The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Armoured Personnel Carrier

IPOB: Relatives kick over denial of access to detained women

Family members of the detained female members of the detained female members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Wednesday protested the refusal of the Owerri Prisons Authority to grant them access to the women.

The 112 women were arrested and remanded in custody for protesting against the Federal Government over the whereabouts of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

The women who protested half naked in Owerri, demanded for a referendum and boycott of the 2019 general elections in the Southeast.

They accused the Prison Authority of deliberately denying the detained women, who are mostly nursing mothers and pregnant women access to their families in order to break and punish them to expressing their opinion.

But the Public Relations Officer of Owerri Federal Prisons, James Madugba, said that prevailing circumstances made the Prisons Authority deny families members access to the detained women.

Madugba, a Deputy Superintendent, described as untrue the allegation that the prison officers received an order from “above” not to allow the remanded women access to their loved ones.

He said that the Armed Personal Carrier deployed in front of the prisons facility with Police and Soldiers was not to scare the relatives of the pro Biafra women from visiting their loved ones in their facility.

He said that the Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and the Police and Army officers deployed in front of the facility were part of the security measures in all the prisons nationwide.

Madugba said “We did not ordinarily deny family members access to the Biafra women who are in our facility and there is no order from above asking us not to allow relatives of the the women access to them.

Read Also: Anxiety as IPOB resumes call for election boycott

“It is not also true that we exposed the women, especially the pregnant ones to cold and inhuman environment”.

He added that, “the task of admitting and registering 112 people in any prison facility in Nigeria is tasking. You don’t just bring people into the prisons and the next minute you want to start visiting them .prisons is a regimented environment. There are regulations.

“The responsibility of interviewing, admitting and registering such number of women would take four days. It is after these processes that you now allow families members to start visiting.

“When the relatives came, the Deputy Controller of Owerri prisons, Freedman Ben-Rabbi addressed them but they started protesting. It is the routine and now we are through with the registration processes their relatives can visit.

“The Deputy Control has equally taken special attention on the women,especially the pregnant ones because of their gender.

“They are being taken care of properly .They are our responsibility. There is no order at all commanding us to be hostile to them.”

August 22, 2018
APC Convention: Police deploy 5000 personnel, two helicopters, others

As part of measures to ensure a hitch-free convention, the Police said it has deployed 5000 personnel from various units and two helicopters to the venue of the All Progressives Congress (APC), convention.

In addition to the personnel, the police also said six Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) have been deployed to the venue of the convention which will hold on Saturday at the Eagle Square in Abuja.

The Police also said it would divert traffic from the venue from 10pm on Friday till the end of the convention.

This is contained in a statement in Abuja on Friday by the Force Spokesman, Ag . DCP Jimoh Moshood.

Moshood also noted that only one aide would be allowed entry to the venue with their principal.

The statement reads: “The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris has directed the implementation of a robust Security Arrangement to ensure a secured and hitch-free convention.

Read Also: Policeman killed as Shi’ites protest in Kaduna, Abuja

“A total number of 5000 Police Personnel comprising, the Police Mobile Force (PMF), the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Protection Unit (SPU), the Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD), the Police Mounted Troop, The Dog Section (K9), the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), The Police Air-wing and the Force Armament Unit have been deployed under the supervision of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Department of Operations, to ensure adequate security for all the accredited participants at the convention. Security coverage have been provided also at all the accreditation centres.

“Two Police helicopters, Six Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) are already deployed for the security of the convention.”

The Police also said personnel of other security and safety agencies would also be deployed to complement the Police in ensuring adequate security and a hitch-free convention.

The Force also stated that only accredited delegates and accredited party officials bearing the APC identification tags will be allowed into the venue.

The police also said that personnel of all security and safety agencies deployed for the security of the convention must also wear the certified identification tag conspicuously at the venue.

“The Nigeria Police Force hereby warns all unauthorised individuals and groups who have no business with the convention to steer clear of the venue.

“The full weight of the law will be applied on any person or group of persons who try to disrupt the orderliness and conduct of the convention.”

On the number of aides that would be allowed entry into the venue, the Police said: “Only one aide will be allowed to follow their principals into the venue of the convention.”

Moshood also said the personnel deployed are under strict instruction to be civil, polite but strict and firm in the discharge of their duties during the convention.

On the diversion of traffic: “There will be diversion of traffic from all the routes to the Eagle Square from Ahmadu Bello Way, Shehu Shagari Way and other Roads leading to the venue of the convention.

“Road users and other members of the public are advised to use alternative routes. The diversion of traffic will take effect from 2200Hrs of 22nd of June, 2018 till the end of the convention”.

The Police also charged members of the public with complaint or observation on security issue to call these numbers: “08032003913, 08061581938, and 07057337653”.

June 22, 2018
Edo beefs up security architecture

…as Obaseki procures another Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC)

In furtherance of the drive for a formidable security architecture in the state, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has unveiled a new Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) for the state Police Command.

The APC is the second procured within one-year period to retool the state’s Police command, amid several other initiatives rolled out to fortify the state’s security architecture.

Handing over the APC to the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, at the Government House in Benin City, Governor Obaseki said government is determined to secure life and property in the state and will deploy resources at its disposal.

Obaseki noted, “It is a holistic approach to strengthen security in the state.”

He noted, “The security architecture will involve equipment like APC, police patrol vehicles, protective gears, other security devices. There will also be training of police personnel and equipping them with motor bikes to fight crime.”

He explained that in addition to the APC, the state has concluded plans to procure gunboats, helicopters for surveillance, noting,“The APC is one among other equipment we have procured as we fortify the state’s security architecture due for launch soon.”

Read Also: Edo State workers are paid as and when due – Govt

Obaseki said high speedboats would be acquired for the Marine Police, to provide adequate security on the waterways and riverine communities in the state.

“We have spent lots of resources to ensure our state is safe, as we encourage the people to be part of the security architecture, from intelligence gathering to serving as first responder in the event of any incident. There will be call-centres which will serve as a control centre for people to call-in when they are faced with a security threat.”

Commissioner of Police, Edo State, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, commended governor Obaseki for his effort in ensuring that the state is safe and secure for all, noting that the newly acquired APC can be deployed to any terrain.

He noted that adequate arrangements were on ground to ensure that equipment donated to the Police by the governor are maintained, especially the APC.

Kokumo said, “The first APC donated to the Police by Obaseki has been deployed to King Square in Benin City since November 2017, to check crimes in the area and its environs.”

According to him, the Police Command will deploy a Police helicopter to patrol the state, adding that through these measures, there will be no hiding place for criminals.

May 23, 2018
Four Police men killed in Osun bank raid

A gang of dare devil armed robbers struck Iwo, Osun State on Tuesday and killed four police men in a raid of banks near Bowen University.

For about one hour the bandits, who reportedly came in four vehicles, laid siege on the financial institutions in the town, including Iwo branches of the First Bank of Nigeria, the Skye Bank and Sterling Bank.

An eye witness account revealed that four police men were killed and undisclosed amount of money carted away.

One of the bandits was also said to have been gunned down by the police team.

But two customers and a staff of one of the banks were reportedly injured.

It was gathered that the robbery started around few minutes to 4.pm when some of the banks were rounding off their operations for the day.

The bandits reportedly used explosives to blow open the banks’ security doors before getting access into the banking halls.

It was also learnt that the bandits had earlier stopped at Iwo Divisional Police Station and destroyed the Armoured Personnel Carrier in the premises.

As at the time of filing this report, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Adeoye Olafimihan, was said to have lead his men to the scene of the robbery.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mrs. Folasade Odoro, could not be reached as her phone had been switched off.

June 6, 2017
Police takes over Edo Assembly

The Police on Monday cordoned off the premises of Edo House of Assembly to avert possible breakdown of law and order.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that more than 10 Hilux patrol vans and an Armoured Personnel Carrier were strategically positioned within and around the state assembly complex.

There were also regular and mobile police operatives positioned at the three entrances to the assembly to prevent access into the complex.

Already, workers of the house of assembly have been prevented by the police from getting to their offices.

The state’s Police Public Relation Officer, Mr. Abiodun Osifo, told NAN that the action was taken to “avoid a repeat of what happened at the complex last Wednesday.”

NAN recalls that crisis erupted on Wednesday after 16 members of the assembly removed the erstwhile Speaker of the House, Mr. Victor Edoroh.

Edoro was replaced with Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie as speaker of the House.

Suspected thugs, loyal to both sides, had after the speaker’s removal, took over the assembly complex and engaged in a shooting match.

May 9, 2016
Angry traders ground commercial activities in Aba

Commercial and economic activities were on Friday afternoon grounded along the ever busy Faulks road in Aba, Abia State as traders of Bakassi Line, Ariaria International Market protests killing of their members by officials of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Aba.

Our correspondent who was at the scene of the incident until about 5:30pm report that both commercial banks branches and shop owners along Faulks road, A Line, Power Line gate I&2, Samek, Bakassi Line and amongst others were forced to close their shops as soon as the situation went out of control.

Unconfirmed reports have it that two traders that were in their shops doing their normal businesses were killed by stray bullets from NDLEA officials who had shot at drug dealers who were fleeing from an illegal drug bunk in the area.

A source who confirmed that many traders were injured told our correspondent that only one person hit by the bullet died on the spot.

Sources told our correspondent that other traders in the area also sustained injuries from the gun shots.

The situation was said to have worsened when a group of another traders brought the lifeless body of one of those hit by the bullet and dropped his corpse in front of the police station.

It was gathered that the traders angered by the situation, went after the NDLEA personnel who ran into the Ariaria Police Station for safety.

A report had it that some of the traders overpowered the policemen on guard at the police station and went after the NDLEA official and in the process, set free some detained suspects in the police cells.

While another report had it that efforts by the traders to gain entrance into the police station to attack the NDLEA official was foiled by the efforts of the combined team of Police from Abayi, Eziama and other divisions in the city who fired several teargas canisters into the air to wade off the surging traders from gaining entry into the Ariaria Police Station.

The police were later joined by army personnel who arrived the scene with about four patrol van and an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) to repel the from entering the police station and carrying out a reprisal attack.

As at the time of filing this report, staff and customers of various commercial banks on the road were still in their bank premises, even as traders whose shops were far away from the place of the incident could not go into the bank to deposit their cash because both soldiers and other security personnel had restricted movement on the road.

Some of them who spoke to our correspondent feared that keeping the money in their shops or home when it was expected that the banks would resume operations may mean a great risk even as they could not have access to other parts of the town to deposit their cash in other bank branches.

Dele Akingbade, NDLEA Abia State Commandant failed to pick his calls as he was busying his line whenever his phone rang.

Abia State Police Public Relations Officer, Ezekiel Udeviotu Onyeke when contacted said he was yet to be briefed on the incident but disclosed that the State Commissioner of Police, Habila Joshiak was already in Aba to ascertain the situation.

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July 31, 2015