The Bauchi State government said it would not fold its arms to see people felling trees that could lead to land degradation and deforestation.
The state commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Barrister Abubakar Abdulhamid Bununu spoke to journalists yesterday while responding to Senator Shehu Buba Umar’s allegation of killing one Abubakar Yahaya by agents of the state government. Abubakar Yahaya, a resident of Zaranda village, was engaged in selling charcoal. Barrister Abubakar Abdulhamid Bununu therefore called on the security agencies to invite the senator representing Bauchi South Senatorial District Senator Shehu Buba to make clarification on his recent statement regarding the security situation in the state.
“I want to inform Senator Shehu Buba Umar that the felling of trees for making charcoal in Bauchi State is prohibited, it is no longer business as usual,” he said.
He was reacting to a senator’s claim that the recent killing of one person at Zaranda village in Toro local government area was perpetrated by personnel of the State Agency for Vigilante and Youth Empowerment, otherwise known as hunters led by one Umaru Shayi as its commander.
According to the commissioner, a person occupying such an important political office in the state, Senator Shehu Buba, should be objective and mindful of security implementation while making statements noting that it would not be right to make conclusions on a matter under security investigation.
Senator Buba (APC member) has Saturday while sympathising with families of the victims, described the incident as unfortunate and brutal, and called on the police to thoroughly investigate the incident to ensure that those found guilty are prosecuted.
The senator said, “It all happened in Zaranda Gari community in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State with shooting that led to the death of a 35 year old resident Abubakar Yahaya, while two other residents, Husseini Yunusa,20, and Yayangida Husseini, 16, were fatally injured.”
Senator Buba, who hails from Nabordo district where Zaranda Gari is located, visited the families of the deceased and the injured persons and sympathised with them over the incident.
He expressed sadness, saying no individual or group of individuals has the right to take the laws into their hands.
Senator Buba, who described the incident as unfortunate and brutal, called on the police to thoroughly investigate the incident to ensure that those found guilty are prosecuted.
“The purpose of my visit. This is my constituency, not only my constituency, it’s my local government , not only my local government it is my district, not only my district, its my ward. It is my home town,” he told journalists.
“I came purposely to visit my home town and as well to pay a condolence for the unfortunate tragedy that happened in the community in Zaranda as a result of a brutal killing.
“Our young businessmen were on their lawful business when they were attacked by a group led by one militia led by somebody called Shayi.
“I was told that they were on their lawful business of selling of charcoal and in the course of that they were attacked in their own hometown.
“They were shot with gun to death. I am assuring them that we will take every action on this matter for justice to prevail.”
The shooting led to massive protest in Zaranda village causing the blockage of the highway, police said, adding that there was sporadic firing by members of a quasi-security outfit.
“This incident led to the serious injury of Abubakar Yahaya (35 years old), Hussaini Yunusa (20 years old), and Yayangida Hussaini (16 years old), all from Zaranda Gari village via Toro LGA. They were promptly taken to the Primary HealthCare Center Zaranda Gari, where unfortunately, Abubakar Yahaya succumbed to his injuries,” the police spokesman, Ahmed Mohammed Wakil disclosed.
Wakili said the Commissioner of Police has instructed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of the Department of Operations to mobilise tactical teams, including the Department of Operation, Rapid Response Squad, Operation Restore Peace, Acpol Toro, and Nabordo Division personnel, to handle the situation professionally.
He added that the Command has tasked a dedicated team of investigators to identify, investigate, and prosecute anyone responsible for the incident.
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