28th July
By Bukola Ojeme (Abuja) and Okey Maduforo (Awka)

The Joint Military/Police Task Force deployed to the state killed five members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) on Sunday. They were suspected to have spearheaded the sacking of the Central Police Station in Nnewi.

The team’s success was not without an initial cost. In a preliminary report of the incident, the police said four patrol vehicles were burnt, while several arms and ammunition were declared missing during the attack on the station.

This was in addition to the killing of two policemen and the release of 14 suspects from detention much earlier.

It was learnt that the MASSOB members were trailed to their hideout, from Nnewi, where they engaged members of the Task Force in a gun battle.

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Sunday Ehindero, has ordered the immediate redeployment of over 3000 police officers and men out of Anambra.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Haz Iwendi, confirmed the posting in Abuja on Thursday.

Officers from the rank of Assistant Superintendent (ASP) and Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) are mainly affected.

"All the Area Commanders and senior officers, from ASP to CSP have been moved, apart from the CP, as part of measures to restore sanity in Anambra. That is the directive of the IG," he stated.

Iwendi also confirmed that the MASSOB activists were among those who burnt the Central Police Station in Nnewi.

"Five of them (MASSOB members) were killed in a gun battle with the police. They were killed after burning down the police station," he added.

About 300 members of MASSOB took part in the operation, according police investigative report on the mayhem.

The report said: "On July 22, a Joint Task Force of the Military and Police raided the enclave of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and engaged them in a gun duel. In the process five of the hoodlums died, while other members of the gang escaped.

"The Task Force recovered 11 assorted buses, one jeep, five military camouflage uniforms, three military boots, six machetes, two motorcycles, one power generating set, assorted clothes and food items."

"The raid and recovery is sequel to the attack on the police by the hoodlums, numbering over 300. They invaded the Central Police Station, Nnewi and set free the 14 suspects detained in the cell.

"Moreover, they set four police patrol vehicles ablaze and killed two policemen. Efforts have been intensified to arrest the fleeing members of the gang," the report added.

Anambra State Police Commissioner, John Haruna, also spoke on the redeployment on the floor of the state House of Assembly on Thursday.

He said: "The Inspector General of police has ordered the immediate transfer of more than 3000 police officers and men of Anambra State with immediate effect.

"They will be replaced by same number of officers and men drawn from every part of the country. This is the first time a transfer of this magnitude is taking place in the South-East zone."

He was at the House to brief the lawmakers on the operations of the command since the mayhem started. The commissioner claimed the previous administrations in the state had neglected the police.

"We have no serviceable vehicles, no functional radio communication facilities, less than 10 per cent of the strength of police officers and men are officially quartered while the remaining 90 per cent are either squatting or living in rented houses far away from their places of work."

In their response to the posting, the lawmakers vowed to resist any move to transfer Haruna. They said the state has recorded high turnover of police commissioners.

Frank Igboka, representing Njikoka II constituency who raised the issue said: "We have had situations whereby a commissioner spends just two weeks or one month and he is transferred because of one flimsy reason or no reason at all. We would not allow that to happen (again)."

The Speaker, Mike Balonwu, however, pledged the Assembly’s support to the police. He also promised to convince Governor Peter Obi to offer the assistance needed in combating crime.

The legislators also told Haruna that there is a law establishing the Anambra State Vigilante Service (AVS). They contended that the AVS was set up as neighbourhood watch to work with the police in fighting crime.

The House also blamed the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) for the crisis in the state.

"We are not saying that MASSOB does not have its own problems but we are looking at NARTO, a group that set Anambra State ablaze, and that was why we outlawed them by an Act of the parliament. When we did that people said (former Governor Chris) Ngige was fighting NARTO, but what is happening today was envisaged some years back. We urge you (the police commissioner) not to dance to the whims and caprices of some people who sponsor and influence the crisis in Anambra State. Be of good courage and be bold and we in Anambra Assembly would stand on your side," Deputy Speaker Ozo Ughamadu said.