A hashtag set by the Nigerian Police, asking for answers from the Army over the killing of its officers by soldiers in Tarkum, Taraba State, is trending on a social network, Twitter.
Frank Mba, the Force Public Relations Officer, on Thursday, said the press statement by the army seeking to justify the unprovoked and unwarranted murder of three (3) Police officers and one (1) Civilian, and serious injury to other operatives, who were on legitimate criminal investigation activities to Taraba State, to arrest one Alhaji Hamisu Bala Wadume indicted in a series of high-profile kidnap incidents in the State was uncalled for.
According to him: In the best tradition of Esprit de Corps, Inter-Agency Harmony and National Interest, the Nigeria Police Force would naturally have kept quiet, but it has become imperative to set the record straight by addressing the obvious distortion of facts inherent in the Press Release by the Nigerian Army.
“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?”
When you are complacent you delve to damage control thats the case pf the Nigerian army #ProvideAnswersNigerianArmy
— alexander (@Allexy_123) August 9, 2019
SARS dey come, everybody japaaa….run!!!!!????
ME: *dials unknown number* is this the Nigerian army???☠️☠️ #ProvideAnswersNigerianArmy pic.twitter.com/MWrBhnHykT— |the_boyInblack|™ (@daniel_onimsi) August 9, 2019
This #ProvideAnswersNigerianArmy;
This is not a joke,
This is not normal,
This is not funny,
This is surreal,
This is shocking,
This is criminal,
This is tragedy,
This calls for national emergency,
This, dear people is THE characteristic of a failed State.
WAKE THA FUCK UP!— (((Anefiok Akpan))) (@Anefiok) August 9, 2019
You people are yet to provide answers to the incessant killings of Nigerians perpetrated by your trigger drunk men. The same trigger drunk men hit you hard now, you're crying like a baby. Your people should protest na. #Hypocrites #ProvideAnswersNigerianArmy https://t.co/jf4PKo1M6t pic.twitter.com/q6qUqFhnvY
— #BdEx The Farmer (@bdexibojo) August 9, 2019
The army still under Buratai has been enmeshed in one controversy or another. Hamisu a hardened Kidnapper who should be in solitary confinement was rescued & set free, reason d Wall Street journal thinks so poorly of our ARMY! Zero Intelligence.#ProvideAnswersNigerianArmy
— kenny Okolugbo (@kennyokolugbo) August 9, 2019
The 3 arms of government has failed us all thanks to the newest and the most ignored arm of government THE MEDIAS and most expecially the social media#ProvideAnswersNigerianArmy
— SAMUEL PAJUPAJUKINMI EBI-STONE (@ebi_stone) August 9, 2019
I don't know why i don't pity police😂😁😁😀😀😀😀 #ProvideAnswersNigerianArmy
— marie lyn (@mariesexydi) August 9, 2019
Nigeria is a joke#ProvideAnswersNigerianArmy
— Dewind (@dewinddlove) August 9, 2019
The primary responsibilities of @PoliceNG include safeguarding lives&property, protecting innocent people, keeping peace, justice, & equality, and ensuring the right of everyone to liberty.
unsurping the powers of police by soldiers is illegal.#ProvideAnswersNigerianArmy
— FOLARIN OPEYEMI JOSEPH FOJ (@opeyemifolarin1) August 9, 2019
It's funny @PoliceNG is trending #ProvideAnswersNigerianArmy to seek for information and pursue justice in the rumored killing of its officers by the @HQNigerianArmy which I believe is false just like the many POLICE BRUTALITY cases that are false.
— Ehi_Michael (@UniqueMykel) August 9, 2019
So now you want answers abi? When we are looking for answer on how your men harass youths and adolescents around Nigeria and killing them too you didn't say anything. Now you If want the Army to give you answers. If I slap you ehn #ProvideAnswersNigerianArmy https://t.co/X5cYu2DzY8
— Laolao (@itz_laolao) August 9, 2019
Maybe the soldiers saw dreadlocks on smoothly barbed hair or maybe they saw 💻💻💻 on them …. police guys should be singing 🎤”see me see trouble Am I a yahoo boy” by now😂😂 #ProvideAnswersNigerianArmy
— #Joebrown (@PoetJoebrown) August 9, 2019
