TARABA KILLINGS: Panel recommend punishment for soldiers, policemen

A captain, 5 soldiers and two policemen have been recommended for punishment by the joint investigative panel set up by the Defence Headquarters to investigate the killing of three policemen and a civilian on August 6 in Ibi, Taraba State.

The panel headed by Rear Admiral Ibikunle Olaiya, in its report said Captain Tijani Balarabe, Sergeant Ibrahim Mohammed and Corporal Bartholomew Obanye, as well as the Divisional Crime Officer of Ibi Police Division, Assistant Superintendent of Police Aondoona Iorbee, and Inspector Aliyu Dadje must pass through disciplinary measures over the incident.

The panel aslo said alleged Taraba kidnap kingpin, Hamisu Wadume must be prosecuted for “gunrunning and possible kidnapping”.

It would be recalled that On August 6, three policemen attached to the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team and one civilian were shot dead by soldiers attached to Ibi Unit under the 93 Battalion, Takum, Taraba State.

The policemen were in the area to arrest Wadume in Ibi town when the soldiers opened fire on them and thereafter freed the kidnap suspect.

The Defence Headquarters, on Tuesday, in a statement signed by the acting Director of Defence Information, Col Onyema Nwachukwu, confirmed that the panel had submitted its report and recommended sanctions for the suspects.

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The statement reads in part: “After a thorough and painstaking investigation into the incident, the board submitted its report to the convening authority observing that there were infractions and poor communication between police officers and troops.

“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 army and police to bring anyone culpable to book in accordance with extant laws. The board recommended that the army and police should further investigate Captain Tijani Balarabe, Sergeant Ibrahim Mohammed, Corporal Bartholomew Obanye, DCO Ibi Police Division, ASP Aondoona Iorbee, and Inspector Aliyu Dadje for complacency and necessary disciplinary measures.

“It was also recommended that further investigation be conducted on Hamisu Bala for gunrunning and possible kidnapping in order to prosecute the suspect. Additionally, the board said the military and other security agencies must establish an inter-agency liaison desk to include senior officers for timely resolution of future misdemeanour.”

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