Fake DSP, 43 MASSOB members arrested in Anambra

Awka- A 32-year old man, Mr. Abdul Maiko, who was allegedly poses as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) has been arrested by the Anambra State police command. The suspect hailed from Gari-Lamido in Taraba State.

Also in police net were 43members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, who were allegedly disrupting the peaceful atmosphere in the state.

This came as the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police in charge of Zone 9, Umuahia, Mr. Usman Gwary warned that the police was fully prepared to battle MASSOB and the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) operating in parts of the zone.

Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hosea Karma, while briefing the AIG who was on a familiarization visit to Anambra State said the fake DPO has been going about extorting money from unsuspecting members of the public allegedly to assist them get recruited into the Nigeria Police Force(NPF).

Parading the suspected fake DSP at the state police headquarters in Awka, Karma said Maiko finished serving a prison term last April following his conviction in 2013 in connection with an offence of impersonation.

The CP said the suspect was arrested following a tip off as he was in the palace of a traditional ruler in Awka-South local government area of the state, asking people to bring some money so he could facilitate the recruitment of people in the area into the police.

Maiko, who claimed to be a 2008 graduate of political science from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, confessed to reporters that he was forced to go into the crime because he could not secure a gainful employment, adding that it was a friend who lured him into impersonating the police.

Karma warned members of the public to beware of the likes of Maiko, stating that recruitment into the Nigeria police force has transparent process devoid of any corrupt manipulation.

Addressing officers and men of the state police command, AIG Gwary condemned the activities of the two pro-Biafra organizations, which he said, were inimical to the peace being enjoyed by the people and warned that the police would not fold their arms and watch them derail the peaceful atmosphere in the country.

The AIG said: “We do not want anything that will bring problem and destroy the peace we are enjoying to be derailed. We will not allow any group to disrupt the peace we are enjoying in the South East”.

He explained that his visit was in response to the directive of the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Solomon Arase that he should tour police headquarters in the zone to lecture the officers and men on the new security policy of the current administration in the country.

According to him, from the recent investigation conducted by a special team set up by the IG, the South East zone was rated among the most peaceful zones in the country and warned officers and men of the state command not to condone acts that would compromise peaceful security atmosphere prevailing in the state.

He also urged police officers to place their loyalty to the Force and Nigerian nation above any other consideration or sentiment and warned them to ensure that they do not allow MASSOB members to disturb the prevailing peaceful atmosphere in the state even as he commended the state police command in its efforts in flushing out criminal elements from the area.

Gwary also told the officers and men of the police to adopt religiously the various security policies marshaled out by the IG, advising them to work seriously in collaboration with other sister agencies to ensure the security of lives and property of the people.

He commended the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano for the various forms of support his administration had given the police command.

CP Karma had earlier enumerated the various problems confronting the command. Among them were inadequate physical structure and location of the state command, lack of police barracks and shortage of man- power.