IPOB,MASSOB and Herdsmen Our BIG Problems - Anambra CP

THE Anambra State Commissioner of
Police, Mr. Hosea Karma said Wednesday that
the greatest challenges faced by the state police
command were the activities of the Independent
People of Biafra, IPOB, the Movement for the
Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra,
MASSOB, and the herdsmen who are having ugly
encounters indigenes in many communities.

Addressing members of the Anambra State
House of Assembly committee on police affairs
and security, who visited him, Karma said the
combined activities of the three groups had led
to increased murder cases in the state.
According to him, no fewer than 36 persons were
gruesomely murdered in the state between
January and April this year. Details showed that
nine were murdered in January, five in February,
15 in March while seven had already been
recorded in April.
He however added that some of the murder
cases involved brother killing brother, son killing
father, mother or sister, among other family
issues.
“These murders are giving us sleepless nights,
especially as they started happening after we
had arrested the problems of armed robbery,
kidnapping and cult- related activities in this
state. But we are not going to allow it to
continue as our men are equal to the task.”
The police commissioner expressed worry that
while the police was battling with IPOB and
MASSOB, the issue of herdsmen reared its ugly
head, a development, he said, prompted the state
governor, Chief Willie Obiano, to set up a special
committee headed by the CP, with personnel
from the Army, the Department of State Service,
DSS, and the civil defence as members.
He regretted that Anambra command had the
least manpower among the South East police
commands, adding that the command had only
about 50 drivers when it is supposed to have at
least 500.
He also said that the number of functional
vehicles were inadequate and urged the
lawmakers to assist the police in whichever way
they could.
Speaking specifically on IPOB and MASSOB,
Karma, reminded them that where their rights
ended was where those of the police began.
He commended the state House of Assembly for
passing the law on the demolition of assets
acquired through kidnappings in the state and
urged them to maintain their tempo as he
observed that the law had helped in reducing
crime in the state.
Chairman of the committee, Mr. Victor Okoye
had earlier told the CP that they were at the
police headquarters to work out a synergy
between the House of Assembly and the state
police command.