Police arraign Wadume, army captain, 18 others for terrorism, murder

Nigeria police on Monday arraigned kidnap suspect, Bala Hamisu, also known as Wadume, an army captain Tijjani Balarabe and 18 others for terrorism, murder, kidnapping, and possession of illegal arms.

Wadume was arraigned before Justice Binta Nyanko at the Federal High Court in Abuja on a 16-count charge filed against by the police on Monday, February 3, 2020.

He arrived at the court alongside his co-defendants with security by the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team.

On the list of defendants is Staff Sgt. David Isaiah, Sgt. Ibrahim Mohammed, Corporal Bartholomew Obanye, Private Mohammed Nura, Lance Corporal Okorozie Gideon, Corporal Markus Michael, L/Corporal Nvenaweimoeimi Akpagra, Staff Sgt. Abdullahi Adamu, Private Ebele Emmanuel, ASP Aondona Iorbee and Insp. Aliyu Dadje and Auwalu Bala, aka Omo Razor.

Others in the charge sheet are Uba Bala (aka Uba Belu); Ahmad Suleiman (aka Dan Ball); Bashir Waziri, (aka Baba runs); Zubairu Abdullahi (aka Basho); Hafizu Bala (aka Maiwelder); and Rayyanu Abdul.

Wadume was arrested by police for alleged kidnapping on Tuesday, August 6, 2019, but was allegedly aided to escape by soldiers attached to Battalion 93, Takum, led by Balarabe while he was being taken to the police headquarters in Taraba State.

Three policemen and two civilians were killed during the incident, while five other police officers were injured.

Police, in the suit against the defendants, said they “conspired together to commit felony, to wit: acts of terrorism, by attacking and kidnapping one Usman Garba, aka Mayo, at his filling station in Takum, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 17 of the Terrorism (Prevention) Amendment Act 2013.”