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Tag: Anthony Ogbizi

  • Police arrest 10 over electoral offence in Kano

    Police in Kano have arrested 10 people for various electoral offences during the governorship supplementary election.

    Briefing reporters at the Bompai Police Headquarters on Saturday, the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Anthony Ogbizi said that the suspects were arrested at various polling units where the elections were held.

    According to him: “We made some arrests at the early hours of this morning. I may not be able to give the exact number of the people arrested.

    “I cannot tell you whether they are black or white in terms of identity; but I can tell you that some human beings were arrested and they are detained, being interrogated.

    “They were arrested either found with sticks or in groups. We are arrested more than 10 of them.

    “They are not party officials because you cannot identify them with PDP or APC membership cards.”

    DIG Ogbizi also affirmed there was adequate security arrangement across the state during the exercise, adding: “I think to me, the security arrangement was quite in order.

    “We did not witness any ugly incident, except minor and isolated incidences which were quickly addressed. Voting went on in all the polling units.

    READ ALSO: Police arrest five in Kano for buying PVCs

    “The process of collating the result is on, some have now moved to the collation centres and there have not been any protest.”

    He dismissed allegation by the PDP the police compromised during the election, pointing out: “if thugs had occupied any polling unit, certainly, INEC would not have been comfortable to bring out their materials to conduct the voting process.

    “Voters that went to vote would not have been able to vote. Again, you know it is a secret ballot, so we do not know which party or candidate the voters are voting for.

    “The results have not come yet. Police is never involved in the conduct of the elections.

    “We are involved in providing security for the smooth conduct of the election. So, to accuse the police wrongly, I think it is unfair.

    “We should refute that report on social media that some people were killed in Kano.

    “Was the name of anybody killed mentioned? Where are the witnesses? If there are not, then what are you saying.

    “Now, we heard that people were killed, houses were burnt, the Commissioner arrested people—all these we heard, we need to verify all these things, and they are not true.”

  • Polls: Ebonyi CP assumes duty in Abia

    The Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State, CP Awosola Awotinde on Friday assumed duties as the Commissioner of Police in Abia State ahead of March 9th Governorship election in the state.

    The change in guard is coming about 24hrs after former CP Ene Okon flanked by DIG in-charge of Southeast for 2019 election and a former commissioner of Police in the state, Anthony Ogbizi spoke on the strategies of the command towards a peaceful and free and fair Governorship and State House of Assembly elections in the state.

    The change in baton by the police hierarchy has generated mixed reactions among interest groups who alleged that it was a ploy to assist a particular political party rig Saturday’s elections.

     “We were in this state when the former Commissioner of Police Joshiak Habila superintended elections in 2015. Abia was peaceful and nothing happened. The recent commissioner of police (Ene Okon) was in-charge of the Presidential and National Assembly elections on (Feb) 23rd and Abia was very peaceful. Was there any case of violence in Abia? Did people die? Was there any case of ballot snatching? The answer to all these is no. Abia was one of the peaceful states in the country where elections were held on February 23. Tell me the need for the redeployment 24hrs to the election?

     “The point is that the other commissioner (Okon) refused to do their bidding. He was professional and made sure that despite the limited personnel available to the command, the state remained peaceful at the end of the Presidential and National Assembly election.

    Read Also: Breaking: Two killed, three injured in Ebonyi

     “What was the track record of the new man in the state that he is coming from? We know their plans and will make sure that Abians resisted attempts to foist anyone that is not the wish of the people,” a politician who pleaded not to be mentioned posited.

    But when our reporter contacted the spokesman of Abia State Command on his mobile line, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna said that Okon only swapped with his Ebonyi State counterpart for election duties and would return to the state after the conduct of the elections.

    Contrary to insinuations in some quarters that the redeployment is a ploy to favour a particular political party, Ogbonna debunked that and maintained that the swap would not in any way affect the strategies already put in place by the police and other security agencies to ensure there would be free, fair and credible elections in the state.

    Meanwhile, Awosola on resumption of duty in the state was said to have held closed door security meeting with heads of various sister security agencies at the police headquarters.

    Sources who were at the meeting disclosed that the meeting was for the CP to familiarize himself with the heads of sister agencies whom he solicited their cooperation ahead of Saturday’s election.

  • Six males arraigned in court over homosexual act in Abia

    Abia State Command Headquarters of Nigeria Police Force (NPF) said that it would be arraigning six male suspects homosexuals arrested in a hotel in Aba, the commercial nerve of the state.

    The suspects, according to the Commissioner of Police in the state, Anthony Ogbizi were Fred Ndubuisi, Anyanwu Chidera, Kamsiriochukwu Onuaha, Anderson Emeruwa, Sampson Nwadike and Nnadi Promise.

    Among suspects was an undergraduate, who were allegedly said to have been caught practicing homosexual in a hotel room.

    Ogbizi while parading the suspects at the Command’s Headquarters in Umuahia, the state capital said that they were arrested at City Global Hotels by Ekenna, off Okigwe road Aba through intelligence report.

    Ogbizi said they were caught in the act at City Gobal Hotel, Aba, about 2a.m. The commissioner said the suspects were nabbed following a distress call from the manager of the hotel.

    He added that the manager alleged that the suspects were seen kissing one another at the hotel bar by a worker who reported the incident to the management.

    Ogbizi said the manager went to the hotel room where two of the suspects had checked in earlier and discovered that they were six in the room, romancing and kissing one another.

    According to the police boss, the suspects were interrogated and it was discovered that they were members of a gang who came into the state from nearby states to practice unnatural act in the hotel room.

    The commissioner said the hotel management would bring its evidence against the suspects when they were charged to court.

    However, the suspects denied being homosexuals. The suspects said they were in Aba for the birthday party of one of their friends, Ndubuisi taking place in the same hotel.

    One of the suspects, who gave his name as Chidera, claimed to be an undergraduate of the Imo State University, Owerri.

    He said they all checked into one hotel room because they were told that the category of room they asked for was not available, in the alternative therefore they decided to manage one room to change their clothes before going to the club within the hotel.

    “I arrived the hotel about 6p.m. and I asked my friend to book a room for me, when I discovered that we were many in one room but he said that the hotel management said the N5,000 rooms we could afford were not available again. So we decided to manage that one room.

    “After drinking at the hotel bar, we went to the room to change our clothes for clubbing. It was at that time that we heard a knock on the door and when we opened the door, the manger started asking why we were six in the room and after explaining to him, he said they don’t allow more than three people in a room. That was how he accused us of practicing homosexuality in the room.

    There was nothing like kissing or making love in the room and we are not gays,” Chidera said.

    The celebrant, Ndubuisi, who claimed to be a hair stylist, also said that he only invited his friends for his birthday party and lodged them in the hotel. Ndubuisi added that they did not indulge in any homosexual act.

    He said: “I invited my friends for my birthday and I wanted to pay for two rooms but we couldn’t because the rooms were filled up, that was why we were in one room.”

    The Commissioner of Police said that they would be arraigning the suspects in court as soon as investigation was concluded.

  • Underage driver reportedly ‘kill’ corps member, Woman

    Underage commercial bus driver whose identity was still unknown has reportedly sent a corps member and another female victim to their early graves in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State.

    The incident, our reporter gathered happened along Ohanku, off Ngwa road, Aba South Local Government Area of the state.

    Some respondents who spoke to our reporter over the issue attributed the cause of the death of the male and female road users to over speeding which made the driver to lose control of the vehicle before crashing into the victims.

    Investigation has it that some conductors and mechanics are in the habit of using vehicles in their custody for commercial purposes without the knowledge of the bus or car owner which they use as an alternative means of income.

    Read Also: Police dismiss killer of corps member Angela Igwetu

    While a different account has it that the underage driver was handed over to the security agents, another account has it that he fled the scene immediately the incident happened.

    Bodies of the deceased persons were said to have been deposited in a nearby morgue.

    “The commercial bus driver was heading to Owerre-Aba when the driver lost control of the car, killing two persons; a young man in youth corps uniform and a woman and later broke into a shop and part of the building it crashed into. People who later came to the scene said that they warned the driver over his recklessness,” a source stated

    The State Commissioner of Police, CP Anthony Ogbizi and the spokesman of the command Geoffrey Ogbonna were yet to respond to text messages sent to their phones over the incident.

  • IPOB sit-at-home: Police, others hold joint show of force

    Heads of various security agencies in Aba and its environs has assured residents and visitors of the city of their safety. This is as the leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has warned residents and shop owners to close down business ahead of the planned sit-at-home of the group in the southeast.

    The sit-at-home protest which has become annual is used by the IPOB to honour their dead and to further push the agitation for the actualization for the Sovereign State of Biafra. This is even as the pro-Biafra group has ordered the closure of markets, schools, private and public offices especially in the southeast in solidarity of the group’s call.

    Speaking at the end of a joint show of force operation by police, army and other security agencies including Civil Defence and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Monday after patrolling round major roads and streets in Aba, the State Police Commissioner of Police, Anthony Ogbizi represented by Aba Area Commander, Peter Okpara urged residents and visitors to go about their lawful activities.

    Okpara who hinted that efforts have been made by the police and other security agencies to ensure there would be peace in Aba on Democracy Day, also warned that the police and its sister agencies would deal decisively with anyone or group of persons who would want to disrupt the peace in Aba.

    Also read : Tackle insecurity, Odedeji urges FG

    According to him, there would be deployment of its personnel at various strategic positions and places in Aba including markets to ensure that people move about without molestation from any person or group of persons.

    “Tomorrow is democracy day and as you know, IPOB and others are threatening the peace of our community. They said that there won’t be movement from tomorrow’s midnight till 30th of May.

    “They have perfected their plans to harass people who will come out on 30th. DPOs, tactical commanders and others should monitor their areas. We will have a response team here (Aba Area Command); mobile men and conventional policemen who will respond to any threat to peace in Aba area. So, you people should be vigilant even in your own private capacity. If you see anything going wrong, call your DPO, call the control room, I am sure that by the grace of God, we are on top of the situation,” Okpara stated while addressing the joint personnel at the end of the show of force.

  • Abia police parade suspected criminals

    The Abia State Commissioner of Police (CP) Anthony Ogbizi has paraded 14 suspected kidnappers and 10 suspected armed robbers in Umuahia, the state capital.

    Parading the suspects, Ogbizi said that the command is determined to rid the state of criminals and make it safe for those coming home for Christmas holidays and other engagements.

    Ogbizi said that policing has gone beyond the work of official officers and men of the police, stressing that it is the reason behind the community policing which has been yielding positive results in the state in particular and country at large.

    The Abia CP said that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Omoba division received information which led to the arrest of Victor Jonah 27 of Umuehim Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South at his hide out while his accomplice escaped.

    He said that the suspect had attempted to rob one Ikechukwu Orji of his motorcycle, “But when he was arrested one red Sanyang motorcycle with registration number QU 323 UYY suspected to have been stolen was recovered from him”.

    Ogbizi said that on the 3rd day of October this year that his men received a report from the DPO of Elimgbu in Rivers state that Pastor Raphael Antai has been abducted by unknown hoodlums in a Toyota Highlander SUV with the number LND 438 BK and headed towards Aba.

    He said, “My men moved into action by laying ambush for them which led to the arrest of Philip Iheakolam and Chimezie Abiaka both males and aged 33 and 39 years, when they came to remove the vehicle from where they hid it, the suspects and vehicle have been handed over to the Rivers state command”.

    The Abia state police boss said that his men also arrested three suspected kidnappers at the premises of Federal Government Girls’ College Umuahia while trying to escape from Ubakala youths.

    He gave the names of the suspects as Chinemereucheya Alozie, Emeka Ogbonna both males and Adaku Okereke female all of Ikem Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South, saying that the suspects who operate in a tricycle confessed to have picked up their  victim along Bank Road Umuahia.

    Ogbizi said that one of the victims of the syndicate who they had earlier swindled of the sum of N150,000 within the week has identified them, while one tricycle and GSM phone were recovered from them.

    The last of the suspected kidnappers to to paraded by the police were Kpobaril Menapene 49, Monday Nsam 35, Kikka Jigidam 29 and Nelson Enuu 25 from Ogoni in Rivers state, living at Owaza Ukwa West in Abia state.

    The suspects who were arrested by the men of F-SARS were alleged to have masterminded the kidnapping of Bar Azubuike Innocent in Port Harcourt in September this year.

    The Abia police boss said that the confession of Menapene led to the arrest of the other three while one locally made single barrel gun with one live cartridge were recovered from Enuu.

    Ogbizi paraded Ifeanyi Mba and Orji Uche both of Nguzu Edda, Ebonyi state who were arrested by the task forces of Ozu Abam and Ndiebe and handed over to the officer in charge of Abam police station, adding that they had injuries on their bodies.

    He said that the suspects who were brought in with two locally made guns were later identified by Samuel Irem as those who shot and killed his brother after robbing him of his motorcycle.

    Other nine suspected armed robbers were paraded, while stolen children who were rescued were also handed over to their parents by the Abia state police command, also stolen vehicles were recovered during the period under review by the command.

  • Abia police parade suspected criminals

    Abia police parade suspected criminals

    The Abia State Commissioner of Police (CP) Anthony Ogbizi has paraded 14 suspected kidnappers and 10 suspected armed robbers in Umuahia, the state capital.

    Parading the suspects, Ogbizi said that the command is determined to rid the state of criminals and make it safe for those coming home for Christmas holidays and other engagements.

    Ogbizi said that policing has gone beyond the work of official officers and men of the police, stressing that it is the reason behind the community policing which has been yielding positive results in the state in particular and country at large.

    The Abia CP said that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Omoba division received information which led to the arrest of Victor Jonah 27 of Umuehim Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South at his hide out while his accomplice escaped.

    He said that the suspect had attempted to rob one Ikechukwu Orji of his motorcycle, “But when he was arrested one red Sanyang motorcycle with registration number QU 323 UYY suspected to have been stolen was recovered from him”.

    Ogbizi said that on the 3rd day of October this year that his men received a report from the DPO of Elimgbu in Rivers state that Pastor Raphael Antai has been abducted by unknown hoodlums in a Toyota Highlander SUV with the number LND 438 BK and headed towards Aba.

    He said, “My men moved into action by laying ambush for them which led to the arrest of Philip Iheakolam and Chimezie Abiaka both males and aged 33 and 39 years, when they came to remove the vehicle from where they hid it, the suspects and vehicle have been handed over to the Rivers state command”.

    The Abia state police boss said that his men also arrested three suspected kidnappers at the premises of Federal Government Girls’ College Umuahia while trying to escape from Ubakala youths.

    He gave the names of the suspects as Chinemereucheya Alozie, Emeka Ogbonna both males and Adaku Okereke female all of Ikem Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South, saying that the suspects who operate in a tricycle confessed to have picked up their  victim along Bank Road Umuahia.

    Ogbizi said that one of the victims of the syndicate who they had earlier swindled of the sum of N150,000 within the week has identified them, while one tricycle and GSM phone were recovered from them.

    The last of the suspected kidnappers to to paraded by the police were Kpobaril Menapene 49, Monday Nsam 35, Kikka Jigidam 29 and Nelson Enuu 25 from Ogoni in Rivers state, living at Owaza Ukwa West in Abia state.

    The suspects who were arrested by the men of F-SARS were alleged to have masterminded the kidnapping of Bar Azubuike Innocent in Port Harcourt in September this year.

    The Abia police boss said that the confession of Menapene led to the arrest of the other three while one locally made single barrel gun with one live cartridge were recovered from Enuu.

    Ogbizi paraded Ifeanyi Mba and Orji Uche both of Nguzu Edda, Ebonyi state who were arrested by the task forces of Ozu Abam and Ndiebe and handed over to the officer in charge of Abam police station, adding that they had injuries on their bodies.

    He said that the suspects who were brought in with two locally made guns were later identified by Samuel Irem as those who shot and killed his brother after robbing him of his motorcycle.

    Other nine suspected armed robbers were paraded, while stolen children who were rescued were also handed over to their parents by the Abia state police command, also stolen vehicles were recovered during the period under review by the command.

  • IPOB: Lethal weapons recovered from Kanu’s residence – Abia CP

    IPOB: Lethal weapons recovered from Kanu’s residence – Abia CP

    The Commissioner of Police in Abia, Mr Anthony Ogbizi, has said that lethal weapons, including petrol bombs and one double-barrel gun, were recovered during last Sunday’s raid on the residence of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

    Ogbizi said this on Thursday during an interaction with newsmen in Umuahia, adding that the items were recovered during a joint operation by security personnel in the state.

    He said that the petrol bombs were found in buckets and incriminating documents and letters, concerning IPOB’s activities and plans, were also recovered during the raid.

    He said that the raid was carried out based on an intelligence report, regarding the continued activities of some members of the group.

    Ogbizi said: “We recovered many of Biafra’s insignia, staff of office and some of those items are being analysed.”

    The police boss said that the operation also led to the arrest of one suspected member of IPOB.

    He said that the team also discovered the telephone numbers of the group’s zonal coordinators adding that all the communications between the leadership of the group and their collaborators would be thoroughly analysed.

    Ogbizi said that a Biafran flag was also found hanging on a telecommunications mast in the area.

    According to him, the police will ask the Nigeria Communications Commission to sanction any telecommunication company that allowed its mast to be used to hoist Biafran flags.

    He said that the activities of IPOB in the Southeast were “stirring insurrection” and that security agencies would not fold their arms and watch the group foment violence in the country.

    He said that members of the group allegedly set a police station and van ablaze in Aba, and also attacked a military patrol team in Umuahia.

    The police chief said that similar joint operations would be carried out intermittently in Kanu’s residence, anytime they received intelligence report that offensive weapons were brought to the place.

    He said that it was wrong to say that the military was taking over the duties of the police rather the action should be seen as a synergy between the two organisations to check security challenges.

    Ogbizi said that he would not hesitate to invite the army anytime the security situation in the state grew beyond the capacity of the police.