The suspects arrived in court under heavy security
The
Attorney General’s Department has presented its advice in the case in which a policewoman
was killed in August by some suspected armed robbers in Tamale.
When
the case was called in Tamale yesterday, the Magistrate Court presided over by
Amadu Seidu revealed that the court received the AG’s advice on Wednesday.
According
to him, the details of the AG’s report would be made public at the next
adjourned date on October 10.
Six suspects — Anas Issahaku, Zulika Abduallah, Issahaku Yakubu
alias Kanbon-Naa, Mahama Nashiru, Samuel Atutiga and Hanan Alhassan alias
Gurundoo — are standing trial in connection with the
gruesome killing of the female police officer—
Sergeant Agatha Nana Nabin— at a checkpoint on the
Kumbungu-Tamale road.
They
have been charged with conspiracy, murder, possession of firearms without
lawful authority and possession of military accoutrement.
Some
relatives and friends of the suspects who besieged the court to show solidarity
were seen crying while others were shouting on top of their voices on the
premises of the court.
Military
and police officers took over the entire court premises as people trooped in to
witness the proceedings. The suspects were brought in for trial by a heavily
armed police team.
At
the last adjourned date, the magistrate lamented the delay in getting the
advice from the AG’s Department for the case to proceed.
Key Arrests
According
to the prosecutor, Issahaku Yakubu was arrested at his residence at Warizeri in
Tamale on July 31, and a search in his room revealed AK-47 and G3 live
ammunition, spent shells and assorted military uniforms and accoutrement.
Upon
interrogation, he mentioned Anas Issahaku and led the police to his residence,
where Issahaku and Zulika Abdallah were both arrested.
A
search in Issahaku’s residence revealed two locally manufactured guns and military
accoutrement and when Abdallah’s room was searched, they found three live AK-47
ammunition, six G3 ammunition, two cartridges and nine pellets.
Whilst
the suspects were being escorted in a police vehicle to the police station,
Issahaku jumped down from the moving vehicle and was chased and rearrested
after a bullet hit his right arm.
He
was rushed to the Tamale Teaching Hospital and he later mentioned Mahama
Nashiru as the source of his military accoutrement, and he was also
subsequently arrested.
Upon
intelligence, the police arrested Samuel Atutigah and Hanan Alhassan at
Sagnarigu and Teshigu respectively.
During
interrogation, Alhassan narrated that on August 2, he returned home from work
and was told that his friend (one Naami) had brought some guns to be given to
him.
According to the prosecutor, efforts were being made to arrest the said Naami who is currently at large.
FROM Eric Kombat, Tamale
