The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Armed robbers

  • Breaking news: Police kill two robbers in Edo

    Breaking news: Police kill two robbers in Edo

    Two armed robbers were Friday evening shot dead by men of the Edo State Police Command after a failed attempt to rob a man.

     

    The dead robbers were part of a four-man robbery gang that trailed a man from Ughelli in Delta State to a new generation bank in Benin City.

     

    Police sources said the robbers trailed their victim in a grey colour Toyota Corolla car and cornered him while he was leaving the bank with the sum of N500,000 with which he want to use to purchase a car.

     

    The source said the robbers shot their victim in the leg after collecting the money and shot sporadically into the air.

     

    They were however given a hot pursuit by men of Operation Thunder Storm, who were on a patrol in the area,

     

    Two of the armed robbers were shot dead during an encounter at the Evbomore area of Ugbowo, off Ugbowo-Lagos Road, while another member of the gang was arrested.

     

    The stolen money was also recovered.

     

    At press time, the police had cordoned the area and were still searching for the fourth member of the gang.

     

    The victim of the attack was said to have been rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) for medical attention.

     

    When contacted, spokesman of the Edo State Police command, DSP Moses Nkombe declined comment, saying he would have to seek clearance from his boss, the Commissioner of Police before he could speak.

  • Police arrest suspected armed robbers, recover items

    Police arrest suspected armed robbers, recover items

    Operatives of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone II, Onikan, have arrested 10 suspected armed robbers who terrorised about 15 Lagos and Ogun communities.

    Lekan Akinola, Mutiu Oyekan, Akeem Sanusi, Olahusi Rasaq, Kazeem Oladipupo, Waheed Amusan and four others were arrested Tuesday after police tracked a mobile phone they stole from one of their victims at Arigbajo in Ogun several months ago.

    It was gathered that the unnamed victim had reported the case at the police and the Zonal Intervention Squad (ZIS) was deployed to fish out the hoodlums.

    The Nation gathered that the detectives with the corporation of police ICT experts arrested Akinola, who then led the team to his other accomplices.

    Contacted, the zonal spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, a Superintendent of Police (SP) said the suspects have confessed to have robbed residents of Ibafo, Ifo, Ewekoro, Mowe, Adigeb in Abeokuta, Iju Ota, Alakuko and Agege in Lagos.

    Adejobi said some of their robbery victims have been identified and their items recovered.

    He said: “Items recovered from them include refrigerators, laptops, plasma television sets, generators, wears, electrical appliances and their operational vehicle, a Mazda Bus marked Lagos BDG602XM.

    “AIG Abdulmajid Ali has directed that the suspects be charged to court without delay, and that fleeing members of the gang should be apprehended immediately.”

  • Vigilante arrests suspected armed robbers in army uniform at Badagry

    Vigilante arrests suspected armed robbers in army uniform at Badagry

    The Lagos State Command of Vigilante Group of Nigeria, VGN, has arrested four suspected armed robbers who have been terrorizing the residents of Ishasi in Badagry area of Lagos.

    The operation was carried out by the anti-robbery squad of the VGN led by the Assistant Commander, Santoz Omerisun in Ishasi water ways.

    The culprits who are in their middle ages are  Francis Uche, from Mbanu in Imo State, Innocent Onye, who claims also to be involved in dealing with drugs, he hails from Abia State, Kennedy Ohimai and one Okos Ugbede.

    Items recovered from them include army uniforms, jack knife, Lagos State vehicle plate numbers and their pullover uniforms.

    Reacting to the arrest, the Lagos State Commander of VGN, Otunba James Udoma, urged residents to always provide useful information to security operatives and also to be on alert and report any suspicious movement of the people through the number: 08028345327 for quick intervention of his men.

    Udoma emphasised that vigilante officers have since redoubled their efforts in Badagry creeks immediately activities of pirates and armed bandits became highly noticeable in Ishasi and its environs.

    The culprits have since been handed over to the Ishasi divisional headquarters of the Nigeria Police for further interrogation.

  • Police arrest four suspected armed robbers in Jigawa

    Police arrest four suspected armed robbers in Jigawa

    The Jigawa Police Command has arrested four suspected armed robbers terrorising seven local government areas of the state.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abdu Jinjiri made the disclosure on Friday in Dutse when he paraded the suspects before newsmen in Dutse.

    He named the suspects as Musa Muhammed, 26, Babannan Sale, 37, Inusa Sale 28 and Zakari Ya’u 32.

    Jinjiri said that the suspects wear Army uniforms when carrying out their nefarious acts along Gujungu-Hadejia, Gumel-Maigatari and Gumel-Kano roads.

    He said the arrest was made possible following robust patrol, surveillance and intelligence gathering in the affected areas by officers of the command.

    The spokesman said that items recovered from the suspects included two locally made pistols, seven cartridges and a pair of army trouser and a T-Shirt.

    Jinjiri said that the suspects had made some useful statements that would help the police to arrest four more others who were currently at large.

    He said that the command under the leadership of Commissioner of Police, Mr. Henry Fadairo, was determined and committed to get rid of criminals in the state.

     

  • Four ‘armed robbers killed’

    Four ‘armed robbers killed’

    No fewer than four suspected armed robbers were killed during  a gun duel with operatives of the Lagos State Police Command in the last three weeks.

    The command yesterday said it arrested 37 armed robbery suspects, nine alleged kidnappers and 39 cultists during the period under review.

    Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni who made the disclosure during a news conference at the command’s headquarters, told reporters that 20 different calibre of weapons with 30 rounds of live ammunition, as well as 38 various vehicles were recovered.

    According to Owoseni, the arrest of the cultists were sequel to intelligence report of their plot to wreak havoc across the state during their 8/8 (August 8) celebration.

    “All police divisions were put on notice leading to their arrest. Members of one of the gangs were going to bury their colleague but in the process attempted to attack Denton Police Station. But the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and his men arrested nine of them on the spot and 21 others were later arrested. Two others were at the Shomolu and Bariga axis,” he said.

    Fifteen of the 39 suspected cultists who admitted to belong to the Black Axe confratenity said they were paid N50,000 to kill one Yusuf Elegushi.

    The suspects are Oguchukwu Obioha, 36, Moses Nefreke, 20, Udeme Samuel, 24, Onos Omovia,  19, Olayinka Agbadu, 35, Emeka Ezekiel 19, Kunle Odeyemi, 27, Michael Orji, 20, Lekan Adekoya, 20, Silva Berbra, 30, Dare Moru, 27, Kelechi Ezeaka, 25, Ayobami Ahmed, 20, Saviour David, 20, and Dickson Alex, 25.

    They were alleged to have killed Elegushi, a woman and another man identified as Chyna in Ajah.

    According to the suspects who admitted to have committed the crimes, they stormed Ajah following the shooting of one of their members in the leg.

    They claimed that members of the Eiye confraternity who gunned their member boasted that they will kill whoever challenged them.

    Mosu, who said they were arrested from their houses last month, confirmed that they were paid to kill Elegushi.

    “We were paid to kill him. We killed the others because they shot one of our men. They shot him and were bragging that we cannot do anything. Out of anger, we got Chyna and after that, we went to a DJ’s house. He was not at home, so, we killed his wife,” he said.

    Odeyemi, however, denied being part of those who were paid to kill the victim, disclosing that they usually met at Lekki to plan attacks.

    Also paraded were a gang of three men including a driver, Mayowa Adenuga, who allegedly cloned the credit card of a businessman and stole about N2.9 million from his accounts within three days.

    Mayowa, who was the man’s driver, had collected the unnamed man’s Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card while he was washing the vehicle and ran it on a software he devolped – Credit Card Revealer  (CCR).

    According to him, he collected the ATM card, ran it through the software and generated a new pin for it before handing it over to Opeyemi Adewale, 18, and Jeremaiah Titoye, 29, to go and shop at Mega Plaza and Shoprite.

    “Before I started driving my Oga,  I used to be a fraudster. I went to a computer institute and so, I developed the device which we used to clone credit cards. Honestly,  my boss has been very good to me. It’s not up to a year I started working for him but he has always treated me kindly.

    “I know I should have returned the card to him when I saw it but I just wanted to test the software whether it will work. And when I tried it and it worked, I knew that I could not use it myself because of the surveillance cameras at the ATM points. So, I sent them and asked them to withdraw N200,000 which they did.

    “The following day, I told them to go to Mega Plaza and buy Apple laptop, phones, wristwatches and I also told them to go to Shoprite on Victoria Island and the one at Ikeja for shopping. Everything they bought amounted to N2.7 million.

    “I did not work with any telecommunication company to bar my boss’ calls and text messages. I blocked his calls and sms on his phone when I had access to it. That way, he was not able to make calls nor send sms for about three days until he went to the subscriber to complain.

    “I feel bad and I regret my actions. I am willing to pay back all that I stole from my boss. I am very sorry about my action,” he said.

    Opeyemi, who said he never knew that the ATM card was stolen, said he thought that the owner was related to Adenuga since they bear the same surname.

    He disclosed that Adenuga gave him N20,000, an i-Phone,  a BlackBerry Z10 and a designer wristwatch, while Titoye was given N10,000 an i-Phone and a wristwatch.

  • Four to die by firing squad for armed robbery

    Four to die by firing squad for armed robbery

    AN Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure, the state capital, yesterday sentenced four armed robbers to death by firing squad.

    The robbers, who specialised in hijacking petroleum tankers, were Abdurahman Yinusa, Maliki Sanni, Ajayi Saliu and Mohammed Jimoh.

    They were arrested in December 2009 and remanded at the Olokuta Medium Prison in Akure.

    It was gathered that the armed robbers, with one other who is still at large, used to operate on Isua/Idoani expressway in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State.

    They were accused of killing majority of their victims, who refused to cooperate with them.

    The convicts stood trial on a four-count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, murder and illegal possession of fire arms, contrary to Section 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act R11, Laws of Federation 2004.

    The prosecution counsel, Mr. John Olowokere, said the last operation of the gang, which led to their arrest, was when they hijacked a DAF truck with registration number XN 810 ABC with 33,000 litres of petrol on Isua/Idoani road in 2009.

    Olowokere said three of the robbers drove in the truck to where they sold the product.

    He added that the remaining two took the truck driver and his conductor to a bush, where they tied them until the second day after they have disposed the item.

    Justice D.I. Kolawole of the Special Criminal High Court within Olokuta Medium Security Prison said the victims were guilty of the allegations levelled against them.

    He noted that the prosecution counsel was able to substantiate the case against the accused.

    Kolawole ordered that the robbers should be killed by firing squad.

     

  • Police kill three armed robbers, nab 779 suspects

    Police kill three armed robbers, nab 779 suspects

    Three suspected armed robbers were killed during gun duels, and 779 suspects arrested across Lagos in the last three weeks.

    This disclosure was made by the state Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni on Wednesday during an interaction with journalists at the command’s headquarters in Ikeja.

    He also stated that the police recovered 27 guns, 64 rounds of various ammunitions and 33 different brands of vehicles within the period.

    Among those arrested were 23 suspected armed robbers, two ‘cultists’ and 754 persons apprehended during raids of criminal hideouts in the state.

    The police boss stated that 260 persons were released unconditionally from the 754 raided after they were found to have legitimate source of livelihood.

    “494 of them were charged to court and we secured conviction on 298. The courts discharged 151 persons and 45 are still awaiting trial. In an effort to enforce the state Traffic Law 255 motorcycles were impounded for plying restricted routes,” he said.

    Owoseni who said the most prevalent crimes in the state since March 18 were cult and gangster related clashes, as well as stealing by domestic employees from their masters, noted that the command has been able to recover about 95 percent of cars stolen from the owners by their drivers.

    “Among the suspects arrested within this period were a group which specialises in dispossessing commercial motorcyclists of their bike. Their modus operandi is that they pretend to be passengers wanting to patronise motorcyclists.

    “Then, after they are carried, they use a certain spray on the rider which makes him unconscious after which they dispossess of his bike.

    “When they are done, they meet one Justin, who generates fake receipt and fake plate number for them and they start operating the motorcycles.

    “Five of them, including Justin were arrested and three of the snatched motorcycles were identified by their owners. Police discovered 50 other motorcycles in Justin’s house, as well as fake number plates and receipts. 

    “Also, 13 suspected ‘one-chance’ operators  who are still being interrogated were arrested at different areas in the state. We apprehended about five of them who operate at Shoprite Ikeja, arrested some in Surulere and recovered two buses. Two other persons were arrested who received the stolen items from the one-chance operators.
    “Six suspected cultists were arrested in Lagos Island and they have been charged to court. There was serious confrontation between Salu Court boys and Okesuna boys on March 23, leading to their arrest. But on Tuesday, three more suspects General, Ejah and Taribu were arrested and are currently in police custody, helping detectives to get others.

    “Five suspected armed robbers who attacked a hotel in Ajangbadi and dispossessed lodgers of their valuables were arrested on April 12. We also got some of the boys who ambush bank customers and trail them with their power bikes to rob them of their money,” said Owoseni. 

  • Police kill 11 Trans-border armed robbers

    Police kill 11 Trans-border armed robbers

    11 Trans border armed robbers including their gang leader Tokiwe Joseph aka TK has been shot dead by a combined team of security operatives from Lagos State Police Command, MENSA, the Nigerian Custom, Benin Republic police hunters among others at the Seme Border area.

    Briefing the press Friday CP Fatai Owoseni said that they were about 17 armed robbers but four escaped, three still at the Seme border while 11 died during the exchange of fire.

    Recovered were the three boats with one castina marine, 22 dynamite, some explosives, 6 AK 47 rifle, two general purpose machine gun, 3678 assorted live ammunition. Excluding the ones they dumped inside the water while escaping as they were said to have come with 5000 ammunition.

    Also recovered were 28 empty magazine, 8 live jacket, 3 by 50 liters, 2 by 100 liters of jerrycan of fuel. One military jacket with charm.

    The commissioner of police is poised to synergize with sister agencies to make Lagos more secured and appealed to members of the public to share their information timely with police and other security agencies.

    CP Owoseni revealed that before their arrest their was a report that they were about to strike and the Nigerian security personnel and that of Benin Republic has been on surveillance at the border and water ways due to information that the notorious gang leader and his 17 man gang were about to attack banks at Seme area and Benin Republic.

    On the March 16, 2016, the gang emerged from their base and navigated the water ways at about 11pm to Seme area. When they came out from their boat, they came out in a commando way at about 11pm opened fire as they were advancing without knowing that the combined team were on vigil at the water front joined by Benin Republic and were challenged with superior fire power which made them to flee in different direction which showed that some of the dead are still in the water and will float with time.

    The officer in charge of FSARS CSP Adejobi led the operation with his officers and men playing the major role in boldly challenging the most dangerous gang leader Tokiwe Joseph said to be the gang leader that had killed many police men and the four SSS operatives sometime in the past.

    He said the command is doing everything possible to see that the four that escaped and three that are still within the Seme area are caught.

     

  • Lagos police nab five suspected armed robbers, recover vehicle

    Lagos police nab five suspected armed robbers, recover vehicle

    Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a five-man gang of armed robbers who specialises in car snatching.

    The suspects, Apolo Ejah,  Michael Yakubu, Samuel Adeniyi, Sunday Oda, Eman Najo, were nabbed in Saturday at the Baruwa Ipaja area of the state, while they were fleeing with a car they stole in Ogun state.

    It was gathered that the suspects has carted away a Toyota car belonging to one Benedict Ologbosere at Aiseno close, Ogijo in Ogun and escaped through Ikorodu to Baruwa Ipaja.

    Detectives attached to the state  Anti-Robbery Sqaud (SARS) led by a Superintendent of Police (SP) Adamu Amadu were said to have trailed the suspected criminals to their hideout where the stolen vehicle was recovered.

    Confirming the arrest, the command’s spokesperson, SP Dolapo Badmos said the vehicle was at the SARS base in Ikeja.

    She stated that the suspects have confessed to the crime, adding that investigations have commenced.

  • Police nab notorious armed robbery gang in Niger

    Police nab notorious armed robbery gang in Niger

    A nine man notorious armed robbery bandits terrorizing the Minna-Suleja-Zuba road have been nabbed by the Niger State Police Command.

    Briefing newsmen in Minna Wednesday, the Niger State Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Marafa said the gang have made the road unsafe for motorists in recent time.

    He said that the Police recovered two fabricated AK 47 rifles with 21 rounds of live ammunition, one single barrel gun, one dane gun, 40 arrows, two vehicles and two motorcycles.

    Marafa said the apprehending of the armed robbers was possible after the command repositioned its anti-robbery squad, intensive vehicular and motorcycle patrols and deployment of safer highway patrols.

    The Commissioner further said that in the month of January, the Command also arrested six cattle rustlers and recovered 90 cattle and 10 sheep suspected to be stolen from Kebbi and Zamfara states while 202 suspects were arrested for major crimes and prosecuted in court.

    He stated that cattle rustling and youth gangsterism have become a thing of the past while kidnapping and highway robbery are reduced to the barest minimum in the state.