IG’s operatives nail Badeh’s alleged killer

Juliana Francis

Operatives of the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris’s Special Intelligence Response Team, have arrested alleged killers of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (rtd).

This, however, cannot be confirmed as at press time. Our correspondent’s attempt to get the Force Spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, was abortive as phone line didn’t go through.

However, according to an online medium, Badeh’s alleged killers were arrested exactly six days after his murder. The police are expected to present the suspects to journalists today.

The retired Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (rtd) was killed while having a pending case of financial misappropriation by the EFCC, which started in 2016. Badeh had denied his involvement in any misconduct.

Many feared that he was assassinated by some influential Nigerians, who didn’t want him to open a can of worms concerning the financial misappropriation case.

It was gathered that the stunning confessions of the suspects today, would blow minds, putting paid to the assassination theory.

It was further gathered that the fateful operation of December 18, which led to Badeh’s death was a robbery operation that went awry.

Badeh, on December, 18, at about 6:35pm, was returning from his farm, located at Panda Development Area, Karu Local Government Area, when he was attacked by gunmen at Tudu-Uku, along Gitata-Keffi Road.

He was in the company of his friend and driver when the gunmen ambushed and opened fire on his moving vehicle.

He suffered gunshot injury, which resulted to his death, while his driver was injured and the said friend abducted.

IRT operatives were instructed by the IG, to carry out discrete investigation into the case.

The death of Badeh torn Nigerians on social media into two factions; one screamed assassination, and the other insisted that it could be a random incident.

The online media reports that Badeh’s friend, who was abducted in the operation, was later released after paying a whooping sum of money. It is strongly believed that Badeh is a kidnap target. It was alleged that the suspects had no choice than to kill Badeh.

The downfall of the suspects started with a single arrest. The first suspect was used as bait to catch others.

Badeh was a retired four star flag officer of the Nigerian Air Force who served as the 18th Chief of Air Staff (Oct 4, 2012- January 16,2014) and the 15th Chief of Defence Staff of the armed forces of Nigeria (January 16, 2014 – July 13,2015).