Wadume: DHQ Panel Submits Report On Taraba Killing

The Presidential panel constituted by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, to investigate the killing of three policemen attached to the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) during the arrest of kidnapper, Hamisu Bala Wadume, has made its recommendation.

Naija News reports that the police operatives were allegedly killed by soldiers attached to the 73 battalions in Taraba State on August 6, 2019.

This resulted in President Muhammadu Buhari directing the CDS to raise a panel to investigate the incident following the tension and hot exchanges between the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Police Force.

The seven-man panel which was headed by Rear Admiral TI Olaiya constituted of the Army, Police, DSS, NIA, DIA, Navy and Air force.

In a statement by the DHQ on Tuesday, the board recommended sanctions for five personnel of the Nigerian Army and the police over the killing of three policemen and one civilian.

The officers to face sanctions include; Captain Tijani Balarabe, Sergeant Ibrahim Mohammed, Corporal Bartholomew Obanye of the Ibi Police Division, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Aondoona Iorbee, and Inspector Aliyu Dadje.

The DHQ panel also recommended that further investigation be conducted on Hamisu Bala, the Taraba kidnap kingpin, for gunrunning.

“After a thorough and painstaking investigation into the incident, the BOI submitted its report to the convening authority observing that, there were infractions and poor communication between personnel of the NPF and troops of the NA.

“It was also observed that there was non-adherence to the Standard Operating Procedure by both parties involved in the incident. It further made some recommendations to the NA and NPF to forestall future reoccurrence and bring anyone culpable to book in accordance with extant laws.

“Additionally, the BOI recommended that the Services and other security agencies establish an Interagency Liaison Desk to include senior officers for timely resolution of future misdemeanor,” the statement reads.