30 policemen still missing – IGP

THE Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr Suleiman
Abba, said yesterday that “about 30” policemen were still
missing, more than two months after Boko Haram terrorists
attacked their training facility in Gwoza, Borno state.
The police boss who contradicted his earlier statement that
about 20 policemen remained accounted for while speaking
with state house correspondents said that one of the
policemen that went missing had returned to his base.
He said; “Last week we were able to identify that one of the
missing officers in Gwoza had gone back to his base this
time around. So, there can still be some that are in their
homes, perhaps refusing to even report to anyone that they
are around because of the trauma they went through.
“Or they could still be among the families in some of the
villages around there. It is still our hope that they are alive
and that they will come out alive” he said.
Thirty five police officers were declared missing following
the deadly attack by suspected Boko Haram fighters on the
Mobile Police Training School, Gwoza, on August 23. A
statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP
Emmanuel Ojukwu had said.
“Following the attack launched by insurgents on the Gwoza
Training camp of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force (PMF), the
Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Suleiman Abba has
since ordered the tightening of security around all police
facilities in the country in addition to efforts made to further
protect the lives of all people in Nigeria and their
properties,”
“It will be recalled that a ferocious attack earlier launched
on the Training camp by insurgents on 7th August, 2014
was repelled by the Police.
“On 20th August, 2014, the attackers launched a fresh
offensive that lasted for several hours where the policemen
on duty engaged them in a fierce battle.
“The search and rescue party launched immediately has
located and brought to safety all Police officers in the
Training College at the time of attack.
“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 read.