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Tag: Hafiz Inuwa

  • Husband, wife sell only son in Calabar

    The Cross River State Police Command has arrested one Mr Daniel Bassey and his wife, Magdalene, for selling their two-year old son for an undisclosed amount in Calabar.

    Addressing reporters in Calabar on Tuesday, Commissioner of Police, Hafiz Inuwa, said the couple was arrested when the wife reported at the Efut Divisional Headquarters that her husband took their only son, Moses Bassey, to an unknown person in Port Harcourt through one woman simply known as Mummy and collected an undisclosed amount of money.

    “The suspect was later arrested. During interrogation, it was revealed by Daniel Bassey that the complainant, Mrs Magdalene Bassey, mother of the baby was party to the transaction. The duo are now in police custody to unravel the cause of this inhuman action and possible prosecution,” Inuwa said.

    He said efforts were on by the police to ensure that the baby is recovered.

    Daniel Bassey, who was paraded alongside his wife and 78 other suspects, admitted to the crime.

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    He said he was 27 years old.

    Daniel, an indigene of Akwa Ibom State, said he did it because of economic hardship.

    Daniel who said he has two children, said the boy was his second child. His first child, a girl, is three years old.

    His wife, Magdalene, who said she was 22 years old and from Bakassi local government area in Cross River State, admitted that she consented to the act.

    She said she agreed to it so they could solve their financial problems.

    The police Commissioner, Inuwa, who paraded 80 suspects for various offences, said they had seized 11 firearms, N92, 000 cash and recovered two vehicles.

    He said security was everybody’s business and appealed to members of the public to be patriotic by shearing timely and useful information to help the police do their job better.

  • 40 kidnappers arrested in Cross River

    40 kidnappers arrested in Cross River

    The Cross River State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hafiz Inuwa, said on Thursday that 40 suspected kidnappers were arrested between February and December last year.

    Addressing journalists at the maiden press briefing of 2018, Inuwa said a total of 528 suspects were arrested for various criminal offences and 234 firearms recovered.

    He said so far in 2018, successes have also been achieved with 51 suspects arrested for various offences and several weapons recovered from them.

    “The year 2018 has come with another success story as a landmark in the command’s effort to maintain peace and order, protect lives and property and prevention of crime.

    “I want to state categorically clear that the command is determined more than ever to surmount all forms of criminalities, bust criminal hideouts and expose all criminal elements operating within the state.

    “Through communications has made the world a global village, hence the general public are enjoined to cooperate with the police through useful information dissemination and partnership in community policing for effective, reliable and quality service delivery,” the police commissioner said.

  • Police rescue abducted woman in Cross River

    Police rescue abducted woman in Cross River

    Policemen in Cross Rivers have rescued one Comfort Udoenwang, who was abducted by gunmen in October 2.

    The state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hafiz Inuwa, who disclosed this in Calabar, said the victim was released in the early hours of Saturday.

    Inuwa said the victim was kidnapped from her Jesus Avenue residence in Calabar south and taken to Akpap-Okoyong village in Odukpani local government area of the state.

    The police commissioner said the rescue operation was carried out by the newly formed Anti-Kidnapping/Cultism Unit of the command.

    “In the early hours of today (Saturday) my men swooped on the kidnappers’ hideout identified to be that of a syndicate that specialises in kidnapping, robbery and assassination as well as that of a group that kidnapped Mrs Udoenwang.

    “On sighting the police, the hoodlums opened fire on our detectives and as a result of the exchange of fire, one of the suspects, Isaac Sabastine, was shot dead.

    “His corpse has been deposited in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital mortuary.

    “We recovered one locally made pistol and a live cartridge, an axe, a Nigerian army camouflage uniform, one face mask and one black axe confraternity banner.

    “We also arrested one of the suspects, Elle David, while their kingpin, Ayi Etok, narrowly escaped with gunshot wounds.

    “A Toyota Highlander jeep with registration number ANA 420 CK belonging to the victim was also recovered.

    “Investigation is ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects,’’ he said.

    NAN

     

  • Police boss urges traditional rulers to report crime

    Police boss urges traditional rulers to report crime

    Mr Hafiz Inuwa, the Commissioner of Police in  Cross River  has called on the traditional rulers in the state to report all cases of crime in their communities to the police.

    Inuwa made the call on Thursday in Calabar at the end of the one-week celebration and inauguration of the Police Community and Relations Committee ( PCRC ), Cross River chapter.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the celebration is `The Role of PCRC in Crime Prevention and Control’.

    According to Inuwa, the call becomes necessary because the traditional rulers are the closest to the people, adding that the police cannot fight crime alone without the support of members of the public.

    He said that since the traditional rulers were the custodians of the people and their culture, it was important for them to report all cases of criminality in their communities to the police.

    “The PCRC has been an integral part of the police for many years now; this has helped in maintaining peace and order in the society.

    “There is no society that exists without crime, but I must say that the crime rate in Cross River is relatively low.

    “I am happy that our traditional rulers are part of the PCRC. I want to charge them to report all cases of criminality in their communities.

    “If traditional rulers can effectively collaborate with the police in the area of information gathering and sharing, I think we will achieve maximum result in policing the state accordingly, ‘he said.

    Mr Mike Effiom, Chairman of PCRC in the state said that the committee, established in 1984, was an arm of the police force meant to foster community based policing.

    Effiom said that the duties of members of the PCRC were focused toward promoting the concept of community policing and enhancing public relations between the police and members of the public.

    “The PCRC does not only promote community based policing; we also protect lives and property, educate, inform and partner with well-meaning persons or groups to checkmate criminality in the state.

    “We will continue to mobilise and enlighten our members to be proactive in policing our various communities across the state, “he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that high point of the celebration was the award of excellence on crime prevention and management to Inuwa byPCRC.

  • Police arrest three suspects with 30 solar batteries in C/River

    Police arrest three suspects with 30 solar batteries in C/River

    The Cross River police command, has arrested three suspects alleged to have stolen 30 solar batteries along Ekprikang village in Bakassi local government area of Cross River.

    The Commissioner of Police, Mr Hafiz Inuwa, made the disclosure on Friday in Calabar in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    Inuwa said the suspects were arrested on Aug. 1, 2017, following a tip-off by some concerned members of the public in the area.

    “On Aug. 1 2017, following a tip-off, we received information that some men were seen with some solar batteries along Ekprikang village in Bakassi, suspected to have been stolen.

    “On receiving this information, a team of policemen were dispatched to the area and one Salisu Aminu, Archibong Ene and Godwin Essien were arrested in connection with the theft.

    “We found 30 solar batteries in their possession. The solar batteries are suspected to have been removed from the Ekprikang/Ikang road solar light project in Bakassi.

    “We also recovered from the suspects, 36 gallons of palm oil and 25 empty ones. The palm oil and the empty gallons were all suspected to have been stolen,’’ he said.

    The commissioner told NAN that the suspects confessed to the crime, adding that investigation was ongoing with a view to charge them to court.

    He urged members of the public to avail the command with useful and timely information that would help the police curb crime across the state.

    “It is crystal clear that the police alone cannot accomplish the set-goals of tackling insecurity without the collaborative efforts of members of the public.

    “I wish to solicit for more collaborative efforts of Cross Riverians in our efforts to safeguard lives and properties of every citizen.

  • Police confirm nine dead in Calabar tank farm explosion

    Police confirm nine dead in Calabar tank farm explosion

    The Cross River Police Command has confirmed that nine people died in a fire outbreak that occurred at Linc Oil and Gas tank farm at around on Sunday morning.

    Mr Hafiz Inuwa, the State Commissioner of police, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the scene of the event, confirmed  the figure.

    Inuwa added that several other persons, who sustained injuries were currently being treated in one of the hospitals in Calabar.

    According to him, the manager of the depot is yet to brief the police on what led to the explosion.

    “Up until now, nobody has come out to tell us that this is what caused the fire outbreak.

    “We have gone round, we have done what we can do but investigation will later reveal what actually led to the explosion.

    “For now, nine people are confirmed dead and many others who sustained different burns are currently receiving treatment in one of the hospitals around town’’, he said.

    NAN reports that officials from the Cross State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), were on ground to assess the extent of damages caused by the explosion.

    A NAN correspondent who went round the depot, reports that the fire outbreak also affected the high tension cable which connected  depot’s electricity  transformer, while two vehicles and other important equipment were also burnt to ashes.

    The depot Manager  refused to speak with newsmen, saying that he was not authorised to speak at the moment.

    But, a staff of the depot, who spoke with NAN under the condition of anonymity, said that the fire outbreak occurred when staff of the depot where discharging out the old products in the tanks to fill in the new consignment.

    “As we speak right now, the vessel that brought in our new product is just by the port here. Some of our staff were discharging the old product from the tank with a view to bring in the new one when the fire outbreak occurred,” he said.

  • Police arrest retired DSP for defiling 9-year-old girl

    Police arrest retired DSP for defiling 9-year-old girl

    The Police Command in Cross River has arrested a retired Deputy Superintendent of Police, Christopher Archibong, for allegedly defiling a 9-year-old girl.

    Presenting Archibong alongside 62 other suspects to newsmen in Calabar on Thursday, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Hafiz Inuwa, said the suspect committed the crime on May 31, 2017 in Calabar.

    Inuwa alleged that Archibong, 55, lured the victim into his uncompleted building to park woods for him and later defiled her after threatening to kill her spiritually if she resisted.

    “On May 31 2017, one traffic warden officer who retired as a DSP, Mr Christopher Archibong, 55, defiled a 9-year-old girl.

    “On June 5, 2017, when the victim could no longer bear it, she informed her mother of the incident and the case was reported to the police on June 7.

    “Upon his arrest, the suspect confessed to the crime and he will be charged to court soon,’’ Inuwa said.

    Archibong told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that “the whole matter was a set-up’’.

    “I was set up by my close neighbours who got jealous of me after I bought a piece of land to build my house.

    “I retired as a DSP in February this year, I am a law abiding citizen of Nigeria; I did not rape the girl as alleged,’’ he said.

    The commissioner also presented 10 suspects for allegedly killing four people during a clash between two rival cult groups, ‘clans and baggers’ confraternity in Ochong community in Obubra Local Government Area of the state.

    “On June 8, 2017, we received an intelligence report in our Ikom Area Command that two rival cult groups, clans and baggers confraternity clashed in Ochon community and the conflict led to the killing of four persons.

    “As a result of investigation, 10 suspects believed to be principal actors in the murder case were arrested.

    “Investigation is still on while those arrested will soon be charged to court,’’ he said.

    Similarly, the commissioner also presented one Nnamoso Okon and Victor Edet for allegedly stealing a car battery from the vehicle of a police officer who was on night duty on July 2.

    He said that during search, the police recovered 12 stolen car batteries from the two suspects.

    Inuwa said that between May and June, the police command had arrested 63 suspects for various offences committed across the state.

    “So far, we have recovered nine locally made pistols; seven live cartridges; 12 car batteries; four rounds of 9mm ammunition; three machetes; 10 motor batteries; armoured cables and three plasma television sets,’’ he said.

  • Police arrest four suspects with 4,555 National Identity cards

    Police arrest four suspects with 4,555 National Identity cards

    The police in Cross River on Monday arrested four suspected thieves for unlawful possession of 4,555 National Identity cards and 21 others who committed various offences, the Commissioner of Police,  Mr Hafiz Inuwa, said.

    Inuwa, who made the development known when he addressed  newsmen in Calabar on Tuesday, said the suspects were arrested by personnel of the Police Command in Cross on May 19.

    He said the suspected identity card thieves were arrested at a location on Eyo-Edem Street in Calabar following a tip-off.

    The commissioner explained that after a thorough search on the suspects, 4,555 National Identity cards bearing different names were found on them.

    “Upon interrogation, the four suspects confessed that one Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff gave the cards to them.

    “All the four suspects confessed to the crime and investigation is on-going in order to arrest the alleged INEC staff,” he said.

    The commissioner said that the command also arrested three suspected armed robbers on May 2, shortly after they allegedly robbed Solomon Alfred of his N380,000 and three mobile phones.

    “On May 2, our men arrested three suspected armed robbers who had robbed Solomon Alfred of his N380,000 and his three mobile phones.

    “Also on May 13, our men arrested a student of the University of Calabar for being in possession of fake currencies.

    “During interrogation, the suspect claimed that a friend of his that resides at Uyo gave him the fake currencies.

    “Investigation is on-going to unravel the truth of the matter and arrest his accomplices to ascertain the source/distributor of these fake currencies,” he said.

    The police also arrested three suspected manufacturers of firearms on May 19, the commissioner said.

    He also said  the police recovered five locally made pistols; six locally made single barrel guns, one locally made single barrel long gun, among others.

    “During the period under review, the state police command has arrested 25 suspects for various offences.

    “We recovered five AK 47 riffles, seven magazines and 200 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, one battle axe, eight live cartridges, among others,” he said.

  • Man rapes teenager, infects her with HIV

    Man rapes teenager, infects her with HIV

    The Cross River State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hafiz Inuwa, on Tuesday said a 13-year -old girl was raped by one Edet James Asuquo, who also infected her with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

    Inuwa said the accused has been charged to court.

    The police commissioner said Aauquo confessed that he was aware of his HIV status and had vowed to spread the virus as much as he could.

    Inuwa disclosed that the girl was confirmed HIV positive after a routine medical test.

    The police commissioner, who briefed journalists on the achievements on the state police command in the last two weeks, said during the period under review a total of 25 suspects were arrested for various offences ranging from armed robbery, attempted murder, assault on police officers, possession of fake currencies and unlawful possession of fire arms, among others.

    Items recovered included five AK 47 rifles, seven magazines and 200 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, four locally made pistols, one locally made single barrel gun, one battle axe, eight live cartridges, one Mercedes Benz truck with registration number DAL 222 XA loaded with suspected stolen wheat and N380, 000 cash.

     

     

  • Normalcy returns to Calabar after Police, Navy clash

    Normalcy returns to Calabar after Police, Navy clash

    Normalcy has returned to Calabar after a gun duel between the Police and the Nigerian Navy in a part of the city on Tuesday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a police officer was shot and killed by naval personnel, while the police also shot and injured a naval officer on his shoulder during the clash on Tuesday night.

    Also, a section of the Akim Police barracks located along IBB Road was destroyed by the naval men and some cars were equally burnt too.

    Gov. Ben Ayade who addressed newsmen after the State Security Council meeting on Wednesday, urged the citizens to go about their legitimate businesses as normalcy has returned to the affected area.

    According to Ayade, the unfortunate incident was as a result of a misunderstanding between some officers of the police and the Nigerian Navy.

    “I want to assure the citizenry, and indeed Nigerians, that the whole area is calm after the unfortunate incident that arouse from the misunderstanding between the police and the navy.

    “The senior officers were quite proactive by intervening fast to arrest the situation yesterday. We are proud to announce to you that Calabar, and indeed Cross River is totally calm.

    “The unfortunate incident arose from an issue at a traffic light spot, at the stadium, off IBB road.

    “A Police officer was trying to control traffic and that led to the misunderstanding between him and a team of young naval officers”, he explained.

    The governor urged officers and men operating in the state to see themselves as partners in progress at all times.

    Commodore Salihu Jubril, Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship Victory, said: “We are saddened by yesterday’s incident. However, I am very delighted to tell you that normalcy has returned.

    “The incident only affected a portion of IBB road and not the entire metropolis and we are fully on ground to prevent possible escalation.

    “Let me assure you that the culprits will be brought to book, properly investigated and appropriate sanctions meted on them,” he added.

    Also speaking, Mr Hafiz Inuwa, the State Commissioner of Police, said that the clash would not affect the existing relationship between the police and the navy in the state.

    “We are glad to announce to the public that Calabar and the entire state is calm and our status as the safest state remains without a doubt.

    “All the service commanders in the state are one and active partners in progress; particularly on issues of security and protection of lives and property of the citizenry”, he said.