No influx of Boko Haram insurgents in Taraba – Police

The Police in Taraba on Tuesday dismissed speculations of an influx of Boko Haram insurgents into the state.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Alhaji Shaba Alkali, made this known to newsmen in Jalingo.

“There have been reports that Taraba has witnessed an influx of Boko Haram in the past three weeks. I want to state that the reports are not true,” Alkali said.

The commissioner explained 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 Alkali, 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,” said the police chief.

However, he revealed that the police was aware of plans by some politicians to recruit mercenaries.

“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.

The commissioner said that the command had cracked down a gang of armed robbery suspects, car snatchers and receivers that had constituted security nuisance over time.

Police investigation revealed the 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, which were later traced and recovered in Yola, Adamawa.

Alkali said that 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 commissioner assured residents of the state that the command was working round the clock to ensure the safety of lives and property of citizens, and called for support from all.