JTF arrests Boko Haram members after Kano gunfight

Four suspected Boko Haram members were arrested in Kano on Wednesday after a gun battle between the Joint Task Force and the fundamentalist group at the Tinshama, Hotoro Quarters area of the city.

THE PUNCH gathered that a policeman was wounded during the gun battle while the sect members were arrested.

The Public Relations Officer of the Kano JTF, Lt. Ikedichi Iweha, confirmed on the telephone that four members of the sect were arrested during the encounter.

“There is no casualty on our side,” Iweha said.

Residents of the area recounted that explosions and gunfire woke them up at about 5am. A resident, who pleaded anonymity, said, “We were woken up with about six heavy sounds of explosions followed by gunshots that lasted for about one hour 30 minutes. From all indications, we believe that it was between members of Boko Haram and security agencies.

“The sounds of the explosions and gunshots were so heavy that we had to run away from our homes for fear of the unknown. As I am speaking to you now, I may not go back home today, because for one, there is heavy security presence around the area.”

The security source said the JTF swooped on the area after receiving a tip-off that Boko Haram members were in a hideout in the area.

“When they sensed the presence of security, they began to throw dynamite at us but we were able to over-power them, arrested some, while the others fled,” said the source.

THE PUNCH

learnt that an unspecified number of assorted weapons was recovered from the arrested sect members.

Meanwhile, the Police Service Commission on Wednesday dismissed the controversial Commissioner of Police Mr. Zakari Biu.

The PSC said Biu was dismissed from service with immediate effect for his role in the escape of the Boko Haram suspect, Kabiru Sokoto, on January 15, 2012.

The State Security Service has named Sokoto as the mastermind of the December 25, 2011 bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla. Forty-six persons died in the attack.

The PSC said the decision to dismiss Biu was taken at its 26th plenary meeting held on Wednesday, and chaired by the Chairman of the PSC, Mr. Parry Osayande, DIG (retd.).

A statement by the police commission also announced the appointment of seven Deputy Inspectors-General and 13 Assisitant Inspectors-General.

The new Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, has also been promoted to the rank of a deputy commissioner of police.

Also, six Deputy Inspectors-General of Police were summarily retired.

In putting an end to the ex-CP’s career, the PSC said it considered the recommendations of the Force Disciplinary Committee, which had indicted Biu for gross negligence and lack of effective supervision.

Biu, the Borno State-born and notorious head of the late Gen. Sani Abacha’s Presidential Task Force on Terrorism, was due to retire next month. He effectively became a CP last December.

Biu was indeed reintegrated into the police force last year.

A cat with nine lives, Biu was dismissed from the police after Abacha’s death, but was controversially reinstated and promoted Commissioner of Police by the PSC in December, 2011.

He was in charge of Zone 7 Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja, until his arrest for the Sokoto’s January 13 escape from police custody.

His times and deeds as a policeman had been controversial. He too admitted so much.

“My life has always been like that – full of controversy. I am sure that there is nothing that I did to undermine the interest of the Nigeria Police Force, and the nation for the personal benefit of Zakari Biu,” he said in a recent published interview while awaiting the decision of the police disciplinary panel.

The new DIGs named by the PSC are Suleiman Fakai, Atiku Kafur, Emmanuel Udeoji, Haruna John, Peter Gana, Marvel Akpoyibo and Abdurrahman Akano. Fakai and Kafur were until their appointments the AIGs in charge of Zones 10 and 7 Police Commands.

Until their elevation, John, Udeoji, Gana, Akano and Akpoyibo were Commissioners of Police. John and Akpoyibo were in charge of Benue and Kogi states; Gana (CP) was deputy Force Secretary and Akano was the CP in charge of Federal Operations at the Force Headquarters.

Similarly, the Commission confirmed the promotion of 13 CPs to AIGs. They include Solomon Olusegun, Michael Zuokumor, Orubebe Ebikeme, Philemon Leha, Jonathan Johnson and Dan’azumi Doma. Others are Joseph Ibi, Muktari Ibrahim, Suleiman Abba, Mamman Tsafe, Saliu Hashimu, Solomon Arase and David Omojola.

A statement by the Chief Information Officer, PSC, Ferdinand Ekpe, quoted Osayande as calling on all personnel of the Nigeria Police Force to rise up to the security challenges confronting the nation.

It added that the commission would not hesitate to punish those who would not put in their best towards a new police force as encapsulated in the ongoing reforms.

No fewer than 30 police officers from the rank of AIGs and Commissioners of Police would leave the service by March, 2012.

Investigations showed that some of the officers might leave on account of bad records and redundancy, while others would retire, having completed the mandatory 35 years of service.

When contacted, the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Yemi Ajayi, said it was normal for officers to retire from service “year-in, year-out.”

“I know that some top ranks are retiring from service soon, especially those who joined the service from 1977 and 1978. Most of them are retiring at the end of February and first week of March”, he said.