Soldiers Shoot Two Taraba Policemen Dead, Injure Others

The Taraba State Police Command on Monday accused soldiers of shooting two policemen to death at a military checkpoint close to the INEC headquarters in the Jalingo area of the state.

Confirming the development to the News Agency of Nigeria, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Usman, said two other policemen were sustained injuries during the attack were receiving treatment in hospital, adding that an investigation would be conducted to ascertain the cause of the incident.

He also noted that the soldiers, after perpetrating the crime around 8.30am, ran away with the rifles of the policemen.

Usman said, “The state Commissioner of Police, Yusuf Suleiman, and the Commander 6 Brigade, Brig. Gen. Frank Etim, have met, discussed and agreed that a commission of enquiry be set up to look into the cause of this incident.

“The soldiers shot two police personnel and went away with their rifles. Some proceeded to the command headquarters with guns and shot sporadically in the air, and one police officer who was going off duty was shot and killed instantly.

“Another who was just reporting for duty and did not even know what was happening was also shot the moment they identified him as a policeman.

“As we speak, we have gotten reports that our men who are escorting election results or on various duties are being stopped at military checkpoints and harassed.”