Police arrest four suspects over attempt to burn IDP camp in Borno

The Borno State Police Command has arrested four persons for attempting to burn the Mafa IDP camp in Mafa Local Government Area of the state.

 

The arrested persons were Malum Usman, 16; Bulama Bukar, 14; and Rawa Usman, 11; as well as their alleged sponsor, Babagana Umar, 40.

 

The state has recently recorded more than four incidences of fire disasters in Internally Displaced Persons IDP camps in Maiduguri, Jere, Monguno and Nganzai local government areas.

 

The state Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof Usman Tar, had, on Sunday, March 31, said a suspect allegedly conspired with some Non-governmental organisations to set some camps on fire. 

 

Parading the  suspects  in Maiduguri on Thursday, April 4, 2024, the state command’s spokesman, ASP Nahum Daso, did not mention any NGO for sponsoring the act.

 

“On the 24th March 2024 at about 10:30am, hunters group of Mafa reported to Mafa division of the police with 3 suspects, Malum Usman 16yrs, Bulama Bukar 14yrs, Rawa Usman 11yrs all of Mafa IDP camp that suspects were arrested with matches while trying to set a house ablaze in the camp,” Daso explained. 

 

“Preliminary investigation further revealed that the trio were sponsored by one Babagana Umar, a firewood seller at Muna garage area Maiduguri who contracted them to commit the act at the rate of N10,000 the case is under investigation.” 

 

The alleged sponsor, Umar, denied sponsoring the suspects to perpetrate the crime.

 

“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.