The head of Ibi in Taraba State, Alhaji Garba Salihu, disclosed that Hamisu Bala, popularly known as Wadume, visited the palace to show respect after being released from incarceration. Salihu mentioned that Wadume promised to cooperate with relevant parties to combat illegal activities, as per Punch’s report.
Salihu stressed the palace’s decision to accept Wadume’s promise, expressing optimism that he would steer clear of criminal activities in the future. He highlighted the community’s practice of reintegrating even repentant members of Boko Haram, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures to ensure community safety.
“We are hoping that he will not go back to criminality. He came to the palace and pledged his loyalty as a changed person. Even repented Boko Haram are allowed to reintegrate into the community, so we have to accept him and take proactive steps to secure our community,” Salihu remarked.
He further underscored Wadume’s potential role in promoting peace within the community, citing his influence and willingness to cooperate with law enforcement and stakeholders. Salihu depicted Wadume not as a hardened criminal but as someone with a questionable character, noting that certain charges against him were not upheld due to external factors.
“There will be a lot of talks around his release and his reception in the town, but people do change. It is usually disheartening to have a son or subject tagged as a global criminal and it’s good he is back, after serving his jail term. We hope that he will help rebrand the name of our community,” Salihu expressed.
Wadume’s release from the Nigeria Correctional Service’s facility in Kuje on Friday marked the end of his seven-year imprisonment, which reportedly ran concurrently. Upon his arrival in Ibi, he was greeted by a large crowd eager to see him.
Wadume gained notoriety following his arrest by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team in 2019, followed by his escape during a controversial encounter between police officers and soldiers.
Leave a Reply