Family members of late Mark Edeale, a police inspector who was one of those allegedly killed by army officers in Taraba State are demanding for justice.

Addressing the media on Wednesday, the elder brother to the slain police officer, Andrew Philips Ediale said the family is not after any form of compensation from the government that anything short of getting justice amounts to conspiracy on the part of the soldiers of the Nigerian Army who carried out the act.

According to him, the family is only seeking a thorough investigation that will bring all the perpetrators to book.

“If the laws fail to do the needful, we will resolve that it is an act of conspiracy. That must not happen. We, the family of the deceased, demand justice to the full extent of the law. Anything short of this is a mockery of our democracy and the law of the land,” Mr Ediale said.

“The family of Inspector Mark Philips Ediale called this press conference so that we can call on all well meaning Nigerians and the world community at large to voice out our displeasure as to the gruesome murder; this inglorious killing of our brother in Taraba State, who went on official duty for this beloved country that he had served in the past sixteen years or more”.

“We vehemently speak against the perpetrators of this heinous act, the operatives which are the Nigerian Army. And we demand a very thorough investigation not only by the Nigerian community but the international and an independent body as well”.

“So that justice should be truly served. The reason we call this conference is for justice to be served, there is no other reason, there is no other purpose”.

“The same Army that is charged with the responsibility of protecting the citizens of this country, happens to be the same perpetrators at the helm of this heinous and barbaric act”.

“Our question is: who are the soldiers working for? Whose side are they on? And on whose pay roll are these military personnel? These and many more questions we demand answers to”.

“Why was the kingpin kidnapper released? They had done their job of apprehending the kidnapper; on their way back to Abuja, Army operatives unleashed barrages of gunshots, and it was these gunshots that cut down all these gallant police officers. We demand to know why and why the kidnapper was released”.

“And the effort of the gallant police officers were not only compromised, their lives were equally cut short. This is an outrage and we demand justice,” Mr Ediale stated.

“The action has not only undermined the integrity of the law of the land but has brought grief to the family members of the deceased officers. They were on active duty and inspector Ediale, my younger brother,  and others swore to protect this country. His wife is now a widow. His daughter has been rendered fatherless and the family is grieving, shattered by this inglorious act”.

“This is an outrage, it must no longer go under. The blood of these innocent officers, whose lives were aborted by the bullets of same Nigerian Army that have sworn to protect the country and its citizens, cry for justice. And if no justice is served, their blood would cry against the nation”.

“The record of successful operations accomplished by Inspector Ediale and his fellow officers is not only commendable but enviable. So, we ask that to deter further occurrence of this nefarious act, all hands must be on deck as to demand an expedited resolution on this matter. The whole world is watching,”

The family spokesperson therefore, called on the Federal Government and international bodies to intensify efforts towards ensuring justice.