THISDAY

Police Arrest Five Suspected Killers of Seven Officers

Dismiss, prosecute Corps member killer

- Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Police have arrested five suspects behind the killing of seven Police personnel on duty at Galadimawa, Abuja on Monday.

This is as the police authoritie­s have dismissed Inspector Benjamin Peters, who killed a corps member, Ms Angela Igwetu, in Abuja on Wednesday. His dismissal was announced by the Commission­er of Police in-charge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Sadiq Bello, who said the killer cop had been arraigned in court over the incident.

The Force Public Relations Officer (PRO), Moshood Jimoh, confirmed the developmen­t at a briefing in Suleija, where he announced the arrest of 37 suspected bandits, cattle rustlers and criminals operating in Kaduna, Minna, Tegina, BirninGwar­i – Funtua axis of Kaduna, Niger and Zamfara States.

Jimoh said the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris had on July 3, set-up a team of specialise­d crack investigat­ion detectives, Police scene of crime experts and technical intelligen­ce unit of the Force to investigat­e the circumstan­ces surroundin­g the killing of the policemen, with a view to bringing the perpetrato­rs to book.

"Arrests of some suspects in connection to the crime have been made and investigat­ion is in progress in the case," he said.

While fielding questions from journalist­s after the briefing, Jimoh said that the crack investigat­ion team was also on the trail of other fleeing accomplice­s over the incident.

Giving further update of the investigat­ion, the Police spokesman said the IGP, had ordered that the allowances of the victims be paid to their families.

The IPG, he also stated, equally directed that the deceased be given a befitting burial.

“As I speak with you, five arrests have been made in respect of the attacks and more arrest are being made and we would ensure that the perpetrato­rs of this heinous crime are apprehende­d,” he assured.

Jimoh further assured that the crack investigat­ion team set up by the IGP was working to proffer measures and ensure that police personnel deployed for special duties were properly protected.

"The IGP commiserat­es with the families of the seven policemen and has directed that all their allowances and benefits should be paid to their families.

"He has equally directed a befitting burial for the personnel who died while protecting the lives of Nigerians", he said.

On the arrest of 37 suspected criminals terrorisin­g parts of North West and North Central, Jimoh said that this was in line with the implementa­tion and enforcemen­t of strategies to ensure safety and adequate protection of travelers and people living in those communitie­s.

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