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Tag: Abayomi Shogunle

  • Anambra election: CP urges intelligence sharing among security agencies 

    Anambra election: CP urges intelligence sharing among security agencies 

    The Commissioner of Police in charge of Saturday governorship election in Anambra, Abayomi Shogunle, has called for coordination and synergy among security agencies before, during and after the poll.

    Shogunle made the call in a statement issued on Wednesday in Awka, by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Tochukwu Ikenga.

    Shogunle quoted the CP as having made the call during a meeting with the security service commanders in the state to harmonise operational plans ahead of the election.

    “There is the need for coordination and synergy, real-time intelligence sharing, joint patrols, and professional conduct of personnel before, during, and after the election,” he said.

    He said that the measure aimed at ensuring peaceful, credible, and violence-free governorship election.

    The CP said the meeting would also harmonise and strengthen the already established security operational structures for the election.

    He reiterated the collective commitment of the security agencies toward ensuring a peaceful, credible, and violence-free election in the state.

    Shogunle said that the security architecture put in place in the state remained resolute and united in ensuring that the will of the people through the ballot prevailed.

    He encouraged residents to report suspicious persons and unusual movement to the nearest police station or through the command’s emergency telephone numbers; 112 or 07039194332 for prompt response.

    The CP assured residents and political actors that the security agencies have jointly reviewed flashpoints, mapped out deployment strategies, and designed response mechanisms to swiftly address any breach of peace.

    The service commanders, in their separate remarks, pledged full cooperation and reaffirmed their readiness to maintain law and order, safeguard voters, election officials, material and critical national infrastructure.

    Read Also: Anambra Election: Eight local governments to decide Saturday’s governorship contest

    They called on the electorate to remain law-abiding, shun violence, and participate in the election without fear of intimidation.

    The service commanders also urged political parties and candidates to play by the rules and discourage their supporters from acts capable of disrupting the peace.

    The  meeting, held at the State Police Command Headquarters, Awka, brought together service commanders from the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Department of State Services.

    Others in attendance were Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs, Federal Road Safety Corps, and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

    (NAN)

  • IG appoints Shogunle as new CP, deploys 60,000 officers for election

    IG appoints Shogunle as new CP, deploys 60,000 officers for election

    Ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra State, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has replaced the Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, with Abayomi Shogunle.

    The change was announced yesterday. The new Commissioner of Police is to oversee all policing operations in the state during the forthcoming governorship election.

    According to a statement signed by the Command’s spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, the posting is in line with the Force’s operational strategy aimed at enhancing security planning to ensure a peaceful, credible, and transparent electoral process in Anambra State.

    Upon assuming duty, CP Shogunle immediately activated the Enforcement Protocol for Anti-Electoral Offences, aimed at ensuring zero tolerance for ballot snatching, vote-buying, political thuggery, and voter intimidation.

    Ikenga further disclosed that the Commissioner has strengthened the Electoral Offences Desk to monitor social media and other online platforms for cyber-related electoral crimes, with a mandate for prompt investigation and prosecution.

    READ ALSO: No religious persecution in Nigeria, Tuggar insists

    He added that the new CP has also established a central command framework to ensure real-time intelligence sharing, coordination, and rapid response, supported by the joint deployment of over 60,000 security personnel drawn from agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

    The Command stated that ICCES operatives will secure all 5,720 polling units in the state, with tactical reserves positioned along inter-local government and state boundaries.

    Ikenga emphasised that all vigilante groups—such as Agunechemba and other quasi-security outfits—remain banned from election security operations. Only Federal Government security agencies are authorised to provide security services during the polls, in accordance with Nigerian law.

    “Furthermore,” the statement continued, “VIP movements with armed escorts or security aides at polling or collation centres are strictly prohibited. Violators will face immediate arrest, withdrawal of escorts, and prosecution.”

    “Only designated INEC officials, accredited observers, and journalists are permitted to move freely between approved areas,” he added.

  • Police reunite woman with two-year-old daughter

    Two years after the family of a young woman’s estranged lover took her child away the Police Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) said it has reunited them.

    This was disclosed in a statement on Thursday by head of the unit, Abayomi Shogunle.

    According to Shogunle, the family of the unnamed woman had whisked the child away and threatened the mother with violence each time she requested to see her kid.

    He said kid was rescued on December 12 from the family in Kaduna, following a complaint made by the mother on December 5.

    Shogunle, who refused to disclose the woman’s identity to protect the child, said the child was taken from its mother and then moved to Kaduna State to stay with the lover’s grandmother.

    He said: “On December 5, at about 11am one Ms. B (full name withheld due to privacy of her infant daughter) came to the PCRRU and narrated how her little daughter was forcefully taken away from her by the family of her estranged boyfriend and father of the little girl who has since relocated to South Africa.

    “During the process of this traumatic ordeal in 2016, the said family boasted that she will never be allowed access to her daughter again, after which her daughter was taken to Kaduna State to stay with the grandmother.

    “She also stated that all efforts made to see her daughter proved abortive as she was threatened with violence. That she has also reported the matter to various authorities but no positive response received.

    “Her complaint was recorded as a distress call and tracking number PCRRU931805 issued.

    “The case was immediately forwarded to the Officer-in-Charge of Juvenile and Women Centre (JWC) of the Kaduna State Police Command to investigate and ensure a decision is taken in the best interest of the girl without further delay.

    “Within five days, the JWC was able to bring all the parties together during which it was discovered that the little girl was more interested in being with her biological mother and not her grandmother.

    “Advice was also sought from relevant experts and it was decided that this four-year-old girl be released to her biological mother considering the fact that her father has relocated from Nigeria as Ms. B was also discovered to be a responsible and working class woman.

    “On December 12 (exactly one week after the complaint was received), an elated Ms. B visited the PCRRU, Force Headquarters, Abuja in company of her little daughter to express her joy and happiness over the swift response of the unit in “helping her get justice and helping the helpless people in the society.”

     

     

     

  • Sex in a car in public is a crime, Edgal warns

    It is an indecent act to have sex in a car in a public place within Lagos State, Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal warned on Wednesday.

    Edgal’s warning followed the statement of the officer-in-charge, Police Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) Abayomi Shogunle on a viral social media.

    Answering a question by a twitter user on whether sex in a car was a crime, Shogunle wrote: “Sex in a car in a public place is not a crime in Nigeria provided location is not a place of worship, parties are 18 years and above, the act is consensual and parties are of opposite sex. If threatened with arrest over above, please contact @POLICENG_PCRRU.”

    But the Lagos Police Command differed on the PCRRU’s position, warning that Sections 134 (a) and 136 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2015 prohibited indecent act in any public place without lawful excuse.

    In a statement by the spokesman for the command Chike Oti, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), the police said anyone found guilty of such an act was liable to two  or three years in prison.

    He said: “The Commissioner of Police Lagos State  has been advised by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Ministry of Justice and the Legal Department of the Command with relevant sections of the law as follows

    “Section 134(a) Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, prohibits any indecent act in any public place without lawful excuse. The law holds that such person is liable on conviction to two years imprisonment.

    “Section 136 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, provides that any person who commits any act of gross indecency with another person in public commits an offence and liable on conviction to three years imprisonment.

    Read Also: NCC to fund universities’ research to boost innovation

    “It must be noted that section 134 which deals with offences against morality particularly section 134(a) has it that indecent act in a public place makes both parties engaging in the act liable to imprisonment for two years.

    “In the same vein, section 231 of the Criminal Code Act which is a Federal law and applicable in states other than the northern states where Penal Code is applicable also make indecent acts punishable.

    “Going forward, the authorities of the Lagos State Police Command hereby declares that the assertion that sex in a car in a public place is not a crime in Nigeria is misplaced as the provisions of the Criminal Law of Lagos State prohibits such acts in public even if it is done with consent of the other party

    “To this end, the Commissioner of Police Imohimi Edgal wants Lagosians to be guided by relevant sections of the law against such acts.”

  • Police warns officers against fraternising with politicians

    The Nigeria Police has warned its men and officers that will provide security in the Osun September 22 governorship election to eschew fraternising with politicians or collecting bribe from them.

    Mr Abayomi Shogunle, the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Public Complaints Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) gave the warning in Osogbo on Tuesday.

    He handed down the warning when he visited the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Osun Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

    Shogunle said any police officer caught with any unprofessional conduct before, during and after the election would be duly punished.

    The Assistant Commissioner of Police said PCRRU was established two years, adding that about 10 police officers had been dismissed, based on complaints.

    He also said the response unit had recovered and returned about N11.1million to victims who lodged complaints, after investigation.

    Read Also: Police uncover robbers’ shrine in Delta

    Shogunle explained that team was in Osun to meet different stakeholders and sensitise police personnel against unprofessional conduct before, during and after the Osun election.

    “There is going to be a severe punishment for any police officer found guilty of any unprofessional conduct.

    “We are here to ensure free and credible election.

    “The Nigeria Police is not supporting any candidate and our role is to ensure level playing ground for all the candidates,” he said.

    He also warned politicians to desist from inducing voters during the election, saying the intelligent unit of the police would arrest anybody caught distributing money to voters on election day

     

  • NHRC to commence nationwide inspection of police cells

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris has approved the nationwide inspection of Police cells by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

    The approval came after the Commission requested an independent inspection of police detention cells including that of Special Anti-Robbery Squad  (SARS) across the country.

    The inspection is expected to enable the Commission ascertain the condition of detainees and the state of police detention facilities.

    Read Also: Police parade man for impersonating Kogi Governor

    This is contained in a news bulletin in Abuja on Wednesday  by the Head of Public Complaints Rapid Response Unit  (PCRRU), ACP Abayomi Shogunle.

    The bulletin reads: “The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris has approved the request of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to commence an independent audit of detention cells in all police commands and formations in Nigeria including those of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

    “These visits will enable the NHRC oversee the human rights situation of detainees as well as undertake general audit of the state of police detention facilities (cells) in the country.”

  • Four police officers detained for extortion

    Four police officers detained for extortion

    Four police officers attached to Ogudu Divison in Lagos State have been detained following their alleged involvement in extorting money from their victim.

    The officers were alleged to have collected money through transfer after they went through phone and bank details of their victim.

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris has however ordered a detailed investigation into their case and also ordered their removal from frontline duties.

    The directive is contained in a bulletin released by the Officer in charge of the Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU), ACP Abayomi Shogunle.

    The decision was reached after a social media post went viral about how some police officers were forcefully trying to collect the victim’s phone.

    Narrating what he went through in a report submitted to the Unit, the complainant alleged that two officers; Mathew Olasiji Olaadujoye and Oba Roland stationed along Ogudu road pulled him over and asked for his cell phone.

    His report reads: “I refused to hand it over because I felt it was infringement of my privacy but it was forcefully taken and my messages were viewed along with my account details and other private areas in phone and I was extorted.

    “The excuse for this was because they saw in my google app that I had more than one gmail log in. They tagged me a yahoo boy and I was detained for four hours and my car keys taken from me. I wasn’t released until I transferred to Mathew’s account a total of N15,000”

    On what the police did after the complaint was received, Shogunle said: “The Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) immediately registered the case and ticket number PCRRU972905 was issued.

    “The author of the post was contacted and a meeting between him and PCRRU investigators took place at the Force Headquarters Annex, Moloney Street, Lagos on Monday 21st August, 2017.

    “The police officers involved; two Inspectors and two Sergeants attached to Ogudu Divison, Lagos state have been identified and removed from duty that involves any form of contact with members of the public pending the conclusion of a detailed investigation.”

    Giving outcome of preliminary investigation conducted, Shogunle said: “PCRRU preliminary investigation shows that the policemen on the 16th of August, 2017 at about 11:00am intercepted the complainant along Ogudu raoad and in the course of their interaction went beyond their mandate by going through the contents of the complainant’s mobile phone.

    “Bank statement of account confirms that the complainant following the orders of one of the officers transferred the sum of N15,000 into the account of a third party”.

    The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris however directed the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2 Lagos to carry out a detailed investigation into the alleged misconduct and appropriate disciplinary action taken against anyone found to have erred.

  • U.S pledges support for FG’s anti-graft campaign

    U.S pledges support for FG’s anti-graft campaign

    The United States on Wednesday reiterated its commitment to the Federal Government’s anti-corruption drive, saying it would continue to offer material and intelligence supports to ensure Nigeria is rid of graft.

    The U.S. Charge d’Affaires, Mr. David Young, said the cost of corruption to the economy should not be measured by figures of stolen assets, but its effects on hardworking citizens.

    The diplomat said America would continue to support open partnership with agencies of government and civil society organisations to end corruption in Nigeria, adding that all Nigeria’s stolen assets stashed in the U.S would be recovered and returned to the country.

    Young spoke at the launch of Report Yourself, a web-based anti-corruption platform to promote citizen engagement in the fight against corruption.

    The event was organised by BudgIT in collaboration with the U.S Mission to Nigeria and Religious Leader Anti-corruption Committee (RLAC), a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

    The web-based platform was developed by BudgIT and funded by the U.S Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement.

    Young said the platform was created with the aim to empower citizens to instantaneously report corruption and bribery in public and private sectors as it occurs.

    He said: “We hope Report Yourself platform starts a new movement in citizen engagement in Nigerian government’s efforts to end corruption. We do hope every Nigerian citizen who is affected by corruption would feel empowered to share their experiences. The tide will turn against the culture of corruption when Nigerians recognise that they must fight as one to stamp out this scourge that has hampered development and stifled prosperity.”

    “Through the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, we are working to increase the capacity of Nigerian law enforcement agencies and the justice sector.”

    The Head of Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) of the Nigeria Police Force, Abayomi Shogunle, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, pledged the police’s support for the platform, saying it would complement the PCRRU’s effort to end indiscipline in the force.

    Sogunle urged members of the public to engage the platform and report corrupt cases around them.

  • Traffic wardens dismissed over extortion

    Traffic wardens dismissed over extortion

    Two traffic wardens have been dismissed for extorting a motorist in Abuja.

    The affected personnel were – Musa Muktari (Force number 394120 GDI) and Shuaibu Suleiman (10627 GDII).

    The two men, until their dismissal, were attached to Wuse Police Division, FCT Command.

    The officer in charge of Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU), Abayomi Shogunle, said in a statement:  “On 30th May, 2017 a motorist came to the Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) FHQ, Abuja and reported that while driving his vehicle on 29th May, 2017 (12:30 p.m.) along Wuse market road he was accosted by two traffic wardens who accused him of beating traffic light despite the fact that he did not.

    “The motorist said the wardens started demanding for bribe before they would release him and led him to an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) not far from the scene where he was forced to withdraw N15,000 from his account.”

    Shogunle said one of the traffic wardens forgot his mobile phone in the victim’s car.

    He added: “The PCRRU immediately launched an investigation (Tracking Number PCRRU475669) and both traffic wardens were identified, apprehended and the N15,000 earlier extorted from the complainant was recovered from both wardens who had shared it N7,500 each.

    “Both wardens were subsequently defaulted and referred to the Force Provost Marshal FHQ, Abuja, for Orderly Room trial during which all witnesses were called, exhibits presented and defaulters heard.

    “The Adjudicating officer found both defaulters guilty as charged and recommended punishment of dismissal from service.

    “The orderly room proceeding has been reviewed by the appropriate NPF authority and the punishment approved with immediate effect.”

     

     

  • Lagos, FCT, Rivers lead in public complaints against police

    Lagos, FCT, Rivers lead in public complaints against police

    Lagos, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Rivers recorded the highest number of complaints against police officers by members of the public.

    The Public Compliant Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) disclosed this in its 2017 first quarter report released in Abuja Thursday.

    According to the report, the Unit received 498 cases between January and March this year from various parts of the country.

    The report, however, showed 52.8 per cent decrease in number of misconduct cases reported against police officers compared to last year.

    1,054 cases were reported during the same period last year.

    The Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of PCRRU,  Abayomi Shogunle, said telephone call topped the means by which members of the public interacted with the Unit, adding that 362 cases or 73 per cent of the total cases reported were received through calls.

    Shogunle said 10,000 phone calls were received from the public during the period under review but only 362 phone calls relating to the mandate of the Unit were processed.

    He said, “Lagos State Police Command topped the list with 90 cases representing 18.07 per cent, followed by FCT Abuja with 69 cases or 13.86 per cent and Rivers State with 59 cases or 11.85 per cent.

    “Kwara and Ekiti Police Commands recorded no case during the period while Sokoto, Kebbi, Jigawa, Cross River and Bauchi Police Commands recorded one case each.

    “Kebbi state Command recorded its first case since the inception of the unit in 2015.”