The Bauchi Command of the Nigeria Police Force has refuted reports that Boko Haram terrorists have laid siege to some local government areas in Bauchi State.
Some earlier reports quoting the Bauchi Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Sabiu Baba as saying on Monday that terrorists have infiltrated four local governments in the state.
He was said to have made the submission while briefing newsmen after an emergency security meeting convened by the state governor.
Zaki, Gamawa, Darazo, and Dambam were all said to have come under attack from the terrorists.
However, after the news of the Boko Haram takeover went viral, Bauchi Police has come out to say the SSG was quoted out of context.
The Bauchi Police spokesperson SP Ahmed Wakil in a statement noted that what the SSG said was that the recent attacks on Geidam in Yobe State by Boko Haram is what is responsible for the influx of people into Bauchi.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Bauchi State Police Command has been drawn to viral media publications making the rounds that Boko Haram fighter have infiltrated four local government areas of the state, quoting the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Sabiu Baba, after an emergency Security Council meeting convened by the state Governor Bala Mohammad.”
“For the records, the Security Council Meeting was convened by the State Governor to discuss arising security concerns in order to forestall influx fleeing Geidam and Kanam residents from Yobe State after the Boko Haram elements attacked the two towns.
“In a press briefing by the SSG, he made it clear that the meeting discussed proactive ways of ensuring that adequate security is emplaced to prevent influx of criminal elements from neighboring states to Bauchi State,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Military has declared that it has no intention of taking over the leadership of Nigeria but would rather continue to fulfil its roles as stated in the constitution.
The military authorities also warned Nigerian politicians to stop inciting the military to take over Nigeria’s leadership.
This was contained in a statement on Monday evening where the military authorities reacted to a submission by Robert Clarke (SAN) that Nigeria may collapse in the next six months and urged the military to take over power.
But the military in its reaction through a statement signed by the Acting Director Defence Information, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, pledged its allegiance to President Muhammadu Buhari and the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.
It vowed to continue protecting the territorial integrity of Nigeria and warned its officers not to entertain any thoughts or plans of a military coup.