Nigerian soldiers kill three police officers, injure others – Official

Men of the Nigerian Army on Tuesday opened fire on a police team in Taraba, killing three police officers and injuring others .

The officers who were members of the Intelligence Response Team(IRT) were attacked along Ibi-Jalingo Road.

The officers led by Felix Adolije, an assistant police superintendent, went to arrest a suspected kidnap kingpin whom the police idneiftied as Alhaji Hamisu.

The police officers came under sudden attack and serious shooting by soldiers of the Nigerian Army, police spokesperson, Frank Mba, said in a statement.

The officers were taking Mr Hamisu to the Command Headquarters in Jalingo when the soldiers opened fire on them “despite sufficient proof that they are police personnel on legitimate duty,” the police said.

A civilian, the inspector and two sergeants were shot and killed by the soldiers, while an undisclosed number of others sustained injuries.

The soldiers thereafter released the handcuffed suspect, Alhaji Hamisu, who is now on the run,” the police said.

Mr Hamisu who is a notorious kidnap kingpin has been on the police wanted list for alleged complicity in several high-profile kidnap cases, including the recent abduction of an oil dealer in Taraba State.

According to police, the oil dealer whose name was not mentioned in the police statement paid N100 million to regain his freedom.

An assistant inspector-general has been sent to the state to coordinate treatment of the injured police officers.

The remains of the deceased have been deposited in the morgue.

According to Mr Mba, a deputy police commissioner, Inspector-General Muhammad Adama has ordered an urgent investigation into “the bizarre and unfortunate incident.”