The Niger State Police Command has debunked reports that a foreign pilot supplying weapons to bandits was arrested in the state.
This came after WikkiTimes fact-checked the claim and found that the pilot, Juan Remy was arrested last year in the Central African Republic for supplying weapons to Saleka rebel group which he has been training for a while.
The Niger State police spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, in a statement issued this morning, described the claim as fake news, adding that such incident has never occurred in the state before.
The statement read in part: “Niger State Police Command wishes to respond to a picture circulating in some social media and other media platform tagged that a foreign nationale pilot named “Juan Remy” who supplies weapons to bandits has been arrested in Niger State
“The Command hereby described such report as a piece of fake news and that such incident never occurred in the State.
“It is also pertinent to state that there has never been report of any foreign nationale with helicopter distributing weapons to hoodlums in the State.
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“The Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command CP Monday Bala Kuryas, fsi urges members of the public to disregard such report as it is aimed in creating unnecessary chaos in the public domain.
“He appreciates Nigerlites and residents of the state for their support while urging them not to relent in their support by providing useful information in tackling crime and criminality in our dear state.”