Gombe State Police Commissioner, Hayatu Usman, has debunked as untrue insinuations that bandits have entered the state and informants are on the rise.
In a statement signed on Friday by the Command Public Relations Officer ASP Mahid Abubakar, the claims by a security agency were unfounded and unsubstantiated.
Our correspondent reports that Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Muhammad Bello had on Tuesday during the decoration of 302 officers warned residents against accommodating strangers or their agents, maintaining that the criminals were migrating from North-West to North-East.
The statement partly read, “The attention of Gombe State Police Command has been drawn to a trending video in circulation purported to have emanated from a sister security agency that “bandits have infiltrated Gombe State and that bandits informants are on the increase”.
“The Command wishes to state emphatically that there is no such threat in Gombe State, and the Police in the Command in collaboration with other security agencies are committed in ensuring the protection of lives and property, maintenance of law and order in the state.”
While urging residents to ignore the misinformation and go about their businesses without fear, Hayatu solicited for credible information that would help to maintain the peaceful co-existence in Gombe State.
“Therefore, well meaning members of the state should discountenance the trending video message and go about their lawful businesses as usual, the Command also assures the people and residents alike of their safety.
“Finally, the public is enjoined to report any suspicious persons or movements to the nearest Police Stations,” the statement added.
