Bauchi State Government has debunked media reports that Boko Haram attacked Zaki, Gamawa, Dambam and Darazo local governments areas of the state.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communications, Muktar Gidado announced the position of the state government at a briefing with journalists at Government House, Bauchi on Tuesday.
According to Gidado, there has not been any attack or criminal activities in the four local governments.
“To set the records straight and correct the erroneous misrepresentation that is in the public domain on the matter, there is no single attack by Boko Haram or any criminal elements in the four local governments of the state.”
He maintained that, to report that the Boko Haram invaded the local governments was entirely false and mischievous noting that it is therefore pertinent for all to respect the security and integrity of the state.
“We must as Journalists not report war where none exists, most of you were in attendance when the SSG spoke, he made no mention of any attack on any of the 4 Local Governments.”
“The Daily Trust reporter, if any witness was needed was not at the venue of the SSG’s briefing. Although, Daily Trust has reported that it had erroneously reported that some communities were raided by insurgents and haven realized that the SSG was misquoted, they have since corrected the story.”
He said Governor Bala Mohammed only summoned an emergency Security Council meeting following reports of influx of people into some Local Governments as a result of security breach by bandits in Gaidam Town of Yobe State.
He said after the meeting, the Secretary to the Bauchi State Government (SSG), Alhaji Mohammed Sabiu Baba briefed journalists on the outcome of the Security Council meeting where he highlights the general overview of the security situation in the border communities of the 4 Local Governments and influx of refugees (IDPS) into Gamawa and Dambam Local Governments as a result of the Gaidam attack.
Governor Bala Mohammed said the state government at the security council meeting, has developed a template for security monitoring and operations in the border areas and has agreed to take proactive measures that will guarantee the security of citizen, especially in border areas of Dambam, Zaki, Gamawa and Darazo Local Government Areas.
He said the SSG also made reference to some criminal elements who were found to have stolen telecommunication equipment five of which were arrested and are under investigation.
“Cognizance upon the above, our attention has equally been drawn to a viral publication by cross section of newspapers and online medium were they erroneously reported that Boko Haram fighters raided Bauchi communities.”
“The general public should therefore disregard this misrepresentation by cross section of the Newspapers and as Government, we demand that the affected Newspapers most retract and apologize for this breach of professional ethics.”
Comrade Mukhtar Gidado said in order to bring succor to people fleeing Gaidam and Kenam residents from Yobe State after the attacked by the insurgents, Governor Bala Mohammed has approved the immediate supply of relief materials to cushion the hardship being experienced by the refugees in the 4 local Governments.
He mentioned the items as 1,750 Bags of Rice, 1,050 Bags of Maize, 1,750 Bags of sorghum, 1,050 Cartons of Spaghetti, 350 Bags of Sugar and 3,500Cartons of Indomie.
