Boko Haram: Police Dismiss Escape Rumour of Balmo Forest ‘Human Butcher’

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Wednesday, August 6th, 2014

The Nigeria Police Force has debunked the rumour that the suspected “Chief butcher” of Balmo forest, Borno, the North Eastern Nigeria, Mohammed Zakari, has escaped from the Force’s custody is false.

Confirming that the suspect was still with the Force the Police Public Relations Officer at the Headquarters, Abuja, ACP Frank Mba during an interactive session with the media on Wednesday at one of the Police facilities, affirmed that the suspected terrorist was notorious a butcher for over two years ago.

Zakari, a native of Darazo local government area of Bauchi, North Western Nigeria who addressed journalists through an interpreter said he was a member of a notorious butchers’ group comprising five people amongst whom were Musa, Garba, Hassan, Mohammed Isah and himself, adding that he was the “Chief butcher” in the syndicate. He confirmed he “slaughters within two minutes”.

ACP Mba mentioned that the interaction was necessary so as to debunk the rumour making waves that the suspect has escaped.

He recalled, Mohammed was arrested by Police operatives on the fringes of the Balmo forest. “Since he was taken into custody, investigations coupled by revelations by the suspect has clearly shown that he is an active participant in so many terrorist operations. His area of specialty is butchering of human beings’, Mba revealed.

His stated that the terrorist attacks knew no bound as both humans and Government facilities were not left out.

Mba also indicated that he participated in so many high profile attacks including an attack on customs check point, which resulted to the the loss of lives of some of our colleagues in the customs.

“It is primarily in response to the rumour that the suspect has escaped that we decided to bring the suspect out to interact with you in the best culture of transparency of policing operations. You have seen him for yourself and you have interacted with him, the suspect that has been alleged to have escaped is clearly in our Police facility.

“We want to seize this opportunity to appeal to our colleagues particularly those in the main stream media to exercise restraint in the reportage of issues concerning terrorism, knowing their method of attack and modules. We have seen the media attacked, the law enforcement attacked, military and government facilities it is important for us to work together our doors are open for questions instead of publishing stories that are clearly subjected”, Mba appealed.