The Nation Newspaper

Category: Crime Diary

  • Suspect dies in hospital after threatening to kill policemen

    A suspected cultist, Chinedu Obi, who threatened to invade a police station with his colleagues and kill those who arrested him, has died, The Nation learnt on Wednesday.

    The suspect, according to Ogun State Police Command spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi, died on July 20 at a hospital he was taken to for treatment after he was shot in the leg to restrain him from causing more harm.

    Obi was arrested on July 19 by policemen attached to Sango Ota Division for alleged malicious damage, but went berserk during interrogation.

    The suspect, it was gathered, suddenly ran out of the statement room, picked an axe and started smashing windscreens of vehicles parked inside the police station.

    According to the police, Obi damaged 17 vehicles inside the station and pursued policemen with the axe before he was demobilised.

    Oyeyemi said the officer who shot Obi acted in line with Force Order 237 since the suspect was armed with an axe and aggressive.

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    He refuted claims that the police shot the suspect and allowed him to bleed to death, insisting that Obi was taken to the General Hospital, Ota where he died while receiving treatment.

    “The truth of the matter is that the suspect was arrested on July 19 at about 10:30am in connection with a case of assault/ malicious damage. He was taken to Sango Ota Divisional Headquarters for investigation.

    “While he was being interrogated, he suddenly went berserk, picked an axe recovered earlier as an exhibit and started chasing policemen at the station.

    “He ran out of the interrogation room to where vehicles were parked and used the axe to destroy 17 vehicles. Afterwards, he started chasing the policemen with the aim of using the axe on anyone around.

    “It was at that point that an armed officer on duty was left with no alternative but to shoot him in the leg in order to demoblise him. He was then taken to General Hospital, Ota for treatment, but later died while receiving medical attention.

    “It is worthy of note that before the suspect went out of his mind, he had made statements to the police and it was established that he was a renowned cultist who had been terrorising Ijoko Ota and its environs before the incident that led to his arrest,” said Oyeyemi.

    A viral one minute and 30 seconds video showed Obi at the back of a police patrol van bleeding and threatening to return with his gang members to kill those behind his arrest.

    He warned police officers serving at the station to flee before his return because upon his return with his Black Axe members, they would “spray” the division and kill everyone.

  • Ondo quarry worker freed

    A 35-year-old woman, Mrs. Tope Olorunfemi, who was kidnapped last week by suspected herdsmen on Afo/Idoani Road in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State has been freed.

    Olorunfemi, an employee of Xiamen Wine Stone at Afo, was abducted on her way back home from work on a commercial motorcycle (okada) at gunpoint near Irekari Comprehensive High, School, Idoani.

    Narrating her ordeal, the victim said the kidnappers first took her and the commercial motorcyclist to a nearby bush where they dispossessed her of her belongings at gunpoint.

    She said the okada rider was ‘released’ a few hours later, and she trekked for hours with the suspects throughout the night inside the bush.

    She said the kidnappers did not know that she understands Hausa language.

    Olorunfemi said she was shocked to earlier hear the okada rider and the kidnappers discussing how to share the ransom her family would pay.

    Read Also: Snake sacks Ondo lawmakers during plenary

    The Nation learnt that the next day, hunters from Idoani, Idogun, Afo and Imeri organised a search party to rescue the victim.

    Then a call suddenly came from the kidnappers demanding N3million ransom.

    It was gathered that after four days of pleadings and negotiations, the abductors agreed to take N300,000 from the victim’s family, following the intervention of royal fathers, chiefs and well-meaning individuals from the four communities.

    Residents, describing the incident as unfortunate, expressed worries about incessant killing, kidnapping, raping and destruction of their cash crops by the suspected herdsmen.

    They expressed concern about the safety of their children and appealed to the government to intervene.

    The monarchs at Ose communities have issued a 21-day ultimatum to herders to vacate their domains, although the police have opposed the directive.

  • DPP’s report indicts house help for killing 89-year-old woman, daughter

    The Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has indicted a house help, Joseph Ogbu, for the June 19 murder of his 89-year-old employer, Mrs. Adejoke John, and her 36-year-old daughter, Oreoluwa.

    The indictment is part of the legal advice on the case issued by the DPP, T. K. Shitta-Bey, on July 12, following a July 5 police request.

    The DPP’s office dispatched the legal advice on July 17 to the police and the “presiding magistrate, Magistrate Court 8, Ebute-Meta, Lagos” where Ogbu was arraigned on June 27.

    In the report, seen by The Nation on Wednesday Shitta-Bey said facts in the duplicate case file presented to her office by the police, sufficiently established a case of murder and armed robbery.

    She recommended that Ogbu be tried for both offences, adding that her office would file the processes for his arraignment and trial at the high court.

    Read Also: Househelp’s trial for ‘killing’ employer, daughter, adjourned for 86 days

    The report read: “After a careful consideration of the facts available in the duplicate case file, this office is of the considered opinion that there are sufficient facts establishing a prima facie case of murder and armed robbery contrary to sections 223 and 297(2)(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 against Joseph Ogbu.”

    Magistrate O. A. Olagbende of an Ebute-Meta Magistrates’ Court remanded Ogbu, 22, in Ikoyi Prison on June 27, following his arraignment by the police on a temporary three-count charge of murder and stealing.

    He was suspected of murdering his boss, Mrs. Adejoke John and her daughter, Oreoluwa, on June 19, just two days after he was employed.

    The State Criminal Investigation Department (SCIID), Yaba, Lagos alleged that Ogbu stabbed Oreoluwa to death after she turned down his demand for N4,000 on the second day of his employment.

    He, afterwards, strangled Mrs. John.

    Police counsel O. W. Ologun said the defendant committed the offences on June 19, at about 10pm, at his employer’s 4, Ogunlana Drive, Surulere, Lagos, home.

    He said the defendant also stole his employer’s Toyota Camry car, Gionee, Itel and Nokia phones, a power bank, a pair of scissors, two cutlasses, an LG Plasma TV set and a handbag containing clothes and towels.

  • Woman ‘conspires’ with lover to ‘rape’ friend

    A 23-year-old woman, Eniola Shittu, has been arrested by the police in Ogun State for allegedly conspiring with her lover, David Peremobowe, 31, to rape her friend.

    Eniola, a resident of Ikopa Tuntun, Abiola Way, Abeokuta, was arrested on July 27 following a complaint by the victim at Obantoko Police Division, spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi said last night.

    He said the incident occurred around 1:45pm on July 24, when Eniola messaged the victim on WhatsApp to help her buy food.

    Eniola was said to have asked the victim to bring the food to her boyfriend’s house at Somorin, Obantoko in Abeokuta where she was offered a bottle of beer by the boyfriend.

    Read Also: Suspected cultists gang-rape teenage student in Anambra

    “But immediately she finished taking the beer, she became very weak and David unlawfully had carnal knowledge of her. While he was doing it, the victim’s friend, Eniola, used her phone to record how she was being raped.

    “On the strength of her complaint, the DPO of Obantoko Division, SP Olasunkanmi Popoola, sent his detectives to the boy’s house where David and his girlfriend, Eniola, were arrested. The Gionee phone with which the video coverage was made was also recovered.

    “Police Commissioner Bashir Makama has ordered the transfer of the suspects to the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Labour unit of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) for further investigation and prosecution,” Oyeyemi said.

  • Police arrest two for alleged varsity killing

    The police in Rivers State said on Wednesday that two persons had been arrested in connection with the Monday killing at the Rivers State University (RSU), Nkpolu, in Port Harcourt City Local Government.

    A 500-level student of the Department of Forestry and Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, Prince Barisua Tuaka, was shot dead on campus on Monday evening.

    Police spokesman Nnamdi Omoni said in a statement that two suspects have been nabbed in connection with the killing.

    Read Also: Two feared killed in varsity cult attack

    He said the suspects are Elechi Chibuzor and Nnamdi Chibundu.

    Although he could not confirm last night whether the suspects were students of the university, he said they were being investigated.

    Governor Nyesom Wike has sanctioned the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Blessing Didia, over the incident. Wike queried the VC.

    Police Commissioner Mustapha Dandaura has appealed to residents to help the police serve them better by giving information that can assist the operatives tackle crimes.

  • Indian hemp suspect held

    The police in Ogun State have arrested an illegal substance dealer caught with 17 bags of weed suspected to be marijuana.

    Daniel Elimuya, a resident of 9, General Hospital Street, Iyana-Ira in Agbara, was arrested around 6:30pm on July 28 at Ibafo.

    It was learnt that the suspect hid the weed inside a vehicle he travelled in from Delta State to Lagos.

    The Nation gathered that the police received a tip-off about the vehicle with number plate GGE782EX and intercepted it.

    Read Also: NSCDC intercepts suspected Indian hemp valued at N72m in Lagos

    Confirming the arrest, police spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said the bags were hidden inside the vehicle and were discovered after a search.

    He said the suspect was arrested and he confessed to have been a marijuana distributor and was going to Lagos Island to deliver the weed to one Kofo.

    “Police Commissioner Bashir Makama has ordered the transfer of the suspect and exhibits to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) for further investigation.

     

  • House help’s ‘trial’ for ‘killing’ employer, daughter, adjourned for 86 days  

    An Ebute-Meta Magistrates Court in Lagos State said on Tuesday that it had yet to receive the Directorate of Public Prosecutions’ (DPP’s) advice on the murder charge filed by the police against a house help, Joseph Ogbu.

    Magistrate O. A. Olagbende adjourned further proceedings till October 24, or for 86 days.

    She gave the long adjournment because the court will be on vacation between August and September.

    Olagbende noted that the adjournment should have been for 30 days.

    She, however, observed that depending on the DPP’s report, the Lagos State Government could take over the case and transfer it to the high court during the adjournment period.

    The court remanded Ogbu, 22, in Ikoyi Prison on June 27, following his arraignment by the police on a temporary three-count charge of murder and stealing.

    He was accused of killing his 89-year-old employer, Adejoke John, and her 36-year-old daughter, Oreoluwa John, on June 19, barely two days after he was employed.

    The State Criminal Investigation Department (SCIID), Yaba, Lagos alleged that Ogbu stabbed Oreoluwa to death after she turned down his demand for N4,000 on the second day of his employment.

    He, afterwards, strangled Mrs. Adejoke John.

    Read Also: Woman inserts pepper in housemaid’s private part over N26,000 theft

    Police counsel O. W. Ologun said the defendant committed the offences on June 19, at about 10pm, at his employer’s 4, Ogunlana Drive, Surulere, Lagos home.

    He alleged that the defendant stole his employer’s Toyota Camry car, Gionee, Itel and Nokia phones, a power bank, a pair of scissors, two cutlasses, an LG Plasma TV and a handbag containing clothes and towels.

    According to him, murder contravenes Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, while stealing offends Section 287 of the same law.

    Ogbu was not represented by a lawyer.

    An Investigative Police Officer (IPO), who did not identify himself by name, also narrated how Ogbu allegedly killed the women.

    He said: “On June 18, the deceased employed him as her house help. The next day, he accosted her that he needed N4,000. The deceased’s daughter said ‘when did you come that you are already demanding money?’ That was when he had an issue with the daughter and he stabbed her several times in the stomach and she fell and died. The mother was inside her room hearing them. The daughter was saying ‘Mummy! Mummy! Joseph has killed me! Joseph has killed me!’ As she (the mother) tried to come out, he grabbed the 89-year-old woman and strangled her. That was around 9pm. He was there until around 2am. He then took the key of the deceased’s car, opened the gate and drove out. He had earlier removed the plasma TV from the wall in the parlour and put it in the car along with other items.”

    He said the defendant was caught by security men on the street as he tried to drive off.

  • Two feared killed in varsity cult attack

    Two students of the Rivers State University (RSU), Diobu, Port Harcourt, are feared killed in a two-day attack suspected to be cult related.

    Although the police command confirmed the death of one, Prince Barisua Tuaka, a final year student in the Department of Forestry and Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, one other student was allegedly killed in another cult attack on the campus.

    Read Also: Police arrest five ‘armed robbers’, 72 ‘cultists

    Command spokesman Nnamdi Omoni, who confirmed Tuaka’s killing to The Nation on Tuesday, said he was shot in the head on Monday by a suspected rival cult member, and was taken to a nearby hospital where he died.

    He said: “I can confirm the death yesterday (Monday), of a student, Prince Tuaka.

    “He was a 500 level student of RSU from Khana Local Government of Rivers State. He was shot on the campus. We are suspecting cult activity. However, peace has been restored, as security has been tightened.”

  • Man arrested for ‘hiding in bank’s ceiling to steal’ 

    A man, who allegedly sneaked into the ceiling of a commercial bank in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital, to steal, has been arrested.

    It was alleged that the suspect, Idam Jeremiah, had planned to hide in the ceiling until the bank closed so that he would steal money.

    A witness, who preferred anonymity, said the man pretended to be a customer to gain entrance to the bank.

    “When he entered the bank, he pretended as if he wanted to use the toilet. After entering the toilet, he climbed into the ceiling,” the witness said.

    Read Also: Man bags 48 months imprisonment for stealing N326, 000 through bank app

    It was gathered a cleaner in the bank noticed the slippers the man left in the toilet when he climbed into the ceiling, and stains on the wall.

    “The cleaner alerted security men at the bank and one of them went into the ceiling to find out if someone was there. That was how we discovered someone hiding in the ceiling,” the source said.

    The Nation learnt that after he was found in the ceiling, the management invited the police, but the man refused to come down until the police threatened to shoot him.

    Command spokesman Nafiu Abubakar, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the incident to our reporter.

    He said: “The matter is being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department.”

  • EFCC nabs 15 suspected Yahoo boys

    Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibadan zonal office, on Tuesday foiled an attempt by a suspected Internet fraudster to flush his phone through a water closet.

    He reportedly attempted to do so to deny access to alleged incriminating data about him.

    The 20-year-old suspect, Fisayo Falade, was among the 15 young men arrested in Ibadan, Oyo State, for alleged Internet-related crimes when the commission’s operatives conducted a raid on two locations in the city.

    Ten of the suspects were arrested at Akatanpa Powerline. The other five were nabbed at Kushenla.

    Read Also: Yahoo boys: Not too Young to Scam?

    It was gathered that the suspects, whose ages range between 20 and 28 years, allegedly hide behind fake names and identities to perpetrate fraud, dispossessing their victims of their money.

    A source said their alleged involvement in Internet-related fraud was reported to the commission by neighbours, who noticed their expensive ways of life, although they are supposedly undergraduates without any known source of income.

    Items recovered from them included two posh cars, laptops, phones and documents containing false information.

    The suspects will be arraigned as soon as investigations are concluded, a source in the commission said.