Nigeria Police Force Denies Involvement in Potiskum Robbery
The Yobe State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has refuted a recent report claiming that two of its officers were involved in a robbery in Potiskum. The command’s spokesperson, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, has also denied allegations of shielding the accused policemen and disrupting court proceedings.
The police spokesperson described the November 7 publication by an online news platform as “misleading and malicious.” Abdulkarim took to the media to set the record straight, providing a detailed account of the events that unfolded.
According to Abdulkarim, on February 23, an accident occurred at Zangon Alhazai area of Potiskum, involving a truck and a motorcycle. ASC Abubakar Umar of the Nigerian Correctional Service solicited bail for the driver, which was granted. However, the police refused to release the vehicle as the victim was still receiving treatment, and an investigation into reckless and dangerous driving was ongoing.
This led to a fracas, resulting in Umar’s arrest for obstruction. The Area Commander, exercising procedural diligence, directed the personnel to return to the station as the case involved enforcement of Fundamental Human Rights, a high-calibre matter beyond the magistrate’s jurisdiction.
Abdulkarim emphasized that at no point did police personnel invade the court or forcibly retrieve colleagues. The command has threatened to take legal action against the online newspaper if the platform does not retract the report immediately and tender an unreserved apology to the command.
