The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) says its operatives did not arrest Syndicates alleged to be linked with the manipulation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines.
Reports had claimed that some Syndicates were arrested in Maitama, Abuja on Tuesday.
In a viral video, some persons were allegedly arrested with BVAS machines in Abuja at a building located in Maitama area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
A statement issued on Wednesday, by the Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, confirmed that the police visited the building after a tip-off from residents of the area.
Adejobi said when the police arrived at the building, some electoral materials including BVAS machines, were discovered.
He added that the INEC confirmed that the occupants of the house are staff of Emperor Technology, a firm outsourced by INEC to provide engineering services.
The Force, while urging well-meaning members of the public to discountenance the “false and misconstrued narrative” being spread by some sections of the media about the arrest of these individuals and their link with BVAS manipulation, it urged the media to verify information in the public space before spreading such.
The statement read: “Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB), acting on a tip from residents of an area in Maitama who reported suspicious activities, visited the location, interviewed the occupants, and conducted a search on the house.
“In the course of the search, some electoral materials and BVAS machines were discovered in their possession.
“However, the Independent National Electoral Commission, when contacted, confirmed that the occupants of the house are staff of Emperor Technology, outsourcing engineering services to the INEC, and they were immediately released to go about their lawful business.
“The force, while urging well-meaning members of the public to discountenance the false and misconstrued narrative being spread by some sections of the media about the arrest of these individuals and their link with BVAS manipulation, charged reporters and media houses to endeavour to do due diligence and ascertain the veracity of the information on the public space before spreading such to avoid being victims of the ‘breaking news syndrome’.”
