On Tuesday, a police inspector attached to the Adamawa State Police Command, Yola, lost his life during a confrontation with men of the Nigerian Army.
The attack, initially suspected as a Boko Haram assault, turned out to be a clash between the military and police. Drinking joints, shops and other night businesses were quickly shut down, as residents sought safety amid fears of a potential terrorist attack.
Details of the incident….
It was disclosed that the fight started at Target Junction in Jimeta, Yola North, between three soldiers from the 23 Armoured Brigade and policemen on stop-and-search duty.
A soldier attempted to disarm the police, leading to one of the policemen shooting the soldier in the leg. This incident triggered a retaliatory attack on the police headquarters, resulting in the tragic death of Inspector Jacob Daniel.
Witnesses reported a dramatic scene with soldiers deploying military equipment, including an armored tank, while engaging in a gun battle with police.
“At first, we thought it was Boko Haram. It was a rain of bullets, they fired and we returned fire. That was around 11 pm night. In the end, they killed an inspector and took away his rifle”, the source said.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Sulaiman Nguroje, confirmed the incident and highlighted that an investigation had been initiated in collaboration with the military leadership to resolve the matter.
Brigadier General Gambo Muhammad, the Brigade Commander, on the other hand, stated that soldiers were at the police headquarters to rescue a colleague shot and detained by the police.
“The police shot at our men at a checkpoint and a soldier was injured. Our soldiers went to rescue him and they (the police) fired at those ones too. But now, everything is calm and normalcy has returned, the commander said.
In response to the incident, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri expressed his dismay, describing the clash as unacceptable. He urged calm and tolerance, emphasizing the need for security personnel to exercise restraint.
Governor Fintiri emphasized the potential lasting consequences on the state’s hard-earned peace and called for mutual respect and understanding among security personnel.
“I am concerned that such acrimony could have lasting consequences on the hard-earned peace we have been able to build over the years.”
“I appeal to all security personnel for restraint, mutual respect, and tolerance for one another as people destined to work together in this great state. I appeal for patience and understanding as the administration works towards lasting solutions to these conflicts,” Fintiri said.