The Bad News That Could Have Been Good News

Bad news could just have become good news! Just!

Here is how: An Inspector General of Police was sacked for his failure to rein in Boko Haram. He fled to the UK and applied for asylum, claiming Boko Haram may kill him should he return to Nigeria. As the British authorities were weighing up his application, news came via Nigerian newspapers that gunmen had stormed his hometown and had “taken over” his personal residence.  

Normally, this kind of news should notch up the asylum applicant’s chances, right? However, when the dust settled, the news that emerged defined the gunmen as armed robbers (not Boko Haram) who came solely for one operation.... to rob the only bank in the town! Where does that place our man’s application?

                                     

Read the two news stories
Read story number two

Gunmen attack former IG Ringim’s residence

VANguard -  APRIL 29, 2013 · 

 By Aliyu Dangida

There was pandemonium in Ringim town, headquarters of Ringim local government area of Jigawa state Sunday night as gunmen stormed the town and  started shooting.

An indigene of the town who spoke to Vanguard on phone said the gunmen arrived Ringim town around 8 pm and took over the personal residence of former Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim as well as the Divisional Police headquarters, while people deserted their business places and entered their respective homes.

He added that there were bomb explosions in the town. As at press time Sunday night shooting was still going on as the residents were locked up inside their houses.

Contacted the PPRO Jigawa State Command, ASP Abdul Jinjiri confirmed the incident but said the police had little information to give to the press.

Three cops, two others killed in Ringim bombing

DAILY TRUST -  Tuesday, 30 April 2013

by Abdullahi Anako, Dutse

Five persons, among them three policemen, have been confirmed killed when gunmen attacked some places in Ringim town of Jigawa State on Sunday. Some of the places bombed included a police station and Unity Bank building.

Jigawa Deputy Commissioner of Police Muhammmed KabirMuhammed, who led state deputy governor Ahmed Mahmud Gumel to the scene of the crime, said armed robbers first attacked the Ringim police station where they killed three policemen, set fire on police patrol van in front of former IG Hafiz Ringim’s house before they proceeded to the Unity Bank building where they threw explosives on it killing two civilian security men.

He said the former IG’s house was not torched.

The police boss said the robbers could not cart away money before the arrival of reinforcement of policemen and soldiers who battled them for hours before they succeeded in chasing them away.

An army vehicle inspected by the deputy governor was also riddled with bullets by the robbers.

No official of the bank was available for comment as the bank was totally cordoned off with anti-bomb squad combing the area.

At the palace of Emir of Ringim AlhajiSayyadi Mahmud Abubakar, the deputy governor commiserated with the Emir over the incident and promised that government will leave no stone unturned to unravel the perpetrators.

“Jigawa is a peaceful state and we have been living in peace. This incident is very shocking. The government has been doing its best in terms of justice and fairness which is responsible for the peace we are enjoying in the state.

“This is the second time such kind of armed robbery attack is taking place in Jigawa. The first was last year in Gwaram and now Ringim. We pray this is the last time. We are calling for prayers but surely government will address this issue with all the urgency it requires”, he said.

The Emir of Ringim, in his response, thanked the governor for the visit and security agents for their effort.  

“On behalf of myself and my council, I wish to thank the Deputy Governor and his team for the prompt response they gave the incident. I must also commend the police, especially the DPO who crossed the fence and instructed the over 500 Islammiyya students to lie down on the floor.

“Only God knows what would have happened because the Islamiyya is close to the police station. It was the DPO who later helped to evacuate the kids. I have never seen this type of attack in my life. I call on everyone to continue to pray for peace because it is only prayer that can save us”, he said.