Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has dismissed the purported report that his hometown, Garha, and other surrounding villages were attacked by Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists.
Mustapha, who spoke with journalists shortly after Hong Secondary School Old Boys Association meeting held in Hong, the headquarters of Hong local government area (LGA) on Wednesday, expressed dismay over the report, said that there was nothing similar to that.
“There was nothing like that (attack on my hometown). It is just some people’s mischievous imagination. I was in my hometown attending weddings when my attention was drawn to a report by some mischievous persons.
“There was consistent marriage ceremonies in my village even before and after Christmas. I didn’t only go to my village, I went to several neighbouring villages where people were getting married and rejoicing,” Mustapha said.
He said that the report was out to portray the government in a bad light.
“Why associate the report with the village of SGF? If there’s general insecurity, there’s general insecurity and SGF village will not be spared from the insecurity,” he said.
He said the government is doing what it can to ensure that insurgency, banditry and other insecurity challenges are curtailed and brought to order.
Meanwhile, residents of Kwapre and Dabna villages in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Northeast Nigeria, fled their homes last week over persistent attacks by terrorists.
Kwapre, Dabna, Lar, Zah and other adjoining villages are in Garaha Ward, where the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, and the slain Nigerian Army Brigadier General, Dzarma Zurkusu, hailed from.
Brigadier General Zurkusu and three soldiers were killed last month during a counter-attack and reinforcement against Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, Northeast Nigeria.
Adamawa State Police Spokesperson, DSP Suleiman Nguroje, confirmed the attacks in the area but did not go into details.
“Yes, there’s kidnap scare around those villages. Of course it’s normal for the people to be scared. But the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ahmed Barde, has directed the deployment of troops to safeguard the areas,” he said.
And a community leader in Garaha, Honorable Hyella, stated that people have fled Kwapre to escape being trapped.
According to him, “there are only seven persons left in Kwapre now; the rest have relocated to either Hong or Pella.
“People have justifiable reasons to run for their lives, because 52 persons were abducted in April this year and only eight persons have returned home since then. Now that there’s a buildup of heavy presence of suspected bandits in the area again; the people have to run for their lives.
“People have to run because kidnappings happen on a daily basis. The bandits have begun to tax villagers; so far they’ve taxed Dabna, Sushiu, Lar, and many villages within the Duguba district to pay safety levies.”
A source, who preferred anonymity, said, “The people in Dabna have moved to Gombi, a nearby town and Hong. Few families are still there, may be about ten households or so,” he said.