Family members of Inspector Mark Philips Ediale of the IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT) on Wednesday called for an independent international investigation into the killing of the officer and his colleagues by soldiers of 93 battalion at Ibi in Taraba state last week.
The family said they are not after compensation but that justice should be done and the killers made to face the law and consequences of their action.
Elder brother of Inspector Mark Philips, Mr. Andrew Ediale who addressed the media in Abuja in company of the widow, Mrs Olubunmi Philips Ediale, the daughter, Adesuwa Ediale and other relations noted that “if the law fails to do the needful on this outrageous killing, we will resolve that it is an act of conspiracy”.
He said “The blood of the innocent officers cry for justice”, and “If justice is not served, the blood of the officers will cry against this country”.
“My name is Andrew Philips Ediale, the elder brother to the murdered Inspector Mark Ediale last week in Taraba State.
“The family of inspector Mark Philip Ediale called for this press conference so that we come before all well-meaning Nigerians and the world at large to voice out our displeasure as to this gruesome murder.
“This inglorious killing of our brother in Taraba state, who went on official duty for this country, which he has served for sixteen years must not be swept under the carpet.
“We vehemently speak against the perpetrators’ heinous act on the operative, which was done by the Nigerian army.
” We demand a very thorough investigation not only by the Nigerian Army but by international and independent body as well so that justice should be done.
“We want justice, because the same army that is charged with protecting the citizens of this country; happen to be the perpetrators of this barbaric act.
“Our question is who are these soldiers working for? Whose side are they on and whose payroll are these military personnel on? These are the many questions we demand answers for.
“Why was the kingpin kidnapper released? They (IRT officers) had done their job, apprehended the kidnapper, on their way back to Abuja, army operatives unleashed fire, it was in the hail of these gunshots that cut down all these gallant police officers.
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“We demand to know why? And why the kidnapper was released, and the effort of the gallant police officers was not only compromised, their life was equally cut short, we demand justice.
Continuing the elder Ediale said, “”It (Killings) does not only undermine the integrity of the law of the land, but has caused grief to the family members of the deceased officers.
“They were on active duty, his wife is now a widow, his daughter rendered fatherless, and the family is grieving, shattered.
“We, therefore, demand that the culprits be brought to justice, nothing should be swept under the carpet, whoever the perpetrators may be, and we want them to be punished to the full extent of the law.
“If the law fails to do the needful, we would resolve that it is an act of conspiracy, that must not happen. We demand justice, anything short of these is a mockery of our democracy and the law of the land.
“The blood of these innocent officers, whose life was aborted by bullets from the army, cry for justice and if no justice is served, their blood will cry against the nation.
“The record of successful operations by Inspector Mark Philip Ediale, and his fellow officers are not only commendable but enviable.
“We ask that to deter further occurrences of these nefarious act, all hands must be on deck, as we demand an expedited resolution, on this matter, the whole world is watching.
“In spite of what they (Military) are doing, we want an independent investigation, it is not about compensation we want justice to be done.
In her brief contribution, Mrs Ediale said, ” All I want is Justice for those who killed my husband to face adequate punishment”
Also speaking, Mrs John Anthony Danlami who is a senior relative of the civilian staff working with SARS, killed by the soldiers, (Mr Olajide Owolabi), said all the family wanted is justice to be done in the matter and those responsible for the killing made to face justice.
She said Owolabi has been working with SARS for long driving them from place to place for the past few years without any issues until the Taraba incident where he was killed along with the Police Officers by soldiers while on their way to Abuja.
Other family members at the press conference were Pastor Paul Okonofua, Mr. Godwin Iluobe, Glory Ediale, Paul Ediale, Oseni Adekunle Azeez, and Keji Lasisi.
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