The acting Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP, Mohammed Adamu, Tuesday ordered the immediate arrest and prosecution of all persons involved in the unprovoked and gruesome attack on Police officers in Cross Rivers State.
Adamu said the police operatives who were attacked were on a legitimate mission to arrest some suspected armed robbers and receivers of a stolen vehicle in a community in the state.
The FPRO, Frank Mba in a statement explained that the attack occurred on April 17, at Ogoja community of the state.
He added, “It was masterminded and executed by one Ikenga, a notorious receiver of stolen property, and his gang members.
“Four (4) Police officers attached to IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT) unit were seriously and grievously wounded, with deep matchet cuts on their heads and other parts of their bodies.
“The detectives (the victims of the savage attack) are 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”.
However, Mba affirmed that the suspects who were implicated in the crime by Police investigation, “confessed to, indeed, stealing the vehicle.
Further, the FPRO said, “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 the 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.
“With this discovery, the detectives proceeded straight to Cross River State, where the notorious receiver IKENGA was apprehended and the stolen vehicle recovered”.
Also, it was learnt that shortly after the arrest of the suspect, he raised an alarm in his native language which attracted his gang members and, consequently brought the policemen under serious physical attack from weapon-wielding hoodlums.
Mba reported, “the officers were savagely butchered by these armed gangs. Consequently, Ikenga, the notorious crook escaped with the stolen vehicle”.
But the IGP has condemned the attack in very strong terms, warning that the Police under his watch will not tolerate criminal attacks and assault on its personnel or facilities.
He, therefore, enjoined traditional rulers and community leaders not to allow such attacks to take place in their domain as they may be called to account.
Also, the IGP while ordering for the immediate manhunt and arrest of Mr IKenga and other members of his gang, 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 the unwholesome and illegal acts.
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