The Niger State Police Command explained that tear gas fired by its operatives during a confrontation with suspected hoodlums along Ogbomosho Street, Minna, on Thursday inadvertently drifted into a nearby mosque, causing temporary discomfort to worshippers.

In a statement issued on Friday by its spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, reacting to a viral video circulating on social media alleging that police personnel deliberately fired tear gas at worshippers in the mosque, the command said the incident occurred at about 7:45 p.m. on Friday, after police operatives attached to ‘A’ Division, Minna, received information that a wanted suspected miscreant identified as “El-Hussain” had been sighted along Ogbomosho Street.

According to the statement, the police patrol team proceeded to the area and arrested the suspect, but other suspected hoodlums in the vicinity allegedly mobilised, overpowered the officers and facilitated the suspect’s escape.

The command said the situation subsequently became tense when the suspected hoodlums attacked the police team, forcing the operatives to deploy tear gas canisters to disperse the attackers and enable the officers to withdraw from the area.

It said the direction of the wind caused the tear gas smoke to drift towards a nearby mosque, resulting in temporary discomfort for worshippers.

The Police Public Relations Officer, however, denied the allegation, saying the tear gas was neither deliberately fired nor directed at the mosque or worshippers.

“The incident occurred as an unintended consequence of the deployment of tear gas in response to the attack on the police personnel,” the command said.

The Niger State Police Command expressed regret over the incident and apologised to the affected worshippers for the inconvenience and discomfort caused, reiterating its commitment to protecting lives and property, respecting human rights and carrying out its constitutional responsibilities while maintaining public safety and security. (The Nation, excluding headline)