The Police have revealed that one of the suspects arrested for conspiring to assassinate former Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, has given reason for his planned action. According to the suspect who linked Dogara to an incident that occurred to him in the past, he is looking to buy a rifle that he will use to kill Dogara. Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Umar Mamman while giving an account of the events that led to the arrest of the suspect said they received discreet information that one of their police officers was attempting to sell a rifle, when they went after him he confessed that someone in Tafawa Balewa LGA approached him concerning intent to purchase a rifle, that prompted the Police officer to pick rifles from the Police armory. According to Mamman after they interrogated the police officer they got the name of the person who approached him so they went ahead and arrested the suspect.
“When we arrested him, he confessed to us that it is true that he is looking for a rifle to buy because something terrible happened to him, that his house alongside those of others was burned during the last December 2021 incident that occurred following the Baba Peter Gonto memorial anniversary.
“He mentioned names of some people, including that of the former Speaker in connection to the incident, saying that, that is the reason why he is looking for a rifle to kill him (Dogara), and so, we launched an investigation in that regard," Mamman added.
“Now that I am talking to you, our armory officer who retired two years ago was arrested the day before yesterday because we have been looking for him and now he is in our custody. We were still investigating and we saw that he (Dogara) has written to the IGP and is alleging that we didn’t call to inform him. I can tell you, if not because of what that man said, he would not discover any statement from another person that his life is at stake,” the CP said.
Dogara had petitioned the IGP, Usman Baba, alleging a threat to his life, stating that two police officers were conspiring with one Barau Joel Amos to kill him.
He had prayed to the IGP to ensure proper investigation of the issue.