Inadequate Security Blamed for Death of Five Boundary Officials

Daji Sani in  Yola
The Adamawa State Government has lambasted the Camerounian authorities on the inadequate security for the five slain officials on United Nations’ assignment to demarcate the disputed boundaries between Nigeria and Cameroun.

The state Commissioner for Land and Survey, Alhaji Yayaji Mijinyawa, disclosed this to journalists in Yola, at the residence of one of the slain officials, Alhaji Zakari Bakari, who was the Assistant Surveyor General of the state before his demise.

Mijinyawa faulted the security arrangements provided by the Camerounian government to the officials who were on an importance and critical mission.

According to him, though the attack on the slain officials was a coincidence but whenever there was such mission, adequate security arrangements should have been provided to the team following the critical nature of the assignment.

He said: “According to information we gathered, security was attached to the team, but was not enough. We were told that the bandits came in two groups, and two Cameroonian  gendarmes attached to the team engaged the first group in battle and chased them away, while chasing the first group, the second group of bandits came from behind and  attacked the officials.
“Definitely, security was attached to the team but the security was not enough.

“This is an international assignment where the mission was to be carried out, government of that country is to provide security for the personnel on the mission.

“If the mission is to be carried out in our country, definitely Nigerian government would provide security for the team.
“If the assignment is to be done in Cameroun, the Cameroonian authorities should beef up security for the team.
“The incidence happened on Camerounian side of the border, and that is why we cannot specifically explain how it happened.”

The commissioner who led a delegation from his ministry to the residence of the slain official to condole with the family, said Bakari was hardworking and his ministry has lost a very important personality which will take the ministry some times to get.

He said the surveyor was among those attacked and killed armed men in Koncha village while on official assignment in Cameroon.”
Mijinyawa, however, explained that government was mapping out modalities to alleviate the suffering of the families of the deceased.

“Actually, we are discussing on measures to adopt and see that the suffering of the families of the deceased is alleviated,” he added.

 The Surveyor General of the state, Adamu Mohammed, described the deceased as a hard working staff, who demonstrated cordial working relationship with members of the staff.

“ Zakari is not only a staff but he is like a son to me. We have been working hand in hand for years; we became very close because he was hardworking, sincere and above all, he has good relationship with almost all staff,” he said.