By Uzair Adam
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has debunked allegations circulating on social media, claiming a senior officer was arrested for supplying firearms to criminals in Kaduna State.
The claim, attributed to Adamu Garba Zango, a lecturer at Baze University, accused a Deputy Commissioner of Police in Kaduna of involvement in criminal activities.
However, in a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, and shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, the NPF dismissed the allegations as baseless and misleading.
The statement clarified that the individual mentioned in the allegation is not a police officer but Kingsley Udoyen, a civilian arrested in Akwa Ibom State in January 2019 for impersonating an Assistant Commissioner of Police.
Udoyen reportedly used fake police insignia and an unlicensed pistol to intimidate and defraud victims.
“The photograph shared by Mr. Zango dates back to 2019 and depicts Udoyen, not a Deputy Commissioner of Police in Kaduna,” the statement read.
“Investigations reveal no connection between the Kaduna State Command and the claims made by the lecturer. This deliberate misinformation seeks to tarnish the Force’s reputation and mislead the public.”
The NPF strongly condemned the dissemination of false information, highlighting that such acts violate defamation and cybercrime laws. The Force warned that legal actions could be pursued against those spreading unverified claims.
“We urge Nigerians to rely on official communication channels for accurate updates and to avoid actions that undermine public trust and safety,” Adejobi stated.