The blame game has continued among the relevant authorities over the abduction of over 100 girls from Dapchi Girls school in Dapchi, Yobe State. Recall that it was the Governor who earlier blamed the military for the abduction, a claim the military swiftly denied and condemned as utter falsehood.

However, in its response to the Governor’s claim, the military alleged that the police should be held responsible for the abduction as the military duly handed over the security of the state to the police. But the police has a rebuttal for the military claim, insisting the all the security agents including the military were in charge of the state’s security when the incident happened. The Yobe State commissioner of police CP Sumonu A. Abdulmaliki in a press statement at no time did the military formally hand over security responsibility of the state to the police. The statement in full:

The attention of the Yobe State Police Command has been drawn to Press Statement from Headquarters of Operation Lafiya Dole subscribing 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”.

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 people of Yobe State.

CP SUMONU A. ABDULMALIKI

COMMISSIONER OF POLICE

YOBE STATE COMMAND