The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu, has ordered that investigations be carried out to unravel the circumstances leading to the death of three police operatives on investigation activities to Taraba.
Force Public Relations Officer, FPRO, DCP Frank Mba, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, disclosed that the three operatives and one civilian were killed while other operatives were seriously injured.
According to him, the operatives had gone to Ibi in Taraba to arrest one Alhaji Hamisu indicted in a series of high-profile kidnap incidents in the State.
The operatives, led by ASP Felix Adolije of the Intelligence Response Team, IRT, however, came under sudden attack and shooting by soldiers of the Nigerian Army, along Ibi-Jalingo road, Taraba, he said.
“The operatives were taking the arrested suspect to the Command Headquarters in Jalingo, when they were shot severally by the soldiers despite sufficient proof that they are police personnel on duty.
“Three policemen, one inspector and two sergeants, and one civilian died as a result of gunshot injuries sustained in the attack while others sustained serious gunshot wounds.
“The soldiers thereafter, released the handcuffed suspect, Hamisu, who is now on the run,” Mba said.
The statement said the suspect had been a notorious kidnap kingpin and had been on the police wanted list for his involvement in several high-profile kidnap cases.
Mba said that one of the cases included the recent abduction of an Oil-Mogul in Taraba wherein a ransom of about N100 million was paid.
The Force PRO said the IGP has also ordered the AIG Medicals to proceed to Jalingo to ensure proper treatment of the injured police officers.
Meanwhile, he said the remains of the deceased have been deposited in the mortuary while investigation into the incident has commenced.
