Soldiers kill 3 police officers, 1 civilian, in Taraba, free kidnap kingpin-Police

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohamed Adamu, Wednesday, ordered full-fledged investigation into the circumstances surrounding the murder of three police operatives and one civilian, who were investigating one Alhaji Hamisu suspected to be the mastermind of a series of high-profile kidnapping in Taraba State.

The victims, including other seriously injured police operatives, were said to have been attacked by soldiers of the Nigerian Army along Ibi-Jalingo Road in Taraba State while heading to Ibi to effect the arrest of the alleged kidnap kingpin.

According to a release issued in Abuja by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, the Police Operatives, led by ASP Felix Adolije of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), reportedly came under sudden attack by yet-to-be-apprehended soldiers.

Mba further informed that the operatives had actually arrested the said Alhaji Hamisu and were taking him to the Command Headquarters in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital when the soldiers opened fire on the team “despite sufficient proof that they were police personnel on legitimate duty.”

“Three policemen (comprising one Inspector and two Sergeants) and one civilian died as a result of gunshot injuries sustained in the attack while others sustained serious gunshot wounds. The soldiers thereafter released the handcuffed suspect, Alhaji Hamisu, who is now on the run,” the FPRO continued

“Alhaji Hamisu, a notorious kidnap kingpin, has been on the police wanted list for his complicity in several high-profile kidnap cases including the recent abduction of an Oil-Mogul in Taraba State wherein a ransom of about One Hundred Million Naira (N100,000,000) was paid.”

Mba also revealed that the IGP has ordered the AIG (Medicals) to proceed to Jalingo to ensure comprehensive treatment of the injured police officers.

The remains of the deceased have been deposited in the morgue.

“Meanwhile, the Force has commenced full investigation into the bizarre and unfortunate incident,” Mba added.

The army is yet to react to the allegation by the IGP.