The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Civil Defence

  • Civil Defence apprehends suspected fraudster

    Borno State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said yesterday that it had apprehended a 32-year-old man, who allegedly tricked people and deprived them of their money.

    Commandant Ibrahim Abdullahi named the suspect as Ali Goni, who was arrested at London Ciki in Maiduguri.

    He said Goni was nabbed after one of his victims, Muhammad Kawu, reported activities of the suspect to the command.

    “The fraudster told his victim to get a special detergent and herbal perfumes that would be used to appease spirits; thereafter N1.5 billion would be available for sharing.

    “He subsequently collected N130, 000 from his victim, claiming the amount would be used to appease a spiritual goddess to release the N1.5 million,” Abdullahi said.

    The commandant, who decried activities of fraudsters disguising as ‘saviours’, warned people to be wary of such characters.

    “The victim was working with a non-government organisation, but the suspect deceived him to quit the job, promising him N1.5 billion,” he said.

    Kawu said he was approached by Goni, who promised to provide him with money.

    “I have been visiting him for the last four months. He told me we needed to have a detergent to wash the money. I searched everywhere but could not get that type of detergent.

    “He later asked for a lot of money. It was then I realised that I was being defrauded,” he said.

    Goni confessed that he tricked his victim on the pretence of making money for him.

    He said he took advantage of the young man because he was desperate to make money.

    “I have made a great mistake, I am begging for his forgiveness.”

  • Civil Defence rescues minors ‘trafficked for prostitution’

    •Suspect arrested

    Bayelsa State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has rescued two minors allegedly forced into prostitution in Ghana by a human trafficking syndicate.

    The victims, aged 16 and 17, were reportedly freed following a tip-off by a civil society group.

    Commandant Mr. Godwin Nwachukwu said the command arrested the prime suspect, Joy Victoria, 27, at Igbogene in Yenagoa.

    Nwachukwu, who paraded the suspect at the weekend at the command’s headquarters, said the state chapter of the Association for Awareness Against Anti-Social Behaviour (AFAAAB) reported the syndicate to NSCDC.

    He said the suspect was arrested, following a raid of her hideout, adding that her statement led to the rescue of the teenagers.

    Nwachukwu said: “Further investigations showed that the minors alleged that Victoria lured and trafficked them to Ghana, en route Lagos, on April 17, for prostitution.

    “They were trafficked under the guise of working as sales girls and housemaids. The victims were connected to a woman, simply called Rita in Kumasi, Ghana, who operates a child trafficking and prostitution syndicate.

    “The victims said while in Ghana, they were subjected to sexual slavery and forced to have sex with more than 20 men each and asked to pay N700,000 each before they would be freed to operate on their own.

    “After their exposure to prostitution, the victims were assisted out of captivity by the Ghanaian Police and deported to Nigeria.

    “Our investigations show that the principal suspect, Victoria, has been in child trafficking for years.

    “We suspect that she probably controls a cartel that specialises in trafficking teenage girls from Bayelsa State to Ghana for prostitution.”

    He said the command would transfer the case to the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for prosecution after its investigations.

    The commandant advised parents to guard their children against vices and vowed that NSCDC will fight human trafficking and related offences.

    Victoria confessed to the crime, but claimed the victims agreed to be sent to Ghana for prostitution.

     

  • Civil Defence nabs ex-inspector, others

    Jigawa Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested 19 persons, including a retired inspector, for allegedly molesting a 13-year-old girl.

    Spokesman Adamu Shehu confirmed the arrest at the weekend to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse.

    He said the suspects were arrested last Thursday, about 4 pm, at Kiyawa village in Kiyawa Local Government.

    Shehu said the arrest followed a complaint received by men of the command from the victim’s brother-in-law.

    “A complaint was lodged by the brother in-law of a 13-year-old girl at our divisional office in Kiyawa Local Government on Thursday about 4pm that his sister in-law, an orphan living with her mother, was being molested.

    “Our officers swung into action and investigated the matter. In the process, we arrested 19 people aged between 25 and 60, including a retired police inspector,” he said.

    “The young girl, a hawker, told us that some of the men took advantage of her while selling ‘Kunu’, by giving her extra money and others by making unfulfilled promises,” Shehu said.

     

     

     

  • Civil Defence apprehends man with gun

    Kwara Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested a man for alleged possession of a gun.

    Spokesman Bello Ayodele told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin that the suspect was nabbed with a locally-made pistol in Gaa-Akanbi, Ilorin.

    He said the suspect was threatening his friend with the gun for allegedly failing to grant his request.

    Ayodele said an argument ensued between the suspect and his friend, who he threatened to kill if he did not buy him a gift.

    “The suspect removed the cartridge and in the process, a pistol dropped from his pocket and people rushed to the scene,” he said.

    The spokesman said the suspect was in the midst of people, who descended on him when NSCDC operatives arrived.

    “We arrested him and took him to NSCDC headquarters before the situation got out of hand,” he added.

     

  • Civil Defence bans unlicensed security firms

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has urged unlicensed security guard companies to stop operating.

    Spokesman Emmanuel Okeh told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that such companies were operating illegally and that the corps would curb their activities.

    He said NSCDC would clamp down on illegal operators, adding that it has instructed its personnel to monitor their activities.

    “The corps will send its personnel to monitor operations of companies and ensure those operating are licensed,” Okeh said.

    He said the Licensed Private Security Guards Association of Nigeria had made monitoring easier, as the body will report unlicensed private guard companies to the corps.

    The spokesman warned that any unlicensed company would be shut and the owner arrested and arraigned.

    He said such owner, if found guilty, would be sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment.

    Okeh also said such companies with expired licences would be sealed off, adding that erring operators will pay N200,000  and N100,000 fine.

  • Civil Defence apprehends suspected rustler, vandals

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Sokoto State has apprehended a suspected cattle rustler, Aliyu Danzuru, the Commandant, Mr. Babangida Dutsinma, has said.

    He told reporters yesterday in Sokoto that the corps also nabbed two suspected cable vandals: Shehu Ibrahim, and Abubakar Sani.

    Dutsinma said the arrest of Danzuru, who had been on security watch, followed a tip off on March 24.

    He said Danzuru was popular among bandits and was said to have masterminded cow rustling in Raba Local Government and its environs.

    The commandant said Danzuru led the corps to apprehend the gang’s arms supplier, Alhaji Yale, who died after in hospitalised following high blood pressure.

    He said before Yale’s death, four locally-made rifles, ammunition and machetes were recovered from his home.

    Dutsinma said the deceased refused to say where he got the AK 47 rifles mentioned by Danzuru.

    He said Danzuru had named eight gang members: Babangida Audu, Amadu Bello, Isa Kusar-Hausawa, Jammu Kusar-Fulani, Basiru Bello, Gyade Dutesen-Kusra, Lawwali Kusar Gobirawa and Salisu Hanci.

    The commandant said the suspects were residents of settlements in Raba Local Government.

    He said the arrest was made possible by the joint security agencies against kidnapping and cattle rustling.

    Dutsinma said Ibrahim and Sani were apprehended on the same day, with cables stolen from installations on Raba-Sokoto Road.

    He said investigation was on. The commandant enjoined the people to give security agencies information to assist them in their duties.

    NSCDC in Ondo State has pledged zero tolerance for pipeline vandalism on government facilities.

    The Commandant, Mr. Pedro Awili, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Akure that the command would protect government’s assets and infrastructure, while making the state crime free.

    He said: “Our target in the first quarter of the year is to consolidate on the activities we carried out last year.

    “We gave ourselves the target of ensuring that there is very little or no vandalism in respect of pipeline and critical assets and infrastructures of the government.

    “We want to ensure that there is no more vandalism of high tension cable, transformers and other installations of the government.

    “We have achieved these by deploying our men in the nooks and crannies of the state, especially at the local government.”

    Awili said clashes between herdsmen and farmers had reduced due to intervention by men of the corps.

    “Those perpetrating crime should leave the state or face the wrath of the law,” he added.

  • Civil Defence arrests UTME candidate for ‘hiding phone in underwear’

    Operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have arrested Miss Joy Apkabio and her accomplice, Andrew Etziuala, for alleged involvement in examination malpractices in the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME).

    Akpabio was caught using a phone, which she hid in her underwear before entering the exam hall.

    The Commandant, NSCDC Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, Mr. Patrick Akpan, told reporters yesterday in Abuja in company with spokesman for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Dr. Fabian Benjamin that the suspects were apprehended at Baptist Academy, Karu, a Federal Capital Territory suburb.

    Akpan said Akpabio was caught by CCTV cameras.

    Etziuala, he said, allegedly supplied her answers through text messages.

    The answers, Benjamin said, were those of 1990 JAMB questions and not those of 2018 questions.

    The board has banned the use of phones and other electronic devices at examination centres.

    Benjamin said: “The suspects are in our custody. We will investigate the incident. If there are other accomplices, they will be traced and arrested. Thereafter they will be arraigned. The arrests will act as a deterrent to others.”

    The spokesman, who said the board would maintain the integrity of its examinations, added that its partnership with NSCDC would ensure that candidates caught cheating would be arrested.

    He said over one million candidates had written the examination, which began last Friday.

    Miss Akpabio confessed that she hid the phone in her underwear to beat security.

    She said she was caught in the examination hall when she brought it out for usage.

    Akpabio, who said she applied to study Business Administration, added that she had sat for UTME for more than four times.

    “My last score was 179,” she said.

    Akpabio alleged that other candidates  were using phones when she was caught.

    Etziuala, who was sending answers to her phone, said the answers were generated by another member of the syndicate operating from a business centre at Jikwoyi.

    Etziuala, who said he is a student of the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, regretted his action, describing it as a mistake.

  • Civil Defence apprehends four for ‘defilement’

    Civil Defence apprehends four for ‘defilement’

    Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State has apprehended four men for allegedly defiling a 19-year-old girl in Barkin Sale, Chanchaga Local Government, the Commandant, Mr. Philip Ayuba, said yesterday.

    He said in Minna that the suspects were Mohammed Surajo, 21; Shafi Mohammed, 19; Mohammed Abubakar, 19 and Musa Iiya, 16.

    Ayuba said the suspects confessed to the crime.

    He said the corps had handed over the case to the Ministry of Justice for prosecution.

    The commandant appealed to community leaders to mobilise their subjects to be security conscious and caution their daughters against walking alone in isolated areas.

     

  • Civil Defence arrests seven suspected bandits in Borno

    Civil Defence arrests seven suspected bandits in Borno

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Borno State Command, said it has arrested seven suspected bandits terrorising communities in Magumeri Local Government.

    Commandant Mr. Ibrahim Abdullahi in an interview yesterday with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri said the suspects were arrested between January 30 and February 5 by members of a vigilance group.

    He said the head of the group, Mr. Mai Bukar, handed over two of the suspects to NSCDC.

    Abdullahi added that the other five were nabbed in a joint operation with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force.

    He said preliminary investigations showed that the suspects, who were armed with Dane guns, disguised as Boko Haram members to rob people.

    “The suspects disguised as Boko Haram terrorists to steal from herdsmen and other people,” the commandant said.

    He said the command recovered two locally-made rifles and a pistol from the suspects.

    Abdullahi said the suspects admitted that they stole items from people, adding that investigation had begun.

    NSCDC in Jigawa State said yesterday it had arrested four suspected vandals.

    Spokesman Adamu Shehu confirmed the arrest in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse.

    He said the suspects, aged 33, 29, 23 and 20, were arrested at Dawadole village in Babura Local Government.

    Shehu said the suspects, residents of Gidan-Igiya village in Danbatta Local Government of Kano State, were initially apprehended by men of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) operating in Babura town.

    He said the suspects were nabbed with three bundles of power transmission cables, suspected to belong to the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

    The spokesman said the suspects were arrested while transporting the cables in a Golf car registered as AG 844 DBT.

    He said investigation was on, after which the suspects would be arraigned.

  • Civil Defence parades suspected vandals

    Civil Defence parades suspected vandals

    Imo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) yesterday paraded five suspects for bunkering and pipeline vandalism.

    They were intercepted by NSCDC officials with a truck load of petroleum products concealed in polythene sacks. The products were suspected to have been siphoned from a vandalised pipeline.

    The Commandant, Stephen Lar, said the truck was conveying about 20,000 litres of diesel before it was intercepted last Saturday night on Owerri/Onitsha road.

    He said on sighting the officers, who were on routine patrol, the suspects attempted to escape, but were pursued and caught.

    “When my men saw the truck while on routine patrol on Onitsha road, they pursued and intercepted it. Upon searching it, they discovered that the occupants were conveying bunkered petroleum products concealed in polythene sacks to beat security check.”

    Lar said the vandals had devised a means to beat security check by using vehicles belonging to reputable companies to convey stolen petroleum products.

    “It is worrisome that these criminals use vehicles of reputable companies to carry these products. When you see them, you will think they are carrying cement or other goods.”

    The commandant, who warned youths to keep away from crime, said the suspects would be arraigned after investigations.