- The Nigerian Army may rotate its troop in Taraba, Adamawa and other adjourning states.
The Nigerian Army may rotate its troop in Taraba, Adamawa and other adjourning states.
It was gathered from sources on Tuesday that the army authorities took the decision because they felt that a large number of the men might had been compromised or infiltrated by criminal elements.
One of the source said, “The army headquarters may rotate most of the troops and officers in Taraba and adjourning states when the dust has settled.
“That is one of the suggestions, because there seems to be much infiltration of the personnel by criminals.”
A top military source also said the army headquarters was considering the rotation of most of the troops in Taraba State, as the allegations of conniving with criminals continued to trail most of the soldiers.
Also, the seven-man investigative panel constituted by the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, at the instance of President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the killing of three policemen in Ibi, Taraba State, had now visited the area and had questioned soldiers and officers.
Our correspondent learnt that the DHQ panel was extending its interrogations to officers at the Nigerian Army 23 Brigade in Yola, Adamawa State, which controls 93 Battalion, Takum, Taraba State, who are alleged to have issued instructions to the commanding officer at the unit in Ibi.
Our correspondent had reported on Tuesday that the Defence Headquarters issued a directive to the 93 Battalion to produce the runaway kidnap kingpin, Hamisu Wadume.
It was learnt that the DHQ panel members went to Ibi on Tuesday and cross-examined some of the soldiers and officers in 93 Battalion and in the 23 Brigade, Yola, who were asked to report to Ibi.
The DHQ panel, headed by Rear Admiral Ibikunle Olaiya, had members from the army, navy, air force, police, the Department of State Services and the Defence Intelligence Agency.
Apart from the DHQ panel, the soldiers and officers were said to have also been interrogated by the Directorate of Military Intelligence from the 3 Division, Jos, Plateau State.
“The questioning concerns some officers at the 23 Brigade in Yola, because the 93 Battalion men are claiming they did not do anything without the knowledge of the superior officers,” a source said.
The army spokesman, Col. Sagir Musa, could not be reached for comment as his line rang out on Tuesday.
