THE Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has set up a team of detectives and experts to conduct forensic analysis on the audio report released by an online medium purportedly to be the voice of the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, pertaining to the recently-concluded legislative elections in the state.
The governor was purported in the audio release to have threatened to kill electoral officials who allegedly collected money from him without doing his bidding.
National chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Yakubu Mahmud, had also raised 70 incidents, which he said tended to derail the December 10, 2016 rerun elections.
The police investigative team was equally mandated to conduct a thorough investigation into the incidents mentioned by the INEC chairman with a view to unravelling those who directly or indirectly were responsible for such incidences and bring them to justice.
The investigative team which has 30 days to complete the investigation and submit report is headed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police with vast experience in investigation.
A statement from force headquarters, which disclosed this urged the Government of Rivers State and INEC to avail the investigative team with facts at their disposal and grant them the desired cooperation and assistance to achieve a comprehensive and conclusive investigation.
It also called election observers, civil society groups, human rights watchers and other stakeholders to assist the team with valuable information they may have.
“The Nigeria Police Force is committed to enthroning the principles of democratic policing and ensure that the IGP’s master plan on election security takes hold in Nigeria in accordance with international best practices and core value of policing with integrity,” the statement noted.
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