#TrackNigeria –A police operation which led to the arrest of a kidnap kingpin in Taraba state was eventually bungled and ended up as a sudden bloody fiasco. According to the Force Headquarters three police operatives and a civilian were killed while other operatives were injured as the police team “came under sudden attack and serious shooting by soldiers of the Nigerian Army, along Ibi – Jalingo Road, Taraba State.”
Force Spokesman, DCP Frank Mba who disclosed this in a statement Tuesday said the Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu,NPM,mni has ordered full-fledged investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death of three Police operatives and one civilian, and serious injury to other Police operatives. Mba said the operatives “were on investigation activities to Ibi, Taraba State, to arrest one Alhaji Hamisu indicted in a series of high-profile kidnap incidents in the State.”
According to Mba, “The Police Operatives, led by ASP Felix Adolije of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) reportedly came under sudden attack and serious shooting by soldiers of the Nigerian Army, along Ibi – Jalingo Road, Taraba State.
“The Operatives, who were taking the arrested suspect, Alhaji Hamisu to the Command Headquarters in Jalingo, were shot at severally by the soldiers despite sufficient proof that they are Police personnel on legitimate duty.
The force spokesman said further that “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.
According to the Force Spokesman, “The soldiers thereafter released the handcuffed suspect, Alhaji Hamisu, who is now on the run.
He added that “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 disclosed that the IGP has ordered the AIG Medicals to proceed to Jalingo to ensure concerted efforts in the treatment of the injured Police officers. The remains of the deceased have been deposited in the morgue, the statement added.
Meanwhile, the Force has commenced full investigation into the bizarre and unfortunate incident, Mba said.
