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Tag: Mr Garba Umar

  • Police unmask masterminds of Ozubulu Church killings

    Police unmask masterminds of Ozubulu Church killings

    The Commissioner of Police in Anambra, Mr Garba Umar, on Wednesday, unmasked two suspects behind the invasion and killing of 18 worshipers at St. Philip Catholic Church, Ozubulu.

    The suspects are Prince Charles Obi a.k.a Gozila and Dickson Nwodi.

    Umar disclosed this during a press briefing at Amawbia near Awka and added that the duo, based in South Africa, are serving murder sentences in South African prison.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 18 persons were killed by gunmen while 10 others were injured while they were attending early morning Sunday mass at the Church on August 6.

    He said Obi and Nwodi who hailed from Nnobi and Oba communities of Anambra, had mandated one Quintus Anayo, also based in South Africa, to inform Ozubulu elders that they were behind the invasion.

    The commissioner said that the account on Anayo was in line with the investigation of police into the matter.

    He said that already police had established contact with Interpol on the need to extradite the suspects from South Africa to Nigeria.

    He said that police in the state were already intensifying arrangements to arraign the three suspects earlier arrested in connection with the killings within the week.

    Umar thanked the public for the information to which he attributed the successes already recorded by police in the investigations.

    NAN reports that police and the State Government had blamed the invasion and killings on drug war.

  • Police officer arrested over alleged rape of minor

    Police officer arrested over alleged rape of minor

    The Police Command in Anambra has confirmed the arrest of a Police officer, Cpl. Bara’u Garba, who allegedly abducted and defiled a 14-year-old girl.

    The Commissioner of Police, Mr Garba Umar, said at a news conference in Awka on Monday, that the incident occurred recently.

    According to him, the suspect abducted the minor near her residence at Hausa Quarters, Asaba, and kept her in custody for two days at Okpoko in Onitsha.

    He said the suspect was attached to Mobile Squadron in Sokoto but deployed to Anambra on special duty.

    “The erring officer was arrested and detained accordingly and is currently facing police internal disciplinary procedures.

    “The suspect confessed to have seen the girl wandering about in Asaba because she had lost the money with which she was sent on an errand by her parents.

    “He used the opportunity to lure and keep her in his custody but denied having carnal knowledge of her.

    “However, we will soon confirm whether he had carnal knowledge of the minor or not because the investigation is ongoing, while the minor is also undergoing a medical examination.

    ”I can assure the public that the Corporal will be arraigned as soon as the criminal investigation is concluded, “the commissioner said.

    He said the arrest followed an allegation levelled against the suspect at a station but said that the action did not reflect the core values and ethics of the Nigeria Police Force.

    He assured that justice would be done in the matter.

  • Anambra Police to enforce ban on IPOB activities

    Anambra Police to enforce ban on IPOB activities

    The Anambra Police Command says it has taken steps to enforce the ban on all activities of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) in the state.

    The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Garba Umar, saiid this while addressing newsmen in Awka on Tuesday.

    Umar warned that any person or persons involved in the activities of the proscribed group would be arrested and charged to court.

    He defined terrorism as the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate, coerce a government, the civilian population or any segment in order to seriously destabilize or destroy the fundamental political, constitutional, economic or social structure of a country.

    “The Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2013 (As Amended) provides minimum punishment of 20 years and maximum of death sentence depending on the offence.

    “Meanwhile, Section 37 Sub-section (1) Criminal Code Act, Cap 77 provides that any person who wages war against the state in order to intimidate or coerce the President or State Governor is guilty of treason and is liable to on conviction to be sentenced to Death.

    “Therefore, I enjoin the general public to know that participating in the activities of this group is illegal and would amount to treasonable felony,” the police boss said.

    He warned the general public to desist from aiding and abetting members of the group, urging them to provide useful information to the Police to help arrest fleeing members of the outlawed group.

    “The Command also wishes to reiterate that any act of terrorism is criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of the motivation; the Command urges the good people of Anambra to come together to sustain the existing peace in the state.”

    The commissioner assured that the police would continue to safeguard lives and properties of all citizens in the state in line with the vision of Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris.

    He appealed to parents and guardians to warn their children and wards to steer away from the group.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Nigerian Army has declared IPOB as a terrorist organisation in a statement issued by the Director of Defence Information, Mr John Enenche.

  • Police arrest army deserter

    Police arrest army deserter

    A 26-year-old alleged army deserter, Ebeje Nnamdi, suspected to be the trainer of members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been arrested by Police in Anambra.

    Nnamdi was arrested alongside three others for their alleged involvement in armed robbery in Iyi Oji area of Anambra on Wednesday.

    The Police Commissioner in the state, Mr Garba Umar, presented the suspects to newsmen on Thursday at the police command headquarters in Amawbia, near Awka.

    The police also arrested 22 suspected cult members who were allegedly conducting their initiation ceremony in a bush.

    Umar said the police recovered 336 rounds of 7.22x39mm, AK-47 live ammunition from the alleged (IPOB) members and their trainer.

    “Police equally recovered three empty AK-47 riffles with magazines, one locally made double barrel pistol with two live cartridges, (IPOB) wears, IPOB flags, muffler, criminal charms and ATM cards.

    “The Army deserter was formally of the 20 Mechanised Battalion, Taraba, in 2014 before he disappeared,’’ Umar said.

    The  commissioner said Nnamdi became a member of a six-man gang responsible for the attacks and killings of policemen at nipping points, robberies at fuel stations including that of Bukachi filling station, Eziowelle, both in Onitsha on Aug. 31, 2017.

    Others who were arrested alongside Nnamdi were 26-year-old Onyebuchi Peter Ali and Ugwuokpe Nnaemeka, he said.

    Umar said their case was under investigation and that they would be charged to court after investigation.

    He also  said that two members of a four-man gang of kidnappers were arrested, while one was killed in a gun battle with members of the state anti robbery squad (SARS), while the victim was rescued.

    H said the alleged kidnapers were said to have abducted one John Ifediorah of Umuganagu village to Iyi Oji shrine, where he was said to have been subjected to torture before the police swooped on them.

    Those arrested during the raid, he said, were Chukwudi Nwabundo and Obiora Madubueze, while Chinaza Udeezue was killed during the gun battle in the Aguleri bush.

    The commissioner further said that the 22 cultists were apprehended at their initiation centre at Nnewi when the police teams from the Special Anti-Cultism (SPAC) cordoned off the place.

    Umar said the suspects were members of Junior Vikings confraternity (JVC), Ayees, Aro, 2-2, Bagger, Baby Ayees and black axe and were of between the ages of 16 and 25.

    Some of the items recovered from them included one locally made revolver pistol with one live ammunition; one locally made pistol gun with three live cartridges; daggers; three short axes; three machetes; one black turban belonging to Aro; muffler and black berets.

    “The Anambra State Police command has continued to deliver on its mandate of protecting the lives and property of the people of the State.

    “The command has been achieving results in the fight against crime due to the cooperation of well meaning people in the state. We solicit that such synergy should be sustained.

    “I wish to reiterate the readiness of the command to continue partnering with other security agencies and law abiding citizens of the state to eliminate all forms of crime and criminalities.

    “I wish to advise parents to take care of their children/wards so as to reduce cult activities in the society,’’ Umar said.

    The commissioner advised the people of the state to always report to the police or other security agencies any suspicious movement for urgent intervention.

  • Anambra guber poll: Police dismiss IPOB threat

    The police in Anambra  on Saturday  said no person or group could stop  the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra.

    The Commissioner of Police in Anambra, Mr Garba Umar, said this in Awka  while reacting to the call by the Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB) on  residents of the state to boycott the Nov.  18 governorship election.

    Umar told journalists that he only heard about the said call for  boycott of  the election in the media,  adding that IPOB had not claimed responsibility.

    He gave an assurance that the police  would ensure a peaceful election  in the state.

    “We have the capacity to provide a peaceful atmosphere in Anambra State for that election.

    “I have not heard from IPOB that it would stop the election  apart from what was published in the media. But that is for the media.

    ” Nobody or group can issue such threat and succeed  because we have all it will take to subdue such threat.

    “The people of the state have the right to have periodic elections to choose their leaders; nobody or group can stop them from exercising such right. We can’t allow it.

    “We are fully on the ground and we can suppress such threats,” he said.

    Umar, who assumed office in  the state  on June 21, said consultations were on with relevant stakeholders in the state to ensure a peaceful poll.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that stakeholders,  including political parties and Ohanaeze, the apex Igbo socio-cultural body, had  cautioned IPOB  after it called for the boycott of the guber poll.