Nigerian Army Lied, Didn’t Rescue 20 Policemen As Claimed – Yobe Police Command

The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig Gen Bernard Onyeuko, had in a statement on Thursday said troops of Operation Hadin Kai rescued the 20 policemen allegedly abducted by suspected terrorists.

According to a report by SaharaReporters, the Yobe State Police Command has said troops of the Nigerian Army didn’t rescue 20 Nigerian Police Force personnel as claimed by the military.

The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig Gen Bernard Onyeuko, had in a statement on Thursday said troops of Operation Hadin Kai rescued the 20 policemen allegedly abducted by suspected terrorists.

He had said, “Cumulatively, a total 62 terrorist elements were neutralized and 28 of them were arrested, while 54 assorted arms and 144 rounds of different calibre of ammunitions were recovered. Also, a total of 101 rustled livestock were recovered and 20 kidnapped NPF personnel, who were abducted when the terrorists attacked the Police Division, were rescued by own troops at Buni Yadi within the period.”

Reacting in a statement on Friday, the Yobe State Police Command’s spokesperson, ASP Dungus Abdulkarim, asked Nigerians to “disregard, ignore the said ‘Kidnap & Rescue Claim’ as false, mischievous and fake.”

The statement added, “The attention of Yobe State Police Command has been drawn to a trending news making the rounds on both social media and the mainstream media platforms to the effect that “Twenty (20) Police personnel kidnapped by Boko-Haram/ISWAP Insurgents during an attack on Buni-Yadi Police Division in Gujba Local Government Area of the state were rescued by troops of the Nigerian Army (Operation Hadin Kai).”

“The news item was further replicated in many online publications. It’s disheartening to note that this fake news/story has been published in many media outlets, without seeking for clarification from the requisite police authorities.

“It’s even more worrisome that such a misleading story is alleged to have emanated from military sources.

“However, in view of the sensitive nature of the issue, and the prevalent security situation in the state, it’s deemed imperative that such negative impression must be erased from the minds of the public by setting the records straight. It’s equally important that the actual facts and circumstances surrounding the incident must be brought to light, for the sake of the families of police personnel serving in Yobe State.

“In this regard therefore, the command wishes to reiterate as follows: The story or news item (on the alleged kidnaping of 20 police personnel in Buni-Yadi and their rescue by troops) is misleading, an utter fabrication and fake news, as no single police personnel was kidnapped from Buni-Yadi town on the day of the alleged incident, or at all; On Tuesday 30th November 2021, suspected members of Boko-Haram/ISWAP insurgents had attacked the Buni-Yadi Police Station in Gujba Local Govt. Area of the state and burnt down the structures, but there was neither any loss of life, nor was any Police personnel kidnapped, or declared missing.

“All the conventional personnel of the division, as well as the PMF personnel, had been accounted after the incident; the general public is therefore, by this press release from the Yobe State Police Command, enjoined to discountenance/disregard/ignore the said ‘Kidnap & Rescue Claim’ as false, mischievous and fake.

“It should be pointed out further that the said claim of ‘rescue of the 20 personnel’ had failed to disclose their identities; their ranks; the formations they belong to; or which medical facility they were taken to for check-ups; or who were they handed over to; or when and where were they handed over, etc. The absence of all these vital information in the publication means that the story is nothing but false, misleading and a misinformation.

“While reiterating the commitment and dedication of Police personnel currently serving in or deployed to Yobe State, in sustaining the relative peace and security in the State, we call on the entire members of the public to continue to cooperate and support the command, as always.”