FOSSRA Members at DDS
Headquarters
FOSSRA Members at DDS
Headquarters
Joint Security Panel Worried over Wadume
Video
…As DDI Summons Emergency Meeting of
FOSSRA
The panel set up by the military high command to look into
strained inter-agency relations between the Nigerian Army and the
Nigeria Police is worried over a trending video of the purported
confession of the re-arrested notorious Kidnap kingpin Hamisu
Wadume in police custody.
The panel was constituted by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen.
Gabriel Olonisakin following a directive by President Muhammadu
Buhari asking the military to investigate the killing of three
policemen and two civilians in Taraba State by soldiers.
The trending video revealed Wadume confessing that the Army took
him to their base and had his handcuff removed through the effort
of a welder before he escaped after his initial arrest by the
police.
A member of the panel from the intelligence service told PRNigeria[1] in confidence that
Wadume’s purported confession had put the military high command in
bad light, stressing that the new development should have been
ironed out with the police high command since investigation is
ongoing.
The member said: “We are seriously disturbed and alarmed by the
latest video on the purported confession of the re-arrested
kingpin, Wadume while in the custody of the police.
“Though it is a commendable effort for the re-arrest of the
kidnap kingpin, the video recording of the alleged confession of
Wadume while the panel is still conducting its investigation is
quite worrisome as efforts are being put in place to ensure smooth
relations between the military and the police before the offending
confession.
“Though our panel was inaugurated on Friday, August 9 which had
an initial one-week deadline, we have been mandated to continue and
conclude the probe as soon as possible. The arrest of Wadume would
definitely shed more light on our investigation considering the
volume of arrests and interrogations so far.”
The Joint Security Panel headed by Rear Admiral Ibikunle Olaiya,
has representatives of the Police, Army, Navy, Air Force,
Department of State Services (DSS) and the Defence Intelligence
Agency.
Meanwhile, PRNigeria[2]
gathered that the Chairman of the Forum of Spokespersons of
Security and Response Agencies (FOSSRA), Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu
has summoned an emergency meeting of the forum to discuss issues on
inter-agency cooperation.
In an invitation notice to the member agencies, Colonel
Nwachukwu who is also the Director Defence Information said “the
special meeting is sequel to a decision reached at the meeting of
CDS with Service Chiefs and Head of Security and Intelligence
Agencies on the need for spokesperson/Directors of Information to
hold regular meeting to harmonise positions and address joint press
conferences to inform the public on efforts of security agencies in
addressing security challenges in the country and other relevant
issues.”
With its Secretariat at the Centre for Crisis Commission, FOSSRA
has 17 member-agencies in the military, security, response and
intelligence service