The police in Niger state have arrested the village head of Federal Low Cost Estate community in Maikukele area of Bosso, Adamu Sarki, for allegedly raising false alarm that over 35 youths of his subjects were members of the Boko Haram sect.
Sarki, also known as ‘Old Soldier,’ was said to have raised the alarm on Monday following which the military invaded the area and arrested all the youth of the area and subjected them to various drills and torture before the intervention of the police.
Blueprint learnt that the traditional ruler allegedly invited the army under the false allegation after the youth had asked him to account for funds accrued from the sale of water from the community boreholes kept in his trust.
It was learnt that the pleadings by the parents of the boys fell on deaf ears as the soldiers continued beating s the boys warning to shoot as they have authority to kill any Boko Haram suspects.
It was learnt that the day was saved by a patrol team from the Minna Area command that pleaded that the matter be handed over to the police for proper investigation.
The village head was said to have been taken to the state CID along with the boys and that during interrogation, he confessed to raising the false alarm because the boys threatened to deal with him over the proceeds of the sale of water from the borehole
It was also discovered that the traditional ruler vandalised the borehole in an attempt to cover up while blaming it on the youths
As a result, the women in the area on Monday embarked on protest to the District Head of Maikukele demanding the immediate sack of the village head over “his wicked act.”
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Niger state police command, Richard Adamu Oguche, confirmed the incident, saying that the matter had been handed over to the District Head of Maikukele, Suleiman Abdullahi Dada.