BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), on Wednesday July 3, 2019, paraded 15 suspects who it accused of allegedly carried out the gruesome killing of the former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Late Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (Rtd).
The Late former CDS Badeh was attacked and killed on December 18, 2018 along Kachia – Keffi Express way while returning from his farm.
Speaking while parading the suspects before newsmen, at the DHQ Garrison, Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja, Chairman of the Joint Investigation Panel, Major General Bamidele Shafa disclosed that a total of 20 persons directly participated in the murder of the late Chief Marshal Badeh.
Shafa assured that the remaining five suspects, who are still on the run, will be apprehended as efforts are being intensified to trace their where about.
Speaking on the findings of the Investigation Panel and the individual role played by the suspects, Shafa explained that the attack and killing of Air Chief Marshal Badeh was “criminal and does not have any political undertone.”
He further said; “Aside the killing of the retired senior Air Force officer, the suspects also admitted to the kidnap of one Engineer Joseph Okpetu, who was with the former CDS and was later released after the payment of two million Naira ransom.
According to Shafa; “Two AK 47 rifles, a Dane gun and other dangerous weapons were recovered from the homes of the suspects.”
A statement by Acting Director, Defence Information, Col Onyema Nwachukwu said the Joint Investigation Panel constituted by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin comprised 27 members and an attorney, drawn from the DHQ, the three Services Headquarters, Defence Intelligence Agency, Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services.
Nwachukwu said that the panel was given a clear mandate of ensuring exhaustive and well-coordinated investigation to uncover and apprehend the perpetrators of the heinous crime.
He said the panel was equally guided by terms of reference among which were to conduct an autopsy examination on the deceased and a ballistic examination of associated fire arms.
According to him; “Prime among the suspects paraded include one Aliyu Usman aka Chiroma 35 years old, who is the ring leader of the notorious gang, Shuaibu Rabo 25 years was the second in command and Musa Muhammed aka Alhaji Lamido Tahara aged 45 years was the third in command, while Ibrahim Abdullahi aka Baba aged 30 years was the mastermind and facilitator of the crime.
“Yahaya Nuhu, 18 years old was the biker that conveyed the ring leader to carry out the heinous crime.”
Nwachukwu quoted the Chairman of the panel as having said that the 15 suspects will be formally handed over to the appropriate agency for further investigation and prosecution.
