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Tag: Commissioner of Police (CP)

  • 10 held over clash at Ijanikin, says CP Ebrimson

    The Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of elections in Lagos West Senatorial District Kenneth Ebrimson on Saturday said 10 suspects were arrested in connection to violence at Oto Awori in Ijanikin, Ojo on Thursday.

    He stated this during an interview with reporters at the Police Command in Ikeja where he assured residents of peaceful polls.

    According to Ebrimson, he had visited all identified flash points in the senatorial district including Okota, Mushin, and Ogba, noting that there had been no issues and voters were turning out impressively.

    On action taken by the police after the Ijanikin violence, he said:  “Well, you know that in a situation like this, there must be hiccups here and there. People are desperate and it is left for the security agencies to track down these miscreants and wherever crisis arise, to timely handle same so it does not escalate.

    “That is exactly what the police have done. As I speak to you now, 10 suspects are cooling down in the cell and they would face the full wrath of all.

    “I think the security agencies are ready to go. Whatever lapses you noticed during the presidential election have been corrected.”

    Asked why the vehicular restriction order was again flaunted in Okota by tricyclists and motorcyclists, Ebrimson said security agencies are to allow people pass once they can prove they were trying to locate their polling units.

    “You know when there is voting, people tend to locate their polling units so the restriction movement is not that they will not go and locate their polling unit. When you restrict people they will not get to where their polling units are.

    “The important thing is that if they have their PVCs and the officer on ground is satisfied that they are looking for their polling units, they would be allowed access with their vehicles. What we mean by the restriction is that you are not allowed to go to another polling unit after voting.

    “As soon as you are done voting you either go back home or stay within the premises of your polling unit with a given distance by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) so you can do what they call protect your votes.

    “I can assure Lagosians that the noticeable lapses in the previous election have been corrected. Those flashpoints in Lagos State have adequate security provided to contain whatever may arise. They say once bitten twice shy. Wherever we had those challenges, we have blocked the loopholes. We identified more than 20 flash points in Lagos and provided watertight security to cover them. Places like Ojo, Isolo, Mushin, Okota were well captured. We are good to go.

  • Abia gets new CP ahead of Saturday’s polls

    A new Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Awosola Awotinde, has been posted to Abia, ahead of Saturday’s Governorship and state House of Assembly elections, the command’s spokesman, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna, has said.

    Ogbonna told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Awotinde, who was in Ebonyi, was swapped with the former Abia CP, Mr Eden Okon, who was also moved to Ebonyi.

    He said that the new commissioner assumed duty on Friday morning, after a formal handover from Okon.

    He said that the postings were done for the purposes of the elections and appealed to Abia residents to give the new police boss the “necessary cooperation.” (NAN)

  • Police debunk alleged plan to kidnap Rivers REC

    The Commissioner of Police (CP), in Rivers state, Usman Belel has debunked the alleged plan to kidnap the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in the state ahead of Saturday’s governorship and state House of Assembly elections.

    The state government through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Electronic Media, Simoen Nwakudu in a statement on Tuesday had raised an alarm on an alleged plan by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the state to kidnap the State REC ahead of the polls to push for the postponement of the exercise in the state to a later date.

    But the CP who apparently felt embarrassed by the development in a statement he signed in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Tuesday described the allegation as unfounded and unverifiable urged members of the public to disregard it.

    He assured the people of the state that the command and other security agencies in the state are on top of the security of the state during the elections, insisting that nothing will go wrong.

    The state security Boss said, “The attention of the Rivers State Police Command has been drawn to a Press Statement Signed by Simon Nwakudu , S.A to the Governor of Rivers State on Electronic Media , on the planned kidnap of the Resident Electoral Commissioner and  subsequent Postponement of the Gubernatorial and House of Assembly Elections Scheduled to hold on Saturday 9th March, 2019.

    “The Nigeria Police Force being the lead Agency in Internal Security and on Election Security Duties is disturbed by this unverifiable, unfounded, baseless and malicious allegation and hereby wishes to refute and condemn the allegation in the strongest terms and to allay the fears and apprehension generated by that unnecessary and alarmist report by the Rivers State Government,” he said.

    Read also: APC, PDP ready for elections in Zamfara, as INEC distributes materials

     

    Speaking further said, “To this end, it has become increasingly necessary to refute that phantom allegation and herein State as follows:-

    “The Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security    (ICCES) headed by the Commissioner of Police, ahead of the 2019 Elections met severally and fashioned out modules on the Security of the entire Election process, which was largely responsible for the successful conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly Elections in the State.

    “The Committee remains irrevocably committed and untiring in its efforts to ensure that the Gubernatorial and State Assembly Elections scheduled to hold on Saturday are peaceful, credible and devoid of violence.

    “The Rivers State Government, is levying this weighty allegation on the Security Agencies at this crucial moment, is indeed sad and unfortunate, when in actual fact, the Security Agencies should be encouraged and prayed for by all and sundry, to entrench a credible process that will stand the test of time.

    “The allegation of kidnap of the Resident Electoral Commissioner and postponement of the Elections, are all serious issues that touch on State Security, hence they will be thoroughly investigated, to ascertain the veracity or otherwise and bring anybody or group found complicit to Justice.”

    Belel appealed,  “Consequently, may I at this point appeal to the Residents of the State to remain calm and go about their normal activities, as there is no cause for alarm.

    “The allegation, for all intents and purposes, is politically motivated and only intended to heat up the polity and create unnecessary tension in the State.

    “It is further noted, albeit, regrettably, that, the  allegation is a calculated attempt to undermine and overreach the Security Agencies and the  Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), hence I call on the good people of the State  and the public at large, to disregard and discountenance same, as lacking in merit .

    “Finally, I want to use this medium to reiterate our commitment to serve you better, remain professional, focused and provide a level playing field for all the Political Parties and the Electorates to exercise their franchise.” he pledged.

  • Okon takes over as Abia police chief

    The immediate past Commissioner of Police (CP) in Abia State Chris Ezike, now Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Zone 4, has handed over to the new CP Etim Ene Okon with the charge to members of the command to be dedicated to their duty.

    Speaking while handing over to Okon, Ezike said that he had spent barely three months as the CP of the state and that he was preparing to go home when his new elevation came, which he described as a pleasant surprise.

    Ezike said that his experience in that state has been a good one as he has been able to reduce crime rate to the barest minimum with the strategies he put in place to combat various crimes in the state.

    The new AIG in charge of Zone 4 thanked officers and men of the command for their collaborative efforts in helping him to achieve the modest achievements he did within a short period of three months.

    He charged them to remain loyal, committed and dedicated to the force as well as cooperate with his successor.

    He said, “The man taking over from me is well known in the state having left here seven months ago as Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).”

    Ezike used the opportunity to thank the state governor Okezie Ikpeazu for his collaborative efforts in seeing to the successes of the police in the state during his time, stressing that the governor was willing to assist at all times.

    He said, “I want to use this forum to thank governor Ikpeazu for his efforts to see that the police work is made easy, the assurances he made to the command have been kick started and in no distant time my successor will start seeing them.”

    “I believe that the new CP will continue from where I stopped and I also believe that the governor will provide us with the logistics to work with and the expected manpower will also be made available for the work load to be less.”

    The new AIG zone 4 said that police work this time around is a very critical one with the election around the corner, “We therefore need to be very vigilant at all times, alert, show loyalty, so that at the end there will be a crisis free and credible elections across the country.”

    Ezike said, “I am very happy to be handing over to my son and a worthy colleague, I was the one that handed over the police form to him while I was the PPRO in Calabar in 1987 and I believe that he will do well having served as DCP in the state”.

    Receiving the handover notes, the new CP Okon said that since he joined the force that he has been following the career progress of the new AIG, “Here is the man who gave me the form to join police which I reminded him last night.”

    Okon said that he is afraid to occupy the big shoe Ezike is leaving behind for him as they are too big for him, “However sir if I encounter any problems, please always oblige me your services whenever I call.”

    He said that he left the state seven months ago as DCP, “But am back now as the state CP, I want to assure everyone that I have not changed, will not change and will ever remain very meticulous in service.”

    The new Abia CP noted that he is assuming office at a very critical and challenging time with the elections just about four days away and urged all to focus on the election assignment, “After which we will look and think about the way forward for the command.”

  • Dislodged militants now enroll as private guards – Police

    Dislodged militants now enroll as private guards – Police

    Lagos residents have been warned to ensure circumspection when employing domestic workers, and to allow proper profiling of their domestic employees by the police.

    Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Fatai Owoseni gave the warning Friday, disclosing that some of the militants/kidnappers dislodged from creeks now disguise as private security guards.

    Owoseni said the police were already taking census of some of the estates where these kidnappers have been posted by their firms as guards, without knowing they were spying on victims.

    He also disclosed that cases of criminality perpetrated by domestic helps were on the increase especially with respect to drivers fleeing with their employers’ vehicles.

    The police boss warned estate managers, private guards to stop denying policemen on patrol, duty access into the premises, adding that the command was working with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to address anomalies.

    Owoseni said: “Criminal elements and suspected militants/kidnappers have found themselves enlisted into services of private security company, where they choose the estates they want to go and work.

    “It gives them platform to do monitoring and then give information to their cohorts outside. The command wants to advice Lagos residents on the need to profile domestic servants and drivers they employ.

    “By doing that, they would be helping to secure themselves, protect valuables and assist the police in its quest to reduce crime to minimal level in Lagos.”

    Giving details of arrests made by the command between Tuesday and Friday, Owoseni said a syndicate that advertises and present themselves as drivers in order to steal from their employers was apprehended.

    He said: “They do so in connivance with guards in some of the houses they work as drivers. We got four members of the gang after a Hyundai jeep which was stolen from the owner’s home, was intercepted at Ondo State, enroute Abuja.

    “Through diligent investigation, kingpin James Jacob was arrested. During interrogation, three others were arrested. On a serial basis, they give out themselves as drivers. After working for the family for some time, they steal the car or connive with guards.

    “They have confessed that there are five other cars stolen in that manner. James Jacob has been paraded last year for a case of rape and stealing of vehicle. He raped his boss’ house help and stole the car. He was charged to court but unfortunately, he got bail and refused to learn his lessons.

    “The gang had number plates belonging to government offices, which they use to move stolen vehicles to places they sell them.”

    Owoseni also said the command through the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), arrested four suspected tricksters, armed robbers, who usually shoot their victims after luring them to particular locations under the guise of buying wares from them.

    Wilfred Ehi, 30; Bright Eloho, 24; Olanrewaju Kamilu, 33 and Ekeme Gbmedu, 22, were arrested at Olamoti Hotel, Iyana-Iba by a decoy team.

    They were said to have shot a policeman, who disguised as a phone seller and stood at a place they asked him to stay with the phone.

    According to Owoseni, the command has received about 13 reports on the activities of the suspects, prompting an undercover operation to arrest them.

    He said: “They ask the sellers to bring phones to the hotel. Once the person got there, they fire the person and collect the phone. They fired one of the policemen who carried phones to them as a seller. He was shot in the leg in the course of the operation.

    “Police eventually had upper hand and kingpin of the syndicate was nabbed, leading to arrest of three others.

    “A KIA Optimal saloon car, four expensive telephones, two wristwatches, a cannon E087D camera, laptop, WiFi and a wrap of weeds was recovered from them.

    “We also arrested three suspects including the brother of producer, Seun Kareem alias Egbegbe for being his accomplices. The suspects, Lawal Kazeem,  Olalekan Yusuf and Muyideen Shoyombo have confessed to the crime and would be charged to court.

    “Five members of a syndicate that specialises in faking to be haulage contractors were arrested. The command has been on their trail until the last operation where the command worked with victim.  “They present themselves as haulage contractors to big companies and individuals wanting to transport goods from Lagos to other parts of the country. They use their trucks or those of victims to carry goods, which they divert and sell around Shagamu and then, they take the trucks away.

    “RRS tracked and arrested five suspects. Two of the diverted trucks were dismantled and sold to different spare-parts dealer. The two have been recovered. They confessed to other trucks they have diverted and butcher like that.

    “Flour that was given to them to transport out of Lagos has been traced to the receiver. It has been recovered and worth N46m.”

     

  • Rivers gets new Police Commissioner

    Rivers gets new Police Commissioner

    A new commissioner of Police (CP) has been deployed to Rivers state.

    This followed the death of the former commissioner, Francis Odesanya.

    The new CP, is Zaki Ahmed, he resumed work as the 38th CP of the command Monday.

    Ahmed, who hails from Kogi State, last served in Bauchi State before his redeployment to State to continue his service.

    Upon resumption at the Command’s headquarters, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt,  he has met with high ranking officers of the command for brief meeting and familiarization.

    Speaking briefly after inspection at the Quarter Guard, Ahmed thanked the press for their cooperation with the police, noting that he would officially address the media later.

    He stated that he would work with the media to ensure transparency and urged them to give him the need assistance.

    However, outcome of the meeting could not be ascertained at the time of filing the report.

    Meanwhile, after the demise of Odesanya, in January,  2017, DCP Ahmed Magaji,  oversaw the affairs of the Command as the Acting Commissioner of Police.

  • Lagos Police uncovers illegal oil depot in oregun

    Lagos Police uncovers illegal oil depot in oregun

    …Arrests suspected kingpin, seven others

     

    The Lagos State Police Command on Thursday uncovered an illegal oil depot located underneath the Oregun-Opebi Link Bridge in Onigbongbo Local Government Area of the State, arresting eight suspects in the process.

    The illegal oil depot was uncovered during a joint raid by men of the Lagos Police Command and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), led by the Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Fatai Owoseni and the RRS Commander, Mr. Olatunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police.

    Owoseni, who briefed journalists shortly after inspecting the area, alongside officials of the State Lands Bureau, said the suspects had been engaging in adulteration of petroleum products, which they then proceed to sell to unsuspecting members of the public.

    “With what we have seen on ground, the magnitude of the activities taking place here, it shows that this probably must have been happening for some period, it could be years that people don’t get noticed and this could explain why some people would buy new cars, new generators and they would tell you that they put diesel inside and the engine knocks, these are probably the criminal minds behind these things.

    “They have so many drums; they even have plenty tankers here and they must have been doing this for long. They take the adulterated products out to go and sell to unsuspecting members of the public and we end up with people having their valuable items destroyed and in some cases leading to fire incidents,” Owoseni said.

    The Commissioner of Police, who confirmed that eight suspects were arrested during the raid including the kingpin of the gang carrying out the illegal activities, said a thorough investigation would be carried out, while those found culpable will be prosecuted accordingly.

    He also warned those still involved in such practice to desist forthwith, saying that there would be no hiding place as all security apparatus in the State would be deployed to the nook and crannies across the metropolis to fish out criminally minded persons.

    “We would use this to send a message across to other people that are engaged in illegal business like this, no stone would be left unturned to get to the root cause, to get to all the people that are involved; the perpetrators, the conspirators and we would ensure that the investigation is carefully handled and done to logical conclusion so that at the end of the day we would get people to face the music and deal with them according to the law.

    “Would ensure diligent prosecution as well and with that, we would be sending a message to other perpetrators that are engaged in acts like that to tell them that in Lagos no act of lawlessness and illegality would be entertained and that everyone that has run foul of the law through this kind of thing, would face the music,” the Commissioner of Police said.

    Owoseni said the area would be cordoned off by the Police immediately pending the period of conclusion of the investigation process.

    “Since this has been uncovered, a stop is going to be put to what is happening right here, because of the illegal activities of the bunkerers, you have mechanics here who are here illegally, you have food vendors here and once the illegal business taking place here is taken away, they also have to relocate somewhere else and run their business legitimately,” he said.

  • NHRC summons FCT’s CP for impeding investigation

    NHRC summons FCT’s CP for impeding investigation

    The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has summoned the Commissioner of Police (CP) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammad Mustafa over alleged obstruction of its investigation into allegations of rights abuses.

    Mustapha is expected to appear before the commission today.

    The commission’s invitation to the Commissioner of Police, FCT was informed by the alleged denial of access, by some policemen, to some NHRC’s investigators who had gone to investigate allegations of rights abuses contained in a petition by members of Wuye Market Traders Association.

    Spokesperson of the commission, Uche Mebrim said, in a statement, that policemen from FCT Command denied the investigation team led by the Commission’s Director of Human Rights Monitoring, Tony Ojukwu access to the Wuye market despite explanations that the visit was a fact finding.

    He said the petition was received Wednesday by the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Prof. Bem Angwe.

    The petition, he said contained allegation to the effect that the authorities of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) dispossessed them of their shops despite giving them allocation papers and that in the process of protesting for their rights, they were manhandled by the Police.

    Mebrim said, after its encounter with policemen at the Wuye Market, the NHRC investigation team later went to Maitama Police Command, where some of the arrested traders were detained.

    He said the Area Commander, Abiodun Alamutu, who received the team, said there was a directive that nobody should access Wuye Market. He admitted that 20 men and four women were detained and later the four women were released while the men have been taken to court in Wuse, Abuja.

  • Gov. Ambode compensates two police officers

    Gov. Ambode compensates two police officers

    The Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday compensated two police officers with commendation letters and N250, 000 cash each, for the recovery of N5 million which fell-off a bullion van around Alausa, Ikeja.

    A statement by Mr Adebayo Taofiq, Lagos State Taskforce Public Affairs Officer, said the two policemen were attached to the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit ( Taskforce ).

    ”These two police officers, Insp. Abiona Hezekiah and Sgt. Ogunbiyi Agbabu recently recovered N5 million that fell-off a bullion van around Alausa, Ikeja.

    ”The money was discovered, after due investigation, to belong to Skye Bank Plc.”.

    The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Fatai Owoseni, made the presentation of the commendation letters and cash to the duo.

    The statement said that the CP commended the duo for their high sense of patriotism, honesty and integrity in the line of duty.

    “This heroic act and professional conduct, is in line with the ‘Change Mantra’ of the present administration which will ensure a renewed confidence in the Nigerian Police Force by the populace.

    ”I want to appreciate these officers for their honesty and commitment while discharging their duties at the Lagos State Taskforce,” it quoted the governor as saying.

    The statement said that the officers thanked the governor and promised to remain steadfast in the discharge of their duties at the Lagos State Taskforce.