The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Austin Iwar

  • Bayelsa police battle cultists

    … arrest suspected killer of corps member

     

    The police in Bayelsa State have renewed their battle against rampaging cult groups and their criminal activities in the state.

    It was gathered that having identified cultism as the major cause of other crimes in the state especially, Yenagoa, the state capital, the new Commissioner of Police, Mr. Austin Iwar, mapped out strategies to tackle the menace.

    Already, the command at the weekend arrested a suspect cult leader said to be notorious for armed robbery and allegedly linked to the killing of a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at Obele, Yenagoa, in 2016.

    The 19-year-old suspect identified as Prince Owei aka Big Fela is an indigene of Ikibiri Community, but resides at Ovom in Yenagoa.

    It was gathered that the suspect was the second in command of a notorious cult group, the Icelanders.

    The slain corps member, James Onuh, a graduate of the Federal University of Agriculture, Markurdi, Benue State, was shot dead at an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) in Obele.

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    The suspect was said to have been imprisoned twice  at the Okaka Prison in Yenagoa and the Ahoada Maximum Prison for cultism-related offences.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Asinim Butswat, said the suspect was arrested at the Sports Complex, Yenagoa, on his way to watch a football match.

    He said a locally-made revolver pistol, live cartridge and packets of Rohypnol tablets were recovered from him.

    He said: “On 20th September, 2018, at about 1610 hours, operatives arrested a notorious cult leader and an robber who was on the wanted list of Bayelsa State Police Command.”

    “The suspect one Prince Owei ‘m’ aka Big Fela 19 years, from Ikibiri Community, but resident at St. Peters, Ovom, was arrested at the Sports Complex, Yenagoa, on his way to watch a football match and a locally made Revolver Pistol,one live cartridge and packets of Rohypnol tablets were recovered from him.

    “The suspect, a jailbird and a confessed member of Icelanders cult group will be charged to court when investigations are concluded.

    “The Command is determine to   ensure the safety of lives and properties and is appealing to members of the public to provide useful information that will assist the Police in fighting crime in the state.”

    Earlier, Butswat in a statement said the command set up a tactical team with a mandate to deal with cultists.

    He said: “Following reported cases of cultism and armed robbery in Yenagoa metropolis and its attendant consequences on public safety, the Commissioner of Police Bayelsa State Command has charged Tactical Teams to confront cultism and armed robbery in Yenagoa.

    “Seven specialized units headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Department of Operations, will carry out sporadic and targeted operations in flash points areas within Yenagoa metropolis.

    “Operatives have been dispatched to hot spots on intelligence gathering and surveillance on such miscreants. Cultists are hereby warned to renounce their membership as the command is poised to deal with any act of criminality decisively.

    “The command commends all non-state actors such as the vigilantes and other spirited individuals for their cooperation and participation in policing in Bayelsa.

    “The Command hereby appeals to members of the public to volunteer useful information about activities of suspected cultists and to utilize our distress telephone numbers”.

  • New Bayelsa police boss warns against corruption

    The newly-deployed Commissioner of Police,  Bayelsa State Command, Mr.  Austin Iwar, at the weekend, warned personnel of the command against corruption and violation of human rights.

    Iwar spoke in Yenagoa, the state capital, during his maiden address to the command and decoration of newly promoted 36 inspectors to the rank of assistant superintendent of police. 

    The police commissioner insisted that he would deal decisively with any officers found wanting in the protection of human rights in the state. 

    He said: “The police command under my leadership will ensure that Human Rights of individuals are never violated under any circumstance. All personnel of the command are warned to desist from acts capable of abusing the rights of our people. 

    “The leadership of the state police command shall maintain zero tolerance for corruption. Officers with corrupt tendencies are warned that this administration will not condone any act of corruption. Acts of corruption will be decisively dealt with. 

    “I have directed the immediate strengthening of all police oversight units to check the activities of personnel in line with the anti-corruption agenda of the Inspector General ,  Ibrahim Idris. They are to conduct unscheduled inspection and on-the-spot checks.”

    Iwar further said that his command would deploy intelligence policing approach, which he said remained a crucial strategy in crime prevention. 

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    He said the command would focus on substantially deploying police intelligence assets in synergy with relevant agencies to prevent crimes and make the communities safer. 

    He said: “As we strive to ensure that Bayelsa enjoys acceptable peace and security, measures will be taken to frustrate and reduce the disturbing activities of cultists and like criminals to rid the state if their menace. 

    “The Bayelsa State Police Command hereby warns all perpetrators of violence,  disturbing the peace of the state that the command will no longer tolerate deliberate acts with intent to breach the peace of the state. 

    “The police will decisively deal with all acts of aggression against the cherished peace we enjoy. Therefore,  violent offenders and like miscreants are warned to refrain from their crimes or be ready to face the full weight of the law.  The command is poised ever than before to make Bayelsa too hot for their nefarious activities”.

  • Many killed in robbery attack on Kaduna-Abuja highway

    …victim, ex Katsina Commissioner buried in Kaduna

     

    Many persons were killed and several others abducted on Sunday evening by armed men suspected to be robbers and kidnappers along Kaduna-Abuja highway.

    The Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Austin Iwar, confirmed the attack.

    The CP gave assurance that the force is on the trail of the bandits.

    Meanwhile, one of the victims of the attack, a former Commissioner of Education in Katsina State, Professor Halima Idris has been buried in Kaduna on Monday afternoon according to Islamic rites.

    Deputy of Katsina State, Engr. Manir Yakubu led the delegation of about 23 Commissioners from the state, while former Governor of Kaduna State, Balarabe Musa, Umar Farouk Ahmed and other dignitaries attended the burial.

    The travelers, The Nation learnt were attacked around 6:00 pm near Gidan Busa village, located between Jere and Kateri communities, along the Kaduna-Abuja expressway.

    According to an eyewitness, passengers were returning from Kaduna to Abuja in different vehicles, when they stumbled on the bandits who mounted a road block, stopped motorists and started shooting sporadically.

    He said, the attackers numbering about 10 also killed an Army Officer and a policeman in the attack and several others were abducted.

    According to him, “There is an army officer travelling with his orderly and daughter. The orderly escaped with gunshot but they killed the army officer and his daughter on the spot”.

    He also alleged that, security officers could not engage the kidnappers for reasons best known to them.

    Police on Monday in a statement through its Public Relations Officer, DSP Aliyu Mukhtar said four persons were killed in the attack, while five others were injured.

    “The Kaduna State Police Command wishes to inform the public that on 22/07/2018 at about 06:30pm, a distress call was received that a group of unidentified Armed Men blocked Kaduna–Abuja express road by Gidan Busa Village and opened fire indiscriminately at any vehicle on sight.

    “In swift response, teams of Police Men stormed the scene where the bandits were dislodged but sadly they had already killed four (4) commuters and injured five (5) others in their dastardly act Normalcy has been restored on the road with commuters moving safely without molestation.

    “The Police Command uses this medium to reassure the public that we are committed even than before to protect life and property of Nigerians, irrespective of time, venue and circumstance.

    “In this regard, we call on the general Public to volunteer information to security agencies to assist us in ridding our communities of such violent miscreants who have constitute threat to our peaceful coexistence.”

  • Police confirm death of 10 miners in Kaduna

    10 local miners were at the weekend killed and serveral others severely injured when armed bandits stormed janruwa community in Birnin Gwari Local Government area of Kaduna State.
    Though, reports from the area said 14 people were killed, Kaduna State Police Commissioner, Mr. Austin Iwar put the casualty figure at 10
    It was gathered that the armed bandits approached the mining site around 12:45pm on Saturday and opened fire on the miners.
    It was however not clear why the bandits stormed the mining site, but sources said they were on revenge mission over the alleged killings of their gang members by local Vigilante.
    A source in Birnin Gwari told journalists that his in-law was among the dead.
    According to him, “My in-Law, Magaji Danjuma, was among the miners killed. They were doing their mining business in the forest near old Birnin Gwari town when the bandits attacked them.
    “My in-law’s body was set ablaze by his killers while their remains was brought to Birnin Gwari town for burial,” he said in a telephone interview.”
    Birnin Gwari villages have been under attacks by armed bandits for a while and efforts of the security to tame them have not been successful, as 11 soldiers in Operation Ayem Akpatuma in the areas were recently killed.

  • Police recover over 70 arms, ammunition in Kaduna

    The Kaduna State Police Command on Wednesday said that it had recovered no fewer than 70 illegally acquired arms and ammunition from individuals and suspected hoodlums in the state.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Austin Iwar, made the disclosure at a stakeholders meeting with the state Hunters Volunteer Association and some traditional rulers.

    Iwar, who did not display the recovered items, said that more recoveries were being expected daily from other parts of the state.

    According to the police boss, the items will be displayed before the end of the week.

    He said that the command was aimed at mopping up arms that were illegally in private hands.

    He assured the stakeholders that the tempo would be sustained to ensure that peace and development of Kaduna State was guaranteed in Kaduna.

    Earlier, the state Chairman of the hunters group, Alhaji Baba Wuro, commended the commissioner for introducing community-based policing.

    Wuro said the police had given them the necessary support which in return had given positive results.

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    He added that the various communities in the state had shown willingness to work with the police in addressing challenges facing them.

    The leader of the hunters, however, identified some of the challenges as kidnapping, armed banditry and cattle rustling.

    “Our aims and objectives are to help the security operatives to dislodge criminals from their hideouts.

    “We remain committed to work with the police, military and other stakeholders to address the menace in the state,’’ he said.

    The News men reports that members of state hunters association were drawn from Kudan, Lere, Saminaka and Kubau Local Government Areas.

    NAN

  • Pandemonium as gunmen kill patent medicine vendor

    There was pandemonium around Abeokuta Street in the heart of Kaduna city on Monday as unknown gunmen shot and killed a patent medicine vendor.

    The Nation gathered that, the perpetrators stormed the deceased patent medicine store named as Alhaji Tajudeen Adegbite at about 8:30pm on Sunday where they took their time to take ‘snacks and soft drinks’ before shooting him.

    According to eyewitness, the late Adegbite was shot at close range but he did not die until Monday.

    “He was shot at close range and died today (Monday),” he said.

    “After taking their soft drinks and snack, they went into the patent medicine store and invited the owner, Alhaji Tajudeen Adegbite, outside and shot him.

    “The assailant jumped into a waiting car and sped off leaving the victim in the pool of his own blood.

    “Neighbours later called in the police who arrived at the scene and took Mr. Adegbite to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead,” added the eyewitness.

    The police in Kaduna confirmed the incident.

    The State Police Public Relations Officer, Aliyu Mukhtar, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the police received a distressed call and immediately swung into action by dispatching a team to the scene of the incident.

    Mukhtar hinted that the Commissioner of Police, Austin Iwar had ordered for a massive manhunt for the killers while investigation was ingoing.

    The police spokesman said, “Our men in collaboration with neighbours took the victim to a nearby hospital but unfortunately he gave us the ghost before help could be rendered.

    “We are working round the table to ensure that the perpetrators of this gruesome act are brought to justice.  We also call on the public to help us with information to may lead to tracking down the killers.

    “But let me assure you that the Commissioner of Police, Austin Iwar, has ordered for massive manhunt to fish out the perpetrators.”

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  • Why Police can’t fight crimes alone – Kaduna CP

    Kaduna State Commissioner of Police CP, Austin Iwar has said that, for the police to succeed in effective and efficient protection of lives and property of citizens, it must work with all stakeholders; saying police cannot tackle crimes and disorder alone.

    According to him, the police cannot be everywhere but communities exist everywhere. He added that it is obvious to actively engage communities to reduce, prevent and detect crime and antisocial behaviours.

    He stated this during a Community Policing Training Programme for Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers held in Kaduna on Monday.

    CP Iwar said findings have shown that strong, self-sufficient communities that work with and trust the police do not suffer from a high level of crime and public disorder.

    “In communities where this form of policing now exists, people routinely talk about their concerns with police officers that they have come to know. Police continue in their traditional efforts to eliminate or reduce crime but now work with community members to solve other kinds of neighbourhood-level quality-of-life issues and concerns.

    “Community policing moves away from the incident-driven style of the current model of policing by investing in a problem-oriented approach. Gone are the days where the police assume it is not part of the community they police and turn a blind eye to social problems of the society.

    “The problem-solving component is centred on identifying problems, understanding their cause and origin, as well as applying best solution in agreement with stakeholders.

    “The joint identification and analysis of the actual and potential causes of crime and disorder with communities underpins this approach. This analysis guides the development of measures to address such problems over the short, medium and long-term,” he said.

    Speaking on the training, Iwar said, Kaduna State Police Command has decided to reinvigorate Police Community Partnership Approach to policing with the commencement of this training in compliance with the policy direction of the Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris, whose administration is strictly people centred.

    The CP also said the Command has embarked on this renewal, toeing the lines in tandem with the determination of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, to make Police Community Partnership Approach to Policing the centre focus in making our communities safer.

    “The essence of this workshop is to refresh officers’ competences in basic policing skills, predicated on practical Police Community Partnership Approach to Policing ideals, for improved service delivery in line with the Community Safety and Crime Prevention Strategy of the Command.

    “With the workshop content and array of facilitators, I have no doubt that participants at the end of the workshop will return to their duty posts more energized and competent to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently,” he added.

    Read Also: Police arrest two suspected rapists, others in C/River

  • Kaduna crisis death toll rises to 12

    Kaduna crisis death toll rises to 12

    ... 18 suspects arrested

    The Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Austin Iwar, said on Tuesday 18 suspects have been arrested and 12 people confirmed dead in the three- hour crisis that engulfed Kasuwan Magani town, Kajuru local government area of the state on Monday.

    Addressing journalists after a fact- finding and assessment visit to the area, the police commissioner vowed that no stone would be left unturned in unraveling the immediate and remote causes of the crisis.

    Iwar, who was at the village alongside other top security chiefs including the General Officer Commanding, 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Major Gen. Mohammed Mohammed and the state Commandant of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Modu Goni, expressed shock at the scales of destruction.

    He said: “It is us fortunate. As we can see the level of destruction is very high. Some people were killed and properties destroyed. This is not what we wished for our state, Kaduna.

    “Let me say that we will not leave any stone unturned in investigating the remote and the immediate causes of this problem. We will talk to the stakeholders here and try to find out what is the problem and through civil problem solving approach and conflict resolution, we will deal with that. We will also look at the criminal aspect of it.

    “So far, we have arrested 18 people that we suspect were involved in the crisis. We are working round the clock to ensure that we get to the root of the matter. We have recovered a number of dangerous items, including petrol bombs. We believe this is a planned thing and we will get to the root of the matter. We will do a thorough investigation to ensure that it does not happen again.”