The Bauchi State Government has placed four Local Government Areas in the state on high-security alert.
Briefing journalists after an emergency Security Council meeting on Monday, the Secretary to the State Government, Sabi’u Baba identified the local councils as Zaki, Dambam, Darazo and Gamawa.
“We have noticed attempts to dismantle MTN facilities and such things are usually done by criminal elements in an attempt to make security impossible in that area so that they may move in to and perpetrate their activities, that is one major threat that has been identified but luckily they have been apprehended and the equipment have been recovered. So our eyes are open to identifying this kind of challenge,” he said.
He said criminal elements have found their way into the state from neighbouring Yobe State.
The invaders were reported to have come in with weapons and five persons have already been arrested by the police after attempting to dismantle telecommunication masts.
Baba said the state government will commence immediate profiling of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) trooping into the state to prevent the resettlement of members of Boko Haram terrorists migrating from other north-eastern states.
He added, “Security is the responsibility of all of us. We do not expect that the security agencies alone will tackle this problem. So, all hands will be on deck including our traditional institutions, religious groups.
“It will be expected that we will continue to profile whoever is coming into Bauchi state. I can tell you that some people came with weapons and it is profiling that will help us stem that kind of problem.
“Bauchi is sharing a border with Yobe in four local governments of Zaki, Dambam, Darazo and Gamawa. The implication of what has happened in Geidam is that there’s a lot of influx of people moving into Bauchi state from Yobe.
“Of course that will put a lot of strain on our facilities and resources and considering the kind of movement, the outcome of Boko Haram activity, the security implication there is also very high. The meeting today was to examine the implication of that, identify the security threats and plan on how to contain them.”
