TheCable

A panel set up by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has recommended disciplinary measures for five officers of the army and the police involved in the killing of three policemen and a civilian in Taraba state.

On August 6, policemen attached to the intelligence response team of the force, who arrested Hamisu Wadume, a kidnap suspect, were shot dead by soldiers.

President Muhammadu Buhari had asked the military authorities to investigate the killing.

A seven-man panel headed by I.T Olaiya, a rear admiral and with representatives from the army, navy, air force, police, Department of State Services (DSS) and the Defence Intelligence Agency was constituted to probe the incident.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the panel named the indicted officers as Tijani Balarabe, a captain; Ibrahim Mohammed, a sergeant; Bartholomew Obanye, a corporal with the Ibi police division; Aondoona Iorbee, assistant superintendent of police, and Aliyu Dadje, an inspector.

The panel said the officers must be subjected to “necessary disciplinary measures”.

It also recommended further investigation of Wadume for alleged gunrunning.

In August, the panel ordered the arrest of two policemen attached to Ibi police division, Taraba, for allegedly leaking information to Wadume of the plans to arrest him.

It also ordered the arrest of five soldiers who were at the checkpoint where the killings happened.