The Nation Newspaper

Category: Crime Diary

  • Police arrest suspect for ‘killing’ motorcyclist

    Ekiti Police Command has arrested a suspect who allegedly killed a middle-aged commercial motorcyclist, Mr. Sunday Olorunleke, in Ado-Ekiti.

    He was allegedly stabbed to death in his home at Aba, Ado-Ekiti, last weekend.

    Command spokesman Caleb Ikechukwu said the suspect was nabbed following a tip-off.

    Ikechukwu, who did not reveal the identity of the suspect, said he would be paraded after completion of investigation.

    “I can confirm that we have arrested a suspect over the killing of Mr. Olorunleke.

    Read Also: Police arraign hotelier for ‘killing’ motorcyclist

    “We got a report of the incident last weekend and swung into action. Through our intelligence, we apprehended the suspect who allegedly stabbed the man. He is in our custody, we will parade him any moment from now,” he said.

    The Nation gathered that the deceased was alone in the house when the incident happened, as his wife and children had travelled. They returned on Saturday morning to find him in a pool of blood.

    A source, who confirmed the killing, said the incident might have happened between Thursday night and Saturday morning, adding that the man was seen in the neighbourhood on Thursday morning.

    The source said: “The deceased’s wife called some of their neighbours on Thursday when she could not reach her husband on the phone and they told her that they saw him that day.

    “We were shocked after the wife arrived on Saturday morning and met the door closed. She sought the help of people to break the door and found his body on the floor in a pool of blood.”

  • One feared killed, others injured as groups clash on Lagos Island

    One person was on Sunday feared killed and others injured after hoodlums clashed on Lagos Island.

    The crisis, which was said to have disrupted the annual Egungun festival, was allegedly caused by rancour within the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

    It was gathered that warring factions of the NURTW got street gangs from Oke-Arin, Sura, Apongbon and Agarawu/Idumagbo to attack their opponents, forcing people to run for safety.

    The Nation gathered that there had been tension on Lagos Island since Friday night, with  violent attempts by the factions quelled by security operatives.

    It was learnt that another violence erupted on Sunday at Apongbon, leaving a man identified as Junior dead and at least two others injured.

    Not satisfied, the gangs were said to have continued the fight yesterday evening, forcing people to flee their shops and houses.

    A source said the violence continued on Monday evening at Oke-Arin, forcing traders and workers to flee.

    “There was crisis along Simpson, by Sura. It was between Okesuna and Patey boys. People ran in different directions.

    Read Also: Six killed as suspected cultists clash in Ikorodu

    “The Egungun festival started today, but there has been tension in the area since last weekend. This festival will last several weeks and only God knows how we will survive the violence.

    “Before this Oke-Arin fight this evening (yesterday), there were attempts to attack the Agarawu/Idumagbo group early in the morning, but security operatives prevented it.

    “But they continued at Apongbon and killed one Junior. They injured at least two people

    “Those responsible for this fight are the Idumota and Oke-Arin boys and they are led by factional members of the NURTW,” the source added.

    But the police denied that death was recorded in the attacks, insisting that they had no such record.

    Spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said he was only aware of the two who sustained injuries during Sunday’s clash, adding that the victims were taken to hospital.

    “The information I have is that there were issues there last weekend and two people sustained injuries. We do not have record of death and the police did not see any corpse.

    “The clash is connected to the NURTW issue. The street gangs have links with the union and warring factions are using them.

    “Three suspects were arrested. There is increased patrol in the area. The Rapid Response Squad (RRS), task force and other operatives have been patrolling the area.

    “The area commander said there was no clash today. People might have been running as a result of panic. They had issues on Saturday and Sunday, but the area is peaceful today (Monday) because patrols have been intensified.

    “The patrol is still ongoing. We are working on some names. There are names given among those that participated in the clash. Our men are working on them and picking them up.”

  • Task force kills terrorists

    The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) said on Monday that several Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) terrorists were killed last Saturday and their weapons destroyed in parts of Borno, Chad and Niger Republic.

    It disclosed this in a statement by its spokesman Col. Timothy Antigha.

    The task force said the equipment destroyed included weapons, ammunition and logistics at Tumbum Rego, adding that plans by the terrorists to detonate Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) at Layi Koura in Nguigmi, Niger Republic, were foiled.

    “Air interdictions conducted by MNJTF and national Air Task Forces successfully attacked and killed several fighters and knocked out equipment last Saturday, as they prepared to launch an offensive on troops’ location.

    Read Also: Troops neutralise two terrorists in Borno

    “Battle damage assessment has indicated that the air interdiction had a devastating impact, as pockets of ISWAP build up and logistics hidden under trees in Tumbum Rego have been ruined.

    “ISWAP assets in Mallam Zuberu and Alagarno were also targeted and neutralised. Similarly, IEDs planted by ISWAP operatives in Layi Koura area of Nguigmi in Niger Republic were discovered and defused by troops.

    “In the past couple of weeks, ISWAP suicide bombers have struck at Kaiga-Kindjiria, a rural community in the Republic of Chad, as well as Gubio in Borno State in an effort to revamp its dream of establishing a caliphate in parts of northern Nigeria and other areas of the Lake Chad Basin.

    “This blow by the MNJTF will further plunge the leadership and followership of ISWAP into more despair,” said Antigha.

  • Workers arraigned for ‘stealing’ employer’s N2m

    Two employees of a laboratory company, Clina-Lancet Nigeria Ltd, Ikechukwu Duru and Oluwole Olalekan, were on Sunday arraigned at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos for allegedly stealing N2million from their employer.

    Duru, 33, of 1, Onasanya Mogaji Close, Agboyi, Ketu, Lagos and Olalekan, 33, of 36, Agbole Street, Sunrise Lagoon, Ijeshatedo, Lagos are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing preferred against them by the police before Magistrate Mrs. Are Temitope Bimbola.

    Prosecuting Inspector Ingobo Emby alleged that the defendants committed the offence on July 17.

    He said the incident occurred at 3A, Babatunde Jose Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Read Also: Nanny ‘steals’ employer’s foreign currency

    Emby alleged that the defendants collected N2million on behalf of their employer and converted the company’s money to their use.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Bimbola granted them N500,000 bail each, with two sureties each in the like sum.

    She said one of the sureties must be a relation, show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government and have their addressed verified.

    The case continues on September 27.

  • Six killed as suspected cultists clash in Ikorodu

    Six persons were at the weekend killed and several others injured after suspected cultists clashed in Ikorodu, Lagos State.

    The clash, which occurred at Imota, was said to have started on Saturday evening.

    The Nation had reported fresh cult wars between Aye and Eiye groups last week at Oworonshoki and Bariga in Lagos that left at least five persons dead.

    It was gathered that two persons were killed on Saturday and four others yesterday, while many others sustained injuries.

    Residents, who took to the social media to lament the resumed clashes, said the killings were alarming.

    According to one Yisu Mumini, the rival groups were killing one another as though life was cheap.

    He wrote: “Imota is on fire. The cultists are at it again. The massacre was on tough edges and life was just too cheap to take.

    Read Also: Operation Crush arrests 25 cultists at Ijora, Mushin, Bariga

    “Are we so lawless? Are security operatives sleeping? Is there no one to stop this massacre? Come and put permanent stop to this ugly and deadly situation please.

    “We cry loud for sanity and peace. Help the helpless because the count increases.”

    Not satisfied with Saturday night’s battle, The Nation gathered that the groups continued around 6pm yesterday while the Oro festival was ongoing, killing four people.

    It was learnt that those killed allegedly belonged to the cults and it took the intervention of policemen from Imota Division and reinforcement from neighbouring divisions to restore peace.

    Police spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), confirmed the incident. He said 19 suspects were arrested.

    He said: “Yes, there was a clash on Saturday and two of the cultists were killed. Those who sustained injuries are also cultists.

    “They continued their supremacy tussle this evening (Sunday) while the community was having a festival and some persons belonging to either Aye or Eiye cults were killed as well.

    “Police quickly moved to the scene and arrested 19 suspected cultists. Two locally-made pistols with two live and three expended cartridges were recovered.

    “Also recovered were 11 stolen phones, charms and large quantity of substance suspected to be marijuana. Intensive patrol, stop and search are being sustained.”

  • Court clears driver of alleged N806,500 theft

    An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos has discharged and acquitted a driver, Richard Tayo Olalere, of stealing N806,500.

    Magistrate Mrs. O. A. Akokhia found Olalere, a National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) member, not guilty, following five-year, one month trial.

    The police arraigned the defendant on April 30, 2018 on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing of N806,500 belonging to a bus owner, Mr. Vitus Nwamafio.

    The police alleged that Olalere and others at large, between April 2013 and March 2014, conspired and stole Nwamafio’s N806,500.

    The offence contravenes sections 409 and 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty.

    Read Also: Court acquits Jonathan’s ex-aide over N1.6b fraud

    During the trial, he told the court that it was a case of a bus hire purchase agreement gone bad and that he had even repaid Nwamafio N577,000.

    According to him, a misunderstanding arose after he refused to assist the claimant to transport his family to the village.

    In a May 30, 2019 judgment made available to The Nation yesterday, the court held that the prosecution failed to prove the charge.

    Magistrate Akokhia held: “I dare say that there is nothing on the oral documentary evidence preferred by the prosecution pointing to a fraudulent taking of the sum stated in the charge. Rather, what can be deduced is that the defendant defaulted in the performance of the Hire Purchase Agreement, which he made with PW1 (Nwamafio).

    “The allegation that the defendant was issuing threatening words was not substantiated anywhere in the evidence preferred by the prosecution, hence this honourable court is unable to arrive at a conclusion that there is an intention by the defendant to permanently deprive PW1 of the said sum or the bus, subject matter of the Hire Purchase Agreement.

    “This honourable court therefore holds that the evidence preferred by the prosecution failed to establish that the defendant stole the alleged sum, rather it is the case that the said sum was being owed not stolen.

    “Accordingly this honourable court finds that the prosecution has failed to discharge its duty of establishing the ingredients of the alleged offence against the defendant.

    “….The defendant herein is hereby discharged and acquitted on the two counts charge preferred against him and I so hold.”

  • Five suspects arrested for allegedly hijacking Taxify car

    Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) have arrested five persons in connection with the alleged hijacking of a Taxify Toyota Corolla Sports in Lekki, Lagos State.

    The suspects, Michael Sosa, 27, Nelson Benson, 24, Idowu Dauda, 30, Owolabi Shobayo aka Daju pa, 29 and Biliaminu Abu alias Gengen, 43, were nabbed in Ijoko and Ota in Ogun State last week for allegedly hijacking and selling a Taxify car in February.

    The Nation gathered that they allegedly participated in the selling of the car to a dealer in Republic of Benin for N250,000.

    It was learnt that Sosa, in company of Dosumu, now at large, sometime in February converged on Elegushi Beach, Lekki where they hatched the plan to hijack a Taxify car, move it to Ogun State and sell.

    Sosa, a suspected ‘yahoo–boy’, after waiting till 10pm, ordered a Taxify ride from Agungi Estate to Lagos Island. In the car with him were Dosumu and Dauda.

    Read Also: Police arrest man, woman for hijacking N2.7m beer

    The police quoted Sosa as saying: “On Abraham Adesanya Estate, Lekki, I told the driver I wanted to urinate. We alighted. While I pretended to be urinating, Dosumu poured dried pepper on the driver. He screamed and jumped out of the car. He started shouting for help. I got on his seat and drove the car away.

    “I drove to the road leading to Alpha Beach where we stopped for some hours because we suspected we were being trailed. At about 4am, I proceeded to Agege, dropping Dosumu at Omole. I picked Benson at Agege Stadium. Nelson was to direct us through the routes that prevented us from encountering the police and to Ijoko.

    “At Ijoko, I took the car to Alfa Mouka’s house. He was my spiritualist. I told him the car was stolen. It was at that point we began to source for buyers. We were introduced to Daju pa and Gengen. They are dreaded cultists and notorious criminals in the area. I told them I wanted to sell the car for N300,000. We later discovered that the car had no papers. This made it difficult to sell.

    “We got a dealer who asked us to bring it to the Republic of Benin. Gengen and I took it there around 11pm after changing the number plate

    “We sold the car for N250,000. We would have sold it at a higher price but for the papers that were not available. I took N190,000. I gave N60,000 to Gengen and N40,000 to Eniba (Dauda) to give Michael. Although, I got to know that it was N30,000 that got to him. Our link to Benin Republic got N13,000. That was how we shared the money.”

    Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu said any criminal who thinks he can escape with nefarious activities perpetrated in Lagos needs to think twice, as the command is at alert and will arrest any criminal in any part of the country.

    The suspects have been transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for further investigations.

  • Teenager jailed three months for stealing fowl

    A Magistrates’ Court in Minna, Niger State, has sentenced a teenager, Yakubu Dahiru, to three months in prison for stealing a fowl.

    Sentencing the teenager, Magistrate Binta Rijau said she would be lenient on the accused person as he was remorseful.

    Rijau ordered him to pay a fine of N3000 or serve three months in prison in the event of a default.

    Read Also: Banker accused of stealing customers’ N11m

    Dahiru had been charged with joint act, house breaking and theft, to which he pleaded guilty and begged for leniency.

    Prosecuting Inspector Thomas Peter had told the court that two men, Yusuf Mohammed and Christopher Yahaya, jointly reported the matter at the police station on May 2.

    Peter quoted the complainants as alleging that the accused person and two others, now at large, broke into their compound and stole a fowl valued at N2000.

  • Suspected kidnapper of lawmaker feared killed

    A suspected kidnapper believed to have taken part in the abduction of the lawmaker representing Zaria City Constituency in the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Abdullahi Ibrahim Dabo, has been feared killed.

    The Nation gathered that the suspect was feared killed during a gun duel with the police on a routine patrol of the Kaduna-Zaria expressway on Sunday.

    Although police spokesman Yakubu Sabo is yet to react to the development, a security source said the suspect alongside four other gang members were engaged in a gun battle with the police while trying to block the highway.

    Read Also: Police confirm abduction of Sokoto lawmaker

    A source said: “About five suspected kidnappers were involved in the blocking of the road before their encounter with the police.

    “One of them was killed in the process, while the other four escaped into the bush.”

    He said a locally-made rifle was recovered from the suspects.

    The Nation learnt that the kidnappers were the hoodlums who abducted the Kaduna State House Assembly member last Friday.

  • Court remands farmer for alleged banditry

    A Magistrates’ in Makurdi, Benue State, at the weekend ordered that a 27-year -old farmer, Nsonga Akujov, charged with alleged banditry and illegal possession of firearms, be remanded in prison pending legal advice.

    Magistrate  Ajuma Igama did not take Akujov’s plea for want of jurisdiction.

    Igama ordered the police to send the case file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.

    She adjourned the case till September 26 for further mention.

    Read Also: Court remands two friends in prison for beating up night crawlers

    Prosecuting Sergeant Ato Godwin told the court that the suspect was arrested by troops of  the “Operation MESA “deployed in Ukum Local Government on July 31.

    Ato said the team raided the town, following activities of bandits, kidnappers and robbers who were terrorising citizens.

    He alleged that the suspect was arrested with an AK 47 rifle with reg No. 53016723, 56 rounds of 7.6mm live ammunition and three live cartridges.

    During further investigation by the police, he said, the suspect confessed to being a militia.

    He said investigation into the matter was still ongoing and prayed for another date for mention.

    The offence, he said, contravened Section 6(b) and 3(1) of the robbery and firearms special provision Act 2004; Section 4(2) of the abduction, hostage taking, kidnapping, secret cult and similar activities, prohibition Laws of Benue 2017.