Sixteen months after the deadly Boko Haram attack of January 20, 2012, in the commercial city of Kano that claimed no fewer than 192 lives, the families of 40 police officers who lost their lives in that bitter confrontation are yet to receive any form of compensation from the Federal Government through the police authorities.
This pathetic story of the plight of families of the victims were raised yesterday at the Bompai headquarters of the Kano state Police Command during the visit of Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North led by Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Kabiru Taminu Turaki visited the Command’s headquarters.
The authorities of Kano Command said families of the slain officers have not received any form of support from the government since the unfortunate incident of January 20, 2012 which would have assisted in cushioning the effects of their anguish arising from the death in the hands of Boko Haram terrorists of the loved ones.
The Committee was told that the Command lost 40 officers in that single attack of January 20, 2012, while a total of 192 persons were killed, including security personnel from the Department of State Security Services (DSSS), Immigration and Customs.
It was also revealed during the visit to Bompai that over 6000 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were intercepted by the Command’s Bomb Disposal Unit, most of which were detonated. The visitors were taken round the Police headquarters where they inspected assorted explosives seized from suspected militants of the Islamic sect.
The Committee members also chatted with the bereaved families of the slain police officers during which the chairman of the Committee promised that efforts would be geared towards their immediate compensation via their recommendation.
Turaki told the bereaved families that, “you are not going to be abandoned, you are not going to be rejected, we will take your case to the Federal Government; and through our recommendations, Mr. President will surely attend to your needs and support you.”
He added that the government is not insensitive to their plights and therefore would ensure that their families, particularly, the children won’t suffer, “they will be well taken care of in terms of their education and other welfare.”
He also used the occasion to evaluate the gains so far recorded by the Committee, saying that the Federal Government decision to release the vulnerable suspects of the Boko Haram sect in various detention centres across the country was part of the Committee’s recommendation and measures towards ensuring speedy resolution of the conflict.
He added that their mission to Kano was to have interactive session with stakeholders, “we have received more information, more advice that will enable us go about the assignment with more sense of understanding.”
He also cleared the air on the notion that the Emergency Rule in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa would jeopardize the activities of the Committee, pointing out that, “there is no contradiction between the Emergency Rule and the Committee. Nigeria is not at war. Even in countries where there is war, dialogue is also applied.
“No responsible government will sit down and allow a group of individuals to threaten lives and properties. The issue is that those who want to take the option of dialogue will have it; and those who want to continue to fight will continue to fight.”
