Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN) has expressed shock over the gruesome murder of the three Policemen and a civilian along Ibi-Wukari Road by soldiers from the 93 Battalion, Takum, Taraba State recently.
NOPRIN in a statement signed by its new National Coordinator, Mr. Ikule Emmanuel in Lagos recently condemned the killing of the officers on official national assignment by men of the Nigerian Army.
The Officers, an Inspector and two Sergeants were part of the Intelligence Response Team on Special Duties from the Force Headquarters to effect the arrest of Alhaji Hamisu Wadume referred to as a high profile kidnap kingpin in Taraba State.
The Police officers, according to report, had effected the arrest and were on their way to Jalingo, the state capital with the suspect when soldiers shot at them, killing three of the officers and injuring several others and thereafter released the suspect.
Reacting to the killing, the acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa said that the Policemen and one civilian were killed in error adding that the soldiers had earlier received a distress call from one of the communities alleging that one of them had been kidnaped and thereafter opened fire on the suspected kidnappers on a bus that refused to stop at a military checkpoint, a position the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba had since debunked.
However, speaking on the incident, NOPRIN called on President Muhammadu Buhari to set up an independent panel of enquiry that is devoid of the Police and the Army as a way of respecting the principle of “no one should be a Judge in a case he/she has an interest”.
“This is with the hope that Justice will not only be done but seen done. This will go a long way in restoring confidence in Nigerians who are already concerned about the level of insecurity in the country”, it added.
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