There was a media report about a bomb explosion that rocked a market in Izombe Oguta LGA Of Imo state last Sunday.
The Imo State Police Command has come out to deny the report stating it’s disappointment that a reputable print Media could publish such without finding out the true situation.
The police disclosed in a statement that “DAILY SUN Newspaper of 21ST June, 2022 captioned “SIT-AT-HOME: GUNMEN BOMB IMO MARKET” and online news captioned “BOMB EXPLOSION ROCKS IMO MARKET, SCORES INJURED, VEHICLES BURNT” written by one Stanley Uzoaru a reporter of Daily Sun Newspaper, alleging that “gunmen while enforcing sit-at-home order of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) yesterday, 20/06/2022, BOMBED the popular Izombe Central Market in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State; that they earlier warned the traders not to come out on Monday’s but they ignored them.
Irked by their defiance, the gunmen threw bomb inside the market and everybody started running for safety, they poured fuel on two vehicles and everywhere went up in flame”. It is preposterous and most unfortunate that, a notable national newsprint will publish a sensitive story without ascertaining the true facts”.
In a statement signed by the police public relations officer CSP. Micheal Abattam stated that the command is “miffed and view this publication as malicious, false, misleading and a calculated attempt to undermine the already improved security situation being enjoyed in the state and also to dampen the confidence the Command has achieved with the good people of the state since the arrival of the Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, psc (+), few months ago”.
The police discharged the publication but maintained that the incident that actually occurred on 20/6/2022 in Izombe Central Market did not record any bomb at the Izombe Central Market on 20/6/2022, and there was no record at the disposal of the Command that, the traders were in anytime warned by members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) or it militia affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN) not to come out on Mondays for their business.
” Moreso, the community has always engaged in their market business without fear of molestation from anybody.
The police maintained that preliminary investigation conducted proved that “some overzealous miscreants came to the Izombe Central Market in Oguta LGA of Imo State, on a motorcycle, went to a stationed Bus where the conductor was canvassing for passengers traveling to Owerri and set it ablaze in the name of enforcing sit-at-home order in the Community and left almost immediately after the act. However, no life was lost and most of the people have left because it was the close of market”.
The police Command considers the publication not only “unprofessional but also believes it’s at variance with the ethics of the profession of journalism. To this end, the Nigeria Police, Imo State Command Owerri, Imo State, hereby demands a retraction/or correction of this offensive news publication in the Daily Sun newspaper of 20/6/2022, within Twenty-four hours of this Rejoinder of which, if this is not done, the Command will have no choice but to take appropriate legal action against the publisher”.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, psc(+) futher commends the good people of Imo State for their unalloyed support given to the Command and enjoined them to disregard false news as it is capable of causing palpable tension as well as instilling fear in Imolites both at home and in diaspora, that there is insecurity in the State.
He further warned mischief makers and those whose stock in trade is to circulate fake news, to desist from it, else they will be made to face the full wrath of the law.
