By Dwelleth Morountodun
The acting Inspector General of Police (IG) Mohammed Adamu, on Monday said traditional rulers and community leaders
who allow police officers to be attacked by criminals in their domain may now face interrogation.
Meanwhile, the IG has ordered the immediate arrest and prosecution of all persons involved in the unprovoked and gruesome attack on Police officers who were on a legitimate mission to arrest some suspected armed robbers and receivers of a stolen vehicle in a community in Cross River State.
The Force PRO, Mr. Frank Mba, said the attack which occurred on the 17th April, 2019, at Ogoja Community, was said to have been masterminded and executed by one Ikenga, a notorious receiver of stolen property, and his gang members.
Four Police officers attached to IG Intelligence Response Team (IRT) unit were seriously and grievously wounded, with deep matchet cuts on their heads and other parts of their bodies.
The victims of the savage attack were investigating a case of a stolen Toyota Sienna Bus earlier reported by the Master Chapel Church, a Pentecostal church based in Lagos.
The detectives had, after a painstaking investigation, arrested four male suspects – Peter, Ben, Ebuka and Johnson.
The suspects who were positively implicated in the crime by Police investigation, confessed to indeed stealing the vehicle. They stated further that they had sold the vehicle to another criminal in Benue State.
Hence, detectives moved to Benue State with one of the suspects. On arrest of the suspect in Benue State, he stated that he had sold the vehicle to another notorious receiver of stolen goods based in Ogoja for a sum of N250, 000.00
With this discovery, the detectives proceeded straight to Cross River State, where the notorious receiver Ikenga was apprehended and the stolen vehicle recovered.
However, in a bizarre twist, shortly after his arrest, the suspect raised an alarm in his native language which attracted his gang members. Subsequently, the policemen came under serious physical attack from weapon- wielding hoodlums.
The officers were savagely butchered by these armed gangs. consequently, Ikenga, the notorious crook escaped with the stolen vehicle.
The IG while condemning the attack in very strong terms, warned that the Police under his watch will not tolerate criminal attacks and assault on its personnel or facilities.
He enjoined traditional rulers and community leaders not to allow such attacks to take place in their domain as they may be called to account.
The IG has therefore ordered for the immediate manhunt and arrest of Mr. IKenga and other members of his gang. He also urged members of the public to avail the Police with credible and useful information that will lead to the apprehension of all persons involved in these unwholesome and illegal acts.