By Austin Ogwuda
A convicted kidnap kingpin, Hamisu Bala, otherwise known as Wadume, on Sunday, received a heroic welcome at his hometown, Ibbi in Taraba State, Nigeria after serving his 7 years jail term for kidnapping.
Ironically, he was accorded a heroic welcome by a large crowd of his kinsmen comprising men , women, youths including children.
His traditional ruler was also not left out in the ‘welcome home’ party.
He was released from Kuje Prison in Abuja, on Friday (two days ago) after serving out his jail sentence which ran concurrently.
A Federal High Court in Abuja had on the 15 th of August 2022 sentenced him to seven years in jail.
The court convicted and jailed him for seven years for escaping from lawful custody and unlawfully dealing in prohibited firearms.
But the prosecution was reported to have failed to prove the charges of kidnapping against him.
The judge, Binta Nyako, found Wadume guilty on counts 2 and 10 of the 13 charges preferred against him and six others by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
She also jailed four of Wadume’s co-defendants charged in the case of tampering with evidence, aiding and abetting, and unlawful possession of firearms. The five convicts include a police officer, Aliyu Dadje, a Police Inspector.
The court was silent on the role played by the Soldiers implicated as the then AGF amended the charge shielding the said Soldiers from trial.
Recall that Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Inspector-General of Police then led by DSP Abba Kyari arrested Wadume arrested in Ibi, Taraba State on the 6th of August, 2019.
But on their way to Abuja from Ibi, some soldiers belonging to the 93 Battalion in Takum, Taraba State, led by Tijjani Balarabe, an Army Captain, was accused to have aided his escape from the custody of the police personnel.
The Mr Balarabe-led troops allegedly shot at the police personnel in the vehicle conveying Wadume to Abuja.
In the process, three Police officers and two civilians were killed while five others were wounded in the attack aimed at freeing Wadume from police custody.
…. heroic welcome
As his Ibbi kinsmen trooped out to welcome him back home, Wadume was at palace of the traditional chief of Ibbi chiefdom, Alhaji Salihu Danbawuro
Wadume told the chief that he was at the palace to thank the chief and the entire people of his chiefdom saying that throughout his trial, the chief and his subjects stood firmly with him and prayed for his safety and good health while in prison.
The chief, Saliha Danbawuro, told Wadume that he and his subjects were happy that he is out of prison.
“I and the entire people of Ibbi chiefdom are happy that Hamisu Wadume is now back in Ibbi his home town”, he stated with nostalgia.
Credit: Premium Times/Naija News
