The Nigerian Army has advised its personnel to travel in mufti to avoid confrontation with policemen over the killing of three police officers in Taraba State.
Police had said last Wednesday that the officers from the Intelligence Response Team who were taking a kidnap kingpin, Alhaji Hamisu Wadume, to the command headquarters in Jalingo were attacked by soldiers.
They said the police officers were shot dead while the suspect was set free, but the army countered the claim, saying the policemen were mistaken for kidnappers.
In a letter dated August 9 and signed on behalf of the chief of army staff by Felix Omoigui, a brigadier-general, the army asked its personnel to always be cautious in dealing with police officers.
The letter read: “In the aftermath of the unfortunate incident involving troops of 93 bn, Takum and members of the Intelligence Response Team of the NPF at Ibi LGA of Taraba State on August 6, 2019, inciting and inflammatory comments are being made by the NPF on the regular and social media platforms.
“This is capable of inciting the rank and file of the NP to exhibit aggressive tendencies against NA personnel. Accordingly, all troops on IS (Internal Security) duty as well as personnel travelling in and out of uniform are to be circumspect in their conduct to avoid escalation.
“Consequently, formations and unit commanders are to educate troops to be cautious in their dealings with members of the NP in view of this development. Troops travelling on pass are to endeavor to do so in mufti.”
