Three policemen have been feared dead in Sabongari area of Jalingo, Taraba State following a violent clash that ensued between personnel of the Nigerian Army and the police on Monday morning.
TrackNews learned that the clash was alleged to have escalated when the Army personnel posted to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state beat up a woman police whom they stopped for identification.
Markets and shops were abruptly shut down and streets deserted while parents rushed to schools to take their children.
The clash between soldiers and police officers in Jalingo continues a string of bad blood incidents between officers of both security agencies in Nigeria.
For example, when a team of policemen arrested a wanted kidnapper, Bala “Wadume” Hamisu, in Taraba in 2019, a team of soldiers attacked them. The soldiers killed three policemen and two civilians and liberated the suspect.
The government indicted 10 soldiers involved in the attack but withdrew charges against them to allow the Army to court-martial them first. Their dismissal from the Army remains a waiting game four years later, despite protests from the police.
