30 policemen still missing – IGP

By Ben Agande
THE Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr Suleiman Abba, said yesterday that “about 30” policemen were still missing, more than two months after Boko Haram terrorists attacked their training facility in Gwoza, Borno state.

The police boss who contradicted his earlier statement that about 20 policemen remained accounted for while speaking with state house correspondents said that one of the policemen that went missing had returned to his base.

He said; “Last week we were able to identify that one of the missing officers in Gwoza had gone back to his base this time around. So, there can still be some that are in their homes, perhaps refusing to even report to anyone that they are around because of the trauma they went through.

“Or they could still be among the families in some of the villages around there. It is still our hope that they are alive and that they will come out alive” he said.

Thirty five police officers were declared missing following the deadly attack by suspected Boko Haram fighters on the Mobile Police Training School, Gwoza, on August 23. A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Emmanuel Ojukwu had said.

“Following the attack launched by insurgents on the Gwoza Training camp of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force (PMF), the Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Suleiman Abba has since ordered the tightening of security around all police facilities in the country in addition to efforts made to further protect the lives of all people in Nigeria and their properties,”

“It will be recalled that a ferocious attack earlier launched on the Training camp by insurgents on 7th August, 2014 was repelled by the Police.

“On 20th August, 2014, the attackers launched a fresh offensive that lasted for several hours where the policemen on duty engaged them in a fierce battle.

“The search and rescue party launched immediately has located and brought to safety all Police officers in the Training College at the time of attack.

“So far, thirty-five policemen who are still missing from the facility as a result of the latest attack are being searched for with very promising prospect of locating them.

“While enjoining all citizens to remain calm and join hands with the security forces in the collective fight against insurgency, the IGP restates his determination to work closely with other security agencies to stem the tide of terrorism in the country,” the statement read.