Kaduna Police Command has denied reports of fresh armed herdsmen attacks in Southern Kaduna, describing the accounts as fake news.
In a statement by Kaduna police spokesperson, ASP Muhammed Jalige on Friday, he said journalists who promote fake news would be arrested and prosecuted.
The reaction came on the heels of a statement recently released by National President of Adara Development Association, Dio Maisamari, who spoke of the recurring attacks and killings by armed men in the Christian-dominated communities in Southern Kaduna.
The statement by the President of the association had led to an outcry on social media as many Nigerians demanded for justice for the brutal killings.
Read Also: Nigerians Call For Justice Over Gruesome Killings In Southern Kaduna Communities
The police spokesperson has however said reports of new attacks was deliberately disseminated to create fear and apprehension in the minds of people.
According to him;
The attention of the Kaduna State Police Command has been drawn to a fake and maliciously fabricated story being circulated on social media, purportedly issued by the National President of Adara Development Association dated 28th May, 2020.
The report claimed that there are fresh attacks on some communities in Kajuru L.G.A, alleging that from January to May, 2020, many people were killed, injured and displaced from their homes.
The spokesperson stressed that;
The Command therefore, wishes to categorically debunk the story in its entirety as fake, deliberately disseminated to create fear and apprehension in the minds of peace loving people of Kaduna State and Kajuru in particular.
He added;
The fabricated and malicious figures being circulated in the media should be disregarded and reject by the general public. And all media houses should endeavor to seek for clarifications on security matters through the Commissioner of Police or the Public Relations Department, to avoid being caught in circulating fake news. The consequences for such actions would be very dire.
Jalige noted that the police command would not spare any effort in making sure that law and order is maintained in the area.
He said the only two unfortunate attacks that occurred in Kaduna took place on 12th and 13th May 2020 in Gonar Rogo and Unguwan Arha communities in Kajuru area of Kaduna State.
According to Jalige, the attacks led to the killing of only 27 persons and there have been no fresh attacks.
