The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Caleb Ikechukwu

  • Ekiti varsity student ‘kills’ boyfriend over hair money

    A 300-level student of Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Bukola Odeyemi has allegedly stabbed and killed her lover, John Iju at their Treasure Base Hostel, Iworoko-Ekiti.

    The suspect, a 20-year-old student in the Department of Biology Education, allegedly stabbed her boyfriend to death after the suspect had demanded a sum N2,500 from the deceased to plait  her hair, which the victim could not provide.

    The incident occurred at about 10pm on Monday, causing panic in the hostel area.

    An eyewitness, who craved anonymity, wondered why a girl would kill her boyfriend over money to plait hair.

    He said the refusal of the boyfriend to give her N2,500 to plait her hair culminated into a hot argument, which infuriated the lady and they started fighting .

    “During the fight, the deceased had the upper hand and the lady seeing a sharp knife on the tray, immediately brought it out and stabbed the deceased in the chest.

    “The deceased who could not survive the deep cut fell on the floor with blood oozing out of his chest. The people around there cried for help but that could not help. The man died on the spot.”

    The deceased’s friends were said have rushed to the police station at Iworoko to incident the case.

    The deceased’s cry for help was said to have attracted residents to the scene. They reported the incident to police station at Iworoko.

    Read Also: Assailants hack commercial motorcyclist to death in Ekiti

    Ekiti police spokesman, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu who confirmed the incident, said the suspect has been arrested and now being detained at the criminal and Investigative Department of the police headquarters.

    Ikechukwu explained that investigation has begun into  the matter and the suspect will be charged to court once investigation is concluded.

    He said, “It is so unfortunate somebody stabbing her boyfriend just because of 2,500 for hairdo.

    “Parents should be careful to always look out for their wards to know what they are doing in higher institution. Sometimes parents should pay surprise visits to their wards to know where they stay and monitor their activities.”

  • Residents foil attempt to kidnap baby in Ekiti

    Residents of Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Tuesday foiled an attempt to kidnap a baby from his mother’s back.

    The incident occurred at 10 o’clock in the morning at the popular Fajuyi Roundabout near the entrance to the Government House.

    It was gathered that the suspect accosted the woman, who was carrying the baby, and struggled to take the child from her.

    The baby was injured in the arm and feet.

    A source, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent, said it took the intervention of some youths to rescue the woman.

    The source added that the suspect was displaying lunatic gestures immediately he was arrested.

    According to the source, the suspected abductor had collected the mobile phone of the woman, but it was retrieved from him.

    Read Also: Afuye emerges Ekiti Assembly Speaker

    “A mobile phone belonging to the suspect indicated that he had conversed with several people before the incident.

    “He was whisked away to the Area Command on Old Iyin Road in the state capital for investigation after severe beating by irate youths,” the source said.

    Police spokesman Caleb Ikechukwu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the preliminary investigation showed that the suspect is mental deranged.

    “The investigation is still ongoing so that we can ascertain his mental derangement from a certified medical point of view,” he added.

     

  • Three CPs, EFCC operatives deployed in Ekiti for polls

    Three Commissioners of Police and operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are now on ground in Ekiti State for the conduct of Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The commissioners, Mr Kosi Ajuwon, the CP in charge of Welfare at the police headquarters in Abuja and CP M. Kura from the Nigerian Ports Authority in Lagos, are to work in collaboration with the CP in charge of Ekiti Command, Mr. Asuquo Amba to make the elections free, fair and peaceful.

    The Command’s public relations officer, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, who spoke with newsmen in Ado Ekiti on Friday, said: “The CPs came last week only for the elections to be postponed, which made them return to Abuja temporarily.

    “They returned to Ekiti on Thursday and each of them shall be in charge of the three senatorial districts of the state”.

    Ikechukwu added that the command received operatives of the EFCC on Thursday, whom he said came for the purpose of dealing with vote buyers.

    ” They came to Ekiti on Thursday for the purpose of dealing with vote buyers.

    “They will dress in mufti and sniff around to arrest politicians who used to buy votes”.

    The PPRO stated that policemen and other sister agencies are already on ground in all the 16 local government areas of the state.

    He said they will be distributed across all the 2,195 polling units and registration areas by midnight for smooth conduct of the elections.

    ” Also, our Special Protection unit and Special Tactical unit, as well as mobile policemen, are on ground to protect election materials, quench any case of violence and deal with other emergency situations “.

  • Seven PDP members arrested for alleged PVCs racketeering

    Seven members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State have been arrested for illegal collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from eligible voters in Ikere Ekiti.

    The House of Assembly member representing Ikere Constituency 1, Wale Ayeni, who allegedly masterminded the voter cards racketeering was said to be on the run.

    Ayeni escaped being arrested by the whiskers when the policemen swooped on his situation office in Oke’kere area of the town where the alleged PVCs racketeering was going on.

    The armed policemen believed to be acting on tip off stormed the area few minutes before 1pm and recovered unspecified number of PVCs from the suspects.

    Ayeni was said to have blocked the federal highway that passes through the area gathering eligible voters to collect their cards.

    Read Also: PDP are jesters, says Ondo APC

    The operation caused confusion as the seven other PDP members allegedly assisting Ayeni to collect the PVCs were apprehended by the policemen.

    Party members arrested are said to be cooling their heels in the custody of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) where they are relaying all they know about the incident.

    The lawmaker is the Deputy Director General of PDP Presidential Campaign Council in charge of Ekiti South senatorial district of which Ikere is part.

    Ayeni could not be reached on his mobile phone at the time of filing this report.

    When contacted, Police spokesman Caleb Ikechukwu said the report of the incident was yet to be brought to his office.

     

  • Police deploy four CPs for elections in Ekiti

    The Ekiti State police command on Friday said three Commissioners of Police have been deployed by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu to monitor Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections in the State.

    The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, who disclosed in Ado Ekiti on Friday, said the Commissioners, whose names were withheld, would monitor each of the senatorial districts of the state.

    Ikechukwu added that the police have also devised new techniques to checkmate vote buying, revealing that plain-clothed operatives will be deployed to all the 2,195 polling units to arrest the perpetrators.

    “The operatives will mingle with voters and from there have the knowledge of those engaging in this electoral offence”, he said.

    Ikechukwu disclosed that the security details of Very Important personalities, including politicians in the state have been withdrawn, with the exception of that of Governor Kayode Fayemi and his deputy, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi.

    The Command spokesman stated that three security men will be deployed to each of the polling units to secure the staff deployed by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) and both sensitive and insensitive materials to be used for the conduct of the elections.

    Read Also: Ekiti residents protest killing of farmer by suspected herdsman

    “The security arrangements have been made in such a way that there would be no room for security lapses. Three security men comprising police, NSCDC and immigration officers will man each of the polling units.

    “As of now, three police Commissioners are on ground to work with CP Asuquo Amba. Each of them will man the three senatorial districts to enforce compliance to restriction of vehicles, except those on essential services and to make sure that no one circumvents the laws of the land regarding these elections”.

    Ikechuckwu stated that the Special Tactical Unit of the Police Force will be deployed to each of the 16 local government areas of the state to attend to emergency situations that could undermine the conduct of the polls.

    “These are armed unit of the police who will be on standby and they are to tackle cases of violence, attempted ballot snatching and ballot stuffing. They would also help in putting politicians who may want to demonstrate abuses at check”, he said.

    He added that Special Protection Unit of the Command have been deployed to provide protection for international and observers and other groups accredited by INEC to monitor the election.

    He said policemen are already on ground in all the INEC offices across the state, including the headquarters in Ado Ekiti to prevent cases of arson.

    “CP Amba and other top officers will also monitor these elections and our hotlines are on. We are on ground to entertain complaints from the members of the public.

    “We are on ground to ensure that we have credible elections. In having credible election, violence and other infractions that could mar the process must be checkmated and that is what we are here to enforce not to interfere in electoral matters”.

  • Security operatives begin stop and search in Ekiti

    Members of the Nigeria Police Force, Armed Soldiers and other sister security agencies Friday started thorough operation stop and search in Ado Ekiti, following the killing of a policeman in the capital city on Thursday by a gang of armed robbers.

    The policeman, Sgt Kamoru Momoh, was shot dead along new Iyin-Ilawe road by these bandits who had earlier robbed a filling station at Basiri area of Ado Ekiti around 8.13am on that day.

    The robbers were said to have besieged the petrol station and carted away cash worth over a million naira.

    It was gathered that the robbers upon sighting the police Hilux Van driven by the late police officer, which seemed to be on their trail, had blocked the road at the NTA junction with their vehicle and rained bullets on the policeman and got his head shattered.

    The killing, according to the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti

    Command, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu could be connected with the massive flushing operation carried out by a special task force under the aegis of ‘Operation Make Ekiti Safe’, where many criminals had been killed with some apprehended and detained for trial.

    Read Also: Robbers kill policeman in Ekiti

    “This could be a reaction to the series of cleansing operations carried out by our special Joint Task Force in recent time. Those with criminal tendencies might want to go after our men in reaction to our actions, but we won’t be deterred,” he said.

    Among other security operatives carrying out the operations were: Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Immigration Service, Department of State Services (DSS), among others.

    Their operations were visible along Ado-Ilawe road, Ado-Iyin road, Ado-Ijan –Ikare road, Ado-Ikere-Akure road, Ado-Iwiroko-Ifaki road and the inner city like Ijigbo, Okesa and Okeyinmi areas.

    They stopped all motorists moving into Ado Ekiti metropolis and checked their identities while motorbike riders were made to disembark and pushed their machines for as long as 50 metres before being allowed to take off.

    The Police spokesman, who reacted to the thoroughness of the Special Forces’ operations since Thursday, dismissed the insinuation that such could be as a result of the killing of the police sergeant.

    Ikechukwu said: “Stop and search was part of the operations of the special task force . I think they have the constitutional power to carry out routine checks on people moving in and out to test their compliance to simple rules.

    “Let me emphasize here that this special force stated its operations in Ekiti two months ago and since that time they have been carrying out their jobs in a civilized way, no harassment, no intimidation of any member of the public.

    “As its name suggest, operation keep Ekiti Safe, it has to perform the task of making Ekiti peaceful and habitable for all and stop and search is one of those ways to ensure this.

    “Again, if you observed critically, you would realize that they didn’t mount any roadblock that suggested that they were not out to suffer motorists or extort anybody. They are only carrying out their statutory routine checks,” he said.

    He urged members of the public not to be disturbed by the operations, saying the operatives are only after criminals and those with sinister motives of making destabilising the peace of the State.

  • Robbers kill policeman in Ekiti

    A man identified to be policeman was shot dead on Thursday in Ado Ekiti, the State capital, while trailing a gang of robbers.

    The Nation gathered the armed robber had earlier robbed a petrol station along Fajuyi -Secretariat road and were escaping through the old Iyin –Ilawe road when the police officer in a white hilux van sighted them and gave them a hot chase.

    An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the police van had trailed the armed robbers up to NTA junction, where they were said to have waited and blocked the way in readiness for a gun duel.

    “When the hilux chased them up to that point, the armed robbers used their vehicle to block the way and rained bullets on the car.

    “The bullets hit the driver of the vehicle and died on the spot after which the robbers entered their car and sped off.”

    The sound of the assorted rifles brandished by the bandits were said to have caused confusion within that vicinity.

    People coming towards the Ekiti State House of Assembly cimplex and the State Secretariat and motorists going to Ilawe road were said to have scurried to safety to prevent being shot.

    “Some of the motorists had to take a detour and escaped the scene because the sound of the guns caused panic in the area,” he stated.

    Police officers from the State police command later visited the scene of the incident to evacuate the corpse, which they deposited in the morgue of the Ekiti State University Teaching hospital.

    Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti command, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, confirmed the incident.

    He said: “The attack on the police officer could have been a reaction of criminal elements to the cleansing operation being carried out by the command.

    “You know that since our new Police Commissioner, Mr. Asuquo Amba came on board, he initiated a Joint Task Force carrying out Operation Make Ekiti Safe and many criminals had either been arrested or killed in the process.

    “The men carrying out the operation were drawn from the Army, Police, Immigration and NSCDC. They were diligent in their duties and this might be one of those ways to frustrate us by criminals.

    “We are assuring our people that we remain focused. We won’t be bogged down by this incident and we shall trail the perpetrators of this crime and make sure they face the full weight of the law.”

  • Gunmen Kidnap another Ekiti LG official, driver

    A Director of Administration in Gbonyin Local Government Area in Ekiti State, Mr. David Jejelowo and his driver have been kidnapped by a group of unidentified gunmen and whisked away to unknown destination.

    Jejelowo was kidnapped on Monday evening along Ado-Ijan road while returning from Ode Ekiti, the local government headquarters to Ado Ekiti capital city.

    The incident occurred few days after an accountant with Emure local government, Mr Abayomi Ajayi was killed and two other officers of the Emure local government were kidnapped along Ise-Ikere road.

    The Nation gathered that Jejelowo was returning to Ado Ekiti around 7.15pm with his official car when he was abducted on the way.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, Mr. Caleb Ikechukwu, confirmed the incident, saying the driver had been released.

    “We confirmed the kidnap incident on Monday. It happened along Ado-Ijan road and it involved the Director of Administration of Gbonyin local government and his driver.

    Read Also: Two men docked for robbing man of motorcycle

    “But the driver has been released, we can confirm that to you. We are monitoring the situation and our men are working assiduously to ensure that the man is rescued from the hideout.

    “The driver has been giving us useful information that we are going to work on to facilitate the release”, he said.

    Ikechukwu added that the command is strategising on the way to tame the pillaging kidnappers, who were fond of abducting men of affluence with the sinister intention to collect ransom from them.

    The spokesman charged the members of the public to give sensitive and veracious information that would help in tracking down these miscreants.

  • Bank robbery scare causes panic in Ado-Ekiti

    There was no robbery, says police

     

    There was pandemonium in some parts of Ado-Ekiti on Friday following the spread of a news of a purported attack on two commercial banks by suspected armed robbery.

    The alleged robbery which turned out to be a hoax was said to have taken place on two banks located in Ijigbo and Secretariat Road.

    Many residents fled in different directions when a security officer allegedly mishandled his rifle by firing some gun shots into the air in Ijigbo area of the town.

    Some armed policemen deployed to the area with the intent of quelling the phantom robbery also announced their arrival at the scene by firing gunshots into the air.

    The hullabaloo sparked by the gun shots paralyzed traffic, social and economic activities for about 45 minutes.

    Anxious residents caught in the web of the robbery scare ran for their dear lives.

    Others called their family members, friends, coworkers and well wishers to avoid Ijigbo and Secretariat Road which has the highest concentration of banks to avoid the “trouble spots.”

    Messages were also circulated on the social media alleging that the two banks were being attacked simultaneously.

    Normalcy was later returned as the culprit who mishandled his firearm has been arrested.

    Read Also: Four feared killed in Ekiti bank robbery

    The security scare was believed to have been triggered by frequent attacks on banks in some towns in Ekiti State in the last six months.

    The most recent bank robbery was recorded in Ijero Ekiti on Monday in which three policemen and a civilian were shot dead by suspected armed robbers.

    Speaking on the Friday’s Ado-Ekiti robbery scare, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Caleb Ikechukwu, said no bank was attacked as being rumoured by some residents.

    Ikechukwu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, explained that the gunshots that caused the scare resulted from mishandling of firearms.

    The police spokesperson disclosed that the affected officer has been arrested and has been explaining all he knows about the incident.

    Ikechukwu added the the police have deployed enough men to strategic places, especially the central business district, to assure residents of their security.

    He urged residents of the city not to entertain any fear and go about their legitimate businesses.

  • Man murdered on his farm in Ekiti

    A senior traditional chief in Ijero Ekiti Local Government Area of Ekiti, Adewole Ajayi was murdered on his farm on Friday, the police say.

    Ajayi, a high chief, popularly known as Iroko Ekiti, was believed to have been murdered inside the farm, located at a neighbouring town, Oke-Oro, also in Ijero Ekiti Local Government Area.

    The Police Command in Ekiti confirmed the incident, saying a suspect, Dele Ojo-Aro, had been arrested in connection with the incident.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, said preliminary reports indicated that the suspect had been a long time notorious thief, terrorising farms in recent times.

    “I can confirm to you that the suspect had earlier been reported for stealing from farms.

    ” We were reliably informed that he indeed went to the farm to steal the deceased’s yam and in an attempt to get him apprehended, he shot him in the hips with the dane gun he was carrying,” Ikechukwu said.

    Read Also: Police rescue woman’s body from abductors in Imo

    The traditional ruler of Iroko Ekiti, Oba Sunday Ekundayo, also confirmed the incident.

    The suspect is a native of a neighouring town of Odo Oro Ekiti.

    His alleged involvement in the matter has, however, caused ill feelings between the two neighouring communities, a source said..

    The latest incident occurred barely two weeks after the traditional ruler of Odo Oro Ekiti, Oba Gbadebo Ogunsakin, was murdered in his palace.

    Ajayi had gone to the farm early in the day and allegedly found his assailant on his farm stealing yams.

    A source said both the victim and the suspected assailant had their farms along the same route but that Ajayi went to the farm at about 6a.m. and found his killer on the farm.

    “It was in an attempt to arrest him that the suspect shot him with a dane gun in the hips and disappeared.

    “But when the chief did not return home in normal time and the news of his death began to filter out, people started probing into those that went to farm early and that was how some people testified that the suspect was seen going to the farm.

    “People started suspecting him from there,” the source said.

    NAN