Posted by By TONY ICHEKU, Maiduguri on
The demise of Police Inspector Jubril Garuba, allegedly beaten to death by a mob, has caused the Police to declare a mini war on residents of Galadima Ward in Maiduguri.
The demise of Police Inspector Jubril Garuba, allegedly beaten to death by a mob, has caused the Police to declare a mini war on residents of Galadima Ward in Maiduguri.
As at press time, over 500 people, including innocent pedestrians walking along the road have been arrested and held in police cells in connection with the incident.
Daily Sun gathered that Inpspector Garuba and two others were quarrelling with the labourers working at the Ashaka Cement Company depot when one of the Police officers shot and wounded a labourer.
In a fit of anger, the labourers descended on the team and beat Garuba to a state of coma, he was rushed to the state Specialist Hospital where he gave up the ghost hours later. His other two colleagues ran away.
Borno State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed confirmed the incident, saying that a case of homicide has been established and a number of arrests made, but declined from mentioning the number of arrested persons.
Mohammed explained that the team led by Garuba were officially detailed on assignment to the area when they were attacked. He refused to disclose the nature of the assignment
A lawyer to some of the detained persons who was at the Police Headquarter, Barrister M. T. Monguno told Daily Sun that the Police have refused to release any of the arrested persons until investigations into the case being undertaken by the Area Command (Criminal Investigation Department, CID) is concluded.
Monguno, former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Borno State added that the arrests made by the police were indiscriminate as cement dealers, buyers and visitors who knew nothing about the case were arrested and detained.
Galadima Ward which has attracts frequent police raids is a high density neighborhood and also a black spot area harbouring commercial sex workers, drug dealers and others of questionable character. Police Commissioner Mohammed confirmed that "It is an area the police cannot get tired of raiding. If your arrest and charge the criminals to court, tomorrow they will reappear."