Army, tackles Police over gunmen attack on Station

The Nigeria Army under the auspices of the Special Task Force (STF), in Plateau State, has faulted the manner at which gunmen invaded a Police Station, killing an officer and aiding the escape of one of their own who was in detention.

The STF Commander in-charge of Plateau State and some part of Bauchi State, Major General Rogers Nicholas, who stated this also lambasted the Police for not putting any resistance to stop the gunmen from accessing the Police Station, asking: “are there no rifle with you?, you should have at least fired a gunshot to scare them”.

Recall that Gunmen attacked a Divisional Police Station in Dengi, Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing an officer, injuring others, carted away several rifles and broke the cell for the escape of one of their own.

Similarly, the Emir of Kanam, HRH ALH. Muhammadu Mu’azu, expressed dismay on the security lapses by the Police officers on duty when the invasion took place.

He said it is surprising that hoodlums can walk into the Station, cause havoc, without resistance, adding that what happened cannot be called attack because, there was no exchange of gunfire.

Emir Mu’azu, narrated to our correspondent that the gunmen met only one Police officer at the Station, took his rifle from him and shot him dead with the same rifle, after which the used hacksaw to cut the keys to the cell and freed one of their own.

According to him, “when they opened the cell, they freed one of their own who was in detention and asked others who was also in detention to come with them, but the inmates refused, so they left with only one inmate, the Emir said.

He added that what happened calls for serious investigation because the gunmen were so relaxed while carrying out their operation.

However, the STF commander who was in the area to access the situation first hand, said part of his visit, was also to condoned with the family of the late Police officer.

He charged Police officers in the area to be vigilant and to track run-away Boko Haram members fleeing the northeast as a result of Military bombardment.