Boko Haram: Borno Police Dismiss Media Reports On Abduction Of Female Police Personnel, Policemen's Wives

The Borno State Police Command has dismissed media reports suggesting that policewomen and wives of policemen were abducted by Boko Haram on 20 June.   

The Police denial was made in a press statement signed by Mr. Victor Isuku, spokesman of the command.             

The media reports had claimed that Boko Haram terrorists attacked a Military/Police-escorted convoy at Abari/Dalwa village on Maiduguri/Damboa Road at about 11:30 a.m. One of the reports, noted the Borno State Police Command spokesman, claimed that “16 female passengers in the bus trailing the ambulance carrying the late Sergeant Rahila’s corpse were policewomen and wives of policemen asked to join the burial party. And all of them were taken away by Boko Haram terrorists.”

Mr. Isuku equally dismissed the recently released video on YouTube in which Abubakar Shekau, the Boko Haram leader, claimed responsibility for the attack and said female Police personnel and wives of senior Police officers are in Boko Haram custody.

"For the avoidance of doubt and to put records straight, there are no Policewomen under Boko Haram terrorists' captivity, as claimed by the sect's leader," said the Police.               

The Borno State Police Command stated that Police lorry with registration number NPF 2677 D was taken away, with occupants made up of Police personnel, relations and members of the burial party for the late Sergeant Rahila Antikirya.

The command also stated that the driver of the Police lorry, Sergeant Kubura Mwada, was shot and injured on his back. He, however, jumped down from the lorry and escaped.

The Borno State Police Command listed missing personnel as including Inspector Fatsuma Sale and Corporal Abubakar Haruna.                               

"There is no evidence in the video clip indicating that they are in the captivity of the sect. Other occupants of the lorry are either relations or sympathizers of the deceased and were all reported missing in the earlier press briefing," said the Borno State Police Command.

The Command advised the media and the general public to disregard the claims in the video and social media, which it said are not an accurate representation of the incident.