Residents of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital have reacted to the mysterious killings currently ongoing in the state by unknown persons.
Residents alleged that such incident never happened prior to receiving and releasing suspected Boko Haram fighters who are surrendering in droves, urging the Borno State government to go back to the drawing board and trace suspected Boko Haram fighters that already release into the society.
Recently, there were reports about the killing of two people, who were attacked by some unidentified persons.
The first incident occurred at London Ciki Area in Maiduguri metropolis, where a shop owner was killed and his corpse dumped inside a refrigerator, while all the goods in the store were carted away.
The second was around Bulumkutu Abuja, where one Babagana Ahmed Gaidam was stabbed to death by yet-to-be identified persons, at his residents and at about 10pm on Sunday.
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According to residents of Maiduguri, the spate has continued to increase by the day.
‘There are many unreported incidents of killings. The state is becoming a nightmare again especially since blood-thirsty men were allowed freedom because they handed themselves to the authorities,’ a resident of Maiduguri said.
Incidents relating to robbery and snatching of handsets had occured around Ajilari, Baga Road and Modugamari within the past few weeks.
These incidences have left many residents to be speculating that repentant Boko Haram militants may be behind the killings and random criminal activities in the state.
But a Senior Police Officer, argued against the ‘erroneous’ belief, stating that most of the people committing these types of crimes are hoodlums that have been attacking unsuspecting residents in the metropolis for sometimes.
‘Some of them disguise as passengers in tricycles to rob their victims of their valuables. Some will monitor customers who went to withdraw money from the bank or ATM and go after them.’
‘We have arrested some of the robbery gang who robbed ATMs within the metropolis. Luck ran out with them when they abandoned the vehicle used for the crime,’ he said.
Adding he said: “Be rest assured that the police will leave no stone unturned to get the culprits and prosecute them. So people should be calm and go about their normal activities.”
He urged residents in the state to be wary of allowing criminals and strange faces who look suspicious to dwell in their midst by reporting to the police, in order not to cause havoc to peaceful citizens.
Also speaking on the recent killings, Mr Jubril Muhammed, Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), said Mr Babagana who was killed on Sunday in Bullumkutu was one of the union member, noting that the union received the news about his death with deep shock.
Muhammed said the police was informed about the incident and were already investigating and working towards unravelling those behind the senseless killing.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK