The Nation Newspaper

Category: Crime Diary

  • Police supervised illegal demolition of my property, businessman alleges

    A Nigerian businessman based in Ghana, Jayson Kimipado, has accused policemen attached to the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) Ikoyi of aiding suspected land grabbers to take over his property.

    In a petition to the Inspector General of Police (IG) Adamu Mohammed alleged that a Deputy Superintendent (DSP) and an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) both of the SFU had connived with a certain Prince and another Obele to illegally demolished his structure and trespassed his land located at Lake View Estate, Amuwo-Odofin.

    Addressing reporters in Lagos on behalf of Kimipado, an estate agent Edward Ojefia, who said he was the one that assisted the petitioner in purchasing the land, disclosed that it was bought in 2016 and registered at the land registry with a certified true copy of Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) and a survey plan obtained.

    Ojefia said he was the go-between Kimipado and the seller because the former was in Ghana, adding that payments were made through transfers to the seller, a lawyer.

    “Subsequently, the seller initiated action at the High court of Lagos State, and during the pendency of the action; the trespassers were duly served all the notices by the order of court.”

    Trouble however started for Kimipado in 2017 when the alleged grabbers threatened to pull down part of his fence on grounds that it encroached on their land. He said his tormentors had boasted they have police influence and went ahead to show same by illegally demolishing, taking possession of and mounting armed policemen permanently on his land.

    Spokesman for the SFU Lawal Audu, a DSP said: “It is a lie.  Our officers did not supervise the demolition of any house or structure.  SFU was involved after the former IGP directed us to take over the case from X-Squad, FCIID, Alagbon. After we took over, our officers investigated the case and found out that the land does not belong to the claimant.

  • Man kills wife in Niger over alleged infidelity

    A 32- year- old man, Jibril Abu, has been arrested by the police in Niger State, for allegedly killing his wife, Victoria Aliyu, after accusing her of infidelity.

    According to Abu, his wife had brought men to their matrimonial home and received calls from men unguardedly in his presence.

    Abu said he killed Victoria to save his family from shame.

    The suspect , who hails from Dabogi village in Lapai was arrested by operatives attached to the Lapai Division in Lapai Local Government Area of the State. He described his late wife as a disgrace to womanhood and that she had dragged his family name to mud.

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    He said: “I used a wood to kill her after warning her to desist from picking calls from men in my house. I have been suspecting that my wife has been sleeping around with other men in my village and at the heat of an argument, I killed her.

    ”My late wife times without number had brought in men in our matrimonial home with no fear and my culture abhors the act, that  was why I killed her to save the family from the shame.’’

    Police spokesman, Muhammad Abubakar, said the suspect, after killing his wife attempted suicide by drinking an insecticide, but was immediately rushed to the hospital.

    He said that the suspect had confessed to the crime adding that the matter would soon be charged to court.

  • Commercial motorcyclists dump colleagues’ body  at governor’s office

    Several commercial motorcyclists othersie known as okada, on Friday invaded the Governor’s office in Calabar, Cross River State, to protest the death of their colleague, who was allegedly killed by members of the State’s security task force.

    The protesting motorcyclists dragged the corpse of their colleague right into the premises of the Governor’s Office, smashing windows and attacking anyone that resisted them.

    The deceased, it was gathered was thoroughly beaten up by members of the task force until he became unconscious around Ikot Ansa in Calabar.

    He died while being taken by his colleagues to a health facility, hence, his angry colleagues dumped his body at the Governor’s office.

    The protesting okada riders stormed the governor’s office and overpowered three security personnel at the gate.

    They damaged some items at the gate, tore the official security registers and approached the main entrance reception, where they smashed the glass doors.

    As they became more violent, reinforcements of armed soldiers from 13 Brigade of Nigerian Army and policemen from the nearby state police command arrived to contain the situation.

    It took several gunshots fired into the air to disperse them. A couple of them were rounded up by security operatives.

    His body was later taken away by the police.

    The State’s police spokesman, Irene Ugbo, said the victim fell from his motorcycle and died when the task force team wanted to arrest him for violating the restriction order on okada plying major roads.

  • Kidney patient needs N15m for surgery

    A kidney patient, Saheed Ogunmuyiwa, has cried out to kind –hearted Nigerians and charity organisations to assist him with a sum of N15 milion for kidney transplant operation.

    According to him, the operation would be done at Gbagada General Hospital, Lagos State.

    Ogunmuyiwa, who resides at Mushin, a Lagos suburb, said: ‘’ I have not been able to urinate directly for the past four months, unless through dialysis which I am doing twice a week for a sum of N55,000.

    Read also: Driver needs N10m for kidney transplant

    ‘’It’s almost a hopeless situation, but I shall be very grateful if people can donate  or offer financially assistance to save my life.’’

    Donations can be sent to a First Bank account-3114268584, with the name, Ogunmuyiwa Saheed Ayinla. He can also be reached on 07084758026.

  • Row over death of two residents during customs, smugglers clash

    A row has broken out over the death of two men during a clash between operatives of the Ogun State Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and hoodlums suspected to be smugglers at Owode-Yewa on Monday.

    The victims, Bello Mohammad Jamiu, 32, and Adeleye Taiwo,39, were said to have died when customs men raided a church where hundreds of bags of foreign rice were hidden inside several vehicles in Elekute area of Owode..

    Hoodlums suspected to be smugglers were said to have resisted the evacuation of the rice from the church premises leading to a confrontation during which Jamiu and Taiwo were allegedly killed and others injured.

    The situation worsened on Tuesday after irate youths set up bonfires on the road and embarked on a stop- and- search of vehicles for customs men to attack.

    Residents and community leaders in the town blamed the operatives of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Ogun State Command for the killing, insisting that justice be done to bring the errant minions of law to book for their indiscretion.

    The spokesman of Ogun State Customs Command, Mr Abdullahi Maiwada, in a statement released on Monday said the suspected smugglers had attacked customs officers who went to a church where hundreds of bags of banned foreign rice were kept inside several vehicles.

    ‘’The officers went on an operation to save Nigerian economy from the mayhem of smugglers, who stocked (the rice) in a place of worship and houses nearby. The team faced resistance from armed criminals, who inflicted serious injuries  on two officers, among others, and further damaged patrol vehicles.

    ‘’The encounter led to exchange of gunfire between customs officers and smugglers with their accomplices. For peace to reign, the anti-smuggling team resorted to tactical withdrawal.

    ‘’However, the hoodlums took law into their hands by barricading the main road leading to Idiroko, scouting for customs officers to attack.’’

    In a communique issued and signed on Wednesday by the monarch of Owode Yewa, Oba M.S. Akindele, outraged community leaders condemned the killings and urged Customs authorities to punish the masterminds and compensate the bereaved family of the victims.

    The statement reads: ‘’This communique is issued to express our displeasure and grief over the killing of Bello Mohammad Jamiu -32 years and Adeleye Taiwo-39 years. Their corpses have been deposited at the Ota General Hospital.

    ‘’It was reported that men of the Nigeria Customs Service came to Elekute area of Owode Yewa to raid the community while they carted away hundreds of bags of rice from the area.

    ‘’Five schools within the area were also shot at with pellets of bullets found in their compounds. In the attack by men of Customs, the officers shot sporadically with their stray bullets hitting passers-by in the thickly populated community.

    ‘’As a result, the two persons stated above died as a result of stray bullets with many persons injured. Also, shops, cars and school buses carrying school children, were badly damaged with some of the children injured.

    The statement added: ‘’Our demands (are) that a high-power investigation be conducted to ascertain the customs officers involved in his dastardly incident.

    ‘’That the killer-customs officers be identified within 24 hours, or reasonable time in order to guarantee safety in the town and those found culpable be made to face the wrath of the law.

    ‘’That the families of the deceased be adequately compensated as they all left their wives and children behind; that the hospital bills of those injured be paid and the shops and vehicles damaged be repaired. Finally, that we demand strongly that the incessant killings be stopped forthwith and constant harassment of the community be put to an end.’’

  • One killed, others injured in Edo fire incident

    One person has been confirmed dead, while two others were injured in a fire incident caused by explosion from a tanker carrying diesel.

    The fire was said to have occurred along the Benin-Lagos road at about 5am when the tanker fell and spilled its contents, in a bid to avoid head-on collision with a Mercedes Benz wagon car loaded with bags of rice, whose driver drove against traffic.

    The dead victim was the yet- to- be identified driver of the tanker.

    He was said to be trapped inside the tanker and fire engulfed him before help could reach him.

    Prompt arrival of Fire Service men from different stations help to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby buildings.

    The accident caused traffic congestion and caused hike in transportation fare as commuters were made to pay N150 instead of N100 from New Benin area to Ugbowo.

    Edo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Philip Shaibu who was at the scene of the accident said drivers should always obey traffic rules.

    “From what I have been told here, somebody was driving against traffic and that is what has resulted to this accident.

    “We should maintain our lanes and the immediate thing we have to do here now, is to first evacuate and check the essence of damage and the government will take it from there.

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    “But I think we need a lot of public enlightenment programmes to educate our commuters on how to obey traffic rules and also stop moving against traffic because that is what I was told caused this accident”, he said.

    Chairman of Egor Local Government Area, Ms. Eghe Ogbemudia said she arrived the scene at about 5:30am

    “The fire services from the different locations have really helped us. I just want to use this opportunity to advise our road users mostly our drivers to stop driving on one-way because that is what caused this accident.

    “Somebody was driving in the opposite direction when this truck was coming and the truck man(driver) lost control, that is what the eyewitnesses said”, she said.

  • Community appeals to Lagos govt over blocked drainage

    Aggrieved residents of IdiOyin/ Imoke community in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State, have appealed to Govenor Akinwunmi Ambode to save them from the environmental consequences of blocked drainage in the area.

    The drainage, according to the residents was allegedly blocked by some Ajah residents who were resettled in the community by the state government.

    They said the blocked drainage had caused untoward hardship for human and vehicular movement after water that should have passed through the drainage flooded the road.

    In a Save-Our-Soul appeal sent to the Commissioner of Physical Planning and Urban Development, and his Environment counterpart, the community called on the state government to look into the matter with a view to calling perpetrators to order.

    The letter dated January 23, 2019 and signed by the traditional ruler of the community, Chief Omotayo Adeboye reads in part: ‘’ Please come to our aid in Idi Oyin/Imoke community, regarding the blockage of an existing drainage of water flow(sic) on Idi Oyin/Imoke road leading to four communities in Ibeju Lekki  by some people relocated by the Lagos State government called  ‘Ajah community’.

    ‘’They have erected a thick long concrete wall beside Idi Oyin/Imoke road, which in turn has blocked the flow of water  across the road thereby making the lives of road users difficult because of stagnant water that increases day by day. ‘’

  • Suspected hoodlum abducts, chains 12-yr-old girl

    There was pandemonium on Monday in Otun area of Akute, Ogun State, after a 12-year-old girl, Aishat, who was abducted by a suspected hoodlum was found in chains with her mouth gagged.

    The girl, according to sources was returning from a Quranic school in the neighbourhood, when she was abducted by a suspected hoodlum.

    She was found gagged and her arms bounded inside a cage where she was kept by her abductor.

    The incident triggered emotions as residents trooped out to catch a glimpse of the dehumanized teenager.

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    The matter was reported and the mastermind of the abduction was arrested by policemen attached to Ajuwon Police Division.

    It was learnt that a traditional ruler who intervened in the matter, persuaded the girl’s father not to prosecute the suspect.

    Confirming the incident, police spokesman, Mr Abimbola  Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police(DSP ) said a suspect was initially arrested but released after the victim’s father said that he was not interested in prosecuting the suspect.

    He said: ‘’A suspect, Wasiu Kewulere was initially arrested and would have been charged to court but for the intervention of the girl, who said that he didn’t want charges to be pressed against the suspect.’’

  • Furore over ‘forcible’ marriage of couple’s daughter

    An attempted forcible marriage of a young girl has sparked a row in Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

    An influential family was said to have made attempts to ‘forcibly’ marry the young daughter of a couple, Rafihu Eniola and Tayelolu Afolabi.

    It was said that the death of one of Rafihu’s uncles had coincided with the birth of his daughter.

    It was said that the influential family attempted to marry the young daughter of the couple for an alleged appeasement of the gods for the death of the family’s patriarch.

    A family member, Adewale, said that his cousin, Rafihu, whose daughter the influential family had attempted to kidnap ‘’for the arranged marriage was only a ploy to exploit his daughter because there was no suitor.’’

    Read also: Suspected hoodlum abducts, chains 12-yr-old girl

    ‘’Rafihu was born into Muslim family and later became a Christian and doesn’t believe in forced marriage. He fled the country on August 18, 2017, when he could not get help from law enforcement agents, after threats to his wife and family to make them agree to the marriage.’’

    Adewale noted that the influential family had continuously raided Rafihu’s family home, looking for his young daughter, whose bride price they claimed to have defrayed.

    He added that he recently filed another complaint on December 18, 2018, on behalf of his cousin (Rafihu), asking the police to stop the incessant threats and invasion of his cousin’s family residence, hence, he is making public his cousin’s plight.

    The spokesman of the Lagos State Police Command, Mr Chike Oti could not be reached for comment at press time.

  • How we killed three police officers, by robbery suspects

    When  operatives  of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) arrested two suspected car snatchers   at Woji,Port Harcourt last November,little did they  (policemen) realise  they were on to a bigger  discovery.

    As the interrogation  of the suspects progressed  ,Dumlebari  Mbane (28) and Godswill Jackson  (22) began to sing ,according to police sources.

    They helped the police unknot the mystery behind the September 2018 murder of   three policemen and  a civilian in the city.

    The policemen and the civilian had lost their lives while providing security escort to a management staff of an oil giant who was  visiting the Port Harcourt office of the company.

    The convoy of the oil company management staff had run into the gunmen after the pilot vehicle missed its way and led the convoy into Woji area of the city.

    The driver of the pilot vehicle died in the incident, while the AK-47s  of the murdered policemen were  carted away by the gunmen.

    The initial fear was that the September attack  on the oil company management  staff’s  convoy  was a kidnap attempt.

    But all that soon changed after  Mbane and Jackson’s arrest .

    They  allegedly confessed to the police that they were responsible for the killings and that they  specialise in robbing Toyota Sienna vans and  supermarkets across the state as well as snatching mobile phones from people.

    The killers were said to have made away with the rifles of the murdered policemen.

    On the fateful day in September, they claimed to be out  for ‘business’  at Woji  when they sighted the escort car and it occurred to them to strike.

    They pulled out their AK-47s and opened fire on the occupants of the escort vehicle, killing all the occupants  including the driver immediately.

    A source at the IRT said   that the operatives, following a directive from the former Inspector General of Police, were on the trail of the  kidnappers of a British- Nigerian national, Professor   Belgaum, who was released after an unknown amount was paid as ransom, when they busted a car snatching and armed robbery gang.

    The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said: “We were trailing kidnappers of Professor Belgaum of  the University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital, UPTH, when we stumbled on these suspects.

    “ We learned that the people who kidnapped the professor carried out the operation with a black Toyota Sienna and when we contacted our informants in Port-Harcourt, they gave us the  identities of the suspects as  Dumlebabari Mbane and Godswill Jackson, who they said specialised in robbing Toyota Sienna vans in Rivers State.