Military constitutes probe panel over killed policemen

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Gabriel Olonisakin, has constituted a 7-man panel of investigation on the killing of three police operatives by soldiers in Taraba State.

This came three days after the Police had alleged that three operatives – an Inspector and two Sergeants –  attached to the IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT), and a civilian, were been killed by soldiers during an operation that led to the arrest of a suspected kidnap kingpin, one Hamisu Wadum, within the  general area.

Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Frank Mba, who made the allegation during the week, went further to state hat after killing the policemen, and leaving others with varying degrees of injuries,  the kidnap-suspect, who was being taken to the Taraba State Police Command in Jalingo, had his hand-cuffs unlocked by the soldiers, and subsequently set free.

Responding to the claim,  the Nigerian Army had insisted that the operatives did not identify themselves, prompting soldiers to conclude they were “suspected kidnappers”.

Accordingly, President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) to undertake a comprehensive investigation into the tragic incident, with a view to unravelling the attendant circumstances.

The DHQ, in a statement by its spokesperson, Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, said the CDS has complied with the presidential directive, with the setting-up of the joint panel of investigation.

Nwachukwu added that members of the committee were drawn from the Armed Forces, and the Nigeria Police.

“In compliance with the presidential directive issued by the President,  Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, the Chief of Defence Staff Gen Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin has constituted a 7 man Joint Investigation Panel to unravel the circumstances that led to the unfortunate incident between the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police allegedly resulting in the killing  of 3 personnel of the Nigeria Police and  a civilian along Ibi – Wukari road in Taraba state.

“The Joint Investigation panel is headed by Rear Admiral IT Olaiya and has a representative each from the Nigerian Army,  Navy, Airforce the Nigeria Police,  Department of State Service and the Defence Intelligence Agency”, Nwachukwu said.

He said the Joint Committee has since commenced work.