The dismissal of Zakari Biu from the Nigeria Police, on Wednesday, by the Police Service Commission (PSC), barely a month to his retirement, was the final seal to his chequered career in the service.

The PSC took the decision to dismiss Biu over his culpability in the escape from police custody of Kabiru Umar, popularly known as Kabiru Sokoto, a Boko Haram kingpin, who masterminded the Christmas Day bombing at St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State.

Biu and others had been immediately suspended, while investigation was carried out into the escape of Sokoto, who had earlier been arrested at the Borno State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, on January 14, by a team of policemen, who had traced him there using a phone tracking device.

Sokoto was said to have gone to the Governor’s Lodge in company with a student, who was to spend the night in the lodge to enable him to catch an early flight to London the following day. Sokoto was arrested with the student and another friend, a military officer.

The dismissal handed down to Biu on Wednesday was not the first termination of his appointment, as former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, was said to have ordered his retirement based on the activities of the police officer during the Abacha years.

Biu gained prominence while he was serving as the leader of General Sani Abacha’s Presidential Task Force on Terrorism.

He was said to have been terror-personified as he made life hellish to “enemies of General Abacha” who passed through him. He was said to have been responsible for the bombing of Bagauda Kaltho, a journalist with The News magazine, who he later accused of planning to plant a bomb in his hotel bathroom.

He was also indicted in the bombing of Dr Sola Omatsola, former Chief Security Officer, who was blown up by a bomb planted in his car. Biu was later to say that Omatsola was a member of NADECO and that he was blown up by a bomb he was trying to plant.

Senator Chris Anyanwu will also not forget Biu in a hurry, as she claimed that he physically assaulted her and caused permanent impairment to her sight when she was arrested and detained for alleged coup plotting against the Abacha government.

Talking about Biu, Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, said: “There’s no reason why somebody like Zakari Biu cannot be co-opted by the al-Qaeda because, obviously, he has no concern for humanity. He’s a complete brute. You know, he can torture. I can see Zakari Biu very happily strapping a bomb to himself and blowing up a passenger plane.”

When Obasanjo ordered Biu’s retirement, he was retired, but after the exit of the president, the police officer petitioned the PSC, claiming that he was retired without being queried.

In its response to Biu’s petition, the PSC held that he was entitled to be reabsorbed into the police since his name was still on the police register. He was subsequently reabsorbed in 2009.

Confirming Biu’s re-absorption into the Nigeria Police to journalists, Emmanuel Ojukwu, former police spokesperson, said “Biu is back in the Force as his name had never been removed from the police register. Biu is now an instructor at the Police Academy in Wudil, Kano State.”

After his return to the service in 2009, Biu was recommended for promotion in 2011 by former Inspector General, Hafiz Ringim, his former course mate. The PSC approved his promotion, which took effect from December 15, 2011. He was subsequently posted to Abuja as Commissioner of Police in charge of CID Zone 7, the position that put him in charge of investigating the terrorism charges levelled against Sokoto.

Comments (0)

Show/hide comments

Show/hide comment form

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Add Comment