In a concerning development in Borno State, the Police Command has made significant strides in addressing a series of fire-related incidents plaguing Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps across various local government areas of the State.
The latest incident occurred in the Mafa IDP camp within the Mafa Local Government Area, where four individuals were apprehended for attempting to set ablaze a section of the camp.
The apprehended individuals include Malum Usman, aged 16; Bulama Bukar, aged 14; and Rawa Usman, aged 11, alongside their alleged sponsor, Babagana Umar, aged 40.
The frequency of fire disasters in IDP camps, as highlighted by the state Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof Usman Tar, underscores the gravity of the situation.
These incidents have occurred in Maiduguri, Jere, Monguno, and Nganzai local government areas, posing a severe threat to the safety and well-being of displaced individuals already grappling with precarious living conditions.
Paraded before the public in Maiduguri on Thursday, April 4, 2024, the suspects were brought forth by the state command’s spokesman, ASP Nahum Daso.
Notably, Daso refrained from implicating any non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in sponsoring the nefarious act, leaving the motive behind the attempted arson shrouded in ambiguity.
According to Daso’s account, the apprehension of the suspects stemmed from a proactive report by the hunters’ group of Mafa to the Mafa division of the police.
They reported witnessing the suspects in possession of matches while attempting to set a house ablaze within the camp on March 24, 2024, around 10:30 am.
Further investigations revealed that the trio had allegedly been contracted by Babagana Umar, a firewood seller at Muna garage area in Maiduguri, who purportedly offered them N10,000 to carry out the arson.
However, Babagana Umar vehemently denied any involvement in orchestrating the crime, asserting his innocence during his apprehension.
Umar’s claims were emphatic, stating that he was unjustly targeted while engrossed in prayer at the mosque.
He even offered to swear by the Holy Quran to vindicate himself, but his plea fell on deaf ears, and he was denied the opportunity to demonstrate his innocence through religious oath-taking.
“I was arrested while saying my prayers in the Mosque. This is a mischief against me. I am yet to even imagine. When I was arrested, because I knew I have never imagined attempting to set the Mafa camp ablaze, I proposed to swear by the Holy Quran to prove my innocence; I was not allowed,” he said.
The unfolding narrative raises questions about the underlying motivations behind the attempted arson, the potential involvement of external parties, and the veracity of Umar’s claims of innocence.
As the investigation unfolds, it is imperative to ascertain the true perpetrators behind these heinous acts and ensure that justice is served to safeguard the lives and dignity of the vulnerable population residing in IDP camps across Borno State.
