The Commissioner of Police in charge, Taraba State Command, CP David Akinremi on Tuesday announced that nine (9) suspects have been arrested by the Police for attacking and setting the Zing Divisional Police Station ablaze following attempts by a mob to broke into the police station and take away suspected murderers for application of jungle justice.
According to the CP, the 9 were arrested when some irate youths armed with dangerous weapons had stormed the Police station demanding the release to them, of three suspects arrested in connection with the murder of a victim whose lifeless body was found in Monkin Area.
He said the refusal of the police to hand over the suspects for jungle justice, as they insisted on the rule of law taking its course, resulted in the attack on police officers and setting the station ablaze.
Akinremi who was addressing the media said, “I would like to bring to your notice that on Monday 22nd January 2018, a report receipt from Monkin Village, Zing LGA had it that a corpse was seen lying down suspected to have been killed by unknown person(s).
“A team of Policemen attached to Zing Division went to the area and three suspects were arrested in connection with the crime and were brought to Zing Divisional Headquarters for investigation.
“On arrival, irate youths armed with dangerous weapons stormed the Police station and demanded for the suspects to be released to them in order to carry out jungle justice.
“But when the Police refused to attend to their demand they attacked our officers and set the Division ablaze.
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“The Taraba State Police Command is using this medium to sound a note of warning to miscreants who take delight in attacking Police stations/formations without any provocation that the Command will not be cowed in the process of performing her constitutional duty and will deal decisively with whosoever is involved in this and any other criminal and lawless act of this nature.
“Nine persons have been arrested in connection with the burning of the Police station and they will be arraigned in court as soon as investigation is completed.
Reiterating the result of the command’s investigation about alleged arms shipment to the state, the CP said, “Gentlemen of the press I invited you here to the clear air on the online publication in some dailies captioned ‘Helicopter loaded with arms lands in Taraba State’.
“I wish to state that the report was out right falsehood, misleading, unfounded, and deliberate attempt to misinform the general public which is capable of causing panic in the minds of the good people of Taraba State.
“It is unfortunate that the news went viral on online newspapers and social media which to say the least was a concoction by unsure matter.
“It is pertinent to let the general public know that as soon as the rumor was making rounds, the Command dispatched teams of Police operatives to Jibu in Wukari Local Government area where the Helicopter allegedly landed only to discover that there was no iota of truth in the story.
“I also personally visited the community to ascertain the true situation but came to the same conclusion mere rumor as the community leaders and members of the community interviewed also dismissed the report as false.
“The Command is miffed at the manner in which fake information is being circulated by individuals, and therefore urges the general public to always verify information so as not to create fear in the mind of peace loving residents of the State”.
CP David A Akinremi Psc (+),
CP, Taraba State Command.
