Security operatives and the panel probing the killing of
policemen by soldiers in Taraba State have seized some property of
suspected kidnap kingpin Hamisu Bala alias Wadume, The Nation
report
Wadume, whose arrest by Police anti-kidnapping squad, sparked a
row that led to the killing on August 6, of three policemen and a
civilian by soldiers, is on the run. The police have launched a
manhunt for him and at least two panels are probing the matter.
It was learnt that Wadume’s properties in Taraba and other
states, including the houses he allegedly built for friends and
some community leaders, have been sealed up by the panel.
It was learnt that more than 20 vehicles in the fleet of his
transport company, including the private cars he gave out to his
allies and kinsmen, have been impounded and taken to the Wukari
police station.
Thirteen of the vehicles are Volkswagen Sharon.
Dozens of employees at Wadume’s Transport business, including
the company’s manager, commercial drivers, associates and some
beneficiaries of his benevolence have reportedly fled Taraba for
fear of arrest.
The Nation learnt that the wanted kidnap kingpin had lofty
dreams.
Apart from his ambition to become a transport company’s Chief
Executive Officer (CEO), he planned to become a political
leader.
In the last general election, he tested the waters when he
aspired to become a House of Assembly member on the platform of the
Young Democratic Party (YDP), to represent Ibi State
Constituency.
It was learnt that Bala could have been crowned the Sarkin
Matasa (Youths Leader) in Ibi during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration
but for his arrest
It was learnt that he had made some financial commitments to an
Ibi chief to smoothen the process of his nomination as the Sarkin
Matasa.
The bodies of the slain policemen and the civilian have been
moved from Taraba to Abuja for post-mortem examination, it was also
learnt yesterday.
Two injured cops have also been moved to Abuja for “further
treatment.”
The slain cops were identified as: Mark Ediale (Inspector) and
Sergeants Usman Danazumi and Dahiru Musa.
Our source said some pathologists working with the police were
billed to begin the autopsy yesterday.
“The purpose (of the autopsy) is for documentation of evidence,”
a source said.
The army captain who allegedly ordered the shooting of the
operatives is being interrogated in Abuja. Two policemen attached
to the Ibi Police Division were arrested and taken to Abuja.
Members of the probe panel have been grilling the arrested
security agents to ascertain whether they colluded with the kidnap
kingpin and his accomplices during the incident which has been
heavily condemned by members of the public.
The two army checkpoints between Ibi and Wukari local government
areas have been dismantled.
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