Adamawa State Police Command and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have debunked claims that Boko Haram has overrun communities in the area.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Othman Abubakar and the state CAN Chairman, Stephen Mamza, made this known in separate interviews with The NEXT EDITION on Tuesday.
Mr. Abubakar said although Boko Haram made an attempt to attack a community at the fringes of Sambisa Forest, the move was roundly resisted by security operatives in the area.
Speaking to this newspaper on the telephone, Mr. Abubakar said, “The stories are fabrications coming from some media organisations to overheat the polity and cause panic and commotion.
“I don’t know what is wrong with the Nigerian press. I am sorry to say that many of them exacerbate things. None of those reporting the alleged attack has called to confirm and that is why I must commend you for not just publishing like them.
“The media is now awash with the story of Boko Haram taking over and I wonder how people can sit down and report such stories without making any effort to find out from credible members of the society here in Adamawa? It’s very unfortunate.
“We must begin to take very drastic measures against media organisations that cause this kind of problem. We are ready to take the media organisations that reported Boko Haram has taken over towns in Adamawa so they show us which towns have been taken over.
“We will provide them security so we go to Madagali and the other places they say have been taken over. They have over-exaggerated the issue, maybe for their own political gains. If not, why would they report as if the whole of Adamawa has been taken over by Boko Haram,” he said.
Mr. Abubakar gave assurance normalcy has returned and no town in the state has been taken over by the insurgents.
He said some hungry insurgents had attempted to raid a community to steal food thereby causing panic among residents, adding that no major attack was recorded.
The police spokesperson also noted that security operatives have been placed on red alert to stop a further incursion by the insurgents.
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“A section of the media is making it look as if the whole of the state has been taken over. Please quote me on this,” he said.
On his part, Bishop Mamza told this newspaper no single town in the state has been taken over by Boko Haram.
The clergyman who is from the area alleged to have been overrun by the insurgents said a minor attack was recorded and immediately repelled by security operatives.
“No town has been taken over by Boko Haram. What happened was a minor attack and the people panicked and some ran into the bushes,” he said.
“People are just over exaggerating the whole thing and causing panic in the country. I can tell you that no town has been captured by Boko Haram. People have gone back to their homes now.”
Earlier reports from a section of the media had indicated that thousands of villagers in the state fled Monday following attacks by insurgents.
The reports also indicated that people were trooping into Yola, the state capital, after spending the night in the bush.
Communities alleged to have been attacked included Madagali, Gulak, Shuwa, Michika and Baza.
NEXT EDITION has not witnessed an influx of people into Yola town as alleged the reports.
