Police deploy armoured tank in governor’s office over alleged insecurity in Calabar

Raise the alarm over rape cases in Kano

The police have deployed an amoured tank in the office of Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, following alleged insecurity in Calabar, the state capital. Heavily armed policemen surrounded the tank, which is strategically parked at the governor’s main gate.

Worried about the situation, the governor had also deployed the state’s security operatives in strategic locations in the state capital to maintain law and order.

On Monday, the former Nigerian Ambassador to Russia, Assam Assam, reportedly narrowly escaped death, as unknown gunmen stormed his house in Calabar around 2:00a.m.

Narrating the incident, Assam said the gunmen invaded his house around 2:00 a.m. and attempted to break down his door, after he had hurriedly assembled his household in his bedroom.

He added that some bullets flew past his head, as they tried to forcibly open the door, until he was able to contact his son in-law and other neighbours, who later contacted the police and soldiers around 4:00p.m.Assam said he reported the matter to the deputy commissioner of police in Akim. But, the Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo denied knowledge of the incident.

In a telephone interview, he said: “It is false, it is not true and there was nothing like that.”Also, the National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), South South zone, Ntufam Hiliard Eta, alleged that there had been growing assassination attempts against its members.He said a former legislator was also recently targeted for assassination, while the Chief Executive Officer of Hit FM; Patrick Ugbe was kidnapped and later released.

Meanwhile, the Kano State Police Command yesterday raised the alarm over rising cases of rape and other related sexual assaults in the state.The officer in charge of sexual offences at the state Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Jamima Ayuba, disclosed that over 10 rape cases are reported daily at her office.

Jamima, who spoke at a community awareness campaign against sexual harassment, said the figures were outside the unreported cases.She said the campaign, organised by the Public Defender’s Office (PDO) has encouraged mothers to lodge their complaints about rape victims.She, however, added that many parents were still hiding their pains due to the fear of stigmatisation.

Ayuba dismissed an allegation that the police were weak in defending the cases reported to them stating that they had no control over judges in deciding cases in their jurisdiction.

“As far as the police are concerned, we don’t sabotage rape cases that are reported to us. If there is any contrary thing, it could be at the courts. We only file cases before the Chief Magistrate’s Court, which has the final decision in the prosecution,” she said.

The PDO Coordinator, Barbara Maigari, said the community awareness campaign in Shauchi quarters, in Kano metropolis, was to sensitise community leaders and the less-privileged people to their right to seek legal support through its office.