The military and
the police in Yobe State are currently embroiled in recriminations over
the events that led to the abduction of students from a boarding
school.
Governor Ibrahim Gaidam two days ago
said military withdrawal from Dapchi made it possible for Boko Haram
insurgents to attack Government Girls Science and Technical College and
abduct 110 students.
President Muhammadu Buhari called the abduction of the girls a
national disaster and has vowed to do everything possible to rescue the
girls from Boko Haram.
The army said the accusation by Governor Ibrahim Gaidam that it abandoned the town to
the Boko Haram was misleading as its
troops handed over the security of the town to the police.
The Police have now promptly debunked the military claim.
In a statement by the Yobe Police Commissioner Sumonu A. Abdulmaliki,
the police claimed they were not in charge of security as the army
claimed.
~Abdulamaliki said the army did “not formally hand over the security of Dapchi Town”, to the police.
“The attention of the Yobe State Police Command has been drawn to
Press Statement from Headquarters of Operation Lafiya Dole subscribing
that “Dapchi has been relatively calm and peaceful and the security of
Dapchi town was formally handed over to the Nigeria Police Division
located in the town.”
“The statement by the Military of formal handing over of Dapchi town
to the Nigeria Police Division in Dapchi is not correct and untrue, as
there was no time that the military informed the Police of their
withdrawal, consult or handed over their locations in Dapchi town to the
Police.
“The whole of Yobe State is still under Security Emergency which the
Police, the Military and other security agencies are battling to ensure
lasting peace.
“Members of the public in Yobe State are implored to disregard and
discountenance this claim that the Military formally handed the security
of Dapchi town to the Nigeria Police as untrue, unfounded and
misleading.
“The Yobe State Police Command will continue to cooperate with other
security agencies in ensuring safety and protection of lives and
property of people of Yobe State.”
Col. Onyeama Nwachukwu, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations,
Operation LAFIYA DOLE, in a statement issued in Maiduguri, said the
allegation against the military “is not only unfortunate, but also very
far from the truth.”
Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam had reportedly alleged that the withdrawal of the
troops from the area was responsible for the attack and abduction of
female students of the college.
Nwachukwu said that Dapchi town was handed over to the police following the return of peace and civil authority in the area.
“Contrary to the comments credited to Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam, troops
earlier deployed in Dapchi were redeployed to reinforce Kanama following
attacks on troops’ location at the Nigerian – Nigerien border.
“This is on the premise that Dapchi has been relatively calm and
peaceful, and the security of Dapchi was formally handed over to the
Nigeria Police Division located in the town.”