Soldiers have killed three policemen and released a suspected kidnapper in Taraba State, police have said.
Force spokesman, Frank Mba, said in a statement late Wednesday that the police officers led by Felix Adolije of the Intelligence Response Team were conveying a suspected kidnapper known as Alhaji Hamisu to the command headquarters in Jalingo when they came under attack.
The statement said: “The Police Operatives, led by ASP Felix Adolije of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) reportedly came under sudden attack and serious shooting by soldiers of the Nigerian Army, along Ibi – Jalingo Road, Taraba State.
“The Operatives, who were taking the arrested suspect, Alhaji Hamisu to the Command Headquarters in Jalingo, were shot at severally by the soldiers despite sufficient proof that they are Police personnel on legitimate duty.
“Three Policemen (comprising 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, Alhaji Hamisu, who is now on the run.”
The statement said the suspect has on the police radar “for his complicity in several high-profile kidnap cases including the recent abduction of an Oil-Mogul in Taraba State wherein a ransom of about One Hundred Million Naira (N100,000,000) was paid.”
It added that the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had “ordered the AIG Medicals to proceed to Jalingo to ensure concerted efforts in the treatment of the injured Police officers.”
Mr Mba said the remains of the deceased have been deposited in the morgue while investigation has commenced on the incident.
