The Acting Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Mohammed Adamu, The IGP has ordered the immediate arrest and prosecution of all persons involved in the unprovoked and gruesome attack on four Police detectives in Ogoja, Cross River State.
The detectives were on a legitimate mission to arrest some suspected armed robbers and receivers of a stolen vehicle in a community in Cross River State.
According to the Force Spokesman, Frank Mba, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, said in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, the attack which occurred on April 17, was masterminded and executed by one Ikenga, a notorious receiver of stolen property, and his gang members.
He said that the detectives who were attached to the IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT) Unit were seriously and grievously wounded with deep machete cuts on their heads and other parts of their bodies.
The detectives had, after a painstaking investigation, arrested four (4) 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.
The spokesman explained that the victims (detectives) were investigating a case of a stolen Toyota Sienna bus earlier reported by the Master Chapel Church, a Pentecostal church based in Lagos.
He said they had after a painstaking investigation, arrested four male suspects, Peter, Ben, Ebuka and Johnson.
Mba said that the suspects, who confessed to stealing the vehicle but that they had sold it to another criminal in Benue.
“Following the confession, the detectives moved to Benue with one of the four suspects and arrested the one in Benue. 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 #250, 000 Naira”.
“With this discovery, the detectives proceeded straight to Cross River, where the notorious receiver, Ikenga, was apprehended and the stolen vehicle recovered,” he said.
He said that shortly after the arrest of Ikenga, he raised alarm in his native language which attracted his weapon- wielding gang members who attacked the police officers.
Mba said during the incident, Ikenga escaped with the stolen vehicle.
“The I-G, while condemning the attack in very strong terms, has warned that the police under his watch will not tolerate criminal attacks and assault on its personnel or facilities,” he said.
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 IGP has therefore ordered for the immediate manhunt and arrest of Mr IKenga and other members of his gang”.
