Killing Of Policemen By Soldiers: Panel Submits Report
The panel instituted by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin to investigate the circumstances that led to the killing of three Police operatives of the IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT) by soldiers of 73 battalion in Taraba state on August 6, 2019, has submitted its report.
Recall that the panel was set up on the directives of President Muhammad Buhari following the tension and hot exchanges between the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Police Force over the killing of police officers and a civilian attached to IRT who had arrested millionaire kidnap kingpin, Alhaji Hamisu Bala Wadume at Ibbi in Taraba state while on their way to Jalingo.
Rear Admiral T Olaiya who headed the seven man panel that included representatives of the Army, Police, DSS, NIA, DIA, Navy and Air force, submitted the report at Defence headquarters after the CDS gave the panel a one week extension to do a thorough job.
It was gathered that having received the report, the CDS would study it and make recommendations on it after which it would be submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari who subsequently give final directives on its implementation.
It was gathered that the panel recommended stiff punishment for both soldiers and officers as well as Policemen and officers found culpable of have colluded with or played ignoble role in the circumstances leading to the killing of the IRT operatives and the civilian as well as the freeing and escape of Hamisu Wadume.