The Police Command in Sokoto State yesterday dispelled rumors of the influx of Jihadists in the state
There had been reports of such influx in some social media, especially in the late hours of Friday.
The Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Cordelia Nwawe, disclosed this while addressing newsmen yesterday in Sokoto.
She said, “Our attention was drawn toward a report that some unknown herdsmen were sighted in Gudu and Tangaza local government called Jihadists fully armed to destroy the peace in the area.
“The situation was misreported based on our intelligence report. The herdsmen sighted are reasonably believed to be Malians who reside in a forest in the Niger Republic, sharing the border with Gudu and Tangaza local government areas of the state.
“The herdsmen are annual visitors to the nearby forest bordering the two local governments with their cattle and always stayed in the forest in the Niger Republic.
“Even though the number of their cattle increased exponentially this year to about 3,000 from the usual figures of less than 1000, it was discovered that they are not known to be violent.
“Moreover, they occasionally enter the villages in the two local governments to procure food and other essentials and retire back to the forest,” Nwawe said.
She called on the people living in the areas to remain calm and go on their normal business, assuring that police were always there to protect their lives and properties.
The spokesperson added that the situation of the areas remained peaceful and enjoined the people to always assist police with useful information that could lead to the success of the command in the state.
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