Strange Armed Men Camp In Bauchi Forest

FROM PAUL ORUDE, BAUCHI

The presence of strange armed men in a forest around Darazo area in Bauchi State has sent fears into residents. This is coming at a time the state Police Commissioner, Mohammed Ladan, said the command had received reports of camping of the men in the forest and that he had detailed security operatives to monitor their activities.

The fear of residents over the presence  of the armed men in Darazo forests were  heightened by series of attacks in the state, the latest being the brutal killing of two customs officials yesterday, in Darazo area.

Daily Sun gathered that the gunmen ambushed the customs personnel  between Sade and Lanzai towns in Darazo Local Government Area of  Bauchi State, located along Bauchi-Damaturu-Maiduguri federal highway.

The victims  were  said to be returning from official assignment in Geidam, Yobe State, when they were attacked.

The gunmen  were said to have shot one  of the officials to death and set ablaze his colleague inside his vehicles. Both vehicles of the deceased were burnt to ashes.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Custom Service, Bauchi Command, Samuel Ja’afar Gulak, directed our correspondent to his counterpart of Federal Operations.  Efforts to get details of the attack and casualty from the PRO and  the Comptroller of  Nigeria Customs Service, the Federal Operations, Bauchi failed.

Gulak however, said that  their officers were in the hospital to see the victims, promising to give details after investigation.

Few weeks ago, the Police station in Sade was attacked and a house where policemen resided was invaded  by gunmen, who killed a policeman and a civilian.

Security authorities could not confirm to Daily Sun whether the recent upsurge in kidnappings and car thefts in the state has any link with the presence of the strange armed men in Darazo forest.

At about 5pm last Tuesday, about 20 gunmen stormed Soro town in Ganjuwa Local Government Area of  the state and snatched three  vehicles, including  a white Hilux with registration number 206 UN 139 belonging  to the United Nations.

The gunmen also snatched  a white Toyota Hilux belonging to Bauchi Television (BATV) with registration number 04C-04 BA and one vehicle belonging to the Commissioner for Works, Dr BB Bukata.