Lagos Police asks Punch to retract report; Denies that any of its policemen were involved in robbery

Ngozi Braide

The Lagos State Police Command has denied a Newspaper report saying that two policemen were arrested on Wednesday in connection with the robbery incidents that occurred in the state on September 9.

A statement signed by the Command spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, and made available to Daily Times NG on Thursday, expressed dissatisfaction with a Punch Newspapers report of Wednesday, September 19, 2012.
Referring to Page 5 of the newspaper, with a report captioned “Robbery in Lagos, two policemen arrested”, the Command demanded that the organisation retract the report written by Eniola Akinkuotun.

The statement described the report as "false and malicious", saying it was "aimed at rubbishing the good works of the command that is working tirelessly to combat crime."

"The publication is seen as a calculated attempt to tarnish the good image of the Command and at the same time to create panic in the minds of the public," the statement further read.

It denied that any police officer was arrested in connection with the deadly and coordinated robbery incidents that occurred simultaneously across the state.

"The command further wishes to state categorically clear that no policeman was arrested over the ill-fated Sunday robbery as stated by the reporter," the report said.

"The truth of the matter was clearly stated during the press briefing where the two suspected members of the evil gang were paraded. The command is at loss on where and how Eniola got his story."

The Command however, appealed to members of the public to disregard the publication which was described as "mischievous".

"We hold the organisation in high esteem as we know it to be a reputable outfit but strongly frown at the misleading and mischievous way its reporter misinforms the public," the report said.

The police command also urged the public to remain calm, adding that intensive surveillance and patrol had begun to fish out the robbery gang.

"We will not relent in discharging our constitutional duties of protecting lives and property, please," the rejoinder stated.