Category: Crime Diary

A fracas involving two factions of commercial tricycle operators in the Alimosho area of Lagos State has led to the death of one unidentified person, while two others were injured. It was learnt that the attack allegedly carried out by a faction loyal to the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) happened on AIT Road in Alagbado, a Lagos suburb last Sunday. The Nation gathered that one of those responsible for the attack was hit by stray bullets and he died a few minutes later. The two injured tricyclists are Gbenga Adedayo and Ibrahim Elegbee. The fights were earlier recorded in other parts of the council area including Meiran, Egbeda, Ipaja, Mosan-Okunola, Iyana Ipaja, and Abule Egba, where two persons were also allegedly killed last Saturday, while scores were injured.

The clashes, it was gathered, followed the decision of a faction of the tricylists’ association to disengage from its affiliation to NURTW. A source, who asked not to be named blamed the attack on ‘’NURTW loyalists who have been terrorising our members in order to forcibly annex their parks. ‘’We have reported them to the police and other law enforcement agents because our faction, Tricycle Operators Association of Nigeria(TOAN) is duly registered with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity. An eyewitness who did not want his name in print recalled the incident saying: ‘’Armed thugs came from the Yussuf axis off Kollington bus stop along the Lagos-Abeokuta Road to attack the tricyclists and there was pandemonium in this area.

‘’They came with guns and cutlass and attacked unsuspecting tricyclists. They fired sporadically and some of the bullets hit one of them who died a few minutes later before men of the Alagbado Police Division restored normalcy.’’ The Lagos State Council of NURTW however dissociated itself from the reported attacks involving tricycle operators in parts of the state. The union’s chairman in the state, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede told The Nation on Monday that the state government had revoked the operational approval issued to Tricycle Operators Association of Nigeria (TOAN), adding that the association’s continued operation in some parks belonging to NURTW was illegal and could lead to chaos. His explanation was however faulted by a chieftain of the factional association, who asked not to be named.

He said: ’’NURTW is not being honest in their explanation which has further accentuated their complicity in the mindless attacks on our members. Many of the parks were allocated to our affiliate units by the communities in which they operate and the local government areas. NURTW cannot claim ownership of parks they did not allocate and cannot force out our members from the parks.’’ A source said the warring transporters had signed an undertaking to maintain peace and harmony pending the resolution of the crisis at the state’s Ministry of Transportation on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Sole Administrator, Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area(LCDA), Hon. Abiodun Agbaje, Commander, Area ‘M’ Police Command, Idimu, Mr Austine Akika, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and the Divisional Police Officer(DPO), Ipaja Police Division, Mr Busari Okunlola, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) have warned perpetrators of the attacks to desist from fomenting trouble in the council development areas in Alimosho constituency. The warnings were issued at the meetings held by the trio at different times in their various offices with stakeholders in the transportation sector following the outbreak of law and order between the NURTW- led Tricycle Owners and Operators of Nigeria (TOOAN) and Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN), which recently disengaged from the union to affiliate

with TUC. At his meeting with the aggrieved parties in his office, ACP Akika warned against any violence over an allegation that the NURTW members were desperate to forcibly take over tricycle parks in Alimosho, asking them to maintain peace until the issue is resolved by the State Ministry of Transportation. Hon. Agbaje told the representatives of NURTW and TOOAN at an emergency meeting held in his office on Wednesday that the state government has zero tolerance for violence and would not tolerate any act that would bring public unrest to his council area and its environ.

Similarly on Wednesday during the meeting of Eminent Personality Forum (EPF) which was introduced by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris to further bring the Police and eminent people in their immediate environment together, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ipaja Police Division, Mr. Busari Okunlola also used the forum to sound a note of warning to all stakeholders in the public transportation sector to desist from any act of violence.

The spokesperson of Lagos Police Command, Dolapo Badmos, said the feuding transporters had signed an undertaking at the state police command and were warned against further breakdown of law and order. ‘’On the issue of transport union unrest, the command have been arresting and charging (sic) to court. The leadership of the command summoned the factional leaders of the unions. They have been made to sign undertaking to maintain peace and any further breakdown (sic), they will be held liable.’’

OPERATIVES of the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team, IRT, have arrested members of a three man gang, who specialized in breaking into retail shops, boutiques and electronic show rooms in Kaduna State. The suspects Haladu Idris, Mohammed Zakari and Manniru Umaru, had in the last three years brought tears and agony to several shop owners around Constitution Road, Central Market, Amedu Bello Way, Sokoto Road, Abeokuta Road, Junction road other parts of the Kaduna State. The notorious burglars were arrested after broke into Chizon Plaza, a popular store where brand new expensive mobile phones are sold at the Central Market, on Amedu Bello Way and carted away 228 pieces of assorted mobile phones, valued at N15million, on November 26, 2016.

The owner of the Plaza, one Cyprian Obi, reported the incident to the Sabogari Police Division in Kaduna State, and the matter was transferred to the office of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, for further investigation. The IGP subsequently directed his men at the IRT led by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, to trail and apprehend all suspects involved in the matter. Police source revealed that ‘’the operatives through the aid of advanced technology at its disposal, tracked a user of one of the stolen mobile phones to Zamf�ara State and when the user was arrested, he confessed to have bought the phone from a store in Royal Plaza.

He then led operatives to the plaza and the person who sold the phone to him was arrested and the person confessed to have bought the phone from a stolen goods receiver, who was also arrested and he led the police in arresting all the robbers who broke into the Chizon Plaza. ‘’The robbers confessed when they were interrogated by the operatives to have stolen goods worth over N20million from several shops they broke into around the Kaduna metropolis, adding that they sold most of the goods to Yahaya Umaru, Musa Ibrahim and Bashiru Musa, at give away prices, between 2014 and 2016.’’ The Nation learnt that the suspects, confessed to have stolen 10 English Dogs, from it owners in Banarawa and Jamaru areas of Kaduna, which they sold for, N100,000 each to their buyers. ” They also confessed to have broken into a shop where they sell cables on Abekuta Road and they stole cables worth over N5million. The source added: ‘’They normally uses digger, pinches and hammer while pulling down the walls of the shops. They admitted stealing over 20 motorcycles from their parks around Kaduna State, but the worst of it is that they all admitted to have been remanded in prison custody for five different times.”

Another police source disclosed that when the suspects were interviewed, Manniru Umaru, a 27-yearold I am Kaduna North Local Government Area, who speaks English language fluntly said: ” I joined the gang last year and I met Haladu and Zakari in prison, when I was taken to prison for stealing seven motorcycles. We were in the same prison, when we were jesting in prison and I told them what led to my arrest and they told me that stealing of motorcycles does not bring fast money that I should join them. I left the prison before them and when they came out, they came to look for me. That was in September 2016 and we broke into a shop at Banawa area of Kaduna, we stole three plasma television sets and stabilizers and we sold the goods for N70,000. We also robbed a shop on Sokoto Road, Kaduna and we stole 29 pieces of expensive wrappers, laces, necklaces and wristwatches s from the shop. I was given eight pieces of wrappers, three gold necklace and I three gold wristwatches.

I sold the gold necklace to someone for N500 each because I did not know that they were gold. I also sold one of the wristwatches for N3000, and I kept one to myself and gave out the last one to a friend as a gift. I also didn’t know that the wristwatches were gold I and sold the wrappers for N1500 each to someone, without knowing that they were far more expensive than that. My third operation was at the Chizon Plaza at Amadu Bello Central Maket and we stole 228 phones , I was given 73 piece as my share and I sold 40 pieces to on Yahaya Umar and he gave me the sum of N300,000 cash. I also sold three pieces of the phones to one Ejike and he paid me N42,000. I sold the rest to my gang member, Mohammed and he gave me N30,000 because I needed money and I don’t know who to sell the phones to.

I was arrested after the police arrested one Musa who Mohammed sold his own share of the phones to. He took the police to my place and I was arrested. I have been to prison five times, four was because I stole motorcycle the other was when I beat up a woman. Each time I was arrested and taken to prison, I usually get bailed and when I don’t get bailed, my case was discharged from the court.” The other suspect, Haledu Idris, 39, a native of Kano state, who was described as the leader of the gang said he formed the gang 10 years ago after quitting his shoe making business because he wasn’t making enough money. According to him: ” I have spent 13 years in Kaduna State , I was a shoe shiner. I went into stealing 8-years ago and I started with stealing motorcycles.

I got Zakari, who was my customer involved because I convinced him that we could make good money from stealing. We stole over seven motorcycles together and we sold them between N40,000 and N50,000, but that money wasn’t enough for us.Then I suggested we should go into breaking into shops. We went to a shop on Constitution Road in December 2014. We surveyed the shop and when we stole all the expensive wrappers and laces in the shop. It was just Zakari and I that did that job and we sold the goods for N36000. After then, we went to another shop where they sell sport wears, near Kaduna State Stadium and we stole all the goods in the shop. We shared the goods equally and I sold mine for N55000, while Zakari sold his for N75,000. We also attacked a shop on Kontogora Road and we took away seven brand new plasma televisions set and we sold all for N106,000. We also broke into another sport (sic) shop on Junction Road and we emptied the shop and shared the goods into two.

I sold my own share for N41,500, while Mohammed sold his for N30,000. We then broke into a boutique on Sokoto Road and stole all the goods in the shop, we shared it equally and sold my share for N120,500. We also went to LG showroom on Constitution Road and we stole over 10 mobile phones and N400,000 cash from the shop. From there we went to a Samsung showroom on the same road we made away with three laptop computers and the sum of N100,000 from the shop. We shared the cash we got from these shops equally and we sold the goods at giveaway prices. But on our next operation which was at a sport betting shop at Orukopata area of Kaduna, we were arrested when people heard a noise from the shop as we attempted to break into it.

We were taken to Magaji-Geri Police Station, from where we were charged to court and remanded in prison. We spent eight months in prison. By the time and we came out, we’ have had over seven cases across seven courts, within Kaduna State. Some had granted us bail while others have set us free. In September 2016, we teamed up with Manniru who we met in prison and we went to Bandawa and made away with three laptops, a stabilizer. We also went to another shop on Sokoto Road, and we stole several gold jewelleries. It was at Chizon plaza on the Amodu Bello Way where we stole N228 pieces of phone and N400,000. The phones were worth over 14million. After then we went to Kemsen plaza on Constitution Road and we stole eight brand new laptops and a phone before I was arrested.”

RESIDENTS and community leaders in Pavilion Estate in Ota area of Ogun State have cried out following alleged attacks by a strange Islamic sect led by one Alfa Yisa aka Allahu ‘Kamoli.’ It was learnt that the sect doesn’t have a mosque or worship in any mosque, but instead drink the bath water of their leader for healing. The religious sect was also accused of churning out hate messages against community leaders through open preachings. The community, it was learnt, had warned a landlord who hosted the sect members to send them away to no avail.

The sect members who were allegedly accommodated by a landlord, Kazeem Waheed, it was learnt, had earlier been flushed out of the communities in September 2012, following the intervention of the then state police commissioner, while the said Waheed apologised via a letter signed by his counsel in August 2013 promised not to cause breach of peace by further accommodating members of his sect. It, however, emerged that members of the sect returned in trickles a few months later to further threaten the peace of the communities.

The situation got to a head on January 20, 2017, after the sect members allegedly attacked residents with cutlasses and sticks, which led to a breakdown of law and order. A commercial tricycle, plastic chairs and were said to have been destroyed in the attack. According to eyewitnesses, the sect members had planned to celebrate a child naming ceremony of an unknown couple, when their truck was intercepted by security guards manning the two entrances to the communities at about 8p.m. It was learnt that the truck drivers had refused to disclose the content of the vehicle as requested by the guards on duty.

Irked by the development, the sect members numbering about 200 were said to have attacked members of the communities. Among other victims, customers at a canteen, a pastor of a Pentecostal church, an automobile technician and commercial tricycle operator were brutalised by the sect members.

It took the combine efforts of the police and men of the Navy School of Music, Ota, to restore normalcy and eject the sect members and their leader from the community. Recalling the incident, the Chairman of Pavilion Estate Community Development Association, Alhaji Wasiu Lawal said: ‘’ The sect members were accommodated in a two- bedroom bungalow at No 1, Moradeyo Avenue inside this community, but their activities had been inimical to the peace and security of members of this community. ‘’On January 20, 2017, a strange truck hired by the sect was about moving into the community at about 8p.m when the security guards hired by the community during a routine check stopped the driver and asked him to disclose the content of the vehicle.

‘’Instead of disclosing what was inside the truck, the driver put a call to the sect leader and before residents knew it, members of the sect trooped out in their hundreds and attacked innocent people in the neighbourhoods. ‘’They vandalised several houses, motorcycles, a tricyle including that of my vice chairman whose house was vandalised from the roof in an attempt to break into his house. Men of the Onipanu Police Division and operatives of Navy Music School in Ota promptly came here to rescue residents from the brutality of the sect members who were about 300 in number.

‘’Although, they have since been flushed out by the police, but they threatened to return to cause more mayhem in our community, hence, we are crying out so the state government and security forces can ensure adequate protection for residents. We are not saying that their host cannot live in this community, but his colleagues in the sect are not welcome here at all.’’ In his remark, the immediate past chairman of the community association, Mr. Francis Adeoti, said: ‘’The sect members do not pray in mosques nor fast during Ramadan and their slogan is Halleya Mohammed Jesus.They have been brainwashing teenagers in this community and engaged in stealing and burglary.

‘’The sect members were once driven out in September 2012 and the then Area Commander advised the sect leader and his members who were squatting with one of our neighbours who is a landlord to relocate in his own interest and allow peace to reign.They are currently squatting at No 7 Akeem Busari Street off Iyesi Road, Iyana Iyesi, Ota, after they were evicted by police for attacking residents on January 20, during which they also laid siege to my house and threatened to deal with me, not knowing that I was not at home then. ‘’We are not saying that their host (Waheed) should not live in his house, but he should not bring strange men numbering about 300 into our community all in the name of helping his sect leader who was chased out of the place he was living before.

We also want to call on the state government and relevant security agencies to prevent the sect comprising of foreign nationals from regrouping and returning to our communities. ’’ In a telephone conversation with our correspondent, the embattled landlord who hosted the religious sect, Waheed, said his fundamental right was being unnecessarily violated by the community leaders. He said: ’’The action of the so-called community leaders bothers on infringement on my fundamental human right because I have every right to freedom of association and live anywhere I deem good for me without being molested or harassed.

I have been taken to court over this matter in the past but the court did not find me wanting.’’ Waheed, however, declined comment on the violent attack on residents by his sect. The spokesman of the Ogun Police Command, Mr Abimbola Oyeyemi, promised to revert to our correspondent on the matter, but did not do so at press time. Meanwhile, a top police source told The Nation that the sect members have been flushed out and that the DPO of Onipanu is on top of the situation. ‘’There is no cause for alarm in the area.We have flushed out the sect members and the DPO of the Onipanu Division is monitoting the situation. ‘’The community leaders should revert to the DPO if they sight or notice any suspicious movement of the sect members in the communities and police will definitely take neccessary action.

THE Comptroller General of Customs’ Compliance Team has made a seizure of three bullet proof vehicles worth N120 million whose owners had evaded duties.

The vehicles include, Mercedes G Wagon (2015 model),Lexus 750 (2015 model), and Escalade(2015) model. The seizures also include foreign rice intercepted by the team totalling 21, 314 bags with Duty Paid Value (DPV) hitting N138, 541, 000 and N40 million worth of poultry products. Foreign parboiled rice worth N138, 541,000 and poultry products with N40 million Duty Paid Value ( DPV) were also seized by the team. Other cargoes seized include second hand clothings totalling 1,387 bales and 7,344 pieces of used tyres and a large quantity of vegetable oil.

It was learnt that the seizures was due to the inspiring leadership of the national coordinator of the team, Assistant Comptroller M.I.Jalo, since the caveat placed on movement of uncustomed goods through the seaports and border stations. It was learnt that the new operation accounted for the less inflow of imported rice which normally flooded the western borders of the country during Yuletide period and other festivals.

Lagos Zonal Commander of the compliance team, Chief Superintendent .H. Bello said the team is well prepared with all the logistics and human resources to prosecute the functions assigned to it by the Comptroller General(CG) and will leave no stone unturned in that regard. He disclosed that importers who play according to the rules should have no fear as the team is on ground to stamp out products that are either prohibited or injurious to the health of the citizens as well as Nigeria’s economy.

To effectively protect the country against importation of prohibited goods and economic saboteurs, the Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hamid Ali recently appointed six officers to ensure maximum efficiency. They are: Assistant Comptroller Jalo, as the Coordinator, Chief Superintendent Nwokocha as Deputy Coordinator and Chief Superintendent Bello as Lagos Zonal Commander among others. It was learnt that there has been a sharp increase in the monthly revenue generation of Seme and Idiroko Customs border stations, since the CG’s team started its proactive enforcement operation, with N1 billion generated as revenue as against N500 million previously recorded.

A 25-year-old labourer, Emeka Iwuchukwu, has been arrested for allegedly killing a 22-year-old commercial motorcyclist, Jubril Alji.

It was learnt that Iwuchukwu, who hails from Imo State, also robbed the deceased of his motorbike valued at N150,000.

It was learnt that the accused, who pretended to be a passenger, had asked the late Alji to convey him to a place in the Ajah area of Lagos State on his motorbike.

Trouble however started after Iwuchukwu refused to pay his fare to the deceased transporter, leading to a hot argument.

The accused was said to have hit the deceased with a plank on the head along a bush path at Lafiaji village, Ajah, Lagos, leading to his death.

Iwuchukwu was arrested by the operatives of State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCID) Panti, Yaba, after Alji’s brother intercepted on November 18, along Orchids Hotel Road, Ajah. He has since been arraigned at an Ebute Metta Magistrate’s Court on two-count charge of murder and stealing. His plea was not taken. Police prosecutor, Hafsat Ajibode, asked the court to remand the accused in prison custody pending a legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

The presiding magistrate, Miss K.A Ariyo, ordered the accused to be remanded in prison custody pending DPP’s advice as the court lacks jurisdiction on murder cases. The case was adjourned to January 9, 2017. In a related development, a 20-year-old man, Lateef Animashaun has been remanded in prison custody by an Ebute Metta Magistrate Court for alleged murder of one Shola Lasisi, 28. Lateef was said to have killed Shola by stabbing him with a bottle.

The incident happened on November 27, 2016, around 9:50pm at Phase IV, Adeniyi Road, Lagos. His plea was not taken. Police prosecutor, Babatope Julius, asked the court to remand the accused in prison custody pending a legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). Magistrate M.O Olajuwon ordered the accused to be remanded in prison custody pending DPP’s advice. The case was adjourned to January 9, 2017.