Police reject skit maker's claims about Eno's N10m donation to deceased officer's family

The Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, Baba Azare, has denied claims made by a skit maker named Local Man about the posting of the governor’s Chief Security Officer (CSO) and the treatment of a deceased police officer who worked at Government House, Uyo.

Mr Azare shared his thoughts in an interview with ADBN TV, which was posted on Facebook on Monday. He accused the skit maker of spreading false information and misrepresenting police actions.

According to the police commissioner, Local Man had been criticizing police work at the Akwa Ibom Government House for weeks. This included claims about the governor’s CSO, suggesting she should not have the position because she is not from the state.

Mr Azare firmly rejected this claim. He pointed out that police officers are recruited to serve all over Nigeria and can be posted anywhere in the country.

"One thing that we should understand is that a police officer once you’re recruited you are recruited for the 774 local government areas in the country for posting and transfer and the 36 states of the country and the FCT," he said.

He also clarified that the CSO’s main job is to protect the governor, not to manage welfare issues for deceased officers.

"It is not her job. Her primary responsibility is to secure the governor," Mr Azare stated.

The commissioner also rejected claims that a police officer who died while serving at Government House could not be buried because the CSO did not tell Governor Umo Eno.

"All these are lies. Why sit down in the comfort of your house and say things that don’t exist?" he asked.

Mr Azare mentioned that after the governor learned about the officer’s death, he approved N10 million for the family and ordered the building of a compassionate home for them.

"The governor approved N10 million, which I am aware of, to the family of that woman and directed the building of a compassionate home," he said.

In response, Local Man posted on Facebook and shared a video, denying that he was criticizing the police. He claimed his concerns were about how indigenous police officers are treated at the Akwa Ibom Government House.

"I’m not castigating the police for doing their jobs. I’m calling out the people who are in certain positions in Government House maltreating Akwa Ibom people," he said.

Local Man also claimed that police officers of the same rank at Government House get different salaries. He argued that officers from Akwa Ibom are treated worse than those from other states.

However, he did not provide any proof for these claims.

Local Man challenged the police commissioner to show evidence that the N10 million approved by the governor was paid to the deceased officer’s family. He alleged that the family only received money from colleagues.

The Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, confirmed to this newspaper that Governor Eno approved the N10 million for the deceased officer’s family. He also mentioned that over N8 million was given for the surgery of another officer facing health issues.

"There are so many things that the government is doing. I don’t know why this particular one is different," Mr Umanah said.

When asked whether the N10 million for the deceased officer’s family had been given to them, the commissioner said he would check and get back.

In response to claims about indigenous police officers at Government House getting lower allowances than their colleagues from other states, Mr Umanah said the state government does not recruit police officers or pay their salaries.

"The Nigeria Police recruit and pay officers’ salaries and not the state government. Any officer who is posted anywhere can get an inconvenience allowance.

"These officers are on secondment. So any allowance that is worked out is not for a particular person. It can be different depending on your work and all other benefits," Mr Umanah explained.