From Paul Orude, Bauchi
Former Speaker Yakubu Dogara has raised the alarm that his life is in danger over a gun-running plot to murder him.
This was contained in a petition letter he wrote to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), copied to the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Directorate General, Directorate of State Security (DSS), and Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Command.
Dogara, in the petition letter dated August 18, 2022, implored the IGP to immediately carry out a thorough investigation of the gun-running allegation involving some police personnel in a plot to kill him.
“I wish to draw your attention to the above matter which is currently before the DCP Criminal Investigation Department of the Nigeria Police, Bauchi State Command,” the former number four citizen explained in the letter to the IGP.
“I am sure you are seized of the matter by now since it involves looting of your armoury in Bauchi by the very officers who are entrusted with the safe custody of your arms and a constituent of mine, Barau Joel Amos who sought to buy or has been buying assault rifles from the officers.
“I have been authoritatively informed that the said Barau Joel Amos has confessed that the reason he sought to buy the rifles is to kill me and three of my constituents, vis: Bar Istifanus Bala Gambar, Rev Markus Musa (CAN Chairman, T/Balewa) and Emmanuel (Chairman NL, T/Balewa).
“I find it worrisome that there has been no official advice from the police relating to this credible threat to our lives to enable us to beef up security around us or just to be careful about our movements.
“More so, there is a spike in cases of kidnappings and killings by unknown gunmen, especially in Lere District of T/Balewa.
“A case in point was the attack at Boto town where some relations of a former Governor of the State were killed while some were abducted.
In view of the deteriorating security situation in T/Balewa LGA where the suspect comes from, I wish to appeal to you to use your good offices to ensure that a thorough and all-encompassing investigation is carried out so that all those in the loop are apprehended and brought to book in order to restore lasting peace in the Lere District of T/Balewa LGA.”
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Dogara in the petition letter warned that the matter that involved a threat to his life and constituents must not be handled with levity.
He specifically called for proper investigation by security agencies into the confession relating to those who gave him or contributed the money for him to be using to procure weapons.
“His Bank Statements and phone call logs will definitely collaborate his confessions,” his petition letter reads in part.
“Granted his meagre salary as a storekeeper in a Secondary School, it will have taken him a lifetime of savings to be able to raise the N1.2m cash which he wanted to use to buy the two rifles.
“It must be noted that he does not earn any additional dime from any known legitimate business he is known to operate. So the said Barau Joel Amos could not have been acting alone, it is clear that he is being fully funded by his ilks; some evil and criminally minded people.”
Dogara also posited that upon hearing that Barau Joel Amos has been arrested and detained “that his closest associates all fled T/Balewa town?”
“It will be important to apprehend them no matter where they may be hiding within the country so that they may tell the authorities what they know that scared them to the point of abandoning their families at home while they live as fugitives elsewhere,” he suggested.
He called on the police to also investigate the confession that there are witnesses in T/Balewa town to the criminal activities of the said Barau Joel Amos and his close associates most of whom have now fled the town to avoid arrest.
“As it is said, the guilty runneth even when no one is pursuing him,” Dogara wrote.
“I am sure so many patriotic residents of T/Balewa town will be more than willing to provide the needed assistance to investigators.
“I urge you to ensure that this matter is thoroughly investigated at the highest level and to ensure the prosecution of these types of people who kill others, live off and profiteer from crimes.
“I also urge you to help expose this criminal enterprise in order to protect us who have been named as those to be killed and the public. Let me hasten to add that it is in the public interest for you to do so.”