- Emmanuel Unah
The severed head of an Inspector of police, Michael Umoh, killed on Christmas Day has been recovered in a shrine by the police in Cross River State after his killers were arrested and paraded on Thursday afternoon along with other suspects alleged to have carried out criminal activities in the state during the yuletide season.
The suspects numbering 529 were said to have been arrested for armed robbery, murder, kidnappings, vandalisation of public facilities, murder, arson, defilement among others. Also paraded were weapons and ammunition used by the suspects to perpetuate the crimes. 234 assorted guns including pump action riffles, baretta pistols, English pump action riffles, double abbrel guns were recovered from them.
The State Commissioner of Police, Hafiz Inuwa who paraded the suspects said 186 persons were nabbed for armed robbery, 83 for murder, 60 for cultism, 80 for illegal possession of firearms, 29 for stealing and conspiracy while four were arrested for defiling underage girls.
“The year 2018 has come with another success story as a land mark in the Command’s efforts to maintain peace and order, protection of lives and property and prevention of crime in the state. A huge success has been recorded within the period in the run up to the Christmas celebration and first few days of this month of this year with a lot of persons arrested for various offences and lots of evidence recovered from them” Inuwa said.
He added that three pump action riffles, one AK 47riffles, four locally made revolvers, one Enllish double Barrel gun and, seven locally made single barrel guns, three locally made shot guns, thirty seven locally made pistols, four locally made baretta pistols, thirty seven live cartridges, seventeen empty cartridges one digger were recovered from the suspects.
“We also recovered twenty three plasma television set, three ATM cards, three air conditioners, fourteen refrigerators, one dry human skull, four machetes , charms , Indian hemp, ash colour Toyota, one DAF truck, a trailer load of textbooks”.
On the killers of the policeman, Inuwa explained that on the 25th of December, 2017, one Inspector Michael Umoh attached to the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, in Enugu was on a visit with his family to his in-laws in Ojor. He is said to have gone to neighbouring Uyangha in Akamkpa Local Government Area to buy fuel. In Uyangha, without provocation, the cop was killed and beheaded; his head was then taken to a shrine in Uyangha. “His AK 47 rifle with double magazine was taken by his assailants and his Toyota Sienna car set ablaze . His body is yet to be seen but his head was recovered in a shrine and investigation into the case led to the arrest of Ophot Valentine Ebani, 54 years, (the village head of Uyangha), Isaac James Akpan, Benjamin Phiilp, Patrick Effiong, Famous Mfon, Effiong Peter, Ndifon Arong, and Wisdom Bassey Inok,” Inuwa revealed.
He also disclosed that five persons were arrested for breaking into the hotel of a former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Greg Ngaji at the Ogoja GRA. 21 foreign doors were destroyed while the suspects also made away with six refrigerators, three plasma television sets, 21 rug carpets and several other items. The suspects arrested in connection with the theft include Francis Mowang, Taiwo Abang, Fredrick Aleji.
Inuwa warned that the command will not rest until all those who took part in the killing of the late Inspector are arrested while others who have any intentions or plans to engage in cultism would be arrested and brought to book.
