How Military Clears 10 Soldiers Indicted For Escape of Kidnap Kingpin, Wadume

• Sources within the military have revealed that the force authorities have refused to court-martial 10 soldiers allegedly involved in the escape of Bala Hamisu, aka Wadume
• The 10 soldiers allegedly assisted Wadume in escaping from the custody of the police's intelligence response team IRT
• The police have indicted the soldiers for attacking them while conveying the kidnap kingpin to Taraba state police headquarters on August 6, 2019

The military authorities have refused to court-martial 10 soldiers the police indicted for masterminding the escape of a kidnap kingpin, Bala Hamisu, popularly known as Wadume.

Wadume was assisted in escaping from the Intelligence Response Team’s custody by soldiers attached to Battalion 93. However, they attacked the police team conveying the kingpin to Taraba state police headquarters on August 6, 2019, The Punch reported.

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How soldiers attack police team, let kidnap kingpin escape

During the attack, 3 policemen and 2 civilians were gunned down while 5 officers sustained injuries.

Wadume was later arrested at his hideout at the Layin Mai Allo Hotoro area in Kano state after the police special force and IRT, led by DCP Abba Kyari, launched a manhunt.

The federal high court sitting in Abuja subsequently ordered the then Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, to release the officers for trial. Still, the military did not comply with the court order.

How court convicted Wadume

The court, however, continued with the trial on July 22, 2022, where Wadume was convicted by Justice Binta Nyako of the federal high court and jailed for seven years.

Findings revealed that the soldiers were cleared of wrongdoing by the military board of enquiry that the 3 Batallion of the Nigerian Army, Takum, Taraba state set up.

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Military sources revealed that the recommendation of the panel clearing the soldiers of complicity in the attack on the police and aiding the escape of the kidnap kingpin was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Justice prevails at last as court sends well-known kidnap kingpin to jail

Legit.ng earlier reported that a Federal High Court in Abuja had sentenced Hamisu Bala (fondly called Wadume) to seven years in imprisonment.

The court's ruling, read by the presiding judge, Justice Binta Nyko, was made available to newsmen on Sunday, August 14.

The court also slammed a police inspector, Aliyu Dadje, for tampering with the record to conceal a crime.

Source: Legit.ng