Nasarawa Commissioner of Police Bola Longe has come hard on the former Information Minister Labaran Maku over his claim that kidnappers have taken over the state.
He said that Maku is still living in the past because his assertion is not in tandem with the current security climate of the state.
The police commissioner explained that as commissioner of police, he has worked very hard with support of the Governor to reduce to the bearest level all forms of criminality in the state.
He wondered why a public figure like Maku will make such a declaration without facts.
Maku had recently bemoaned the security situation in Nasarawa state, describing it as the worst ever.
The former Minister and leader of APGA in the state further said that residents are living on the edge as kidnappers and bandits have taken over every nook and cranny of the state.
He further maintained kidnappers who now abduct villagers and peasants, collect as low as N50,000 ransom from victims before they are freed.
READ ALSO UPDATED: El-Rufai moves Sanusi out of Nasarawa
The Police’ Chief’s response to the former Minister’s allegations was contained in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, Nansel Raman (ASP) on Saturday in Lafia.
He said: “Crime such as kidnapping, robbery and banditry have been decisively confronted by the security agencies in the state and completely mollified.
“The police command wishes to note that, while it is not its tradition to join issues with people, it however found it most expedient and justifiable in this instance, to debunk this assertion as accentuated by the former information minister, because it is not in tandem with the security climate in the state.”
The Police’ Chief appealed to public figures to exercise restraints before making comments on issues that border on general safety because any impulsive statement that is farcical, misleading and bereft of any modicum of truth is capable of sending false alarm and upset members of the public and investors.
