Gwoza: Riot Policemen Were Instructed To Keep Their Arms In The Armoury Prior To Boko Haram Attack...

Investigations  revealed that 200 AK 47 assault rifles belonging to the police were carted away by the Boko Haram insurgents, who attacked the Police Academy in Gwoza last Wednesday 20th of August.

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About 159 of the guns were seized from men of the three mobile police units— Mopol 50, Abuja; Mopol 38 and Mopol 58 based in Akwanga, and Lafia respectively, who were undergoing training at the academy.

It was learnt that the authorities resumed the suspended training with the batch of 159 personnel from the Police Mobile Force only for them to be attacked a week into the exercise.

Fifty-three policemen were drafted from each of the three mobile police formations, thereby bringing the total number to 159 aside from those on the ground.

Before the attack on the police academy, the riot policemen, investigations further revealed, had been instructed to keep all their arms in the armoury hence the insurgents did not encounter any strong resistance.

The policemen reportedly fled for their lives in view of no arm to confront the terrorists.

A source said, “A total of 159 personnel were taken to the training academy for this exercise, which had been put on hold for a long time.

“Surprisingly, they were attacked on Wednesday, about a week after their resumption for the training in Gwoza.

“The policemen were taken from Mopol 50, Abuja, Mopol 38, Akwanga and Mopol 58, Lafia, Nasarawa State.

“On that Wednesday, when they were attacked, the training was going on and they were directed to keep all their guns at the armoury.

“It was during this period that the insurgents came from different directions, cut the men off from the Armoury.

“Under that circumstance, what do you expect the boys to do? They had to flee the academy to save their lives.

“As of today, we have not seen one of our units; also the Commander of one of the unit is still missing. He is an Assistant Superintendent of Police.”

One of our correspondents learnt that the insurgents were still in firm control of the Police Academy as of Sunday.

Investigations revealed that Special Forces were being mobilised to retake the police academy on Sunday.

A security source said that troops were already on their way to Gwoza to address the issue.

There was anxiety in Nasarawa State on Sunday over the missing policemen of Mopol 58, Lafia; and Mopol 38, Akwanga.

Some of the survivors of the attack on Gwoza, who found their way back to the state, said a few of their colleagues fled to Chad, Cameroon and the Niger Republic.

Some policemen were also seen in groups in the barracks and at the gate of Mopol 58 discussing the fate of their colleagues at Gwoza.

The attack at Gwoza, some of them said, invoked the memory of the Alakio episode in the Lafia Local Government Area where over 120 security operatives were murdered by suspected Ombatse militia cult.

A statement last night by Force spokesman, Emmanuel Ojukwu said a rescue party launched by the police succeeded in bringing to safety some of the police officers that were caught in the two attacks.

“So far, thirty-five policemen who are still missing from the facility as a result of the latest attack are being searched for with very promising prospect of locating them.

“While enjoining all citizens to remain calm and join hands with the security forces in the collective fight against insurgency, the IGP restates his determination to work closely with other security agencies to stem the tide of terrorism in the country”, the statement added.

The statement said the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba had ordered the tightening of security around all police facilities in the country, in addition to efforts being made to further protect the lives and property of the citizenry.