By Babagana Wakil, Maiduguri
Borno State Police Command on Saturday night, engaged critical stakeholders in a peacebuilding meeting at the command’s headquarters in Maiduguri, to forestall any unrest that might disrupt the peace of the ravaged state of the North-East sub-region, following the eruption of protest in Sokoto state as a result of the arrest of two persons linked to the murder of Deborah Samuel for alleged blasphemy.
The Commissioner of Police, Abdu Umar said shortly after the meeting with stakeholders that an intelligence report indicated that certain elements were already gearing up for a shutdown in the city in reaction to the Sokoto incident.
Abdu Umar however stated that his personnel, along with other security agencies such as the Nigerian security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC), the Department of State Service, and the military, have been deployed across the state capital to maintain decorum.
“We in Borno, have suffered our share of security challenges in the past 12 years, as such, we don’t want to go through that experience again, hence, the need to proactively engage the stakeholders to beckon on their followers to sustain the peace being enjoyed at the moment,” CP Abdu Umar remarked.
He explained that they have not only engaged the religious leaders, the police and other security agencies have, since the unrest started in Sokoto, deployed personnel across the state capital and also stepped up our surveillance.
“In case of any eventuality or surprise, we are also going to embark on a show of force from today Sunday to alert residents that we are active, on alert, and battle-ready to pounce on anybody that will want to attempt to disturb public peace.”
The Muslim leaders of the State led by the Chief Imam charged Borno residents to desist from the temptation of commenting on religious posts on social media, as those comments are the root causes of the crisis and those comments could be inciting and injurious to others which could lead to violent reactions among the populace.
On his part, the CAN Chairman, Borno State chapter, Bishop Mohammed Naga, assured that Christian leaders in the state have been instructed to inform their members to exercise restraint and not take any laws into their hands as God is capable of fighting his battle
He said Christian community in Borno State, has agreed to maintain peace.
Bishop Naga have written letters to all the pastors in Borno telling them to inform their members that “we don’t want any reaction from them and that they should go about their normal routine activities without any fear of attack,” noting that they are law-abiding and they have a total submission to the teaching of God as enshrined in the Holy Bible.
Present at the meeting were the representatives of the Nigerian army, the DSS, NSCDC, State government, Christian and Muslim religious leaders.
