4 ex-soldiers arrested for killing NDLEA officer

Four dismissed soldiers have been arrested for allegedly killing a National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) officer, Kingsley Chimetalo, in Niger State.

Niger State Police Public Relations Officer SP Waisu Abiodun disclosed this on Friday, May 24, 2024.

Abiodun said the incident occurred around Ramat Junction in Bida Local Government Area of Niger State on March 9.

He said: “On March 9, at about 6:20 p.m., a team of NDLEA officers were on stop and search at Ramat Junction, Bida when two suspected soldiers not in uniform, on a motorcycle were intercepted.

“The team requested for their identifications, which the suspected soldiers did not provide a proper means of identification and nothing incriminating was found on them.

”In the course of the search, there was an altercation, after which the suspects left the scene, returned with additional men reinforced to the scene and allegedly attacked NDLEA officers.”

Army dismisses 6 soldiers, sanctions 2 others over misconduct

Abiodun said during the fight, Chimetalo was stabbed in the back with a Jack-knife by one of the dismissed soldiers and his rifle was taken away.

The police spokesman disclosed that the injured NDLEA officer was taken to the Federal Medical Centre in Bida, where he was later confirmed dead.

He said police operatives attached to ‘A’ Division Bida immediately swung into an investigation, adding that the deceased rifle was recovered in a nearby bush where it was dumped without a magazine.

Abiodun said the investigation conducted in collaboration with 18 Brigade, Nigeria Army, Bida, led to the identification of six soldiers who were court-martialed and dismissed while two of them escaped.

Abiodun listed the names of the dismissed soldiers to include Sani Munzani and Abubakar Auwalu from Kano State, Abubakar Sani from Kebbi State, and Muazu Hassan from Edo State.

He said the suspects were handed over to the police on Monday for prosecution, adding that Munzani confessed to the stabbing of the NDLEA officer.

The police spokesperson noted that the dismissed soldiers were under investigation at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna, Niger State, and would be charged to court for prosecution upon the conclusion of the investigation.

The Star