TRADITIONAL RULER ARRESTED OVER MURDER OF POLICE OFFICER

The traditional ruler of Ushafa in Bwari Area Council, of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) Mohammed Baba, has been arrested following the alleged killing of a police officer by a mob at his palace.

Penpushing reports that, the command Public Relations Officer, Anjuguri Manzah,  made this known  in a statement adding that, the  Assistant Superintendent of Police, Eric Isaiah, was murdered at the palace  while trying to arrest one Moses Peter aka Dogo, a suspect wanted for culpable homicide.

The Command spokesman also disclosed that the Secretary to the  palace, Danlami Busa was  arrested  alongside with the traditional ruler in connection with the case, adding that  one Domnic Emmanuel, had on January 21, reported at Bwari Police Divisional Headquarters that his brother, Moses, engaged to work as mason was found unconscious after being attacked and severely injured.

Penpushing further reports that,  Manzah, said  the brother told the police that  Moses was rushed to Bwari General Hospital for medical attention and was able to provide vital information as to his assailants before he died.

The Command said the wanted suspect popularly called Dogo and one John (surname unknown) were fingered as the alleged perpetrators of the act, and on the strength of this, the Bwari Divisional Police Officer detailed his detectives to visit Ushafa village and make inquiries on the matter.

Penpushing also reports that, the Command Public Relations Officer said the detectives sighted and accosted Peter aka Dogo, who resisted arrest and invited his friends from a nearby drinking joint to intervene.

The statement said that the suspect’s   friends insisted that he must be taken to the Chief of Ushafa palace before the police could effect his arrest, adding that the two police detectives obliged the crowd and went to the palace, where they met the Secretary to the palace.

Penpushing reports that, the command said  “Instead of addressing the issue, the chief’s secretary, at the instance of the traditional chief  incited the crowd, who descended heavily on the two detectives, adding that,“as a result, a re-enforcement team led by late ASP Eric Isaiah, Patrol and Guard Officer, Bwari Division, with three others were deployed’.

“They arrived the scene with a police hilux vehicle which was used to rescue the two officers who escaped with the suspect, Peter aka Dogo. Sadly, the crowd brutally attacked and murdered ASP Eric Isaiah in cold blood after inflicting injuries on other members of the team,” he said.

Meanwhile, the statement said the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bala Ciroma, had condemned the murder of the officer, describing it as barbaric and unpatriotic, adding that the Commissioner had directed that the killers of the police officer be arrested and brought to justice.