By Khalid Idris Doya
The immediate past speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara has petitioned to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), IGP Usman Baba Alkali about the alleged to his life by a constituent of his federal constituency (Dass/Bogoro/Tafawa Balewa) in Bauchi state.
The former speaker in the letter to the IGP named the constituent as Barau Joel Amos whom, Dogara said, has confessed to buy a rifle and kill him and three others of his constituency namely Barr. Istifanus Bala Gambar, Rev. Markus Musa and Mr. Emmanuel.
“I have been authoritatively informed that the said Barau Joel Amos has confessed that the reason he sought to buy the rifles is to kill me and three of my constituents, vis: Bar Istifanus Bala Gambar, Rev Markus Musa (CAN Chairman, T/Balewa) and Emmanuel (Chairman NL, T/Balewa)”, Dogara said.
Dogara told the Nigeria’s Chief Security Officer that the matter has already been before the DCP Criminal Investigation Department of the Nigeria Police, Bauchi State Command, saying “It involves looting of your armory in Bauchi by the very officers who are entrusted with the safe custody of your arms and a constituent of mine, Barau Joel Amos who sought to buy or has been buying assault rifles from the officers”.
Dogara stated, “I find it worrisome that there has been no official advice from the police relating to this credible threat to our lives to enable us beef up security around us or just to be careful about our movements. More so, there is a spike in cases of kidnappings and killings by unknown gunmen especially in Lere District of T/Balewa”.
The former speaker cited example with a recent case of an attack at Boto town where some relations of a former Governor of the State, Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu were killed while some were abducted, describing the security situation in T/Balewa where the suspect, Barau Joel Amos comes from as very deteriorating.
Hon. Yakubu Dogara suggested that the police investigations on the suspect cover some areas which included his confession relating to those who gave him or contributed the money for him to be using to procure weapons, stressing that his bank’s account statements and phone call logs will definitely collaborate his confessions.
“Granted his meager salary as a store keeper in a Secondary School, it will have taken him a lifetime savings to be able to raise the N1.2m cash which he wanted to use to buy the two rifles. It must be noted that he does not earn any additional dime from any known legitimate business he is known to operate”.
Dogara queried, “Is it in vain that upon hearing that Barau Joel Amos has been arrested and detained that his closest associates all fled T/Balewa town? requesting that the suspects be apprehended no matter where they may be hiding within the country so that they may tell the authorities what they know that scared them to the point of abandoning their families at home while they live as fugitives elsewhere.
“There are witnesses in T/Balewa town to the criminal activities of the said Barau Joel Amos and his close associates most of whom have now fled the town to avoid arrest as it is said, the guilty runneth even when no one is pursuing him. I am sure so many patriotic residents of T/Balewa town will be more than willing to provide the needed assistance to investigators”.
He therefore appealed to the IGP to use his good offices to ensure that a thorough and all-encompassing investigation is carried out so that all those in the loop are apprehended and brought to book in order to restore lasting peace in the Lere District of T/Balewa LGA.
