Army advises soldiers to travel in mufti, warns against confrontation with policemen – TheNigerialawyer

Following the killing of three Police officers by soldiers of
the 93 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Taraba State last Tuesday,
the Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, has directed troops on
internal security duties to be cautious in their dealings with
members of the Police Force.

He also admonished travelling military personnel to do so in
mufti in order to avoid confrontations with policemen.

The Intelligence Response Team of the Police, led by ASP Felix
Adolije, had come under attack from soldiers along Ibi-Jalingo Road
while taking a kidnap kingpin, Hamisu Wadume, to the Command
Headquarters in Jalingo.

Three officers — Inspector Mark Ediale, Sergeants Usman Danzumi
and Dahiru Musa, as well as a civilian died, while others sustained
gunshot wounds during the incident.

The Nigerian Army had claimed that the soldiers fired at the IRT
team because they failed to stop at three checkpoints; but this was
dismissed by the Police which demanded the whereabouts of the
kidnap suspect who was allegedly set free by the soldiers.

But the COAS, in a letter dated August 9 and copied to Army
formations nationwide, accused the Police of making inflammatory
comments in the social media which he said was capable of inciting
the rank and file of the Nigeria Police to “exhibit aggressive
tendencies against NA personnel.”

The letter, with reference number AHQDAIOPS/G3/240/232 and
written on behalf of the COAS by Brig. Gen. F. Omoigui, was titled,
‘Need for troops to be circumspect in dealing with members of the
Nigeria Police.’

It read in part, “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,” Buratai cautioned.

The Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, could not be
reached for comment on the allegation of incitement levelled
against the police by the Army as calls to his phone on Monday rang
out.