Sokoto Police Clarify Viral Photo, Deny Escorting Hisbah Commander

By Fahad Faruk Galadanchi

The Sokoto State Police Command has refuted claims circulating on social media that a Superintendent of Police was assigned to escort a Hisbah commander describing the allegation as false and deceptive.

In a rejoinder released on Sunday, the Command said the image being circulated on X, formerly known as Twitter, and other platforms was an old photograph intentionally misrepresented to mislead the public.

The statement signed by PPRO Sokoto Command, Ahmad Rufa’i, clarified that the individual wearing a Hisbah uniform in the picture was not a Hisbah commander, but Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu.

According to the police, the photograph was taken on November 22, 2024, during the inauguration of the Sokoto State Hisbah Board and the commissioning of its secretariat.

The Command added that the Superintendent of Police seen standing behind the governor was serving as his Aide-de-Camp at the time and was merely carrying out his constitutional duty of providing security cover.

“The original context of the image has been deliberately twisted to promote a false narrative” the statement noted.

The police urged the public to ignore the misleading claim, insisting that no officer was deployed to escort any Hisbah commander and reaffirming the Command’s commitment to professionalism and impartial service.