The Nation Newspaper

Category: Crime Diary

  • Four die as vigilante, youths clash in Kontagora

    FOUR people have died in a clash between youths of Angwan Yaman in Kontagora Local Government Area of Niger State and men of the Vigilante Corps.

    The irate youths allegedly set ablaze a patrol vehicle and office of the Vigilante Corps following the death of a 17- year -old boy who was arrested, detained and tortured by the Vigilante Corps The incident occurred on Thursday night.

    The Vigilante men had arrested the 17 year old boy who was returning home late during the Ramadan period, and he was allegedly detained and tortured till the next morning.

  • Three suspected cultists, 20 other criminals arrested in Abia

    Three suspected cultists, 20 other criminals arrested in Abia

    OPERATIVES of Abia Police Command have arrested about 23 criminals including three suspected cultists and 20 other criminals. Parading the suspects at the state police command headquarters, the Commissioner of Police(CP) Adeleye Oyebade vowed that his command in the state would ensure that kidnapping and other crimes in the state including armed robbery would be non-profitable ventures in the state. Oyebade said his men have been put on the alert to apprehend criminals and prevent their escape from the state. About six stolen vehicles were also recovered from suspected robbers. Giving the breakdown of the number of suspects, CP Oyebade said: ‘’On 17/06/2017 at about 1900hrs, based on information, men of 55PMF Aba while on intensive stop and search operation at Ihie Nipping point, intercepted a Toyota Corolla car with registration number SMK 543 DB, black in colour suspected to have been stolen or removed from where it was parked.

    The driver and the occupants abandoned the vehicle and took to their heels; a photocopy of the vehicle particulars, original license and a complimentary card bearing the name, Ezekiel Francis of Edo State were recovered during search of the vehicle. The said Ezekiel Francis was contacted through a GSM number on the complimentary card and he confirmed that the vehicle was snatched from him in Edo State. Efforts are on top gear to arrest the fleeing hoodlums. “On 17/06/2017 at about 0930hrs, on information, patrol team attached to Ohuru-Isimiri Division arrested one Chibuike Kingsley ‘m’ and Chinaza Joseph ‘m’, subject were alleged to have robbed one Okonkwo Uchenna ‘m’ of the sum of Six Thousand Naira (N6,000) and one Samsung phone valued N350,000 only along Glass Industry Road Ohuru-Isimiri. “On 17/06/2017 at about 1950hrs, one Chinelo ‘f’ reported at Abayi Division in Aba that she sighted her husband’s Lexus Jeep with registration number EKY 87 AU, black in colour at a car stand.

    Based on the report, operatives attached to Abayi Division swung into action and raced to the car stand which belongs to one Calistus Igbokwe ‘m’ of No. 19 MCC Road Aba. The said vehicle, which was stolen from where it was parked at the residence of the owner on 11/06/2017 at about 2358hrs was recovered. One Toyota Turbo with registration number GGE 988 EH, dark ash in colour whose owner, Eloka Nnamani confirmed was snatched from him on 22/04/2017 in Enugu was also recovered. The suspect was arrested and investigation is in progress to unravel the culprits.’’ He added: “On 17/06/2017 at about 0015hrs, responding to a distress call from Umuada area Aba that robbers were operating in the area, a patrol team attached to Central Police Station in Aba responded promptly and arrested one Chukwuebuka Kelvin Mbahaotu ‘m’ 27 years (exconvict) while escaping from the scene.

    The suspect was arrested with a hand bag containing eight (8) different GSM phones, six (6) ATM cards, one torch-light, various Sim cards, a sum of N7,180.00 cash, one Gucci face cap and other items stolen. He however, confessed to being a one man gang robber operating within the Aba metropolis and all the items have been identified by their various owners. “On 18/06/2017 at about 1800hrs, on a tip off, surveillance team attached to Eastern Ngwa Division arrested one Chibueze Chima ‘m’ of Amaufuru Village Ntighauzo Obingwa L.G.A. The suspect is reported to have been terrorizing the entire Community with his gang members. One cut to size serviceable Double Barrel Gun was recovered from the suspect and he is giving a lead towards the arrest of his gang members. “On 18/06/2017 at about 1605hrs, following a report that one Ejiogu ‘m’ of Umueze Ibeku, Umuahia North LGA of Abia State was abducted by unknown five man armed gang. Detectives attached to Anti- Kidnapping Squad (D7) of SCIID Umuahia led by the Commander swooped on one Orji Uka ‘m’ of Ekoli Edda in Afikpo North LGA of Ebonyi State at the point of collecting a sum of N1m ransom on 21/06/2017 at Nekede/Ihiagwa, Owerri West LGA of Imo State.

  • Imo Police arrest 36 kidnap, robbery suspects

    Imo Police arrest 36 kidnap, robbery suspects

    No fewer than 36 suspected kidnappers armed robbers have been arrested by the Imo Police Command.

    The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike, who paraded the suspects at the state’s Police Headquarters yesterday, assured that the offensive against criminal elements in the state will be sustained until heinous criminal activities are reduced to the barest minimum.

    He said that apart from tracking down kidnap and armed robbery syndicates, the command will also initiate massive onslaught against cult groups who had taken delight in harassing and maiming innocent residents of the state.

    Describing cultism as the ‘root’ of other criminal activities, Ezike, said that cultists would be traced to their classrooms, hostels and homes, where he vowed they would be apprehended to face the law, even after escaping they might have escaped from the scene of crime.

    “I am delighted this morning as we showcase our modest achievements in crime management in Imo State since my last parade of suspects in April. Permit me to mention however, that we have also in between the period made public some arrests and recoveries which we thought were very urgent importance.

    “As we approach the second half of 2017, the Command expects increased business activities and human relationships in Imo State. These activities come with its good, bad and ugly baggage. We must therefore continuously be on the red alert so that the less than seven per cent of criminal elements in our midst do not cause us avoidable pains”.

    Continuing, he said: “Consequently in the coming weeks and months, our tactical operational focus shall be to sustain the momentum in the current operation of identification, arrest, detention and prosecution of suspected armed robbers, kidnappers, cultists and other notorious criminals.

    “To commence the urgent vetting and profiling of communities, organizations, hotels that have shown uncommon notoriety in the provision of safe haven and passages for armed robbers and kidnappers with a view to holding their leadership and owners accountable for their acts or omissions . “To sustain high visibility policing as a crime prevention measure and employ forensic technology as a fundamental aid to criminal investigation and detection and to expand the frontiers of Police/community partnership through strategic communication and relationship that will continue to stimulate our whistle blowing policy”.

    Ezike attributed the success recorded within the time under review to “the workability of our whistle blowing policy which has encouraged the residents of Imo state to expose criminality and other vices that torment our society, renewed partnership with all segments of the Imo community and good inter-agency cooperation and collaboration, as well as the commitment and renewed zeal of the personnel of Imo Police Command, using intelligence-led policing platforms and high visibility policing models to achieve efficiency and effectiveness”.

    Some of the criminals paraded include a notorious four-man kidnap gang led by a 34-year-old father of seven, which has been terrorizing residents of the state, especially around Avu community in Owerri West Council Area of the state. Others are members of a gang suspected to be responsible for the abduction of a female magistrate rescued by the Police recently, were Chima Agujo (20), Tochukwu Chima, 27, and Desmond Akano ,25. Also paraded were members of a child trafficking syndicate behind the abduction of expectant women whose babies were sold by the gang. The suspects are: Chinedu Onyeakosi, Chinaza Onyeakosi and Chidi Donatus. Also paraded were students of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) who were arrested for alleged armed robbery and cultism.

  • How my daughter was freed, says Lagos councillorship candidate whose daughter was abducted

    How my daughter was freed, says Lagos councillorship candidate whose daughter was abducted

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) councillorship candidate in Ward C1B of Odi- Olowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos, Bode Adeosun, whose abducted daughter, Bukola, was freed yesterday has described how she regained her freedom. The 20-year-old, who was kidnapped by unknown gunmen on Tuesday evening, was dumped by her abductors around 12:30am on Friday in Danmegoro Street in Mushin.

    She was said to be unconscious after her release. The Nation learnt that she was found blindfolded, with her hands and legs tied together by chain. No ransom was paid for her release, but The Nation gathered that the victim was let off the hook, following her father’s willingness to back out of the councillorship race, which was the condition gave by the kidnappers to free the victim. A crowd made up of sympathisers and politicians had stormed Adeosun’s home, on Shyllon Street in Ilupeju, following the news of his daughter’s release. Adeosun described the incident as “unforgettable experience”, saying his daughter was subjected to physical and psychological torture because of politics.

    He wondered why his family would be made to go through trauma for what he called “inconsequential political position. “My daughter’s abductors were in constant communication with me since the day she was kidnapped. They demanded I should withdraw from the political race if I wanted my daughter back alive. I agreed with their terms and condition, because I did not want any arm to befall the innocent girl. Expatiating further, he said: “Since I am not in the position to announce my withdrawal from the race, the APC chairman in Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA did during the APC state rally held on Thursday for all party candidates in all local councils. I assumed informant of my daughter’s abductors attended the rally. “When they heard the announcement from the APC chairman in our council, they called me around 7pm to come to Ifo area of Ogun State to pick up my daughter.

    I pleaded with them to bring her back to the spot she was kidnapped. They hung up and called back around 12am. They said I should pick my daughter up in Danmegoro Street in Mushin. We found her blindfolded and tied with chain. She was almost passing out.” On whether he would go ahead to contest for the councillorship office, Adeosun said his priority was to ensure his daughter overcome the trauma she was subjected to, adding that he would not trade off his family members’ freedom for politics. Ilupeju youths leader and APC stalwart, Mr Ademola Taiwo, described the incident as a “strange trend” in the council’s politics, urging the police to tighten security in the neighbourhood ahead of the council elections. The victim whose 20th birthday is today is receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

  • ‘I use human parts to prepare charms’

    ‘I use human parts to prepare charms’

    A 52-year-old herbalist allegedly found with human head was yesterday paraded by the Lagos State Police Command. Tosenu Lussien, who was arrested at Shagamu in Ogun State for trading in human parts, told reporters that he used it to prepare charms for his clients.

    The suspect, according to the officer in charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Mohammed Sanusi Ahmed, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) was arrested just after he received a sum of N81,000 from SARS operatives. Lussien said he has been in the business for over five years, claimed that he picked the human skull in a forest where he worked as a guard. He said: “This is the first time I am dealing with human parts. I found the skull five years ago in a forest at Oko-Ode and I kept it for future purpose. It was fresh when I saw it. “I am an herbalist and I have been assisting people in different ways.

    This is the first time I will be dealing with human part. It was one of my in-laws that requested that I should help him get human head. He said he wanted to use it for business ritual and I promised to do something about it. “Immediately I brought the skull home, I called my in-law on phone to come and see it and he gave N80,000 to prepare the charm for him. He promised to come for the charm but policemen came to arrest me.

    “After he gave me the money, I received a call from someone that said he needed human part and I asked the person to pay N150,000. I did not know they were policemen until they came into my apartment and recovered the human skull. “I believe it was my in-law that sold me to the police. I was only trying to assist him when he came to me that his car business was not moving very well. That was why I decided to assist him with the charm that will boost his business.” Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration, Danladi Galandachi said the suspect usually charged N1m for a fresh body and between N200,000 to N150,000 for dried ones.

  • One month to 73rd birthday celebration Three siblings allegedly hack Ogun landlord to death

    THREE siblings have allegedly killed a landlord in the Abatabutu area of Odugbe-Adie Owe village in Ado Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, Albert Adebari Odeyemi, after one of them was accused of burglary. The culprits, Matthew Elegbede, Sunday Elegbede and Funmilayo Elegbede attacked Odeyemi landlord last Thursday night. The landlord had earlier prevented a mob from lynching Mathew, after he was apprehended while he was allegedly burgling a woman’s apartment at the deceased’s house. Matthew was said to have brought down one of the louvers of the windows, following which the woman, Victoria Omiata raised the alarm that attracted neighbours to the scene.

    Odeyemi, who also live in one of his houses a few meters away from the scene was subsequently informed about the incident. According sources, the suspect did not run away when the louvers fell down on his victim who was in bed. Odeyemi, it was gathered, identified the suspect to be a member of a family living in the neighbourhood and he asked the mob not to lynch the suspect.

    The late Odeyemi promised to report the suspect to his relatives in the morning. A few minutes later, the suspect returned with three of his siblings in a truck, suddenly brought out a cutlass and he made futile attempt to machete the woman he allegedly broke into her apartment, while other occupants of the building fled the scene. Mathew and his two other siblings were said to have hacked the landlord after the woman he wanted to rob escaped.

    The Nation gathered that septuagenarian suffered machete cuts on his forehead. Sources said Odeyemi was first taken to a hospital in the neighbourhood for treatment. He was later taken to Ikeja General Hospital, Lagos, where a major surgery was to be carried out on him before he died. Omiata said: ‘’ I was sleeping when the window’s louvers fell down on me and I raised the alarm by shouting thief, thief! My screams roused my neighbours from their sleep and the boy (Mathew ) did not run away. He was later identified to be one of the residents of our street. Our landlord then pleaded that we leave the matter for him to settle and that he would inform the suspect’s family members so they can reprimand him. ‘’The suspect later left the scene and he returned about five minutes with two of his siblings in a

  • Policemen sold guns to me, says suspect

    Policemen sold guns to me, says suspect

    A 52-year-old United States of America (USA) based Nigerian arrested for illegal possession of firearms yesterday said some policemen sold the guns to him. The suspect, Mr. Ailabojie Aikpaojie, was paraded at the Lagos State Police Command headquarters in Ikeja after he was found with three pump action rifles. According to the police, he was arrested by the Area D Commander, Mushin, on Tuesday for illegal possession a Beretta pistol. The police said he was arrested around 3pm on June 22, at block 52, plot 19m, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos. They said: “He was arrested with a Parabellium Baretta pistol with nine 9mm live ammunition.

    He could not give a satisfactory account of where he got them from. Another search in his house led to the recovery of three long single barrel pump action guns with 250 cartridges. The suspect would soon be charged to court for unlawful possession of firearms.” According to the suspect, he bought the pistol in the US and brought it to Nigeria in error while shipping some personal effects.

    Aikpaojie said the three pump action rifles were sold to him by policemen attached to the command headquarters, adding that he also bought ammunition from the command’s armourer. He said: “I don’t know why the police are parading me like a common criminal. I applied to the force for three rifles. The officers who facilitated the purchase of the riffles called the seller and he came to meet us at the Command Headquarters, Ikeja. “He sold each one for N150,000.

    The police asked me to apply for a permit for the rifles which I did. They gave me the permit and I went away with the three rifles. “I bought the rifles because we had crisis in my village and as a businessman, I found it necessary to arm myself. I am into haulage. Whenever I am in the country and travel to the village, I often go with some policemen. “I bought the pistol found on me in the US. I am an American citizen, I mistakenly shipped the pistol found on me on the day I was arrested along with some personal effects. “I came into Nigeria nine days ago. I found the pistol tucked under a sofa in my house in Lagos and I was on my way to the station to find out from the police what to do with it.

    If I can keep it or not. “What happened was that I stopped over somewhere at Mushin to buy plantain and I did not know that the Area Commander was standing behind me and he was asking me to stop. As I made to reverse my car, some policemen pounced on me. “It was then they found the pistol strapped to my trouser. They asked me all manner of questions and I told them how I got it. They took me to my house where the found the other three guns, I have valid license for the three rifles. The Area Commander had taken the license from me.”

  • How we tortured, killed and buried Police Inspector –Suspect

    How we tortured, killed and buried Police Inspector –Suspect

    ONE of the principal suspects in the alleged murder of a Police Inspector, Mr. Sunday Musa, has given details of how the deceased officer was tortured, killed and buried over a land dispute involving two families. Fifty-one-year-old Akeem Balogun said the late Police Inspector died after he was hit in the head with a big stick when he came in a van with three other policemen to intervene in a land dispute between the Onojomaja and the Ogunbekun families in Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos State. The officer in charge of Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS), Sani Paiko Umar, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), said the incessant cases of armed robbery and kidnapping in the area had prompted him to divide his men into two teams to show police presence in Ikorodu and Ibeju Lekki areas, in order to scare away hoodlums and reduce their nefarious activities in the two areas.

    Umar said that the team ‘A’ was posted to Ikorodu area while the team ‘B’ was posted to Ibeju Lekki area. Unfortunately, he said, the people the policemen had gone to protect were the ones who murdered Inspector Musa, who was one of the four police officers deployed to the area. He also revealed that the suspects and others yet to be arrested were not telling the commissioner of police CP Fatai Owoseni the truth. A police source revealed that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim K. Idris, was “deeply saddened” by the circumstances of Inspector Musa’s death, hence his decision to direct operatives of his Intelligence Response Team (IRT), led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Abba Kyari, to unravel the mystery behind the Inspector’s death. Abba Kyari’s men were said to have immediately swooped into action and recovered Musa’s Ak47 rifle which his killers had taken away.

    The grave where they buried him was also found and his remains were exhumed and taken to hospital for examination. The sniper dog the IRT operatives used was also said to have discovered Musa’s phone in Oshokoro community where he was killed. The source said it was also found that the late Inspector Musa was tortured before he was killed in Oshokoro and buried in the disputed land in Akodo area with his hands tied backwards and a rope tied around his neck to lower him into a grave.

    The source also revealed that the exhumed body showed a hole his killers made on the right side of his stomach with pump action rifle, though they are still waiting for the final result of the autopsy. In his confession, Balogun said: “I have been a security man at the gate of St. David’s Primary School in Oshoroko community for more than 20 years. I know Oba Olumuyiwa Ogunbeku of Lekki and Baale Olusegun Oyiri. It was a mob that killed Inspector Musa.

    “Four policemen came to Oshoroko in a police van. When the people saw them, they thought that they were sent there by the rival Amodemaja community. So, they started fighting the policemen. When the policemen saw that the crowd was too much, they entered their van and drove off, leaving Musa behind. The people then pursued Musa and grabbed him. They then hit him in the head with a big stick. But I did not see anybody drive a nail into his head as was being said. “What I observed was that they used a stick to hit him and they tortured him with his hand tied to the back.

    Because of my bad leg, I did not join them to beat Musa. They asked the women to go into their houses when Musa was on the floor. They then started their Oro festival. “Those who played major parts in torturing and killing Musa include Dalako, Murilaja, Adebo, Lukmon and Jimoh who carried the police Ak47 rifle and pump action gun. In fact, all male adults in Oshoroko participated in the torturing and killing of Musa.

    “There were also others like Tunbosun, Shina, Bandele and Dayo, who joined in killing him, and Bello, Atana, Balina and Jimoh who were saddled with the task of burying him. I did not follow them to the graveyard. “Inspector Musa wore a black SARS vest on black jeans.

    They did not want everybody to know where Musa was buried in order to keep it secret.” Asked the circumstances that generated the crisis in which Musa was killed, Balogun said:“Musa’s death occurred on 29th November, 2016. But before then, the Oba of Lekki had a land dispute with the Baale and others, which resulted in soldiers and some members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) whisking away some members of Amodemaja family to Bonny camp.

    “So, when Oshokoro people saw the four policemen in their van on 29th November, 2016 they thought that they were sent by the Amodemaja family, hence they attacked the policemen. The Oba went to Zone II and reported the Amodemaja family. “But in January 2017, the Inspector General of Police intervened in the matter and directed IRT operatives to take over the case. That was when I was picked up.

    Musa was running away when they caught him and dealt with him.” Balogun also revealed they all took an oath at a shrine in Oshokoro so that anyone who revealed anything about their callous action would die. He said he was surprised that he was still alive three days after revealing how it all happened. The second suspect, Baba Aroko Badiru, (67), who one of the policemen alleged was carrying a pump action rifle on that day, denied carrying any weapon, not to talk of a pump action rifle.

    He said: “I was the one Inspector Musa rescued when they were beating me during the first fight we had with them. I am from the Oba’s side. Musa was the one who took me to hospital when the Amodemaja family beat me. “This time, I went to Ibeju Lekki to carry drums. Kazeem, Samiru and others were beating my son and I went to the police to report them. They said that nothing would happen. The DPO is a woman but the DCO in Akodo Police Station is Mr. Adams. “That fateful day, 29th November, 2016, I was in front of my house when I saw people running helter skelter. It was later that I heard that they killed a policeman.

    “I called the Oba and told him that somebody had died. He asked me where I was and I told him that I was in my house. He said he had reported the matter to Zone 2. It was after nine days that he knew that the dead person was a police inspector. “The land dispute started seven years ago. The Oba overseas Lekki Akodo to Folu Ade Amodemaja. The head of that community contested the stool with the present Oba of Lekki. They think that he wants to colonise the whole land.

    Therefore, they said the road has divided the land and nobody from one side should cross to the other side for peace to reign.” Three eyewitnesses, Didemi Amodemaja (40), Michael Amodemaja (43) and Tareem Nasiru (52) spoke to The Nation on the issue. Didemi, who claims to be a car dealer, said: “I was in Oshoroko on that 29th November.

    There was a land dispute between Amodemaja and the Oba of Lekki, Alhazeem Ogumbeku. “What generated the issue of 29th November is that the Oba of Lekki brought soldiers and parked some boys who were working as labourers, alleging that they were kidnappers.

    They carried some family members to the barracks. Everybody in the village ran to the riverine area because they did not know what was happening. “SARS operatives had been in the vicinity for more than a month because of kidnappers who used to come through the riverine area. When soldiers came, we told them that we were attacked by over 300 hoodlums with charms. By the time we got to a spot in Oshoroko village, we met our brother, Michael Amodemaja, lying flat in cold blood and we rescued him.

    “The Inspector that was with police patrol van was missing and his colleagues thought that he had gone to the barracks. “When we got to Akodo Police Station, the DPO chased us away, saying that a police officer had been kidnapped. On November 30, 2016, we went to the X-Squad Zone II and later to SARS. Michael, who claimed to be a transporter, said: “I was at site on that fateful day.

    We were grading the land and looking for buyers. We saw boys from neighbouring Oshoroko village. They picked four of our boys (bricklayers and carpenters). As they were taking them away we went to ask them what had happened. “They held me and started beating me all over my body. I was on the floor before I found myself in the van that took me to the hospital.” Nasiru, who claimed to be a fisherman, said: “It happened in Oshoroko junction. I was at the site.

    My brother Shakiru Ilesanmi came back in the evening after the attack at Oshoroko. He said they had killed the police officer and nothing would happen. “I told him that he connived with the people to kill a SARS officer and that he should be careful because there would be repercussion.”

  • Ogun Police smash 7-man robbery gang

    OPERATIVES of Ogun State Police Command have foiled a robbery operation involving a seven-man gang at Ayepe Akirikan village in Ewekoro Local Government. The robbers were said to have invaded the community in the dead of the night on May 30 and robbed residents of their valuables at gun point. It was learnt that men of Ewekoro Police Division responded swiftly to a distress call from residents and smashed the robbery gang. A police officer injured during the operation that lasted till wee hours. Two members of the gang were arrested at the scene while others escaped with bullet wounds.

    It was learnt that one of the robbers however died from bullet wounds sustained shortly after he was arrested. It was said that the mastermind of the robbery operation who lives in the community had been arrested by the police. The suspects have since been transferred to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Abeokuta for further investigation. Confirming the incident, Police spokesman, Mr Abimbola Oyeyemi said: ‘’ On May 30, our men at the Ewekoro Division received a distress call from the villagers, and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO),Mr Victor Egwuemu led his men to the scene.

    ‘’The DPO and his men were able to overpower the robbers. One suspect was arrested at the scene with bullet wounds and his arrest led to the arrest of two other suspects, while one of our men, Inspector Muhammed Richard sustained bullet wounds and he has been taken to a state- owned hospital for treatment. ‘’One locally made pistol; two stolen motorcycles; one necklace; a faragon bus(operational vehicle of the robbers);two cartridges and seven mobile phones were recovered from the suspects. The Commissioner of Police, Mr Iliyasu has directed that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.’’

  • Man impersonates Dambazzau, defrauds victim of $10,000

    POLICE in Abuja have arrested a suspected fraudster, Prince Momoh Enema, who had defrauded prominent citizens in various parts of the country, using the name of the current Minister of Interior, Abdulraman, Dambazau. The 40-year-old suspect who is a native of Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, is currently undergoing interrogation by men of the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team, IRT. Enema was arrested when he posed as Dambazzau to defraud the Seriki of Gwandabawa area of Sokoto State of the sum of $ 10,000 through a phoney contract deal. It was learnt that the leader of the syndicate, identified as Dr. Usman who is currently at large had on April 2017, contacted the Seriki, and identified himself as General Abdulraman Dambazau, the current Minister of Interior of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was said to have informed the Seriki that President Muhammdu Buhari had decided to reward the Seriki and his people at Gwadanbwa, Sokoto State for their support during the 2015 elections and had decided to employ 20 natives of Gwadanbawa into the Nigeria Police Force and the Customs Service. He was also said to have instructed the Seriki to send the names and curriculum vitae of the 20 persons through the office of the chief of staff to the Minister of Interior and the sum of N45,000 on each applicant for procuring training kits for them.

    The Seriki was said to have unsuspectingly sent 20 names, CVs and the said sum of N1million through the said chief of staff to the minister and a date was given to him, when the applicants would commence training. The source said: “Few weeks later, the fake minister called the Seriki and informed him that the ministry was about issuing contracts for the supply of equipment worth N3 billion to the Nigeria Police Force, Customs Service and other paramilitary organisations under the ministry. The fake minister then asked the Seriki to send him his company’s profile and the sum of $10,000 to the personal assistant to the minister. “The Seriki at this point became suspicious and decided to conduct a proper check before committing an amount as huge as $10,000 to the deal. He was said to have contacted the Federal House of Representatives member representing his constituency, Hon. Abdulahi Balarabe Salame, and urged him to verify from General Dambazau, if he had made any contacts with him and if he was truly demanding the said sum for contracts.

    ” The source added: “After confirming that the Seriki had been dealing with fraudsters, Hon. Abdullahi urged the Seriki to play along and they agreed to lure the fake minister to a location in Abuja where he would be arrested. The Seriki, then called the fake minister and informed him that he was ready to pay for the contract and that he also had a copy of his company’s profile with him. The fake minister then told him that he would be sending his Personal Assistant to pick the money and the documents, but when the said PA got to the location he was arrested by the police.” The suspect in a chat with newsmen denied being a member of the syndicate. He however confessed that he met Dr. Usman, the fake minister, at the Millennium Development Goal (MDG’S) office located at Presidential Villa, Abuja, during a contract biding session in 2014.

    The suspect who claimed to be married with two children and also the leader of Igala Young Empowerment Initiative, said: “When I met Dr Usman, he told me that he usually secure contracts from the Federal Government and sell those he could not execute and that he also buys from people who want to sell theirs. ” I reside in Abuja with my family and I have a farm in Nassarawa State, I didn’t know that he was a fraudster until I was arrested. He normally sends me on errand after which he will give me money. On the day I was arrested, he called me and we met at Area 11, Abuja from where we drove in his car to a Total Petrol Station close to the Police Force Headquarters. He asked me to go into the petrol station that someone would give me a parcel. When I entered the fillings station, I saw a big man who asked if I was the PA to the minister and I said yes. We shook hands and before I knew what was happening, I was arrested by the police. He drove out of the place immediately I was arrested. I told the people who arrested me that I wasn’t aware of what was happening and that I was only sent on errand but they didn’t listen. They took me to General Dambazzau in his office and he advised me to assist the police in arresting Dr Usman and that they will allow me go home after doing so.”