Ime Akpan
Shuaibu Rabi, one of the suspects arrested in connection with the killing of the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Vice Marshal Alex Badeh, has told police interrogators that he was unaware that the bullets from his gun killed the four-star General.
The 25-year-old native of Bade area of Kaduna State also confessed that he received N25, 000 after the killing and was promised to be paid additional undisclosed sum later.
He also said he was not the only person who attacked the General’s convoy.
Rabi, who was arrested alongside four others – Yahaha, Maube, Aliyu Usman, aka Ciroma, and Ibrahim Abdulahi – by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team, said Maube invited him for the operation.
“What happened was that before last year’s Christmas, I went to the market and I met Ciroma and he told me that there was a big man who has a farm in Panda and that the man was coming to buy another farm within the area. He said he wanted us to rob the man when he brought the money for payment. That was on a Friday.
“Ciroma told me that the man was coming on a Tuesday to pay for the land. On that Tuesday, I went to my own farm and told a friend about it. We called Ciroma to know if ‘the job’ was still feasible and he asked us to come. We left together with another friend called Baso to meet Ciroma on a farm. He gave me a Dane gun. He also gave guns to some other members of the gang.
“When the operation started, Ciroma and the other members were in front of me and my friend. When we sighted the vehicle carrying the man, we started shooting. At that point, I can’t tell who killed the man. Ciroma brought out a bag from the vehicle and he gave me N25, 000. He promised to give me more money later,” he said.
In his confession, Ciroma who accepted that he organised the robbery operation said: “There was a day I went I meet a man called Maube, who lives in Kare close to Panda area of Nasarawa State and he told me that there was a rich man who has a farm in his area. He said he would need some boys to rob the man.
“I contacted one Shuaibu, who I met in Gitata market and I told him about the plan. He indicated interest and co-opted his brother, Yahaya I took their numbers and three days later, Maube called me and said the rich man was in his farm that and I should call my boys. I stopped at Bade area of Kaduna State and I called Shuaibu, informing him that the man was on the ground. Shuaibu brought two persons, Yahaya and Baso. Emir of Lafia passes on in an undisclosed hospital in Abuja.
“Then they met me at Gitata and Alhaji Maube then called me and said that the rich man had left his farm, adding that he was driving through Panda Road. Alhaji Maube, took a motorcycle and followed the rich man from behind, while Alhaji Lamido, Galma, Rabo, Shuaibu, Yahaya, Baso and I, waited for the man at Zomgo area of the state close to his farm.
At a point, Ibrahim Abdulahi, who was carrying Alhaji Maube, on his motorcycle, brought two guns and identified the vehicle. We came outside and waylaid it. We had four Ak-47 rifles in that operation. I brought two Ak-47 rifles and a single barrel dane gun. I got one of the Ak-47 rifles from a friend known as Rontumi and another from Rugumi . The dane gun belongs to me and we blocked the man’s convoy. I don’t know who fired the shot that killed the man. The person we killed
“Three persons fired but I don’t know who fired the shots but after the shootings. I went to the man’s car, opened it and found money in it. I gave the money to Ibrahim Abdullahi and asked him to give the money to Maube. It was the next day that we knew that the person we killed was a four star General. I don’t know the amount that was in that bag because it is with Maube,” he said.
The 35-year-old who said he is a driver and married with two wives and eight children said he was arrested by the police last December.
“I am a taxi driver and I ply the Kaduna/Keffi Expressway. I make N4000 daily. I reside in Gajio. On December 24, 2018, at 5pm I was at Panda market ,waiting for passengers, when a bus blocked me and policeman came out of it. I was dragged into the bus and I saw Shuaibu in it. I was handcuffed and was taken to the Keffi Area Command, in Nasarawa State. I was asked if I was part of the gang that blocked the road and killed Alex Badeh and I said no. When I was brought to Abuja, I had no option than to confess,” he stated.
