Force Police Public Relations Officer (FPPRO ),Mr. Olusola Amore has frowned at the rate at which some people circulate text messages about ‘unimaginable’ bomb scares at various points across the country ,especially Lagos and Abuja. The Police spokesman however advised originators of such messages to report any security threat to proper security agencies rather than forwarding them to armless Nigerians. Amore who replaced former FPPRO Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu alleged that such messages could cause fear and panic in the minds of the recipients
In the last weeks there have been rumours of several bomb threats in Lagos and other parts of the country. In fact there was text messages alleging that the Motor way, along 7up bottling companies in Ikeja was about to be blown up .The bomb Disposal unit in Lagos quickly rushed to the scene but found out that it was a hoax.
Also Police spokesman in Lagos Mr.Frank Mba has challenged people with such information to covertly send it to the police. He however said there is no cause for alarm because the police in Lagos have put necessary measure in place to checkmate such occurrences.
Speaking in a recent radio programme, ‘Police Diary’ Amore described those behind the text messages as ‘merchant of fear’ who spread rumours to cause security breach in the country. He argued that a good citizen who stumbles unto such sensitive information is expected to report at the appropriate authority to investigate the matter.
‘We need to pass such information to the appropriate authority and in this case, police is the right authority to take such information to. If you are suspecting that a vehicle that is parked some where is loaded with bullets and explosives, you better report it to the nearest police station instead of alerting your brother or neighbor who has no means of detonating the bombs but the police who has the equipment to stop the explosives from exploding.. It is a disservice to humanity. The authors of such messages are extortionist and agent of fears who want to create fear in the minds of people’
Urging Nigerians not to panic Amore noted that the thee Inspector General of Police IGP, Mr Hafiz Ringim has put necessary measures in place to enhance security of lives and properties. He enjoined citizens to live as brothers and sisters so as to maintain peace and tranquility in the country.
He noted that investigations into such allegations of bomb scares are false and only exist in the imaginations of the authors. Amore added that the police are closing in on the originators of those message s. ‘ We will arrest them. We are closing in on them . They spread the message of doom, If you have information about security threat, you don’t need to send it to people but to the police’.
However in Lagos Mba said that the Commissioner of Police Mr Marvel Akpoyibo has directed all relevant units to be at alert.. Mba a Superintendent of police SP urged Lagosians not to panic because there is adequate security in the state. He noted that the commissioner of police has put airtight security in the state to enhance security of lives and property.
He also enjoined them to ignore the message and go about their normal duties without fear of molestation.