Nigeria soldiers with heavy gunfire have attacked the Adamawa State Police Headquarters, Jimeta, Yola North Local Government Area, in the early hours of Wednesday, sending residents of Yola into panic and killing one Police Inspector, Jacob Daniel.

The Adamawa State Police Commissioner, Afolabi Babatola who confirmed the incident in a news release made available by the state police command spokesperson, SP Suleiman Nguroje, noted that there was a clash between policemen and men of the Nigeria army along Target Junction in Yola North local government area of Adamawa state which led to the military personnel attacking the police facilities in the council area.

There was earlier newspaper report alleging that the military personnel were on a revenge mission, following the alleged killing of a military officer by the police along the Target junction.

The Police news release titled: “CP DECRIES, SPEAKS TOUGH AGAINST UNRULY CLASH BETWEEN SECURITY AGENTS AND ATTACK ON POLICE FORMATION…Caution officers to be professional” reads in quote:

“The Commissioner of police, CP Afolabi Babatola, has strongly condemned the recent conflict between Police and Military Officers along Target Junction, Yola North Local Government Area, that resulted in exchange of fire and Brutal attack on the Police Facility and killing of Inspector Jacob Daniel.

“Consequently, the CP has ordered an immediate investigation into the matter with a view to ensuring peace and justice. The CP warned that attacks on all security officers in the line of duty would no longer be tolerated under whatever guise, as the Command holds the lives of all security personnel sacrosanct, and such unwarranted conflict would be strictly treated in accordance with extant laws.

“He equally reiterated the commitment of the Command to protection of lives and property while stressing that it is vital to work with other sister security agents in protecting the fundamental rights of security operatives, in order to enable them advance their sacred mandate of serving and protecting the citizens better.

“The police Boss appeal for calm as the top Management of both security agencies are doing everything legally possible to address the situation”.

It would be recalled that there was report of a faceoff last Friday between officials of the EFCC and some personnel of the Nigerian Air Force at the Kaduna Zonal Command of the anti-graft agency.

The NAF personnel were said to have stormed the commission’s office in an attempt to release their colleagues earlier arrested by EFCC operatives for allegedly attempting to forcibly release fraud suspects from custody.

The anti-graft agency noted that its operatives arrested five suspects at an eatery located in the Barnawa area of the state on Monday following credible intelligence about their alleged internet-related fraud activities.

EFCC in a statement on Sunday, said: “The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, personnel released on administrative bail by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, November 17, 2023 will be charged to court at the conclusion of the ongoing investigation. The officers were released to their Service in strict adherence to the bail procedures of the Commission. The Commission reiterates the fact that no one is above the law and the due process will be followed in bringing the case to a conclusion”.

EFCC earlier in a report, titled: “Facts of the Face-off Between EFCC and NAF Officers in Kaduna” gave details about what led to the arrest of the military personnel as stated below verbatim:

Operatives of the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, November 13, 2023 arrested five suspects at a residential Inn and Disney Chicken Eatery, Barnawa, Kaduna following credible intelligence about their alleged internet- related fraud activities.

The suspected fraudsters: Favour Itung, Rachael Ande, Zuleiman Haruna, Abubakar Ismaila and Solomon Olobatoke, were arrested without incident.

However, after the sting operation, six military personnel who witnessed the operation at Disney Chicken Eatery, stormed the Kaduna Command and attempted to forcibly release the arrested fraud suspects. They were subdued and detained over the security breach.

The intruders are four Air Force personnel : Lawal Abdullahi, Chukwuma Chidi Christian, Alfa Suleiman and Emmanuel Ekwozor, and two students of Nigerian Air Force Institute of Technology, AFIT: Chidera Anuba and Joseph Tokula.

While in detention, there were inter- agency communication and discussions by the leadership of the EFCC and the Nigerian Air Force, NAF to resolve the issues.

Unfortunately, dialogue on the release of the combative Air Force personnel broke down on Friday, November 17, 2023 when some unruly NAF Officers stormed the Kaduna Command in a commando- style, to forcefully release their detained colleagues.

The EFCC exercised restraint in the face of the provocation and flagrant abuse of power. The Commission continued to engage with the leadership of the Nigeria Air Force and released the officers to the NAF Provost after they had been duly profiled.

The EFCC wishes to assure the public that it will continue to carry out its statutory mandate of tackling all cases of economic and financial crimes, without let or hindrance.