Nigeria Police deny withdrawing Nyako’s security details

(premiumtimesng)The Nigerian Police Force has denied reports that it ordered the withdrawal of its personnel attached to the Government House, Yola, Adamawa State, thus rendering it vulnerable.

The spokesperson of the Adamawa State Police Command, Othman Abubakar, said the police officers attached to the Government House were intact contrary to reports.

The police had at the weekend reportedly withdrew a large chunk of police officers deployed to the Government House.

The state governor, Murtala Nyako, reportedly confirmed the withdrawal during media enquiries but stated that he had not been officially briefed.

The order was allegedly given to the force to reduce the operatives sent to the government from 170 to 30. It was also reported that the 30 operatives who were yet to be redeployed were asked to be deployed to mount security in Yola, as well as the Abuja and the Lagos Offices of the Adamawa State Government.

Speaking to Peoples Daily newspaper on Sunday evening, the spokesperson of Mr. Nyako, Ahmad Sajoh, said “We are waiting until Monday to see whether they will inform us. We don’t want to impugn anything for now. We are keeping our fingers crossed.

“We do not know the reason for the withdrawal. They may have their reasons.”
Mr. Sajoh also said Mr. Nyako does not live in the Government House, but in his private residence secured by a combination of soldiers, police and security details.

The police denied the claims.

“The Police presence is at the Government House,” Mr. Abubakar told PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview on Monday night.

Pressed to speak further, the police spokesperson said, “If you go there (Government House), you will see them.”

Asked if the police withdrew a large chunk of its personnel, Mr. Abubakar said, “I wouldn’t say we withdrew any.”

When contacted, the Force Public Relations Officer, FPRO, Frank Mba, asked this reporter if Mr. Nyako complained about the withdrawal of his security aides.

“Did Nyako tell you his security aides were withdrawn? I think that should be the starting point. Why don’t you ask the media aides, his Chief Press Secretary, they are your colleagues and so they can tell you,” Mr, Mba said.

Asked to state in clear terms if the aides were withdrawn since the governor’s media aide could not be reached, he said, “Our operational posting is designed to get optimum efficiency, public interest and better service delivery.”
Several efforts to speak to Mr. Sajoh were unsuccessful as he did not answer our calls or return them.

Mr. Nyako had in a memo addressed to the Northern Governors Forum recently accused The Federal Government of carrying out genocide against Northerners.

The memo led to exchange of heated words between the governor and the presidency, which culminated in it being discussed at an enlarged security meeting convened by the President last Wednesday.

The governors who briefed journalists after the meeting said Mr. Nyako’s memo was unanimously condemned by all attendees, who included state governors, Sultan of Sokoto, CAN President, and Service Chiefs. But, Mr. Nyako swiftly refuted his colleagues saying he stood by all his allegations in the memo. He also said he was neither chastised nor warned over the contents of his memo.