Commander of 23 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Yola, Brigadier General Sani Gambo Mohammed, has been removed from office by Nigerian Army Headquarters over the invasion of Adamawa Police Command Headquarters by soldiers of the Brigade.
His removal came a day after the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, visited the headquarters of the Adamawa State Police Command, where soldiers invaded and killed an inspector, Daniel Jacob, on November 21,
General Mohammed had accused policemen of shooting and injuring a soldier at Target Junction checkpoint on Tuesday over dispute on paying N50 at the checkpoint.
The Brigade Commander had told a newspaper: “Police shot at our soldier at a checkpoint. The soldier was injured, and the Police went and hid him, and we can’t find him. So, the soldiers went to rescue their colleague that was shot by the Police.”
Sources confirmed that “the policemen actually shot and injured the soldier who was on pass from his anti-Boko Haram duties for failing to give them N50 bribe at a checkpoint. And this is even after the soldier had identified himself, showing them his ID. Then, they hid his body.
“And to think that this soldier was shot by the policemen and he was not released to the Nigerian Army even after request is what the soldiers couldn’t fathom. And this is what led to their move to Police Headquarters Command to take custody of their colleague.”
The Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, had on Tuesday visited the headquarters of the Adamawa State Police Command, where he condemned the soldiers for acting like Boko Haram terrorists and vowing that the matter would be addressed and such would never happen again.
According to Egbetokun: “It was an unfortunate incident which should never have happened. I believe this is going to be the last time it will happen in Nigeria.
“These people came like bandits and carried out the attacks on our facility in a manner similar to an invasion by Boko Haram terrorists.
“Inspector Jacob Daniel was an officer on duty at the quarter guard on Wednesday last week when he was murdered, following an invasion on this headquarters by some recalcitrant soldiers, in an attack that was unwarranted, carried out in a manner reflecting the activities of Boko Haram by their invasion on this facility.
“I am in your midst this afternoon to share the grief that you have. I learnt that he was an officer who was committed to his duty. He always demonstrated the highest level of dedication to duty. But unfortunately, we lost him to the attacks that were unwarranted and barbaric.”
After observing a minute silence in honour of the slain cop, Egbetokun admonished officers of the force not to allow the incident to dampen their morale.
In his remarks, the Commissioner of Police in Adamawa State, Afolabi Babatola, said, “The command, in particular, and the State in general, would have been in a state of total calmness if not for the unfortunate incident that happened on Tuesday, 21st November 2023.
“I would like to use this opportunity to request Armoured Personnel Carriers, gun trucks and Hilux vehicles to maintain the tempo.”