The Taraba state Commissioner of Police, CP, Alhaji Shaba Alkali, has refuted speculations of an alleged influx of Boko Haram insurgents into the state. Alkali, while briefing newsmen in Jalingo on Tuesday, dismissed the reports that Taraba had witnessed influx of Boko Haram in the past three weeks.
“I want to state that the reports are not true,” Alkali said, explaining that those coming into the state were job seekers and displaced persons running away from trouble areas of Borno, Gombe, Yobe and Adamawa states.”
According to the CP, most of those coming into the state are Taraba indigenes resident in the affected states.
“A truck conveying more than 50 persons, including women and children, recently intercepted by the police in Jalingo was not transporting Boko Haram members. After screening them, we discovered that more than 90 per cent of them were indigenes of Taraba returning to the state.”
He, however, revealed that the police was aware of plans by some politicians to recruit mercenaries in order to cause violence in the state.
“We also have reports of people purchasing arms to disrupt the forthcoming re-run election for State and National Assembly elections in about 48 polling units across four local government areas of the state.
“We want to warn that the police would deal decisively with anybody, no matter how highly placed, if he or she is found to be fomenting trouble during the exercise,” Alkali warned, stating that the command had cracked down a gang of armed robbery suspects, car snatchers and receivers that had constituted security nuisance over time.”
He assured residents of the state that the command was working round the clock to ensure the safety of lives and property of citizens. He also called for support from all, saying investigation revealed that gang recently broke into the house of the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr David Ishaya, and made away with his official car and other valuables. He said they were later traced and recovered in Yola, Adamawa.
“The stolen Toyota Camry 2016 model, valued at N7.5 million, was sold to a receiver in Adamawa, at the cost of N800,000. The receiver, in turn, conveyed the car to Garwa in the neighbouring Cameroon Republic, where he sold the same car for N1.5 million,” the police boss added.
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