Bauchi State Government has placed four local government areas on high alert following Boko Haram insurgents invasion.
The alarm was raised today in Bauchi, following vandalisation of a telecommunication mast in Gamawa.
Secretary to the State Government Alhaji Sabiu Baba who spoke after a security meeting between the Governor and head of security agencies identified the affected councils as Gamawa, Zaki, Dambam and Darazo.
“We have noticed attempts to dismantle MTN facilities and such things are usually done by criminal elements in an attempt to make security impossible in that area so that they may move in to and perpetrate their activities, that is one major threat that has been identified but luckily they have been apprehended and the equipment have been recovered. So our eyes are open to identifying this kind of challenge,” he said.
He said the influx of people from neighboring Yobe where a recent attack was carried out by Boko Haram in Geidam community might have made the affected communities vulnerable to attacks by the terrorists.
Baba said five people have been arrested in connection with the mast vandalisation at Gamawa.
He however assured residents that the state government was working round the clock to beef up security surveillance around neighboring communities.
He said criminal elements have found their way into the state from neighbouring Yobe State.
The invaders were reported to have come in with weapons and five persons have already been arrested by the police after attempting to dismantle telecommunication masts.
Baba said the state government will commence immediate profiling of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) trooping into the state to prevent the resettlement of members of Boko Haram terrorists migrating from other north-eastern states.
“It will be expected that we will continue to profile whoever is coming into Bauchi state. I can tell you that some people came with weapons and it is profiling that will help us stem that kind of problem.
“Bauchi is sharing a border with Yobe in four local governments of Zaki, Dambam, Darazo and Gamawa. The implication of what has happened in Geidam is that there’s a lot of influx of people moving into Bauchi state from Yobe.
“Of course that will put a lot of strain on our facilities and resources and considering the kind of movement, the outcome of Boko Haram activity, the security implication there is also very high. The meeting today was to examine the implication of that, identify the security threats and plan on how to contain them.”
