The Nation Newspaper

Category: Crime Diary

  • I planned to make billions from kidnapping- Suspect

    The Niger State Police Command has arrested a suspected member of a kidnap gang that allegedly mastermindied the kidnap of one Abubakar Umar of Auna in Magama Local Government Area of the state.

    In his confessions to The Nation, the suspect, 24-year-old Mukhtar Abubakar said he had planned to make billions out of kidnapping before he was arrested, adding that abduction has become the easiest way to make money in Nigeria.

    He disclosed that their modus operandi was to kidnap victims and demand for ransom before releasing them. He said kidnapping over the years has brought in easy money for him.

    ”Kidnapping is the fastest business in Nigeria now; you can make your millions without too much stress. I love kidnapping and abducting people for easy money.”

    However, Mukhtar met his waterloo as he was arrested after the payment of the ransom demanded on their victim, Umar.

    According to Mukhtar, he and his gang invaded the house of their victim (Umar), kidnapped him and demanded the ransom of N150 million for his release, out of which N13.5 million was eventually paid for his release, after rigorous negotiation.

    Mukhtar disclosed that the kidnapping gang is made up of a team of nine, which is led by one Mallam Umaru.

    The suspect told The Nation that luck ran out of him when police detectives in  Kontagora apprehended him while trying to escape. He said the other members of his gang are still at large.

    He, however, lamented that he wss yet to get his own share of the money from the latest kidnap before he was arrested by police detectives attached to the Police Area Command in Kontagora.

    “I never knew that in my wildest imagination, the police will one day arrest me. Otherwise, I would have been swimming in millions of naira. It’s unfortunate.

    “I knew that whatever has a beginning must have an end. Honestly, this is the end of the road for me and my gang members. We had already planned how to share the loot but now, I’ve ended up in police net, too bad!”

  • Alleged rape: Ex-Bayelsa security adviser to spend yuletide in prison

    A former Security Adviser in Bayelsa State, Chief Richard Perekeme Kpodoh will remain in the Federal Prison, Onaka,  Yenagoa throughout the yuletide.

    The Chief Judge of the state,  Justice Kate Abiri, turned down an application of Kpodo, who was a security aide to  Ex-Governor Timipre Sylva to transfer his case to another judge.

    Kpodo is standing trial for the alleged rape of a 26-year-old cashier in his hotel located in Yenagoa,  the state capital.

    The accused person, who has been in the prison, halted his trial following his application to have his case transferred to another judge.

    The trial judge, Justice  Eradiri decided to adjourn the case indefinitely pending the determination of the application.

    But when the matter resumed on Friday, Justice Eradiri informed parties to the case that the Chief Judge declined the request of the accused.

    He said: “The Chief judge turned down the request made by the accused and the counsel to the accused, Julious Iyekoroghe approached this court with a motion on notice seeking that I disqualify myself from hearing the case.

    “The motion had alleged that I am biased based on denial of bail application and the comments I made that the charge was a serious one and therefore an indication of bias.

    “When bias is alleged, the issues to be examined is whether a reasonable person following the case will consider the judge biased, otherwise no judge will be able to conclude a trial as accused persons will endlessly allege bias.

    “Having examined the motion on notice and the response of the prosecution and conclude that the motion has no iota of merit and is hereby dismissed and the case is hereby adjourned to January 24 for defense”.

    In his response, the defence lawyer Iyekoroghe thanked the judge for the decision and notified the court that the decision would be challenged at a higher court.

    “We shall put this ruling to test at a higher level,” the lawyer said.

    Kpodo is standing trial on two counts of unlawful detention and rape of the victim, a 26-year-old female cashier at the hotel run by the accused.

  • Two friends ‘kill’ youth during scuffle in Ogun

    Ado Odo community in Ogun State was thrown into mourning penultimate Monday, after a youth, Sola Odunaro, was allegedly beaten to death by two friends identified as Azees and Tunde, during a scuffle.

    The incident happened at about 9 am.

    It was learnt that the scuffle broke out between the deceased and Azees during an altercation.

    Sources told The Nation that it was during the scuffle that Tunde aka Killer allegedly joined his friend, Azees to beat Sola to death.

    The duo allegedly fled the scene when they realised that Sola was no longer breathing.

    A source who asked not be named, said: ‘’ Bystanders rushed to the scene in order to save Sola from the grip of the suspects, but it was too late. He died before people could reach the scene to save him from his assailants.’’

    Contacted, the spokesman of Ogun State Police Command, Mr.  Abimbola  Oyeyemi  promise to revert to our correspondent.     But he did not do so at press time.

  • Police arrest suspected robber, cultists in Bayelsa

    The police in Bayelsa State have arrested a suspected armed robber, James Oweifa, for allegedly terrorising Yenagoa, the state capital and its environs.

    The 22-year-old Oweifa, who hails from Agbere in Sagbama Local Government Area was said to be in possession of a revolver pistol with five rounds of 9mm ammunition when he was nabbed by the police.

    A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Asinim Butswat confirm the arrest of the suspect popularly called Grade.

    Butswat, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)said the suspect was trailed and apprehended by the Surveillance Team of the command’s monitoring unit.

    He said: “On 13 December, 2018, at about 1330 hours, the Surveillance team of the Command Monitoring  Unit, acted on a tip-off and arrested one James Oweifa ‘m’ 22 years, a native of Agbere Community, Sagbama LGA.

    “The suspect a notorious Icelanders cultists AKA Grade, was arrested in possession of a locally made revolver pistol with five rounds of. 9mm live ammunition. Investigation is ongoing to arrest his cohorts”.

    He further said that stop and search operations embarked upon by operatives of the police command in Yenagoa metropolis was yielding positive results.

    Speaking on the success of the operations, he said: “On 14 December, 2018, at about 1120 hours,  Policemen on stop and search operations, arrested one Ayibamiebi David ‘m’ 20 years, a.k.a Desperado in a tricycle along Ekeki Road, Yenagoa.

    ”The suspect, a notorious Icelanders cultists is a native of Opuama community, Southern Ijaw LGA, he was arrested in possession of a locally made pistol. Investigation is ongoing”.

     

  • 12 soldiers to face court martial in southeast

    Twelve soldiers serving under the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army (NA), Enugu, Enugu State would soon be arraigned before General Court Martial (GCM) that was setup by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Division, Major General Emmanuel Kabuk.

    A release by the 82 Division Army spokesman (Deputy Director Public Relations), Col. Musa Sagir, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division Nigerian Army, (NA) Major General Emmanuel Kabuk had on Monday December 10, 2018 inaugurated a General Court Martial (GCM) to try erring personnel of the division. This, he said, was in line with the importance of discipline to the success or failure of any organization, particularly the military, – in peace or in war.

    In his inaugural speech at the 82 Division Officers’ Mess, Abakpa Cantonment Enugu, Kabuk enjoined members of the GCM to adhere strictly to the rules of law and strict obedience to the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN) 1999 as amended.

    He described discipline as the bed rock of military profession. According to him, “the operational efficiency of any military force is a mix of sound administration and rigid disciplinary measures.

    “Thus, disciplinary measures in the military to which court martial belong, are aimed at guaranteeing a highly disciplined and battle ready army, which is in line with the Chief of Army Staff vision – “To have a professionally responsive Nigerian army in the discharge of its Constitutional roles”. In this vein, trials in the NA must be organized and administered in accordance with provisions of the  1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN) as amended”, he  added.

    “The essence of the GCM, in addition to the dispensation of justice, is to send the right signal to the NA personnel that may fall into the temptation of violating extant rules and regulations, – that acts of indiscipline will be met with appropriate disciplinary action.”

    He charged all the parties in the cases to avoid unnecessary techanicalities that would delay, the trials and in the process wastes alot of resources.

    “Let me recall both Section 36 of the 1999 CFRN (as amended) and Section 122 of the Armed Forces Act, CAP A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 which emphasize that expeditious and speedy trials form the basis of which fair trial must rest”, the GOC stated.

    Kabuk further reiterated the popular beliefs that justice delayed is justice denied.

    Colonel Edwàrd Abore is the President of the GCM. He promised to administer justice in line with Armed Forces Act Cap A20 law of Federal and CFRN 1999 as amended. He made it clear that all the accused are entitled to legal representation of their choices.

    Twelve soldiers will be appearing before the GCM on various charges.

    Recall that in the military, offences that cannot be summarily tried are the ones that are referred for court martial as contained in Section 124, Sub Section 6 of the Armed Forces Act.

  • Police uncover illegal drug factory in Lagos

    The police have uncovered an alleged illegal factory where medications are produced.

    The factory located at 2, Okunnenye Street, Ikotun Egbe, Lagos, was said to have been uncovered by operatives of the Inspector General of Police (IG) Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

    According to the police, the factory was raided by IRT on November 23 and four suspects Emeka Madu, 47, (alias Cabara), Eze Young, Chijioke Umunna and Kingsley Obilo were arrested.

    Parading the suspects at the factory yesterday afternoon, Force Headquarters spokesman Jimoh Moshood, an acting Deputy Commissioner of Police (Ag DCP), said Madu was the owner of the factory known as Cabara.

    Moshood said the operatives received credible intelligence and acted on it in uncovering the alleged hidden fake factory, where substantial production, packaging and distribution of suspected fake drugs to different parts of the country was being carried out.

    He said the IG, Ibrahim Idris was pleased with the IRT and the Lagos State Police Command for uncovering illegal factories.

    Moshood said the police recovered cartons of different fake drugs, large quantity of unprocessed chemical substances used in manufacturing drugs, machines for processing, manufacturing and packaging of these drugs as well as forged phamaceutical papers.

    He said plastic buckets of different types of drugs suspected to be fake were also recovered.

    He lamented that several people might have died as a result of complications or suffered physical disabilities caused by the use of the alleged fake drugs.

    He said: “The IGP has advised members of the public to be weary of where they procure food, drugs and drinks as many of them are fake and may cause outright deaths or physical and mental disability. The premises has also been sealed and remained sealed till the determination of the law court.”

    He urged the public to avail police useful information on happenings around them.

    Madu said: “ I am the owner of the factory. I am a school certificate holder. I learnt the trade from a friend of mine who is now late. I started my own business about four years ago. Although, I am not a pharmacist or a chemist but the medicine is not totally fake as I used quality chemicals to produce it.

    “My market is at Onitsha Anambra State. I do not supply in Lagos. I distribute only in Onitsha. I have not really made too much money. I am the owner of the place.

    “Yes, I can take the drug and give to my wife and children because it is not totally fake. I try to be genuine. Instead of 250mg I make it 180mg. That is the only offence I have committed but really the medicine works.”

  • Customs seizes 40,000 bags of rice

    No fewer than 44,615 bags of rice have been intercepted by the operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun Area Command.

    The seizure was part of the contraband intercepted from smugglers in the last 11 months.

    The command also said it generated N1,129,119,923 as monthly revenue for November out of its N727,775,499 revenue target.

    The Area Controller of Ogun State, Michael Agbara, made the disclosure during a press briefing at the State Operational Command Headquarters, Idi-Iroko.

    Agbara said the command also confiscated 67 units of vehicle, 6,015 bags of foreign rice, 119 kegs of vegetable oil, 30 cartons of frozen poultry products, 171 pairs of used shoes and second hand clothing worth N395,118,058.

    He said that the command seized 44,615 bags of rice between January and November this year against 21,789 bags intercepted in 2017.

    Describing the seizure as “a blow to the smugglers”, Agbara warned smugglers to stay away from his command, adding that his men would not bow to any form of intimidation in the discharge of their duties.

    ”In a quest to sustain the tempo of aiding the Federal Government Policy on Agricultural Development in the area of boosting local rice production, the Command has redoubled its effort by committing a seizure of 44, 615 bags of rice (50kg each) as at ending November, 2018 which is almost doubled the 21, 789 bags of rice seized from January to December, 2017.

    “The anti-smuggling success story is a blow to smugglers and also a sound warning to those who have dubious intention to exploit the avenue of yuletide period for smuggling,” he said.

  • Transporter held for ‘diverting’ clothes worth N5.2m

    For allegedly diverting clothes worth about N5.2m and selling them N100,000, a transporter Gabriel Onyeka has been arrested by operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) Lagos.

    Onyeka was apprehended after the buyer he took the bags of clothes to at Ebute-Ero market alerted the police.

    It was gathered that the unnamed buyer had suspected the seller after he offered 12 bags filled with clothes  for sale at N500,000.

    According to the police, the said buyer offered to pay N100,000 and Onyeka agreed, fuelling suspicion in the mind of the buyer who notified security operatives.

    It was gathered that in the course of investigation, detectives found out that the clothes belonged to one Alhaji Dabuzu in Kano State who handed them to Onyeka for delivery to a customer in Aba, Abia State.

    Investigations showed that the real owner had gone to New Park in Kano State to waybill the goods but instead of taking them to the intended buyer, the suspect diverted them to Lagos with intent to sell them and keep the money.

    According to the police, Onyeka admitted to have stolen the goods, adding that he was desperate to raise money to travel to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

    The FSARS operatives also arrested a suspected gang of armed robbers alleged to have terrorised lodgers, residents around Igando and Ikotun.

    The gang allegedly led by one Emmanuel Olasunkanmi alias Federal was arrested in a hotel last month by a team led by Festus Olaniyi, a Superintendent of Police (SP).

    According to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) incharge of FSARS Lagos Ibrahim Kaoje, others arrested alongside Olasunkanmi were Ahmed Agunbiade alias Omo Jo Ibo, Dotun Ogunsanya, Nurudeen Agbeyewo, Segun Okinade and Usman Akinde.

    Kaoje said 15 stolen motorcycles, household items and three cut-to-size pistols were recovered from the gang.

    The suspects were said to have told the police they bought the guns at N30,000 each.

  • ‘Juju’ contest ends in tragedy as student stabs colleague to death

    Tragedy struck at Ado Grammar School, Ado-Ekiti where a student allegedly stabbed his colleague to death during a juju contest on Thursday.

    The culprit, Kehinde Timilehin, reportedly killed a schoolmate, Matthew Favour, on Thursday  in a bid to test the efficacy of a charm that can prevent the penetration of sharp weapons like knife and cutlass.

    Favour, who was of Ebira extraction, was rushed to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH)  to save his life but he gave up the ghost despite being placed on life support.

    The duo were said to have had an altercation over ownership of a football earlier in the day before the stabbing incident occurred.

    Following the tension generated by the murder, the school was  closed down as the family and kinsmen of the deceased had threatened to kill thirty students in retaliation.

    A police Toyota Hilux van with over ten armed officers was stationed at the gate

    with few teachers allowed entry into the school while students who reported as early as 7am were turned back.

    Sources told reporters on yesterday at the school that Favour actually brought the weapons but was killed after the axe and knife wrapped with white and red scarf could not pierce the suspect who overpowered him and stabbed him in self defence.

    The School Principal, Mr Ebenezer Falayi and the Vice Principal, Mr. Olurotimi Olaoluwa, explained that the incident occurred around 2.15 pm at a far section of the institution after the school had closed .

    He disclosed that the school had officially closed for the day before the screams of the victim was heard from one end of the school where the incident happened.

    Falayi said: “What I gathered from students who were at the spot of the gory incident was that, the duo were arguing over who had superior power and the deceased had earlier gone home to bring all those weapons which could not pierce the suspect when used on him.

    “I was told that the suspect later overpowered him and collected

    those weapons and stabbed the victim in the chest. Our teachers, including myself, my Vice Principal and Registrar alongside other teachers who were resident on campus here rushed him to EKSUTH. We even took the suspect along.

    “The victim was put on life support, but that could not help the situation, he died in the hospital. I had to quickly call the DPO of Odo Ado Police Station who reinforced his men and contacted police station at Oke Ila to prevent the suspect  from being killed by highly enraged deceased’s family members.

    “The hospital insisted on doing the autopsy before releasing the corpse but the family resisted it. They later released the corpse to the family when it nearly caused trouble in the hospital.

    “The police also took the suspect into custody. But I had to beg for security to be beefed up around the school when there was threat that 30 students will be killed in reprisal attack today (Friday)”, Falayi stated.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, Mr. Caleb Ikechukwu, a Deputy Superintendent, said he has not been officially briefed about the killing.

    But an officer who asked not to be quoted confirmed that the suspect was immediately taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the Police Command shortly after the deceased was confirmed dead.

  • Fire guts Forte Oil petrol station at Lagos Airport

    Forte Oil petrol station besides the Domestic Police Station, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos  has been gutted by fire.

    The incident triggered anxiety among passengers, motorists and passersby along the busy Ikeja-Airport Road.

    Thick smoke billowing from the petrol station filled the skyline occasioning heavily vehicular movement along the Airport Road.  Scores of road users took to their heels to avoid being caught in possible conflagration as the huge flakes of smoke was seen as far as the Mafoloku axis of the Airport Road and other parts of the metropolis.

    But as at the time of writing this  report ,the cause of the fire was  still unknown.

    An eye witness said  the fire started about 2.10pm

    He added that already fire fighters from both the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Lagos State Fire Service battled  to put the fire under control.

    The eye witness said that the firemen have been able to prevent the fire from affecting other building close to the razed Forte Oil Petrol Station

    As at 2.300pm thick smoke was still coming out from the burnt petrol station and it also enveloped the area where the filling station is located

    The  development has further caused gridlock on the ever-busy Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos Access Road.