None of our men absconded over fear of Boko Haram – Police

The Nigeria Police Force has denied a media report alleging that 167 of its personnel absconded after completing a training at the Special Forces Training School at Buni-Yadi, Yobe state to avoid being deployed to the Northeast to battle the Boko Haram insurgents.

Recall that the report which had gone viral stated that the officers, comprising personnel of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) and Counter Terrorism Units (CTU), as well as those of the Force and the Sniffer Dog Sections had fled the camp.

However, in press statement on Wenesday signed by the Force spokesman, DCP Jimoh Moshood, the police said all the 2000 policemen deployed by the Force to the North East have reported and are on ground on combat operation in the North East fighting along with the Military in the front line against Boko Haram insurgency.

“The Force wishes to categorically state that the story is untrue, absolute falsehood and a deliberate attempt to cast aspersions on the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force in the ongoing fight against the Boko Haram insurgency.

He said the insinuation in some quarters and as reported in the story that 167 out the 2000 additional Police Officers recently deployed by the IGP absconded was not correct and should be disregarded by members of the public.

DCP Moshood in the statement said the report was investigated and it was found out not to be correct, adding that there is no reason whatsoever that Police personnel deployed for the operations in the North East would abscond.

“These 2000 Police Officers recently deployed are in addition to several thousands of Police Personnel already engaged in the fight against insurgency with the Military in the North East. The list of 167 names attached to the story is fake as the Officers mentioned are on ground in the North East.”

According to him, contrary to the report, the 2000 police personnel deployed are in high morale and high spirit in the operation.

“The Force sees the story as a deliberate attempt to promote insurgency and dapple the morale of Officers and Men of the Police and other services who on daily basis lay down their lives to protect our dear Nation, Nigeria and ensure security of all citizenry.

“It is evidently clear that the writer of the story has never visited the venue of training or witness the deployment of the Police personnel in the operation but rely ignorantly on hearsay from misguided individuals who are being used to work against national interest and security.”

He therefore urged members of the public to disregard the story in its entirety as a pure misinformation and hearsay.