GRABBED! Kumodzi
The police have apprehended suspect Ibrahim Hussain, alias Kumodzi, leader of one of the two gangs which clashed in the streets of Nima amidst firing of firearms last month.
The suspected leader of the Kumodzi gang was arrested in his hideout in Accra yesterday afternoon in an intelligence-led operation by personnel of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
The Director General in charge of the Public Affairs Directorate, ACP/Mr. Kwesi Ofori, who confirmed the arrest, said the police were still on the heels of his counterpart, Ali Awudu, leader of the ‘Bombom gang’ and other gangsters.
Kumodzi, he said, is being detained to assist with investigations and would be sent to court for prosecution soon.
Ten persons were earlier arrested over the mayhem and were later brought before an Accra Circuit Court on charges of conspiracy to riot with weapon, rioting with weapons as well as causing harm.
Eight of them including Abdul Gafaru Mahama, Ibrahim Moro aka Jalo, Atarouwa Bassam, Abdul Mumuni Gariba, Mohammed Saabi Barinu aka Namer, Bashiru Ganiru, Illiasu Salim and Issah Seidu were each granted a bail of GH¢80,000 with two sureties each by the court presided over by Her Honour Rosemary Tosu.
They were to report to the Nima Police Station twice every week and are to sign a bond to be of good behaviour.
However, two others, Aziz Sulemen aka Rambo and Farouk Dawuda aka Omoni were remanded as the prosecution led by Chief Inspector Dennis Terkpetey argued that they are key suspects in the matter and if granted bail they will interfere with investigations.
Suspect Kumodzi brings to eleven the number of persons arrested so far in connection with the riot.
Earlier, ACP Ofori told the media that their preliminary investigation indicated that the violent disturbance was occasioned by a misunderstanding between the two gangster groups based at Mamobi and Nima Gutter respectively.
He said further investigation established that Kumodzi who controls the Nima-based group went to the Mamobi black market to transact foreign exchange business at about 3pm on the day of the mayhem and whilst there, the two gangster groups violently attacked each other, in the course of which some gang members and two “black market” currency dealers were hit and injured.
He added that the two victims who happened to be caught in the violent disturbance are currently receiving attention at the 37 Military Hospital, while a barbering shop was also vandalised in the process.
The police proceeded to the Greater Accra Regional Hospital upon learning that two of the rioters who sustained gunshot injuries in the course of the clashes had been rushed there and met suspects Abdul Aziz Sulemana and Imoro Ibrahim with injuries and arrested them.
“Four other suspects namely; Bashir Ganiyu, Mohammed Saidu Baribui, Attawurah Basson, and Gariba Abdul Mumuni who were met at the hospital and being suspected to be part of the rioters were also arrested. They are currently in police custody assisting with the investigations. Meanwhile, the two injured arrested suspects have been transferred to the Police Hospital for treatment under police guard.”
The police also gathered intelligence to the effect that one of the suspects who was captured on video in respect of the violence was hiding at Ashalaja in rural Accra.
The team proceeded to the said location and arrested suspects Issah Seidu and Elliasu from their hideouts.
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A search conducted in the house in which they were arrested led to the retrieval of one pump action gun, one unregistered motorbike, and a military uniform.
The police also retrieved twelve (12) empty cartridges, one live bullet and three AAA live ammunition from the scene at Nima. Other items found and retained for the purposes of investigation included one pistol magazine, two machetes, two knives, a toy pistol and two mobile phones.
A special intelligence and surveillance team has been deployed to Nima, Mamobi and its adjoining communities in pursuit of the remaining members of the two gangster groups.
The police placed a bounty on the wanted persons and encouraged persons with information about their whereabouts to give same to the law enforcement personnel for their arrest.
By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey