Updated: Residents Flee as Bandits Reportedly 'Take Over’ SGF Boss Mustapha’s Hometown in Adamawa
- Recurrent attacks by armed bandits have forced residents of some villages in Adamawa state to flee for safety
- The affected villages, a media report stated, are in Garaha Ward where Nigeria's SGF, Boss Mustapha, hailed from
- Commenting on the development, the police command in Adamawa state said operatives have been deployed to the affected areas
- However, the SGF in a new update has said the report of his hometown being under attack is not true
Adamawa - A report emerging from Daily Trust indicates that residents of Kwapre and Dabna villages in Hong local government area of Adamawa state have fled their homes over persistent attacks by bandits.
According to the newspaper, Kwapre, Dabna, Lar, Zah and other adjoining villages are in Garaha Ward where the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, hailed from.
Source: Facebook
According to a community leader in Garaha, Honorable Hyella, people fled Kwapre to escape being trapped.
He said:
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“There are only seven persons left in Kwapre now; the rest have relocated to either Hong or Pella.”
“People have justifiable reasons to run for their lives, because 52 persons were abducted in April this year and only eight persons have returned home since then. Now that there’s a buildup of heavy presence of suspected bandits in the area again; the people have to run for their lives.
“People have to run because kidnappings happen on a daily basis. The bandits have begun to tax villagers; so far they’ve taxed Dabna, Sushiu, Lar, and many villages within the Duguba district to pay safety levies.”
Another source who spoke anonymously said the people in Dabna have moved to Gombi, a nearby town and Hong.
Police speak on bandits attacks
It was gathered that the spokesman of the Adamawa police command, DSP Suleiman Nguroje, confirmed the attacks in the area.
Nguroje said the troops have been deployed to the areas, noting that it's normal for the residents to be scared.
His words:
“Yes, there’s kidnap scare around those villages. Of course it’s normal for the people to be scared. But the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ahmed Barde, has directed the deployment of troops to safeguard the areas."
SGF Boss Mustapha reacts
Meanwhile, the SGF has dismissed the purported report that his hometown, Garha, and other surrounding villages were attacked by bandits.
Mustapha spoke with newsmen shortly after Hong Secondary School Old Boys Association meeting held in Hong, the headquarters of Hong local government area (LGA) on Wednesday, December 29.
Mustapha, who expressed dismay over the report, said that there was nothing similar to that, PM News stated.
He said:
“There was nothing like that (attack on my hometown). It is just some people’s mischievous imagination.
“I was in my hometown attending weddings when my attention was drawn to a report by some mischievous persons.
“There was consistent marriage ceremonies in my village even before and after Christmas.
“I didn’t only go to my village, I went to several neighbouring villages where people were getting married and rejoicing."
Note that this report was updated to reflect the reaction of the SGF.
Gunmen break into Adamawa hospital, abduct medical doctor
In a related development, gunmen recently broke into a hospital in Yola, Adamawa state capital, and abducted the owner, Dr Saidu Bala.
Bala is the immediate past medical director of Specialist Hospital, Yola.
According to a source, the gunmen invaded the hospital after 6pm, when residents had just observed Maghrib prayer.
Source: Legit.ng
