The Borno? Police Command on Monday presented a cash reward of N500,000 to an informant for helping to arrest two suspects planning to kill a Muslim cleric in Maiduguri.
Alhaji Bala Hassan, the state Commissioner for Police handed over the cash to the informant in Maiduguri.
Hassan said that the presentation of the award was aimed at? encouraging the public? to volunteer information on the hideouts and movements of criminals in the state.
“He supplied us with useful information that led to the arrest of two gunmen who were in the process of killing a popular Muslim cleric in Maiduguri.
“The information also led to the recovery of an Ak 47 rifle, so we decided to present the money to him in fulfilment of our promise.”
Hassan noted that the amount would have been higher than N500, 000 but for the fact that only one rifle was recovered.
“We are ready to pay up to N1 million for information leading to the recovery to large quantities of arms.
“We are urging all residents of the state to feel free and pass on information that could lead to the arrest of criminals who go about killing innocent persons.”
Hassan also attributed the? killing of the former Chairman of Dikwa Local Government Council (LGC) by gunmen on Monday to non-availability of information.
“The late chairman received threats from the assassins but? he failed to alert? the police.
“If he had supplied information to the police, we would have placed a security network around him and prevented his untimely death.”
Hassan also confirmed the killing of a police inspector and the destruction of a police station during the attack in Dikwa and appealed to the public? to provide information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.
He said that the command had recovered a? large number of arms and ammunition after a renewed effort against criminals? in the last three weeks.
Meanwhile, the Joint Task Force (JTF) said it? had killed two suspected Boko Haram members following? an attack on its? location in Baga Road and Hausari on Monday.
The JTF's spokesman, Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa ,made this known in? a statement in Maiduguri, saying that the suspects had boarded a Peugeot 406 salon car.
“Two suspected Boko Haram terrorists in a Peugeot 406 salon car with registration number AT 647 GWA, attacked our troops location at about 1200 hours today.
“The attack resulted in? a shoot-out which claimed their lives; the shooting took place around Baga road and Hausari areas in Maiduguri.”
He added that the vehicle had bullet marks and another occupant sustained a? bullet wound.
“The vehicle was allegedly taken by force from a yet to be identified mechanic workshop in Maiduguri. (NAN)