BEVERLY HILLS, February 27, (THEWILL) –
Military that it handed over the security of Dapchi town, in Yobe state to the police prior the attack by Boko Haram insurgents at the Girls Technical College.
THEWILL recalls that the state Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, had accused the military of abandoning the town to the Boko Haram when the insurgents attacked the school and abducted 110 schoolgirls. Gaidam had alleged that the withdrawal of the troops from the area was responsible for the attack and abduction of female students of the college.
Responding, 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 saying the army said withdrew as part of security drills adding that security was handed over to the police.
“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,” he stated.
“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.”
However, the Police, in a statement by the Yobe Police Commissioner, Sumonu A. Abdulmaliki, debunked the statement by the army declaring that the police were not in charge of security as the army claimed.
“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 read.
“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.”
