‘Entirely false’: Police debunk attack on Wike’s residence in Rivers

The Rivers State Police Command has dismissed reports of an attack on the residence of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, in Port Harcourt, the state capital, by rioters.

The command, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, on Monday, March 17, 2025, described the reports as “entirely false”.

Viral videos purportedly showed a palatial residence engulfed in flames, with claims that it belonged to Wike.

Iringe-Koko described the footage as fabricated, saying it was the work of individuals seeking to exacerbate the ongoing political tensions in Rivers State.

Iringe-Koko stated: “The report is entirely false, baseless, and a deliberate attempt by mischief makers to incite unrest and spread fear among law-abiding residents.

“There is no record of any such incident, and normalcy prevails across the state.”

Iringe-Koko urged the public to disregard the reports, which, she said, were intended to cause panic and destabilise the state’s relative peace.

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She also warned those responsible for spreading false information to desist from actions capable of inciting public disorder.

“The full weight of the law will be brought upon individuals or groups found guilty of spreading misinformation or attempting to disrupt public peace,” Iringe-Koko added.

She reaffirmed the command’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of residents, urging citizens to rely only on credible sources of information.

1. The police spokesperson urged the people of Rivers State to report any suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies and assured them of their safety.

“Citizens should remain calm and go about their lawful activities without fear of harassment,” Iringe-Koko added.

The Star