BAUCHI State Government has been called upon to as a matter of urgency to deploy security operatives to Communities in Liman Katagum area of Bauchi Local Government Area in order to protect and safeguard the lives and properties of the residents from incessant attacks by yet to be identified marauders.
The call was contained in a letter written by the communications under the auspices of Liman Katagum Forum addressed to the State Governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar copies of which was made available to Journalists in Bauchi over the weekend alleging that the communities have remained under incessant attacks by criminals from neighbouring villages.
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In the letter titled, “Lackadaisical inefficient and ineffective response of government and security agencies matters and breaches in Liman Katagum and surroundings” signed by Mahmud Ahmad and Sa’ad Abubakar, Chairman and Secretary of the Forum the community asked government and security agencies to rise up to their functions and responsibilities as enshrined in section 14 subsection 1, subsection 2 (b) and section 17 subsection 2 (b) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Forum also accused government and security agencies of negligence on matters of security and security breaches in the area and its surroundings by not doing enough when such incidents happened within the community.
They further alleged that throughout the year 2018, they recorded series of armed robbery attacks which have become the order of the day on the route stating that, “there is a particular one that happened at Badagari village on Alhaji Damina in his house and through the vigilantes suspects were rounded up and handed over to the Police but were later released on bail, on August 24th 2018. Armed robberies took place at two filling stations in Liman Katagum, suspects were arrested by the Police and are now roaming the streets as free citizens and on December 18th 2018, a driver and his mate were shot at close range and killed without their monies or properties being taken and no arrest has been made “
The Forum also told the Governor in their letter that there is a problem between the Liman Katagum and Zungur community on 30 October 2018 they recorded three separates attack in which one was killed and some youths burnt down farms on the border of the surroundings and no arrest has been made on all the three incidents, a prominent traditional ruler was verbally attacked and stones were thrown at him them and Police had to use teargas to disperse the youths on 31st October 2018.
They also alleged that they reported to the Police on the series of attacked by neighbouring youths mostly in the night in which two vigilantes members were killed while one was injured which led to Police and Vigilantes jointly patrolling the border between Liman Katagum and Zungur.
They however state that their community didn’t make attempt to retaliate because as law abiding citizens they don’t want to take the laws in to their hands but warned that if security agencies and government failed to respond positively to their demands they will be left with three options to turn to Almighty God for Protection, to seek redress at the National Human Rights Commission and to rise and defend themselves.
When contacted over the phone for a reaction the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the State Command, DSP Kamal Datti Abubakar said that he was not aware of the petition by the community but assured that as soon as he gets a copy of the petition the Command will react appropriately.
However, a senior Police Officer who was shown a copy of the letter said that the language used by the communities in the letter was not fair and too strong inspire of the fact that they themselves spoke well of the efforts of the Police to arrest the suspects and to patrol the area effectively explaining that, “Police and security agencies are always doing their best professionally to protect lives and properties of the citizens not only in Liman Katagum and government support them to always do anything that will ensure law and order”.
He added that “and we have so many rapid response teams that are always on alert to investigate and rescue victims from incessant attacks by criminals” and advised the community to always assist Police with useful information that will help them to arrest criminals in their hideouts saying that that is the essence of the community policing.
He also said that it is not the Police who release suspects saying that “if Police arrest suspects and charged them to court they have done their best because they have no power to stop courts from doing their own work in accordance with the laws of the country “.
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