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Jigawa Police Commissioner Denounced For Aiding Boko Haram

The officers claim their boss strategically reduced the amount of police officers who were part of a task force established in 2013 and charged with fighting Boko Haram in the State.

Jigawa police officers have accused their commander, Usman Tilli, of providing Boko Haram militants indirect assistance.

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The officers claim their boss strategically reduced the amount of police officers who were part of a task force established in 2013 and charged with fighting Boko Haram in the State.

After Boko Haram attacked towns and villages in Jigawa, the security team was put in place to enforce law through "Operation Salama."

"Operation Salama" was created by Idris Umar, Tilli's predecessor. It was a group of 150 policemen who were to receive monthly funds of N150,000 - N180, 000 based on their ranks.

Now, under Commander Tilli, the size of the operation is 55 and the monthly allowances for officers has significantly decreased.

A source from the Jigawa police told the press that "when Usman Tilli was deployed to Jigawa State, he reduced the number of the personnel in the operation from 150 to 55, causing security breaches at some flashpoints in the State."

Last spring, the same source told Badaru Abbakar, the elected Jigawa Governor, that Commander Tilli had cut personnel allowances to N35,000 - N45,000.

Moreover, the police officers in "Operation Salama" concur that Commander Tilli, the Jigawa police commissioner cut N15,000 from each officer's monthly allowance.

The police corporal who did not want to be identified said, "the government thinks he gives us N35,000. While in reality he gives us N20,000 each.”

Even worse, villages bordering Yobe State have suffered from Boko Haram attacks because there are no law enforcement officers in the area.

The officers claim that Commander Tilli deployed only five of the 55 policemen to Rigim where Boko Haram militants attacked the house of a former Inspector General of Police.

Yet Tilli denies that he has done anything wrong. He claims that at his discretion, he can reduce and deploy personnel as he sees fit.

Tilli said, "what is wrong if I reduce them (officers) from Operation Salama and deploy them where I consider appropriate?"

The Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, has said he will examine the situation.