The Nigerian Police Force and the Army are locked in a war of words over their roles in the kidnap of 110 girls from their secondary school in Dapchi, Yobe State.
The Yobe state police command has denied the claim of the army that Dapchi, headquarters of Busari local government was left in its care before the withdrawal of troops.
Onyema Nwachukwu, spokesman of Operation Lafiya Dole theatre command, while responding to the comment of Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State, had said troops handed over the town to the police before withdrawing.
“Contrary to the comments being circulated, troops earlier deployed in Dapchi were redeployed to reinforce troops at Kanama following attacks on troops’ location at the Nigerian – Nigerien border.”
“This was on the premise 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.
“Troops’ redeployment was therefore done in tandem with the exigencies of operation and not as misconstrued.
“It is thus obligatory, to state that the allegation reportedly attributed to the Governor of Yobe state is misleading and misinforming.”
But Sumonu Abdulmaliki, commissioner of police in the state, said Nwachukwu’s statement did not reflect the true situation.
“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 the people of the state.”
