A clash between the military and police officials has led to the death of two police officers in Taraba State.

The Taraba State Police Command spokesperson, Usman Abdullahi, confirmed the incident.

During a press briefing in Jalingo, Abdullahi said the officers were killed in an early morning shootout between soldiers and police officers in the state.

According to him, the soldiers had stormed the Police Headquarters to retaliate against an alleged stabbing of its personnel by a policeman.

He noted that several casualties were also recorded in the attack.

Abdullahi said the attack crippled business activities in the Jalingo metropolis and compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to temporarily put on hold the ongoing collation of election results in the state.

“The situation started when a female police officer reporting for duty at the INEC state headquarters in Jalingo was stopped by a military man at a checkpoint close to the office and asked for her proper identification.

“While we were trying to settle things and I was personally talking to one of the senior soldiers there, the soldiers suddenly started shooting. We were caught in the crossfire and had to run for our dear lives. The soldiers proceeded to the Command headquarters here and shot two police officers and went away with their rifles.

“One police officer going off duty was shot and killed instantly while another who was just reporting for duty and did not even know what was happening was attacked when they identified him as a policeman.

“As we speak, we have gotten reports that our men escorting election results in various duties have been stopped at military checkpoints and harassed. They strip them naked and harass them even though they know nothing about what happened.

“For now, the Commissioner of Police, Yusuf A. Suleiman and the Commander of 6 Brigade Jalingo have met and discussed and have agreed that a commission of enquiry will be set up to look Into the real cause of this incident,” he said.