December 18, 2024
Six years ago, on December 18, 2018, Nigeria lost a prominent military leader, Air Chief Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh, who was tragically assassinated while returning from his farm along the Abuja-Keffi Expressway in Nasarawa State.
The former Chief of Defence Staff was killed by unknown gunmen, and despite extensive investigations, no convictions have been made. This has left his family, the military, and the Nigerian populace deeply troubled by the lack of justice.
In the aftermath of the assassination, a Joint Investigative Panel was set up, involving representatives from the Defence Headquarters, the police, and the Department of State Services. The panel paraded a 51-year-old suspect, Jibrin Ibrahim, and 14 others, who confessed to their involvement in the murder. They revealed that they had collected a ransom of N2 million before releasing Badeh’s friend, Joseph Okpetu, who was abducted alongside him.
Jibrin Ibrahim was identified as the owner of the SIM cards used to negotiate the ransom for Okpetu, implicating his involvement in the crime. Alongside him, five other suspects—Aliyu Usman, Shuaibu Rabo, Yahaya Nuhu, Musa Muhammed, and Ibrahim Abdullahi—were paraded by the panel.
Despite the arrests and the display of weapons recovered from the suspects, including two AK-47 rifles and two locally-made guns, justice has yet to be served. The slow pace of the trial and the absence of convictions have heightened concerns about security and accountability within the Nigerian judicial system.
Air Chief Marshal Badeh served as the Chief of Defence Staff from January 2014 to July 2015, having earlier served as Chief of Air Staff between October 2012 and January 2014. His assassination remains a dark chapter in Nigeria’s history, highlighting the dangers faced by security officials and the urgent need for a comprehensive resolution.
The family and loved ones continue to demand justice, as the nation reflects on this tragic loss.
