Boko Haram: Trial of seven cops stirs anger in Police

The ongoing trial of seven police officers for allegedly killing the leader of the radical Boko Haram Islamic sect, Mohammed Yusuf, his father-in-law, Baa Fugu Mohammed, and an alleged financier of the group, Buji Foi, is causing ripples in the Nigeria Police Force, it was learnt yesterday.

Yusuf was shot dead in July 2009 during one of the crises masterminded by the Boko Haram. Since then, the sect has allegedly engaged in a series of bombings and killing of policemen which culminated in the bombing of the Police Force Headquarters last week Thursday in Abuja.

A senior police officer, who spoke under condition of anonymity ,told our correspondent that most officers and men of the force are angry over the issue.

The source said officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force were not happy over the terrorism charges preferred against them because four of the accused officers had already been suspended with three others dismissed.

He contended that though Mohammed Yusuf died in "questionable circumstances" during the Boko Haram’s uprising in Maiduguri,there were many police officers and members of their families who also lost their lives."

"How can the officers be facing terrorism charges for what they allegedly did while fighting terrorists? Yusuf, the leader of the group, died in questionable circumstances after his arrest during the sect’s uprising, but many police stations and patrol vehicles were also burnt. Many of our officers and members of their families were also murdered then and up till now they are still being killed by members of the sect.

"To be candid with you, the development has not gone down well with most officers who feel the accused persons are being unjustly persecuted to please people in certain quarters. But one thing is clear, the trial is not good for the morale of officers and members of the rank and file," the source said.

Another source said: "What do they expect the police to do when they are being killed and attacked by the Boko Haram? Do they expect them to fold their hands until all of them are wiped out? This is rather unfortunate?

"If they are trying them for terrorism, who will try those who killed our officers and members of their families during the crisis and thereafter?"

Investigations by The Nation revealed that four of the accused officers were suspended from the force with effect from July 7, 2010 while three others were dismissed.

While those suspended included Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) John Abang, ACP Muhammed Akeera Yoonus, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Mohammed Ahmadu and Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mada Babu; those dismissed from the force were Sergeant Adamu Gado, Corporal Anthony Samuel and Corporal Linus Luka.

According to a copy of a brief on the charge number FHC/ABS/KD/10C/2011 which was sighted by our correspondent in Abuja, the investigating team said: "Sequel to wide outcry after the airing in Aljazeera Cable Network which depicted extra judicial killings of the leader of the Boko Haram sect, Muhammadu Yusuf, and his followers on July 30, 2009 by some members of the NPF, apparently in response to the sect’s sustained attacks on police properties and other government buildings and facilities and killing of members of the force, the IGP directed a discreet investigation aimed at fishing out the police officers involved.

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