Suspected murderers of policewoman remanded in prison custody

Three persons arrested in connection with the murder of a policewoman who was on snap check duties on the Kumbungu road on the outskirts of Tamale on July 30, have been arraigned before the Tamale District Court under provisional charges of conspiracy to commit murder and murder.

Anas Issahaku, alias Kanzolia, Zulika Abdallah and Mahama Nashiru have also been accused of unlawful possession of fire arms and unlawful possession of military accoutrements.

They are before the district court for committal proceedings which will determine whether or not they will stand trial at the High Court over the alleged allegations.

The three have been remanded by the court, presided over by Mr Amadu Seidu, following a request by the prosecutor, Inspector Victor Kwafo, for more time for the police to conduct investigations.

The prosecution told the court that another suspect, Issahaku Yakubu Kanbo-Naa, was receiving treatment at a hospital and for which reason he could not appear before the court.

Scores of people thronged the court premises to catch a glimpse of the accused and satisfy their curiosity.

Hearing continues on August 22, 2019.

Plea for bail

At the hearing, counsel for Issahaku, Mr Sylvester Sam, prayed the court to admit his client to bail on the basis that the prosecution had not directly linked him to the alleged murder of the policewoman.

The court, however, declined bail with explanation that it had no jurisdiction to grant bail in the case.

District Courts cannot grant bail on indictable cases such as murder and rape since it is the High Court that ultimately tries such cases after the accused has been committed by the District Court.

Attack/arrest

The four persons were arrested by the police for their alleged involvement in the murder of the policewoman near Tamale on July 30, 2019.

Corporal Agatha Nana Nabin of the Regional Police Headquarters was shot and killed by armed men while performing her duties at a snap checkpoint on the Tamale-Kumbungu road last week Tuesday.

One of the suspects, Issahaku Yakubu Kanbo-Naa, alias Oparipa, who resisted arrest, was shot by the police and was currently receiving treatment at a hospital under police guard.

A special police investigation team which carried out the operation is said to have retrieved two weapons, live ammunition and military uniforms from one of the suspects.

The arrests came on the heels of the acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr James Oppong-Boanuh’s, visit to Tamale last Thursday to commiserate with the family of the slain policewoman.

The IGP gave an assurance that the Police Administration would do everything possible to apprehend the armed men who shot and killed the policewoman.