The Defence Headquarters, the Department of state security DSS and the Nigerian Police parade 15 suspected killers of ex CDS, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh.
Panel of investigators recovered arms in the homes of high profile suspects.
20 persons are involved in the killings and 15 arrested so far.
Panel of investigators say the killing of the ex CDS had no political undertone.
One Aliyu Usman led the killers, the panel said.
Details shortly
The Nigeria Police Force said it has arrested five suspects for their alleged involvement in the killing of a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Vice Marshall Alex Badeh.
The Force, which refused to give the names of the suspects, said two out of the five suspects arrested actively participated in the killing.
It said the remaining three suspects played other roles that led to Badeh’s murder.
The Police however did not parade the suspects claiming that its decision was to prevent other members of the gang from escaping.
The Force Spokesman, Ag. DCP Jimoh Moshood made the disclosures at a briefing in Abuja.
Moshood also said the postponement of the parade would help the investigators to arrest fleeing members of the gang.
He said: “The suspects arrested actively participated in the killing of the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh. On the directive of the IGP, the Police Joint Investigation Team set up by the IGP were mandated within the shortest possible time to arrest all those responsible for the killing of the Badeh on the 18th of December, 2018 in Nasarawa State.
“Two principal suspects who participated in the killing of the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh and three other suspects connected to the crime carried out on the 18th of December, 2018 have been arrested by the Intelligence Response Team of the IGP and the Special Tactical Squad.
“The suspects are currently in Police custody and undergoing investigation. The public should also know that the investigation into the killing is being intensified to arrest other suspects who are still at large.
“It is of significant note and for the public to be aware that the parade of the two suspects and the three other gang members will not come up today so as not to jeopardize the ongoing investigation.
“While the suspects will be paraded before the media and the public upon the completion of investigation into this matter, the Nigeria Police Force will not relent and will leave no stone unturned in getting to the root of the killing and bringing all perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice.”
•Senate, House seek investigation
THE Air Force said last night that progress has been made on the circumstances surrounding the killing of former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh.
According to the Air Force Director of Information and Public Relations, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, details of the development would be made public soon.
Air Commodore Daramola, in a statement, however, cautioned against spreading of false information regarding the killing by yet to be identified gunmen.
He said: “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has noted, with dismay, some erroneous reports and comments in the media regarding the unfortunate incident that led to the death of former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) on December 18, 2018.
“Some of these reports erroneously state that the driver of the late former CDS, who was also shot during the incident, is dead. Other reports allege that adequate security was not provided for the deceased Air Chief Marshal.
“The NAF wishes to state categorically that nothing could be further from the truth. Firstly, all are please requested to note that the driver is alive and recuperating extremely well at one of our NAF Hospitals.
“Secondly, Air Chief Marshal Badeh has always been provided with the full-compliment of personal staff and security personnel commensurate with his status as a former Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), CDS and a four-star general in the Armed Forces.”
The statement added: “As mentioned by the CAS, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on December 19, 2018, the NAF is working closely with other relevant security agencies to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of the former CDS with a view to ensuring that the perpetrators of the heinous act are brought to justice.
“Substantial progress has already been made in the ongoing investigation and details would be communicated at the appropriate time.”
But, the Senate and the House of Representatives yesterday asked the Federal Government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the assassination of former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (retd).
The upper chamber also asked security agencies to search and rescue Badeh’s personal staff abducted and held hostage by his assailants.
The resolutions followed the unanimous adoption of a motion on “the demise of Alex Badeh, Chief of Defence Staff retired”. The motion was sponsored by Senators Binta Masi Garba (Adamawa North) and Bala Ibn Na’Alla (Kebbi South).
The House urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Director General (DG) of Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate and uncover those behind the killing of former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh.
Condemning the dastardly act in its totality, Bashir Babale (APC, Kano) advised everyone in position of authority to be mindful of the purpose of the responsibilities assigned to them, while others expressed suspicion over the killing.
This followed the adoption of a motion by Abdulrahman Abubakar (APC, Adamawa), who regretted that a worthy son of Adamawa State that served the country meritoriously was gruesomely murdered by unknown gunmen.
The Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, on Thursday described the killing of former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal, Alex Badeh, as shocking and unfortunate.
He said that it was a sad commentary on the nation’s security situation that a top military personality who got to the pinnacle of his profession could be killed in such a way.
Dickson in a statement in Yenagoa called on the Federal Government to ensure that persons behind the murder of the former Chief of Air Staff and former Chief of Defence Staff were arrested and brought to justice.
He condoled with the immediate family of the fallen former Defence Chief, the Nigerian Air Force, the Military and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces
Dickson also condoled with the Ijaw National Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, on the death of his son, Chike.
The governor said that the news of the death of the 43-year-old son of the elder statesman came to him as a shock.
The Governor prayed to the Almighty God to give Pa Clark, the immediate family of the Late Chike and the Ijaw nation the fortitude to bear the loss.
Until his death after a surgery at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, on Sunday, the late Chike, a father of three, was living with his family in Hungary.
The governor said: “The news of the death of Mr. Chike Clark, the son of Ijaw National Leader, Pa Edwin Clark came to us a shock. While it is a natural feature of our people as Africans to pray for Long life, we cannot question will of the Almighty God.
“On behalf of the good people of Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation, I condole with our leader on this sad development.
“We are with him at this trying moment and even as we pray for God to grant Pa Clark, and indeed the family the fortitude to bear this loss.”
THE military and the police have launched a probe into the murder of a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh (retd) – an incident that has shocked eminent Nigerians.
Some crack detectives have been deployed in Nasarawa State by Inspector-General (IG) Idris Kpotun Ibrahim.
More details emerged yesterday on the murder of the former Chief of Air Staff, with the Nasarawa State Police Command confirming that his driver survived the attack.
A friend of Badeh, who was also in the car, was abducted by the gunmen.
The police and security agents are searching for the abducted friend.
The details were contained in a statement on the preliminary investigation into the murder.
The statement said: “The former CDS suffered gunshot injury which resulted to his death,while his driver was injured and the said friend abducted.
“The corpse of the late Air Chief Marshal and the injured driver have been taken to Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Hospital, Abuja.”
The statement confirmed that the probe of the incident was ongoing with the visit to scene of the murder by the Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa State Yahaya Bello and some senior military personnel.
The statement added: Following the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, the Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa State and some senior military personnel have visited the scene alongside IGP’s Intelligence Response Team ([RT) and Special Tactical Squad (STS), who are to carry out discrete investigation into the case.
“The Police Command, Nigerian Army and Air Force personnel led by Deputy Commissioner of Police are in the area immediately the incident occurred with a view to rescuing the abducted person and arrest the perpetrators of this dastardly act.
The Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa State has called on members of the public with useful information that can aid the ongoing investigation to come forward with it or contact GSM lines 0803304I306 and 08033097663.
He said such information shall be treated with utmost confidentiality.
It was also learnt that pressure was being mounted on the deceased’s wife, Mary Iya Badeh and children to return to Nigeria for burial.
Members of the family relocated abroad following the investigation and trial of the former CDS.
Alex Badeh Jr. was grilled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with the alleged N3.97 billion fraud involving the late CDS.
But the son later managed to escape abroad.
Badeh’s wife and daughter reside in the United States (U.S.). The whereabouts of others were unknown as at press time.
A top intelligence source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said a comprehensive investigation into the killing of the ex-CDS has started.
As at press time, some associates and relations of the ex-CDS have got in touch with his wife and children on the need to return home to bury the patriarch of the family.
The President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, 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.
Noting that the late Badeh, who was also a former Chief of Air Staff, attained professional fulfilment in his over three decades military career, Buhari regretted that he fell victim to incidence of violent and fatal attacks on the nation’s highways.
He directed security agencies to find the killers of the 15th Chief of Defence Staff and bring them to face the law.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan extended his condolences to the Nigeria military, the entire people of Adamawa State and the family of the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff.
Jonathan, according to a statement by his spokesman, Ilechukwu Eze, noted that Badeh, who served his administration as both Chief of Air Staff and Chief of Defence Staff, served the nation to the best of his abilities.
Adamawa State Governor Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow described the late former Chief of Defense Staff as a personality, who will be highly missed, especially the people of Adamawa State, who took much pride in him as an illustrious kinsman.
Badeh hailed from a community near Mubi, Adamawa State’s leading commercial town and Bindow home.
The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, described Badeh’s murder as “crude and senseless”.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the Federal Government to ensure that the killers of former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh are prosecuted.
The opposition emphasized that his killers must not go the way of others.
The party’s National Vice Chairman (South West), Dr Eddy Olafeso in a statement issued in Akure, the Ondo State capital said the killing of Badeh demonstrated the level of insecurity in Nigeria.
In the statement signed by the South West zonal publicity secretary of the party, Ayo Fadaka, the PDP leader said “the circle of bloodletting that has viciously characterized our national life shows that Nigeria is insecure.”
Olafeso noted that the killing of a high profile Nigerian was absolutely uncommon; stressing that there must be diligent investigation on his death.
He noted that Badeh continued to remain under EFCC investigation till his death, urging government to go extra mile to unearth the factors responsible for his assassination and bring the culprits to book.
Delta Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has condemned the gruesome murder of former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh by unknown gunmen.
Chief Press Secretary to Okowa, Mr Charles Aniagwu, in a statement yesterday condemned in strongest terms killing of the retired general who dedicated his lifetime to the service of his country.
Okowa tasked security agencies in the country to rise to the occasion by unmasking the assailants and bringing them to justice.
Okowa lauded Badeh for initiating the Optimizing Local Engineering (OLE 1 and 2) to focus on developing indigenous Unarmed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and other weapon systems that resulted in the production of the AMEBO project (aka GULMA 1 UAV) the 1st locally produced drone in Nigeria which allowed the Air Force survey and carry out attacks remotely without putting the lives of pilots at risk.
The Statement further said “Badeh initiated and constructed the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) extension complex fitted with a befitting joint operations room, conference hall, the office spaces, Penthouse to receive guests, Armed Forces DNA Laboratory, which has allowed for easy identification of casualties of war, the Defence Space Agency, commissioning of 30 Gun Boats in the Niger Delta region amongst others.”
Continuing, “The killing of Alex Badeh by unknown gunmen is quite unfortunate and a 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 bedeviled 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,” the governor lamented.
“It is my prayer and the prayers of all Deltans that the almighty God will give the family the fortitude to bear this loss”.
Driver also killed in Abuja-Keffi Road attack
Air Chief commiserates with family
A former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Air Chief Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh, has been shot dead.
He was said to have been killed with his driver on the Abuja-Keffi highway. He was 61.
According to a top military source, Badeh was returning from his farm when his vehicle came under attack.
The source said the ex-CDS was without a military escort expected of his rank because he went to his farm.
It was learnt that the late Air Chief Marshal was rushed to a hospital at the military cantonment popularly called Abacha Barracks, where he was pronounced dead.
A statement by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) also confirmed Air Chief Marshal Badeh’s death.
The statement by NAF Director of Public Relations and Information Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola said: “ It is with a heavy heart that I regretfully announce the unfortunate demise of former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh, who died today, 18 Dec 18, from gunshot wounds sustained when his vehicle was attacked while returning from his farm on Abuja-Keffi Road.
“On behalf of officers, airmen and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, commiserates with the family of the late former Chief of Defence Staff over this irreparable loss.
“We pray that the Almighty God grants his soul eternal rest. Details later.”
The ex-CDS was killed barely a month to the opening of his defence on the alleged N3.97billion fraud preferred against him by the Federal Government.
The court fixed January 16, 2019 for his defence after his application for a no-case submission failed.
Badeh was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 21 Regular Course on 3 January 1977, and was commissioned Pilot Officer on 3 July 1979. He began his flying career at the 301 Flying Training School on the Bulldog Primary Trainer aircraft in 1979. Between 1981 and 1982, he attended the Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance Air Force Base in the United States Air Force. He was at the 301 Flying Training School (FTS) as a squadron pilot and later became an instructor pilot on the Bull Dog and DO-228 aircraft.
He attended the junior staff course at Armed Forces Command and Staff College in 1988. Between 1995 and 1996, he attended the senior staff course at same institution. In 2005, he was at the National War College Nigeria as a member of Course 14 and graduated in August 2006. The Air Marshal holds an M.Sc. degree in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan.
Badeh was Commander of the Presidential Fleet during the Olusegun Obasanjo presidency. As Chief of Air Staff, he initiated Optimizing Local Engineering (OLE 1 and 2) to focus on developing indigenous Unarmed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and other weapon systems.[citation needed] The OLE teams consisted of Nigerian Air Force officers with PhDs and master’s degrees in various fields of aerospace design, avionic and armament specializations from the Cranfield University in the UK. In February 2016 Alex Badeh was accused of financial misappropriation by the EFCC during his tenure as service chief. Badeh has denied involvement in any misconduct