The Ministry of Local Government and Emirate Affairs in Borno State has dismissed reports that the Chairman of Mafa Local Government Area, Shettima Mafa was arrested by the military for allegedly harbouring a Boko Haram Commander.
There were Recall that reports over the weekend had it that Mafa was arrested by the military after a councillor who discovered he was allegedly hiding a Boko Ha ram Commander in his house reported him to security agents.
But, in a statement, the Commissioner for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Usman Zanna maintained that the Chairman was not arrested but he reported himself to the military.
Zanna, in the statement issued on Sunday, insisted that the military detained Mafa after he reported himself.
He said the suspect had for a long time been working closely with local hunters and military commanders in Mafa to lead community fight against insurgency.
The Commissioner, however, said his ministry would not interfere with the investigation.
The statement read in part, “If not because of media reports on this matter, the Ministry for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, which oversees the affairs of the 27 local government areas in Borno State, would have preferred not to make public comment over a matter that is still being investigated by our competent and patriotic military establishment involved in the fight against Boko Haram.
“It has become necessary that this statement is issued in order to put some records straight. First of all , contrary to media reports, the caretaker chairman in question was not arrested.
“He actually reported himself to the military command in Maiduguri after he got information that he was needed by the military”, he added.