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Page 1 of 2  Even as he spoke exclusively with Sunday Trust on his hospital bed at the Federal Medical Centre Jalingo, where he was flanked by relatives and sympathizers, Sergeant Buinda Kasala, exhibited sufficient traits of a gallant police officer. Eloquent in speech and sharp in articulation, Kasala whose right hand was recently severed by an armed robbery suspect in Bali local government area of Taraba state, gave a vivid account of his ordeal.
Until Monday April 28, 2008, Kasala who hails from Nguroje in Sardauna local government area of Taraba state worked as Sergeant Crime at the Bali divisional Police station. He had several official plans for that week; but certainly, loosing his precious hands through the machete of an armed bandit was not one of such plans. As a police officer who specialized in crime fighting, it is unthinkable for Sergeant Kasala to have planned to lose his right hand with which he had pulled several triggers in the past against suspected criminals. Prior to that fateful day the attention of the Bali Police division was said to have been severally drawn to the nefarious activities of a particular gang of suspected armed bandits who were reportedly terrorizing people in the area. According to Sergeant Kasala, a particular robbery operation by the gang was reported at a village called Mai Goge. A Fulani man from the village was said to have gone to the market and sold some of his cows following which the robbers struck in the village at night. The villagers were said to have braved the robbers and caught one suspect whom they handed over to the Bali Police station. "The suspect made confessional statements at the Police station and promised to lead us to the hideout of their gang leader," Kasala told Sunday Trust, adding that the anti crime team from the station comprising himself and four others was drafted to go and effect the arrest of the suspected robbery kingpin also called "Commander". On getting to the hide out of the suspected bandit Sergeant Kasala said their team led by Superintendent Abubakar Hamman, was forewarned of the consequences of daring the "Commander" but that the team leader insisted that they must accomplish their mission. "No sooner we got to the entrance of the hide out than we met with the supposed Secretary of the suspected armed bandit and moments later the suspect himself surfaced but refused to talk to us boasting that he was too big to speak with us," Kasala said. "The suspect then rushed back to his room while I grabbed his secretary and bundled him inside our vehicle," Kasala said adding that: "The next thing I experienced was a terrible shock on the wrist of my right hand which turned out to be the effect of a machete cut on my hand." But even with his severed right hand oozing with blood, Sergeant Kasala did not give up. "I used my left hand and pulled the trigger of my rifle and shot the "Commander" dead. I then ran back inside the vehicle and was rushed to the hospital." At the male surgical ward of the FMC Jalingo where he was admitted, Sergeant Kasala eventually had the severed hand amputated while the wound was getting healed. He told Sunday Trust that he had made several breakthroughs in tracking down suspected criminals. He said: "In 1986 I successfully lead a team to smash a gang of four suspected armed robbers who were terrorizing people in Sokoto while in 1995; I led another team to arrest two notorious robbery suspects that unleashed a reign of terror on some communities around Minna, Niger state." Commending the Taraba state Police Commissioner, Richard Chime, for showing serious concern over his plight, Sergeant Kasala appealed to Police authorities to always stand by any Police officer in times of misfortune as a way of encouraging them. He also advised his colleagues in the Police to always exhibit strong courage in whatever hazard and situation they find themselves in the course of their duty. But beyond this raises the question of what becomes the fate of Sergeant Kasala in the police after recovering from the hospital. Asked if he has any regrets joining the Police, Kasala was quick to respond on the contrary. He, however, sums up fears over his future with the Police in these words: "I love my job as a crime fighter. But now that I have lost my hand the Police may throw me away."
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