Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has ordered the immediate arrest and prosecution of persons involved in the attack on four police detectives in Ogoja, Cross River.

The detectives were attacked when they wanted to arrest some suspected armed robbers and receivers of a stolen vehicle in Ogoja community.

Force Police Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said the incident occurred on April 17, saying the attack was masterminded and executed by one Ikenga, a notorious receiver of stolen property and his gang members.

Mba, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, said the detectives who were attached to the I-G Intelligence Response Team (IRT) Unit were seriously wounded with deep machete cuts.

He explained that the victims (detectives) were investigating a case of a stolen Toyota Sienna bus earlier reported by the Master Chapel Church, a Pentecostal church based in Lagos, saying they had after a painstaking investigation, arrested four male suspects, Peter, Ben, Ebuka and Johnson.

Mba said the suspects, who confessed to stealing the vehicle, said further that they had sold it to another criminal in Benue, saying following the confession, the detectives moved to Benue with one of the four suspects and arrested the one in Benue.

The spokesperson said the suspect in Benue said he also sold the vehicle to another notorious receiver of stolen goods based in Ogoja for N250, 000, saying with the discovery, the detectives proceeded straight to Cross River, where the notorious receiver, Ikenga, was apprehended and the stolen vehicle recovered.

He said shortly after the arrest of Ikenga, he raised alarm in his native language which attracted his gang members who attacked the police officers with weapons, saying during the incident, Ikenga escaped with the stolen vehicle.

Mba said Inspector-General of Police, while condemning the attack in very strong terms, had warned that the police under his watch will not tolerate criminal attacks and assault on its personnel or facilities.

He enjoined traditional rulers and community leaders not to allow such attacks to take place in their domain as they may be called to account, urging the public to avail the police with credible and useful information that would lead to the arrest of all persons involved in the attack.