The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has announced the death of nine Nigerians in this year’s pilgrimage in Makkah and Madinah.
The head of the medical team of the Commission, Dr Ibrahim Kana, who announced the death in Minah while briefing journalists on activities of the medical team of NAHCON, said that the latest pilgrim to die is from Lagos State.
“The deceased, a Lagos State pilgrim, collapsed at Jamrat and brought to the hospital in Minah but died. She was hypertensive.”
Earlier, the Lagos State Amir Hajj, Alhaji AbdulLateef Abdulkarim had identified the deceased as Alhaja Folashade Lawal.
He said that the late Lawal hailed from Oshodi Local Government Area of the state and that she slumped at 3:00 a.m. while heading to Jamrat to throw stones at the devil.
Throwing stone at the three devils is one of the Islamic rites towards acceptable hajj.
The chairman of the team said that the commission opened 21 field offices in Minah with adequate drugs and ambulances.
He identified cough and hypertension as some of the health challenges presented by patients.
Meanwhile, Nigerian pilgrims have begun buying and selling after Arafat and Eid-el- Kabir.
NAN correspondent, who visited Nigerian camp in Minah reports that many pilgrims, mostly women, were seen buying women wears and other gift items, they claimed were meant for their families and friends at home.
Others, however, devoted their time to accomplishing the remaining rites such as stone throwing at the three devils and offering special prayers.
Pilgrims, who will spend three days to accomplish religious rites in Minah are expected to move to the Grand Mosque, Makkah tomorrow, August 14 to complete the remaining rites to ensure an acceptable hajj.
According to sources from NAHCON, August 17 has been fixed as the kick-off for the airlift of pilgrims back to Nigeria.
The Nigerian Army has accused Nigeria Police Force of making inciting statement after the incident in Ibi, Taraba State where soldiers killed three police men mistaken for kidnappers.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Tukur Buratai, in a circular with reference number: AHQDAIOPS/G3/240/232, and copied to Army formations nationwide, accused the Force Headquarters of making “inciting and inflammatory comments” following soldiers’ killing of three police men and a civilian in Taraba State after they (the police) had effected the arrest of a notorious kidnap kingpin, Alhaji Hamisu Bala Wadume, who is now on the run.
The military circular, which was issued today, August 13 on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff by Brigadier General F. Omoigui, entitled: “Need for troops to be circumspect in dealing with members of the Nigeria Police,” directed soldiers on internal security (IS) operations across the country to be circumspect, alerting of the likelihood of aggression towards troops by police personnel.
He said that the statements by the police and reactions had the potential of forcing the rank and file of its personnel to “exhibit aggressive tendencies against NA (Nigerian Army) personnel.”.
Buratai, in the circular, told soldiers to travel in mufti to avoid possible attacks by policemen, which he argued, may be occasioned by the Police’s comments on both social and traditional media.
Soldiers of the 93 Battalion had shot dead the IRT operatives – Inspector Mark Ediale, Sergeant Usman Danzumi, and Sergeant Dahiru Musa.
The Army claimed they were shot after being mistaken for “suspected kidnappers,”
Firing back, Force spokesman, DCP Frank Mba, in a strongly-worded statement, said: “the most important question arising from the Nigerian Army Press Release is: Where is Alhaji Hamisu Bala Wadume? Alhaji Hamisu Bala Wadume is a millionaire kidnapper arrested by the Police but paradoxically treated as a ‘‘kidnap victim’’ by the Soldiers and subsequently ‘rescued’ by them. Where is he? Where is the rescued kidnapper?
“Secondly, the Press Release was silent on the source of the alleged distress report or identity of the complainant, on the strength of whose report, the Army claimed had informed their decision to engage in the purported chase and rescue operation. Needless to state that in the true spirit of transparency and accountability, the Nigerian Army ought to have arrested the purported distress caller – if any – for obviously and deliberately furnishing them with false and misleading information. Besides, such arrest should in fact be made public!
“Thirdly, it is not true that the Policemen failed to identify themselves as alleged in the Press Release. The video on the incident, now viral, wherein the voice of one of the soldiers was heard loudly proclaiming that the Policemen were from the Force Headquarters, Abuja speaks volume. Besides, the presence of the IRT personnel was well known to the Taraba Police Command as the Operatives officially and properly documented not only at the State Command Headquarters but also at the Wukari Area Command and the Ibi Divisional Headquarters. As a matter of fact, some of the Detectives from the Taraba State Command’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) were part of the operation.
“The Force also considers it insensitive, disrespectful and unpatriotic for the Press Release by the Army to continue to describe Policemen on lawful National Assignment as ‘suspected kidnappers’ long after it had become crystal clear to the Army that these are Law Enforcement Officers who unfortunately were gruesomely murdered in the line of duty by Nigerian soldiers attached to 93 Battalion, Takum.
“In the final analysis, we leave the Nigerian Army authorities to provide Nigerians with answers on the following questions emanating from their Press Release: * Where is the notorious kidnapper, Alhaji Hamisu Bala Wadume ‘rescued’ by the soldiers? * How and why was Alhaji Hamisu Bala Wadume released by the soldiers? * How could a kidnap suspect properly restrained with handcuffs by the Police escape from the hands of his military rescuers? * If Alhaji Hamisu Bala Wadume is a ‘‘victim of kidnap’’ as claimed, and properly rescued by soldiers, why was he not taken to the Army Base for documentation purposes and debriefing in line with the Standard Operating Procedure in the Nigerian Army? * Why were the Police Operatives shot at close range even after they had identified themselves as Police Officers on legitimate duty as evident in the video now in circulation?”
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that he will continue to appreciate and proud of those who bring honour to Nigeria, particularly in the areas of scholarship and other lofty endeavours.
In a statement today, August 12 by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, the President particularly mentioned Professor Ralf A. Akinfeleye, a foremost Mass Communications lecturer at the University of Lagos, who was recently elected into the World Journalism Education Council, the first African to achieve such feat. President Buhari said that the election of the University lecturer in Paris, France, last week, “hoists Nigeria’s flag proudly once again in the international arena.” He advised Professor Akinfeleye to serve diligently in the three-year term, in which he would represent not only Nigeria, but the entire African continent. More than 600 participants from 70 countries participated in the World Journalism Education Congress, where Professor Akinfeleye was elected.
Skimming and scanning through the list of President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministers-designate, one would see therein the inclusion of two Agbas, to wit: Goddy Jedy-Agba and Clem IK Agba. The enclosure of these Nigerians who bear the same surname is one of the rare happenstances in life and in the constitution of this particular cabinet. Apparently unrelated by blood and ethnicity, Goddy and Clem have the good fortune of coming into the cabinet with surnames that are the same in spelling even if they are, as expected, different in meaning.
Although, Goddy is from Cross River state while Clem is from Edo state both within the South-south geo-political zone, yet they share a few things in common on other fronts. For instance, they are both princes of their respective kingdom. Goddy was born into a royal family in Obudu by His Royal Highness Uti J.D. Agba while Clem was born into the family of His Royal Highness, Pius Kadiri Ikanade Agba – the Oliola of Uzanu in Etsako East. They thus bring their blue bloods into the cabinet.
To boot, they are both technocrats with track records of achievements in their fields of interest. Interestingly, both men have been “big players” in the very lucrative oil and gas sectors of the Nigerian economy. Therefore, there is a comical sense in which both could be referred to as oil “Sheiks”. Goddy worked for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) where he retired as Group General Manager (GGM), Crude Oil Marketing Division (COMD) while Clem has been in and out of work for Chevron Oil.
Clem’s last position was Manager, Community Procurement Operations at Chevron Oil from where he was tapped for appointment as a minister by President Buhari. But before his appointment as a minister, he had gone on leave of absence in 2009 to serve as a Commissioner in the Ministry of Environment and Public Utilities and later in the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Housing in Edo state in the government of Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole.
By way of salutary digression, Clem, as a commissioner in charge of Environment and Public Utilities, championed the urban renewal and construction of drainage infrastructure to combat erosion menace in Edo state. He was largely instrumental to the conceptualization of the Benin Water Storm project to deal with the perennial flooding problem in the state capital. He reformed waste management and ensured beautification of the Ring Road; and, addressed the issues of defacing, slum settlements and chaotic traffic flows in urban centres, particularly Benin City. He was also credited with coming up with sustainable forest regeneration initiatives.
At the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Housing, he set up the Edo Geographic Information Services (EGIS). These were in addition to his being the chairman of Edo State Tenders Board (2009-2012) and his numerous contributions as a member of Edo State Economic and Strategy Team that was then under the headship of the current State Governor, Godwin Obaseki. Apparently, Clem has both the private and public sectors under his belt and can then boast of his readiness to engage with the intricate working of executive implementation and supervision of policies and programmes.
Clem’s landmark achievements in Edo state constitute his enduring legacies. Analytical and very resourceful, his capacities and possibilities were attested to on the occasions when Edo State Government episodically briefed the Edo people on its activities. He was always a cynosure of all eyes for his erudition so much so that a former governorship aspirant in the state, architect and neo-scholar, Dr Austin Emuan, once lauded his creativity and industry.
For Goddy, with his exposure to the dynamics of public finance management in the NNPC, one can safely surmise that in him the president has a brilliant and sharply-focused minister-designate who could, without thinking twice, given his obvious experience, be picked for the critical petroleum portfolio. While in charge of Crude Oil Marketing Division (COMD) as GGM at the NNPC, he was, among other duties, responsible for liaising with Crude Pricing and Technical Evaluation Section on Price Movement and other input data for market reports.
Goddy also monitored and analyzed consumption of other energy types, terms of cost availability and relative impact on world petroleum supply/demand balance; monitored and analyzed consumption patterns and conservation policies in consumer countries and implication for oil demand; monitored and analyzed tanker market as well as world crude oil supply and demand balance; prepared monthly as well as quarterly reports; participated in quarterly market review meetings and prepared summary of review with marketers.
As Head of Gas/Gas Liquids/Condensate Sale, before he was elevated to the position of GGM, COMD, Goddy was responsible for letters of credit administration, credit control claims and documentations (including documents of oil lifting and payments, reconciliation of all credits-demurrage, debits, penalties and interest charges). He took part in tripartite reconciliation with CBN/FAD/Commercial Division to ensure uniformity of sales and receipts; and undertook the supervision of re-test of condensate, LPG, LNG and gas samples for quality control, including, specifically, investigation and assessment of demurrage and loss claims as well as coordination and supervision of credit control and claims.
Indeed, both men (Goddy and Clem), with their solid experiences, can very well pass for utilitarian technocrats that will offer the marked seriousness and commitment to effective service delivery by government in the next four years, which are critical to President Buhari for building enduring legacies. The resourcefulness of both ministers-designate in the oil sector can be harnessed either as a tag team to address the contending issues in the sector or through inter-ministerial synergies and the complementarities of special purpose committees for holistic solutions to identified issues.
Besides, the princely duo should be expected to commit greater effort to effective service delivery than the dyed-in-the-wool politician-ministers who may be more interested in deploying their offices in bolstering their political interests in the build-up to the 2023 general election. In the circumstance of mitigating the expected pressure between delivering on set-mandates and satisfying the diktats of vested political interests, President Buhari would do well to set his eyes on the likes of the two Agbas and a few other technocrats in the cabinet to handle specialised ministerial portfolios that are critical to national development and to the institution of accountability in leadership in terms of measurable infrastructure development and achievements.
For Goddy and Clem, the consensus among close watchers of the politics of ministerial appointment and assignment of portfolios is that, given the validation of their backgrounds and performances during the Senate screening and confirmation hearing, they could be deployed in driving the critical sectors of any of petroleum, power, works, housing and environment portfolios. As individuals who crave the institution of excellence in public service and from whom much is expected, they must put their nose to the grindstone.
Interestingly, while both of them did not study engineering or any oil and gas-related courses in the University (Goddy obtained a first degree in International Studies and a second degree in International Law and Diplomacy; Clem obtained a B.Sc degree in Economics and two Master of Business Administration degrees (one in management and the second in Supply Chain Management), they thus communicate a fact that there is something unique about their Intelligent Quotient (IQ), to wit: the power and capacity to adapt and focus on areas of interest for self-actualisation, achievement of corporate goals and benefit of humanity.
Ojeifo, an Abuja-based journalist, contributed this piece via ojwonderngr@yahoo.com
President Muhammadu Buhari has advised members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to live up to expectation of the founding fathers by utilizing their education and privilege of visiting different parts of the country to unite Nigerians.
Receiving the youth corps members today, August 11, at his country home in Daura, Katsina State during the Eid el-Kabir Sallah celebration, alongside the President of Republic of Guinea, Professor Alfa Conde, President Buhari said that the primary focus of the NYSC is to expose graduates to the beauty and diversity of the country and for them to return to their states or any part of the country to share their experiences.
The President asked them to always emphasize the common values of peaceful co-existence, kindness and hospitality that cut across all cultures and religion in Nigeria.
President Buhari said that the entire nation depends on past and serving youth corps members to bridge the country, since they have the first-hand experience of living with different ethnic groups in various parts of the country, studying their cultures and traditions, and enjoying hospitality, which underpins every community in Nigeria.
“From Lagos, Port Harcourt and other parts of the country, you are at the end of the country. This posting will make you know this place, Daura, and you can disabuse the minds of those who are not educated about the other side of the country.
“It is only the NYSC that is merging us together and of course, the police and soldiers.”
The President noted that in every meeting with former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, who initiated the programme in 1973 to promote unity and understanding among Nigerians, he always remembers to appreciate the ingenuity of the programme and need for continuity.
In his remarks, the President of Guinea said that the diversity of Nigeria remains its greatest strength, urging the youth corps members to always see themselves first as Nigerians, before identifying with their ethnic background.
“First, you are Nigerians before you are from any other part of the country. So promote the unity of the country regardless of your tribes.”
The Chief Liaison Officer of NYSC in Daura, Aliyu Abdullahi, said that it was a privilege to serve in the hometown of the President, and also meet with him and the Eid el-Kabir special guest, President Conde, urging the President to intensify the fight against corruption.
Abdullahi commended President Buhari for the efforts to restore peace, security and unity in the country, assuring him of the prayers and support of the corps members.
President Buhari donated two cows and ten bags of rice to the corps members, and some money, while the President of Republic of Guinea also complemented with two cows.
A 30-year-old tailor, Busayo Owoodun, has been killed by a stray bullet fired by the police in Lagos.
The Anti-Kidnapping Squad attached to ‘M’ Command, Idimu, were said to be on the trail of some kidnap suspects when the hoodlums allegedly attacked them along Ijegun-Isolo road.
In retaliation, police opened fire on the hoodlums and in the melee, Owoodun was allegedly hit by a stray bullet.
The police claimed that the three officers, including an Assistant Superintendent of Police, were injured by the hoodlums.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Bala Elkana, said that the Commissioner of Police, Muazu Zubairu, had order investigation into the incident. He added that the Commissioner had condoled with Owoodun’s family.
“A stray bullet hit one Busayo Owoodun. The gang with the support of some notorious cultists in the area, attacked the police team and injured the leader, ASP Victor Ugbegun, and two others who are currently in critical condition at the intensive care unit of a hospital.
“With reinforcements from Operations Department, Rapid Response Squads, Task Force, and neighbouring divisions we were able to contain the situation and take the injured officers to hospital.
“The command has launched a manhunt of the assailants with a view to bringing them to justice.
“The corpse of the victim of the stray bullet was taken to hospital for autopsy. The Commissioner of Police has ordered a full investigation into the case.
Managing Director of Peace Mass transit, Dr. Sam Maduka Onyishi has returned the sum of N2,219,500,000 which he said was wrongly paid into his account by First Bank.
At an event in Enugu, weekend, witnessed by journalists, Dr. Sam Maduka Onyishi said that he had requested for $3 million from First bank to be paid into his Unity account only to be paid $10 million instead by First bank which is about N3,219,500,000 representing an excess of N2,219,500,000.
The cheque was received on behalf of First Bank by the Business Manager, Commercial Banking, Kokelu Ben and the Branch Manager, Unity Bank, Enugu Branch, Ifeoma Eleanya.
According to him, “The amount they paid in was N3,219,500,000 but my own money there is N1,000,000,000 so the balance is not my money. I said that I cannot invest this money and be gaining from another person’s money and I can’t also keep it. I can’t keep $7m Dollars that doesn’t belong to me.
“I told my bank (First Bank) to pay money into my Unity bank account that I want to take 3 million dollars and they paid ten Million Dollars instead. I called them and informed (First bank) that the amount they paid to me was more than the amount I requested. They told me that the ten million Dollars was my money.
“I was angry with them. I asked them how come I have this kind of money and I’m not aware of it. I asked them how come they went ahead to invest my money without telling me so that I can use my money and then I can know how much I have.
“I told them that they have failed to give me a statement of my account even when I have demanded for it severally. I discovered later that the amount was even more than what we are talking about because there was another person I asked the bank to pay money to whom they even paid extra.
“I made enquiries and they told me that I should wait until when it is time for banks to do reconciliation, they will discover whether the fault was from First Bank, Central Bank or Unity Bank. I waited for a whole month and no one called me. I told the devil that he is a deceiver and a liar. He knows that I need money now that is why this thing is happening now.
“That’s why I said, let me invite First Bank and Union Bank and also invite journalists. I said let me give the money to First Bank, if they find out that the money is mine, they should return it. If it belongs to Unity Bank or CBN give it to them. If it is your own, keep it. So I am giving this money to you to keep on trust.”
He called on the management of CBN, Unity Bank and First Bank to look into the origin of the money and such leakages could come with dire consequences for any commercial institution.
“I had sent emails to the bank to inform them of the wrong payment and they didn’t find anything. My account in First Bank was not debited so they did not see it. Unity Bank did not see anything because they just received the money.
“Nobody knows if the money came through Central Bank because the money came through three organizations before it came to my account in Unity Bank. Why I am doing this is that if it is either First Bank Unity Bank or CBN that has this fault, they should as a matter of urgency blocks the loophole because this is a sign that people’s money has been missing every day. It can also lead to a total collapse of any bank.”
The business manager, commercial banking, First Bank, Kokelu Ben said:“I don’t have any official thing to say but I must state that Dr Onyishi is a man of Integrity. When we look in into the situation we will advise him on what happened and how to remedy this situation.
President Muhammadu Buhari has recalled the feat performed by the former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief John Odigie Oyegun who he said led the party to unseat an incumbent President in the 2015 election.
The President said, in a statement congratulating Chief John Oyegun on his 80th birthday that the former chairman provided “visionary leadership to unseat an incumbent government for the first time in Nigeria’s history.”
Describing him as true example of a patriot and democrat, in the statement by the special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the President, commended him on the milestone he had achieved.
He recalled that Chief John Oyegun’s achievements include turning a Permanent Secretary at the age of 30, winning a gubernatorial election in early 50s, and providing visionary leadership to unseat an incumbent government for the first time in Nigeria’s history.
President Buhari said that John Oyegun, who also served as chairman of the defunct All Nigeria’s Peoples Party (ANPP), had set a standard for consistency, honesty and integrity in Nigeria’s politics.
“He championed building of strong democratic institutions, and promoted the virtue of looking beyond elections and positions to growing and unifying the nation for posterity.”
The President stressed that Chief Oyegun’s depth of wisdom, maturity, tolerance and penchant for always putting the interest of the nation above self should serve as a lesson to both old and younger political actors.
According to him, such trait of characters, including a personal sacrifice are the greatest investment for building a nation.
The Tiv Youth Council (TYC) has fingered the former Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma in the fresh Jukun/Tiv crisis that has left dozens dead and thousands displaced.
The President of the TYC, Hon Mike Chivir Msuaan, at a press conference today, August 11, alleged that TY Danjuma has been responsible for inciting the Jukun Militia who for the past three months, invaded border community to wreck havoc.
“Enough is Enough, the Tiv Nation cannot continue being cannon fodder for the unity of this country.
“The Tiv Youth Council like all concerned patriots has watched with patriotic pain and disenchantment the persistent wars between the Tivs and the Jukuns in Taraba State which have intensified lately.
“Principally, the Governor of Taraba State Mr. Darius Ishaku has remained silent; this has provided cover for the Jukun militia, while also playing the ostrich, instead of addressing the matter as Chief security officer of the state.
“The Jukun militia has remained irrepressibly resurgent, consistently coming up with sophisticated weapons, dreaded attack techniques and in several instances kitted as men of the Nigerian Army.
“The consistent tactics of the Jukun militia showed a streak of military training and a strong penchant to foment violence beyond primordial inclinations.
“The recent rape, maiming and killing of hepless Tiv Students and staff of the Federal University Wukari is indeed one too many, deserving thorough investigation by the security agencies and enduring solutions to entrench peace. It is quite surprising that despite several attempts to extend the olive branch and make the warring parties embrace peace, the efforts have all fallen through midway with no tangible results.
“This irrational development stirred our curiosity and prompted our Team to conduct a scrupulous inquiry into the factors fuelling and motivating the Jukun militia despite the several overtures at peace.
“Our incontrovertible findings from this painstaking inquest revealed powerful individuals with political leanings funding, training and arming the Jukun militia. We herein particularly invite the relevant security agencies to immediately proceed with a thorough investigation of Governor Darius Ishaku and Gen. T. Y. Danjuma (Rtd) in the interest of peace and unity of the two ethnic groups.
“Their prime objectives aside ethnic dominance is to stir dissent against the government by raising the tempo of war to an Inferno’s pitch, thereby fuelling national insecurity for political gains just to paint the President Muhammadu Buhari government in negative light.
“We believe that this government will spare no sacred cows in the quest for national peace and security. We strongly believe the Tivs and Jukuns can harmoniously live in peace as has been in the past if these political masterminds fuelling the war are isolated and dealt with.”
The Jukun/Tiv conflict, which started three months ago, has affected thousands of farming communities in Wukari, Donga and some parts of Takum local government areas.
The Army Captain who ordered the killing of three officers of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Taraba state and thereafter set a kidnap kingpin, Alh Hamisu Wadume free has been arrested.
It was gathered that the kidnap kingpin/suspect is a philanthropist and had bought a car for the Captain, who was in charge of the last army check point where the IRT operatives were killed.
Security sources disclosed that the Captain gave command to his men to shoot the bus carrying the Police officers with an instruction that “no Policeman must escape but the suspect (Alhaji Hamisu Bala Wadume) should be freed’.
The source said: “Our colleagues (Police Operatives) also exchanged pleasantries with the army at the checkpoint before they pursued then on the Captain’s instruction and fired fired them.”
Meanwhile, “The video in circulation depicting the gruesome killing of the Police operatives of the IGP IRT as well as a civilian in Taraba state by soldiers at Ibi town has further revealed that the policemen begged the soldiers not to kill them
The video begins with one of the slain officers in a red attire and alone beside their bus apparently turned over through an accident that must have occurred from the hot chase that ensued after the team was ambushed by the soldiers.
Seconds later, he moves to the other side as three bloodied people lay dead while one, in a striped white and green Polo shirt, is on the floor and writhing in agony.
A man in yellow T shirt hands the ignition key of the white Toyota bus with number plate: Lagos MUS 564 EU, to a man not visible in the video.
“Here is the key of the vehicle,” he said in Hausa language.
The body of the vehicle, like the murdered policemen, was riddled with bullets as the mob continues cursing the fallen officers.
“We will deal with you, you unlucky ones. They showed us ID cards that they were from the IG (Inspector General of Police). Till all of you die,” another said, also in Hausa.
As this was going on, a booming voice from the crowd of mostly soldiers, many of them not in uniforms, commended the mob and said: “Well done guys, you did well.
This has learnt further credence to reports that the killings were premeditated.
Another unidentified voice in the video said: “Let’s set them ablaze with the vehicle,” a suggestion another, perhaps a senior officer, responded to almost immediately with an order: “No! Do not burn them’.
As the Police officer battling to stay alive turns and continues to wriggle in pain, another person in a white fez cap, as if alarmed, shouted: “He is not dead! He is not dead” as he moves and rains a number of slaps on him as the dying man fell back in a sleeping position.
Calling on others’ attention, another soldier asked: “Where is their service pistol?” as another swiftly responded: “They have been collected and taken away.
In the meantime, a bulky frame in a yellow top with white fez cap is seen recording a video of the slain policemen as they made to cross check whether the officer wriggling few minutes earlier had died finally.
Upon certifying him dead, a member of the crowd, as if in victory, shouted: “He is dead! He is dead!”
Thereafter the glare falls on two of the killed policemen, one in a red shirt covered in his pool of blood and the other with a white striped shirt lying face down as the people surrounding them start plucking and dropping leaves and shrubs on them, a typical practice for accident victims.
Even more harrowing is a scene in which it becomes clear that one of the fallen policemen, the last to give up, had defecated on his body shortly before succumbing to death finally.
Lifted by two men by the hands and legs, his corpse is dumped along with the others as a soldier with a riffle walks past the bodies, shouting: “He is defecating. Do not touch the faeces”.
As the voices rise even further, a voice is heard in the background saying: “They showed us ID cards that they were from the IG (Inspector General of Police).
“They met us at the check point. If they had escaped here, they would definitely not have escaped the road block at Wukari.
Meanwhile, sources close to the investigators disclose that the order to attack the policemen, who were on lawful duty to apprehend suspected kidnap kingpin, Alhaji Hamisu Wadume, was given by an Army Captain, who is a friend of Wadume.
The unnamed army captain, it was learnt, is not just a friend, but allegedly also on Wadume’s pay roll.
According to sources, the operatives, while heading to Ibi village to make the arrest, encountered military men at three check-points. They introduced themselves, parleyed with the soldiers and exchanged pleasantries.
But when returning with the suspect, the same soldiers seen earlier at one of the check points pulled the triggers that ended the lives of three of the policemen.
“The road to Ibi village is very narrow and only that road leads to the village. You have to pass through it to enter or leave the small village.
“That was why when the policemen encountered the soldiers at the three checkpoints, They introduced themselves and stated what they came for. They chatted, joked and exchanged pleasantries.
“The arrest was made within 20 minutes and while they were returning, soldiers at the first and second check points asked them if they were already through.
“The soldiers and operatives know one another, but the phone call from a top military personnel changed everything,” a source said.
Sources said the policemen were attacked at the second military check-point in the village.
It was further revealed that the policemen were taken unawares as the soldiers allegedly opened fire on the bus conveying the operatives, with the shocked driver losing control of his wheel, leading the bus to somersault under the barrage of gun fire.
Policemen, who were fast enough to crawl out of the damaged vehicle fled into the bush and the soldiers, upon getting to the scene and realising they were still alive, allegedly shot three operatives and a civilian among them at close range.
Two of the recovered corpses had bullet holes in their stomach, the other two, had bullet holes in their chests.
Being a small town, within a twinkle of an eye, the scene of the accident and attack swarmed with people as seen in the video and as the soldiers labelled the policemen kidnappers, the people went wild with jubilation.
The arrival of the people to the scene actually saved the lives of two policemen, who had earlier crawled to hide.
It was gathered that they would have been shot dead too, but for the crowd and they were taken to a part of the army base where deliberations were allegedly held regarding whether to kill them or not.
One of the soldiers reportedly told his colleagues that killing them would be too risky because most of the villagers already captured them alive on their smart phones.
Upon telling them the videos would give them away, the soldiers reluctantly took them to a hospital.
A source expressed belief that from what transpired, there is no doubt that these soldiers and their boss are working for the kidnapper, Wadume, who was later released.
The operatives, who were on a follow-up in an ongoing kidnapping investigation, led by an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Felix Adolije, went to Taraba State with a letter detailing their investigation and mission.
They were ambushed by the soldiers and preliminary investigation showed that the kidnap kingpin, who is presently on the run, has many security personnel in Ibi, Taraba State on his pay roll.
Operatives got to the police headquarters Jalingo, and perfected their papers as professionals before proceeding to Ibi Town, Taraba State, in their operational Toyota Hummer Bus.
The source said, “When the operatives got to Ibi town, they booked their arrival at the police station and proceeded with assistance from a policeman attached to them in the state headquarters, Jalingo, to trace and arrest Alhaji Hamisu Wadume, who is wanted because he is linked to several kidnappings in Taraba State, including a recent kidnapping in which N100million was collected as ransom.
After arresting Wadume, the operatives were heading to police headquarters at Jalingo, when gang members of Wadume, who are close to an Army Captain serving in Ibi town, called the army and told him that his friend had been kidnapped.
“Without any verification or inquiries, the Army Captain ordered his men along the highway to ambush the policemen. Thus, as the team was moving along Ibi-Jalingo Road, they came under the hail of bullets from soldiers.
The soldiers came from behind with another vehicle, as a result the policemen’s bus summersaulted.
Thereafter, two policemen and one civilian agent were shot to death by the soldiers at close range.
The policemen were shot despite presenting their police identification cards. These policemen also wore police jackets.
All the policemen were alive when their vehicles somersaulted. Two operatives, Inspector Mark Idiale and Inspector Abah Mathias, were seriously injured with bullets.
They are now receiving treatment at the General Hospital Wukari in Taraba State. Policemen from Ibi Area Command responded to calls and took the injured and dead officers to the hospital.
Wadume, who was rescued and released by the soldiers, is presently on the run.
”It is believed that Wadume and other members of his gang escaped with him to a location outside Ibi Town.
“One AK47 rifle and two pistols belonging to the late police officers were carted away by the gang members of Wadume who came to the scene with the soldiers while two of the police AK47 rifles are with the soldiers as admitted by one of their personnel at the scene.”
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