Police Commissioner, Mr. Oqua Etim, who confirmed the death of the Nonegarian to journalists, said two other persons were also savagely matcheted and killed in the Thursday night attack targeted at economic resources of the communities while three others sustained various degrees of injuries.

He said octogenarian was sleeping in his house when the bandits set his residence on fire.

“We have three casualties: a 90 year old man was burnt in his hut while two other younger persons were savagely matcheted and killed. We also have three injured persons,” said Etim.

Etim ruled out politics in the attack saying, “we should divorce politics from criminalities. Political activities are going on smoothly but criminality in every society is an ongoing process and we are nipping it at the bud.”

Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, who was shocked by the level of carnage, described the incident as very disheartening.

According to him, the attack on Gombe is a spiral effect of bandit activities in Bauchi and Plateau States.

He directed the setting up of a police outpost in the area to restore law and order.

“We came to see for ourselves the level of destruction and the number of lives lost as a result of attacks by bandits and rustlers in these two communities, Pobawure and Amtawalam. It is really very disheartening because of the peaceful nature of the place but it seems that it is the spiral effect of bandits’ activities in Bauchi and Plateau States that is coming to us in Gombe State.

“I have directed the setting up of a police outpost with relevant number of police men and other security agencies to come and enforce security, law and order in this place. I will make sure that we take necessary steps to safeguard lives and property of the people,” he said.

Yahaya promised to make sure that community policing takes effect not only in the two affected communities of Pobawure and Amtawalam but the entire state.

He said his government will join hands with all security outfits in the state to ensure that the peace of the state is not disturbed by the bandits.

“I have told the people that this kind of attack cannot take place without information from within. So community policing is of essence because it’s only the locals who know themselves and can identify criminal elements coming to perpetrate the dastardly act. We shall make sure that community policing takes effect not only here but throughout the state knowing fully well that we have our own security outfit plus the vigilantes and other security agencies in various communities,” he said. (The Nation)

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