Yobe State Police Command has denied claims in the social media that Ten people have been killed in the state since the commencement of the 2024 Ramadan fasting.
The Command in a press statement signed by the PPRO, DSP Abdulkarim Dungus dismissed the claims describing it as mere rumours that cannot be substantiated by the peddlers.
He stated that, “The Command is conversant with the misinformation peddling on some of the social media handles, especially Facebook, that, about Nine to Ten persons were killed in Damaturu due to activities of some unscrupulous criminal elements since the beginning of the month of Ramadan, fasting period which commenced on 10th March, 2024 to date.”
According to him,”It is imperative to address the public on the implication of over exaggerating criminal incidents which not only cause panic but also incite public disturbance and reduce people confidence towards the authorities if drifted unchecked, thereby, create avenue for mob action or allow people taking law into their hands.”
Abdulkarim Dungus added that,”During the period under review, in the first quarter of the year 2024, the Command recorded four cases of homicide in Damaturu, among which two cases recently reported to Police Area Command Office, Nayi Nawa Ward and immediately transferred to CID undergoing discrete investigation, with twelve suspects facing professional interrogation as one of the leading suspects is on the run for the time being as the command assures of his arrest soonest.”
The PPRO added that,”The continued efforts of the Command towards fighting crime in the state remained firm and unflinching. The Command recorded only two cases of homicides since the beginning of the Month of Ramadan period, which occurred in Nayi Nawa Ward, Damatur
According to him, on the 29th of March, 2024, at about 1830hrs, a distress call from one Mohammed Sani of Nayi Nawa ward was received at the Police Area Command Office that, at about 1820hrs, One Muhammed Muhammed of same address stabbed his Son, Hashimu Mohammed, 19 years old with a sharp knife after a heated argument for a piece of orange, the victim lost blood and died before reaching the hospital, the culprit fled and later arrested.
In a similar vein, on 3rd April 2024 at about 2100hrs, another distress called from One Usman Abba of Nayi Nawa Ward was intercepted that, on the same date at about 2045hrs, a gang of youths ranging between the ages of 17 to 20 years old all of Nayi Nawa ward, about Nine in number carried out a mob action on his Son, One Mamman Usman, 17 years old brutally beaten and stabbed him with a knife and died on the spot .
Currently, eight of the culprits were arrested while Police is on the pursuit of one of the fleeing culprits.
Meanwhile, the Command has begun a calm down operation on those youths going about with deadly objects as they are described as dangerous criminals and anyone found in possession of any deadly weapons should be reported to the nearest police station or arrest and hand them over to Police.
He stressed that Security is a collective effort as the Commissioner of Police, CP Garba Ahmed urged members of the public to support the police in fighting crime in the state and stop spreading misinformation and fake news as it affects security settings in the state.