The Borno State Police Command has detained four people for attempting to burn down the Mafa IDP camp in the Mafa Local Government Area of the state.
Malum Usman, 16, Bulama Bukar, 14, and Rawa Usman, 11, were detained alongside their accused sponsor, Babagana Umar, 40.
The state has recently reported more than four fire catastrophes in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Maiduguri, Jere, Monguno, and Nganzai local government areas.
Prof Usman Tar, the state Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, claimed on Sunday, March 31, that a suspect planned with various non-governmental groups to set fire to some camps.
The accused were paraded in Maiduguri on Thursday, April 4, 2024, and the state command’s spokesman, ASP Nahum Daso, made no mention of any NGO that sponsored the act.
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“On the 24th March 2024 at about 10:30 am, a hunters group of Mafa reported to the Mafa division of the police with 3 suspects, Malum Usman 16yrs, Bulama Bukar 14yrs, Rawa Usman 11yrs all of Mafa IDP camp that suspects were arrested with matches while trying to set a house ablaze in the camp,” Daso explained.
“Preliminary investigation further revealed that the trio were sponsored by one Babagana Umar, a firewood seller at Muna garage area Maiduguri who contracted them to commit the act at the rate of N10,000 the case is under investigation.”
Umar, the suspected sponsor, denied that he sponsored the suspects to commit the crime.
“I was arrested while saying my prayers in the Mosque. This is a mischief against me. I have yet to even imagine. When I was arrested, because I knew I had never imagined attempting to set the Mafa camp ablaze, I proposed to swear by the Holy Quran to prove my innocence; I was not allowed,” he said.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli
