Senator Ndume debunks attack, abduction of Police Officers at Training School Gwaza
The Chairman Senate Committee on Army Senator Representing Southern Borno, Sen Mohammed Ali Ndume has debunked the report on Boko Haram attack Nigerian Police Training School in Gwoza of Borno State.
Sen Ndume stated this while speaking with Newsmen in Maiduguri on Friday said, if there was such, he would be in the know as his people would have called to inform him.
It was earlier claimed that dozens of Police Officers were abducted after Boko Haram members overran the Police Training in Limankara village about 20km from the main Gwoza town. But the Senator said the reports being circulated are hosk.
His words, “It is not true that some police officers were kidnapped in Limankara, In fact, there are no policemen in Limankara, we only have Military troops/Battalion in Limankara who are up and doing, and there is no attack of such nature. I will describe the reports as untrue and baseless.
“I have been receiving daily updates on the efforts troops are doing to safeguard Limankara and other communities in Gwoza, and I am much impressed.
“The troops in Limankara are not only stationed in one place, but we also have them at the deserted Police Mobile Training School, some hills around that axis with sophisticated surveillance cameras and equipment to spot terrorists movement.
“So as far as I am concerned and as Chairman Senate Committee on Army who is a privilege to have security information all over the country, Limankara community and other surrounding villages are calm and peaceful with Military Battalion stationed at strategic places who have been crushing fleeing Boko Haram insurgents crossing from Sambisa Forest to the Mandara mountains of Cameroun on daily basis.
According to a report from the area revealed that around 8:00 pm on Thursday residents of Gwoza were panic following artillery sustained firing of the forty-barrel artillery guns in the town.
Gwoza which is 180km from Maiduguri the Borno state capital remains a hotbed for insurgency despite liberation by Nigerian security forces.
It could be recalled that earlier this week, some elements of the Islamic State for West African Province, ISWAP suffered heavy casualties when they attempted to ambush military on patrol along the axis of the former Boko Haram Caliphate.
A top security official who left Gwoza town this morning (Friday) confirmed that there was no issue in Gwoza when he started out to Maiduguri. According to him, Gwoza is safe.
Asked on the rumour of attack on the Police Training School in Limankara, the officer who did not wish to be named said he was not aware of such incident as Limankara is in the outskirts of Gwoza town.
“You may wish to check with the police but as far as I am concerned if there is such information I am supposed to know before living Gwoza this morning. But I am not saying it is possible as everything is possible with the current situation in the northeast.” He spoke.
Meanwhile, security reports filtering around Biu local government area of Borno state revealed that ISWAP elements were seen gathered along Maiduguri, Damboa road in the southern part of Borno state with an aim to possibly launch an attack on some villages and Biu township according to the security report.
Biu, which is 187km from Maiduguri the Borno state capital had to enjoy peace until recently when ISWAP attacked Army University Campus in Buratai town killing two staff members.
The report reveals that the ISWAP elements were seen at Sabon Gari and Wajiroko areas along local government areas. Other groups of Terrorists belonging to the ISWAP were also said to have been seen gathering at Kafa and Ajigil villages of Damboa local government area of Borno state.
Also, the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum lamented the current security situation in the State and the Northwest as he charged the military not to relax or rest on their oars.
According to Zulum, Boko Haram terrorists now celebrate wedding ceremonies and collect taxes from some communities without confrontation by the military.
