Unconfirmed reports had it that the late Army Officer who was allegedly killed by yet to be apprehended gunmen on the Bauchi -Jos road late Sunday night on his way back to Bauchi from Kaduna, was accosted while riding his power bike from Kaduna to Bauchi.
The news of the murder of late Mohammed Barak came under an already tensed atmosphere in the state capital because of the inconclusive gubernatorial election which collation has been scheduled to resume on (Tuesday, March 19) under a tight security.
However, a top security source told journalists that the tensed security situation in the state has nothing to do with the killing of the top military officer.
His death brought panic to the state capital even as heavy presence of armed policemen was noticed in several public places including the NUJ secretariat in the state capital.
It not be ascertained the gruesome murder of the senior military officer was a case of armed robbery attack or assassination.
However, a source narrating how it harmed said: “The Garrison Commander of 33 Artillery Brigade of Nigerian Army (Shadawanka Barracks) Bauchi, Colonel Mohammed Barak, was shot dead on Sunday night along Bauchi -Jos Road, while on his Power Bike, on his way back from Kaduna. He is from Kano State.”
When Tribune Online visited the 33 Artillery Brigade headquarters, Bauchi, at about 2:30 pm on Monday, key military officers who could give official statement on the sad development were said to have travelled to to Kano where the remains of the slain officer was taken for burial, according to Islamic rites.
However, when contacted on phone, the spokesperson of 33 Artillery Brigade, Major Yahaya Nasir Kabara, confirmed the incident saying, “Yes, it is true.”
When asked to give further details of what happened, he said “Come to the Brigade because it is a matter that needs thorough investigation; investigation is ongoing, I will get back to you when the finding is out. Let me communicate with my Commander, I will get back to you.”
But as of the time of filing this report, he had yet to get back even as he promised that a statement would be issued but also as of the time of filing this story, the Army was yet to make an official statement on the matter.
Fear had indeed heightened shortly after the governorship and state assembly election as political thugs went on rampage killing one and leaving several people injured in the state capital as INEC prepared for a rerun on March 23 which it later reversed and ordered for resumption of collation of the Tafawa-Balewa LGA results.
Several rallies had been carried out by citizens protesting the outcome, a development that forced the police to ban rallies in view of the tensed situation.
When contacted, the PPRO of the Bauchi State Police Command, DSP Kamal Datti Abubakar, declined comments, saying that he had not been briefed on the incidence as of the time journalists met him but assured he will make efforts to get information.
