President orders manhunt of Badeh’s killers
Service Chiefs meet
Jonathan, PDP, NANS, Okowa demand probe
Shock and anger, yesterday, greeted the killing of the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (rtd.).
The former CDS and his official driver were shot dead along the Abuja-Keffi road while returning from his farm on Tuesday.
President Muhammadu Buhari has described the killing of the former Chief of Defence Staff as “very sad and unfortunate.”
Buhari directed security agencies to find the killers of the 15th Chief of Defence Staff and bring them to face the full force of the law, while ensuring greater security and safety for all users of the country’s roads.
The President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, yesterday commiserated with the family of the late four-star general, his friends and professional colleagues in the military, and the people and government of Adamawa State.
While noting that the late Badeh, who was also a former Chief of Air Staff, attained professional fulfillment in his over three decades’ military career, President Buhari regrets that he fell victim to incidence of violent and fatal attacks on the nation’s highways.
The President prayed that God Almighty grants Badeh’s soul peaceful rest.
Already, Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, yesterday met behind closed-doors with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Gabriel Olanisakin and other senior security officers at the presidential villa, Abuja.
The meeting, which held inside the office of the Chief of Staff, it was gathered, is not unconnected with Tuesday’s assassination of Badeh.
A competent presidency source told our correspondent that the meeting between the Chief of Staff and the Defence Chief started at 11:30a.m.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan regretted the fact that Badeh, who rose to the peak of his military career before his retirement, was murdered in cold blood, at a time he could still be of service to his fatherland.
Jonathan urged security agencies to swiftly unmask those behind this dastardly act and bring them to justice, especially in this election season when every necessary measure should be taken to ensure that Nigerians’ confidence in the nation’s democracy remains unshaken.
The former President, whom Badeh served his administration as both Chief of Air Staff and Chief of Defence Staff, prayed to God Almighty to grant his soul eternal repose and strengthen his family members as they mourn.
On its part, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is demanding investigations into the murder of Badeh.
The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said that the ambush and killing of a military officer of Badeh’s status has heightened fears and apprehensions, on the level of insecurity in the country.
PDP noted that the former CDS was billed to open his defence, in January next year, in the N3.9 billion military fund case preferred against him by the Federal Government.
It, therefore, called a full-scale investigation into the killing to unravel those behind the dastardly act as well as the motive behind their action.
PDP said President Buhari has failed as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, recalling the killing of former Chief of Army Administration, Major General Idris Alkali, in Plateau State as well as the murder of soldiers in Melete, Borno State, by insurgents.
The party insisted that the “nation is drifting and gradually assuming the status of a failed state.”
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State urged security agencies in the country to rise to the occasion by unmasking the assailants and bringing them to justice.
Okowa said: “The killing of Alex Badeh by unknown gunmen is quite unfortunate and terrible news just like the case of General Idris Alkali who was abducted and later killed.
“I appeal to security agencies to work together and unmask those involved in the heinous crime that led to the death of the retired Defence Chief.
“Our country is being bedevilled by one manner of killings and abductions or the other.
“We never knew that it would deteriorate to a level where a former Chief of Defence Staff would be murdered in such a gruesome manner.”
Ibrahim Magu, the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) expressed shock and condolence over the death of Badeh.
Magu, in a letter of condolence, dated December 19, 2018 and addressed to the Chief of Defence Staff, General A. G. Olanisakin, condemned the “crude and senseless manner of the attack leading to the death of the former CDS”.
He called on the relevant security agencies “to ensure that the perpetrators of this dastardly act are apprehended and brought to book.”
Also, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) condemned the killing of Badeh.
NANS’ National Public Relations Officer, Mr. Bestman Okereafor, in a statement in Enugu, urged security agents to ensure that the perpetrators of “this evil are brought to book without delay.”
“NANS, in all totality, condemns the killing and considers this as very unfortunate, disheartening and one that has, no doubt, once again portrays our beloved country in a negative way and manner in the comity of nations.
“If a former Chief of Defence Staff can be assassinated in such a manner in a democratic rule, what then is the fate of common defenceless Nigerians?
Badeh was standing trial at the Federal High Court, Abuja, for allegedly abusing his office by diverting N3.97 billion public funds.
