbery in Bauchi

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested one Adamu Ahmed Suleiman for sharing an old video clip in which some police officers were accused of armed robbery. 

In the video showing a police van, a male voice was heard in the background accusing police officers of robbing and harassing residents and commuters in the state. 

The spokesperson of the command, SP Ahmed Muhammed Wakil, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on behalf of the State Police Commissioner, CP Auwal Musa Mohammed at the police headquarters on Wednesday, September 4, 2024. 

According to the PPRO, Suleiman’s action of posting offensive and defamatory content, and spreading false information constitutes an act to provoke a breakdown of public peace and safety in Bauchi State. 

Wakil revealed that the police officers in the video had responded to a distress call about an ongoing armed robbery on February 18, 2020, along Kano-Maiduguri road near Bam village in the Dambam Local Government Area of the state.

“The Command wishes to address recent developments concerning the resurfacing of an old video clip showing a police vehicle parked by the roadside where an armed robbery incident took place,” he stated.

“The incident occurred on 18th, February 2020, along Kano-Maiduguri road near Bam village in Dambam LGA. In the video clip, someone is heard claiming that the police officers who parked the car were the ones perpetrating the armed robbery. 

“We would like to clarify that this video is outdated and does not accurately represent any current or recent actions by the officers of the Bauchi State Police Command. 

“Rather, the police officers were responding to a distress call about an ongoing armed robbery. Upon arrival at the scene, they left their vehicle and chased the armed robbers into the bush.

“As we have previously warned, those who choose to spread such misleading information should reconsider their actions. The Command takes matters of public misinformation very seriously, particularly when they have the potential to incite fear, confusion, or unrest among the members of the public. We want to make it categorically clear that the Command will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute anyone found disseminating false or misleading content intended to undermine the reputation and operations of the Nigeria Police Force.

“In line with our commitment to maintaining public order, the Command has arrested Adamu Ahmed Suleiman ‘m’ of Anguwan Sarakuna, Bauchi who was actively involved in spreading the aforementioned video clip across social media platforms. 

“His action was deliberately attempting to mislead and incite the public against the Nigeria Police Force, his actions of posting offensive and defamatory content, and spreading false information constitutes an act to provoke a breakdown of public peace and safety in Bauchi State which is criminalized under section 27 of the Cybercrimes Act 2024 and knowingly causing the transmission of communication via the social media platforms and other social media network, which is grossly offensive, false and aimed at causing annoyance, inconveniences danger, insult, injury, enmity, hatred and needles anxiety which is an offence punishable under section 24(1)(b)&(2)(a)&(C) of cybercrimes Act 2024.

“At this juncture, the command urges all citizens to be cautious about the information they share and to refrain from actions that may disrupt public order or threaten the safety of others.

“Finally, the Command under the stewardship of Commissioner of Police CP Auwal Musa Mohammed, psc, Anipr remains dedicated to protecting the lives and property of all citizens and will continue to enforce the law without prejudice.”