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Tag: Bala Ciroma

  • 19-year-old arrested for stabbing, robbing pastor in Abuja

    The FCT Police Command has arrested Isaac Agbo, 19, for allegedly robbing and stabbing a pastor of Assemblies of God Church.

    The suspect, who was in company of his friend, allegedly went to the home of Pastor John Jonathan at Karmajiji, Abuja and robbed him.

    The suspects, who were resisted when they got to the pastor’s house, stabbed him with a knife and fled.

    According to the police, the pastor was stabbed in the back and is recovering at an undisclosed hospital.

    Addressing reporters on Wednesday in Abuja, the Commissioner of Police in charge of FCT, Bala Ciroma, said recent measures put in place by the command has led to smashing of notorious criminal syndicates, arrest of hardened criminals, recovery of dangerous weapons and other exhibits.

    The CP, represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Criminal Investigation Department, DCP Salisu Gyadi, said 84 other suspects were arrested for crimes.

    Read Also: Housewife accused of stabbing worker

    The command also recovered 25 vehicles from a gang of nine, phones, locally fabricated rifles, knives, cutlasses, daggers, hammers, axes and other weapons.

    Twenty-three packs of solution used as intoxicant, 43 bottles of cough syrups containing codeine, hundreds of Exol tablet and hundreds of Dizapam tablets were also recovered.

    Narrating how Agbo was arrested, the CP said: “On February 8, at about 2030 hours, a report was received of a robbery in progress at the home of one Pastor John in Karmajiji, Abuja. Police operatives moved to the scene and met the pastor in a pool of blood. A locally made pistol and dagger were abandoned by the robbers while they were escaping.

    “In the course of trailing the robbers, Isaac Agbo, 19, of Games Village, Abuja, was arrested and he confessed to the crime. He said when they got to the pastor’s house, they met resistance. Consequently they stabbed the pastor at the back and ran when he raised the alarm.”

    The CP said Agbo’s accomplice, one Ibrahim, is at large, adding that efforts are on to arrest him.

    The command also apprehended a gang of four suspected armed robbers, who specialised in snatching cars and receiving stolen cars.

    The suspects, Ibrahim Abubakar, Usman Bala, Abubakar Sani and Murtala Mohammed, specialise in stealing and snatching cars at shopping malls.

    On how they were arrested, the CP said: “They had an accident around Federal Secretariat in Abuja after snatching a car. They tried to escape, but the police, who were pursuing them, nabbed them. The suspects confessed having stolen a Honda Accord EOD at a shopping mall at the Central Area, a Mercedes Benz at Jinifa Plaza, also at the Central Area, a Mercedes Benz ML at Next Cash and Carry and three Toyota Camry pencil light models.

    “According to the suspects, they used a knife or gun to dispossess their victims of their cars, snatching their valuables before leaving. The suspects confessed that Murtala Mohammed and one Danjuma, who is at large, were the receivers of the stolen cars. The receivers sell the cars somewhere in Kebbi State and usually forge new papers for the vehicles.”

    The police boss said efforts are being intensified to arrest Danjuma and recover the stolen vehicles.

  • NSCDC sues for peace over death of personnel

    Following the death of Ochigbo Jumbo Ogar (ASCI), a Corps personnel formerly serving at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, the Commandant in charge of the command, Solomon Iyamu has appealed to his officers and men to take the incident as an act of God despite the fact that the unjust killing was perpetrated by men of a sister agency.

    He made the statement while addressing the personnel at his Wuse Zone 5, Office Abuja after receiving the Commissioner of Police FCT Command, Mr. Bala Ciroma who paid him a condolence visit to commiserate with the Commandant and his Officers and Men over the loss of one of their colleagues.

    According to a statement he personally signed, Iyamu commended the Commissioner of Police for his prompt response to the situation, which led to both of them visiting the Asokoro general hospital to get first-hard information of the incidence.

    READ ALSO: Police detain two officers for allegedly killing NSCDC personnel

    The move, he said, led to the order of immediate detention of the Police officers involved in the heinous crime by the Commissioner of Police.

    He told the personnel the Commandant General has assured him that he is currently on top of the situation and the matter is being seriously addressed by the CG and the Inspector of General of Police, Alh. Abubukar Adamu with the resolve the perpetrators will be brought to book and the family will get justice.

    The Commandant stated the CG, Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu has also directed all personnel of the Corps to be law abiding and not consider any vindictive action.

    Iyamu said: “There is no alternative to peace. Therefore, all of you should continue to see the Police as our partners in progress with the mindset for cooperation and synergy towards achieving our common national goal.”

  • Police nab impersonator of kidney failure patient

    The FCT Police Command have arrested one Goodluck Onyewenyi for impersonating a kidney ailment patient, Joshua Onyeke.

    Onyewenyi was arrested after opening an account in the patient’s name and sending out letters of assistance out to members of the public.

    The suspect who made over N4million from the donations refused to give the money to the patient who is expected to undergo kidney transplant in India.

    Items recovered from him include pictures of patients undergoing dialysis, copies of letters for financial assistance, bank documents.

    Narrating how he was arrested, the Commissioner of Police in charge of FCT, CP Bala Ciroma said: “On 14th January, 2019, following a complaint, Police detectives launched a discreet investigation that led to the arrest of one Goodluck Onyewenyi ‘m’ 40 years for fraudulently opening a bank account with the name of a patient suffering from kidney failure and in dire need of financial assistance to undergo kidney transplant.

    “The suspect who happens to be a family friend to the patient took advantage of the relationship to write wealthy individuals, corporate organisations and highly placed government officials for financial assistance.

    “The suspect has used a bank account he opened in the name of the patient to defraud unsuspecting members of the public. Preliminary investigation has revealed that the suspect uses names of patients identified to be suffering from kidney failure to solicit for financial assistance which he converts to his personal use.”

    Ciroma said investigation is on to determine the amount of money he collected from individuals, identify the individuals with a view to returning the funds to them and prosecute him.

    Narrating his role, the suspect said: “My name is Goodluck. Joshua is a kidney failure patient in Wuse General hospital. I met him when my brother had similar problem. We have been together for a very long time until we decided to open an account for financial assistance for kidney transplant in India. Later, I changed my name to his name, I swore an affidavit and also changed my name using newspaper publication. I went ahead to open an account with Zenith bank. I solicited for fund with his name

    “I wrote to the public soliciting for assistance and I backed up the assistance letter with his medical record to prove that it was a genuine case. I made over N4million from those who rendered help after the letter was sent out.”

    Read Also: Police arrest five kidnappers, rescue victim

    On how he had access to Joshua Onyeke’s medical record, the elder brother to the patient, Abraham said: “This is a clear case of wickedness, greed and breach of trust. Joshua had an accident and was looking for assistance for kidney transplant in India. While we were going about the search for money, we ran into Goodluck who also brought a renal patient to Wuse General hospital claiming that the person was his elder brother but unfortunately, the person died in 2014. After that, he picked interest in Joshua and said he wanted to help. Along the line, I decided that we should write a letter soliciting for fund.

    “I drafted the letter but because of the nature of my job, I gave it to him to help me post. In the process, he got Joshua’s medical report, picture and other details. I gave him N20,000 to do the posting but instead of posting the letter, he took it home. He later changed his name through newspaper publication, went to the bank to open account, got an identity card and then he changed the details on the letter to include the new account he opened in Joshua’s name. He sent over 200 copies of the letters out and donations started coming in into the account he opened and he got about N4million.

    “We got the news from philanthropists who came to the hospital to know the true state of Joshua before making donations. It was during one of those visits that we checked the letter one of them held and we discovered that the account number was not the UBA account but Zenith bank. It was during investigation that we discovered that it was Goodluck. We begged him to transfer the money but he refused. The police stepped in and blocked his account through court order. He could not open withdrawal anymore.

    “He went further to open an account at one of the UBA branches in Suleja and the donatoons continued going in. It was then that he was arrested. The painful thing is that Joshua is still suffering from kidney ailment and we need Nigerians to come to our aid.”

  • Police parade security guard over theft of N1.4m from boss

    The FCT Police Command on Wednesday paraded 23 suspects for their alleged involvement in robbery, car snatching, murder, cultism and other crimes.

    One of the suspects, Yakubu Luka a security guard at National Assembly quarters was paraded for allegedly stealing $4000 from his master’s room.

    According to the Police, Luka used the money to buy a car, motorcycle, zinc, tiles and other items.

    Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday on how he was arrested, the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Bala Ciroma said: “On 22nd November, 2018 following an investigation into a written complaint, police operatives from the Command arrested one Yakubu Luka ‘m’ 27 years, a private security guard, who broke into his master’s bedroom and stole cash in both foreign and local currencies amounting to N1, 485,000.00 only.

    “The suspect who was arrested after a discreet investigation at Apo confessed that he used the stolen money to buy: one golf 3 Volks Wagon car, one Hajo motorcycle, seven bundles of zinc 35 cartoons of floor tiles which were all recovered from Kikureni village of Kauru LGA of Kaduna State.”

    The Police also recovered the sum of N148, 800 from him.

    Narrating how he committed the alleged crime, Luka said: “I am from Kaduna state and I work with Senator Amori at the National Assembly quarters Apo. I work with him as a security man and I started work with him in 2015 and then I married last year.

    “I started working with him through one woman who introduced herself to me as his sister. My boss was hardly around. He comes at the weekend and travels out of Abuja during the week.  As at 2015, his sister told me to always clean his room for him whenever he is due to come back and she handed the key to his room and other properties like television to me.

    “This year, I fell sick for almost one month and the sickness made me very weak. I was sick but I could not approach my boss because if I do, I know he will not give me because I asked him one time but he declined and even reduced my salary claiming that I did not work while I was sick.

    I decided to carry his key, opened the door, carried $4000. I went to change the money, I treated myself and I used the balance to buy car, motorcycle, zinc.

    Read Also: Police nab vandals of Enugu Games Village

    “I built house with my salary in the village in Kaduna and  I wanted to use the zinc to complete my building. I changed the money to N1, 485,000. I bought the car at the rate of N485, I bought the machine at the rate of N265,000. I wanted to use the car to start a taxi business which would earn me money.”

    He added: “I remained in the house after stealing the money but I was later arrested and I confessed to stealing the money. I had the intention of returning the money later in life when I would have made so much money but I was arrested and they recovered everything I used the money for.

    “I even lied to my wife who asked me where I got the money to buy all the things I bought that I borrowed the money.”

    The police also paraded one 58-year old Olawole Michael Olatunji who the police claimed has been parading himself as a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG).

    Items recovered from him include; forged receipt bearing Nigeria Police Force Airwings, cheque books from different banks, and some documents he used to defraud some of his victims.

    Bala: “On 10th December, 2018 Police operatives from the Command have arrested one Olawole Michael Olatunji ‘m’ 58 years who has been parading himself as a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police.

    “The suspect has hidden under the same pretext to defraud unsuspecting members of the public by offering to help them secure contracts with the Police Air-Wing. He was arrested at a bank in Kubwa where he had gone to make some financial transactions.

    “In the course of investigation, fake Police Air-Wing receipts, fake contract documents, eleven ATM cards, Ten Cheque books and letter headed papers of different companies were recovered from him as exhibits. Investigation is on-going.”

    Explaining how a receipt bearing NPF Airwings was found in his possession, Olatunji said: “ I did not forge the receipt for monetary sake. The money in question is just N300,000. A pastor introduced me to one Alhaji Lawal. When he introduced me, he wanted something to fetch out money and he said he needed receipt to back up the money. I went to the bank to withdraw money and I was told my account was frozen. I only forged the receipt at Banex plaza to authenticate the business.”

    The Police said the suspects would be arraigned in court upon conclusion of investigation.

  • FCT gets new Commissioner of Police

    A new Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma, has been posted to the FCT Police Command.

    Until his new posting, Ciroma was the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department in FCT Command.

    He took over from Sadiq Bello.

    Bello was recently appointed to lead the team set up by the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to unravel the killers of 11 policemen in Abuja and Edo State.

    Details of his appointment are contained in a statement in Abuja on Thursday by the Command’s Spokesman, DSP Anjuguri Manzah.

    The statement read: “The FCT Police Command wishes to inform members of the public that a new Commissioner of Police has been posted to the Command.

    “He is CP Bala Ciroma who resumed duty at the Command Headquarters on Thursday, 19th July, 2018. He took over from his predecessor, CP Sadiq Abubakar Bello after a handing-over ceremony.

    “CP Bala Ciroma holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree in Geography from the prestigious University of Maiduguri.

    Ciroma was appointed into the Nigeria Police Force in March 1990 as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP).”

    According to the statement, Ciroma has served the Nigeria Police Force in different capacities and attended several courses within and outside the country.

    “He is an alumni of Hong Kong University where he bagged a Post Graduate Certificate in Corruption Studies. He is a member of Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE),” the statement added.

     

  • FCT CP reassures FCT high court Judge continuous cooperation

    The FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr. Musa Kimo, has reassured the Chief Judge of the FCT high court, Justice Jacob Ishak, of continued cooperation of the command in expediting court orders.

    The command’s Spokesman, ASP Usen Omorodion, said in a statement that Kimo gave the assurance during a visit to the Judge in Abuja on Wednesday.

    The commissioner said the visit was to build on the existing partnership between the FCT high court and the FCT Police command.

    Earlier, Ishak said that the court would continue to collaborate with the command in providing legal assistance and building the command’s image.

    He noted that the command and the court had enjoyed a robust working relationship.

    The Judge commended Kimo for his achievements as the commissioner of police in the FCT and other positions he had held.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kimo was accompanied by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the command’s Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID), Bala Ciroma, and Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Finance and Administration, Babaita Ishola.

    Others are: the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of  Operations, Arungwa Nwazue, and the Officer in charge of Legal department, CSP James Idachaba.