From: Ruth Yarnap, Bauchi
The Bauchi State Police Command has denied allegations contained in a trending video clip in the social media, that the police in Dambam local government was the mastermind of a robbery attack that occurred along Kano- Maiduguri road.
A press release issued by the acting State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Umar Magaji on behalf of the command, made available to newsmen in Bauchi, said that the video clip showed a police patrol vehicle belonging to Dambam police division of the command, carrying victims of armed robbery attack, mainly women and children.
The Acting PPRO said the allegation that the police were the robbers is not only false, but misleading and a calculated attempt by mischief makers to incite the public against the police.
“For the avoidance of doubt and to set the record straight, on the 18th February 2020, at about 0300hrs, a report was received by the Dambam police division that a group of armed robbers numbering about nine, blocked Kano-Maiduguri highway at a location near Bam village, Dambam local government, robbing innocent motorists of their belongings.”
“On receiving the report, the police patrol team was promptly mobilised to the area. However, on sighting the police, the robbers took to their heels to the bush, leaving some robbed passengers on board a Sharon motor Vehicle with registration number XA300 ABS Kano, driven by one Umar Mohammed from Ambursa in Kebbi State, heading to Maiduguri, Borno State.”
The police said that consequently, when the team came back to the scene of the attack, they met some angry drivers who accused them for being responsible for the robbery, adding that the victims could not refute the allegation as they were traumatised as clearly shown in the video.
“On reaching the village head’s house, the victims who now felt safe, informed the gathering that it was not the police that robbed them.They said the police came to their rescue and chased the robbers into the bush.This statement by the victims doused the tension and put the situation under control, only for the command to see the viral video on the social media,” he added.
