The Nation Newspaper

Tag: CRIME

  • How hotels, night clubs, others aid crime, by police chief

    The Police in Lagos have  warned operators of night clubs,  hotels and other hospitality outfits to henceforth put in place internal security measures  to check drug peddling and criminalities.

    Actin Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal gave the warning at a meeting with stakeholders in the hospitality industry at the Command Headquarters in Ikeja.

    Edgal said intelligence report indicated that there was increase in drug abuse among youths and minors.

    The Police chief was quoted in a statement by the force’s image maker, Folarin Famous-Cole, that the act poses danger to the promotion of  government’s proposed night economy.

    He said there had been many initiatives and programmes geared towards ensuring a 24-hour economy in the state.

    Despite the successes recorded in recent time, there were grey areas which must be jointly tackled by both police and operators in line with his principle of community policing and security partnership, he said.

    Edgal said: “One of such areas is the issue of drug peddling and abuse. Intelligence report at my disposal reveals that there is increased drug abuse in most of our night clubs, lounges and beaches. Young men and women freely use narcotic substances at times in those areas to the knowledge of the operators but they are doing nothing about it. This is wrong. The scourge of drugs and its attendant effects aside dangerous to health is criminal activities. The ease with which our youths are getting access to drugs is worrisome and our meeting here today is to send a very strong signal to operators that it is not going to be business as usual.”

    The CP said it had also been observed that some hotels now give rooms to minors and also sell alcoholic drinks to them, while under-aged girls were also being allowed to use such establishments for prostitution.

    “In addition, we also have the issue of criminals hibernating and having save haven in all our beaches, hotels, clubs, lounges these days. The last intelligence report I received indicates that young men now move around these establishments armed. This is very dangerous for the security of the state. We have it on good authority that some of these establishments are used as meeting points to plan crimes before,” Edgal said.

    He said police have the capacity to arrest any operator found aiding criminal activities, but the will continue to engage the stakeholders in line with the principle of community policing and security partnership to tackle the menace frontally.

    Going forward, the CP said it was compulsory for operators to now install basic security gadgets such as Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras and metal box detectors, among others to cover their establishments.

    The CP also set up a 10-man Committee headed by the Managing Director of Farm City Lounge in Lekki, Mr Lanre Carew to come up with a comprehensive blueprint on how to strengthen security in the hospitality industry, especially how to put a stop to drug peddling and armed bandits.

    The committee has two weeks to submit its report.

  • Three arrested for raping teenager

    Three arrested for raping teenager

    Three boys aged between 19 and 20 have been arrested by men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for raping a 14-year old secondary school students simply identified as Precious

    Names of the suspects were given as Osabuohien Aghimien, Osamudiamen Stephen and Victory Osayomwan.

    The suspected who were paraded at the headquarters of NSCDC were said to have had two rounds of sex each with the victim.

    They were arrested by family of the victim the following day.

    Narrating their involvement in the saga, Osabuohien who claimed to be a mechanic apprentice said the victim was his girlfriend and that he took her to the house of his friend to pass the night.

    Osabuohien stated that it was at night that his friends asked to sleep with the victim and she obliged them.

    His words, “I was there when they have sex with her. When my friend said he want to go in again, she agreed. It was the next day I went to their house that I was arrested.

    Read: Police parade suspected armed robbers in Ondo

    “My friend wanted to give her money but I refused.”

    On his part, Stephen said the sex session took place in his room.

    Stephen explained that his friend told them that the girl was a prostitute he picked up even when they know that she was just 14.

    He said, “He told us the girl was his loose (ashawo). So we all slept with her. She did not cry at all. He said we should use her for the night. We did not give her any money.”

    Victory stated that he requested to have sex with the teenager and she agreed.

    Commandant of NSCDC, Makinde Iskil said the suspects would soon be handed over to the appropriate authorities.

    Read Also: Teenager gets N200,000 bail over alleged defilement of girl

     

  • Police kill two robbers, arrest one in Ogun

    Police kill two robbers, arrest one in Ogun

    Two members of a robbery gang were gunned down while another was arrested on Friday by men of the Ogun State Police Command along the Sagamu-Benin/Ore road.

    The State Commissioner of Police Ahmed Iliyasu, who paraded the suspects before journalists at Igbeba Area Command in Ijebu-Ode, said the police acting on a tip-off, arrested the suspects at along the J4, Ogun Waterside stretch of the Sagamu – Ore express way.

    Iliyasu added that the Anti-robbery team of the Ogbere Police Division led by John Okoh, engaged the suspects in hours – long gun duel before they were attested.

    He said other members of the syndicate escaped from the scene with bullet wounds.

    “In the early hours of today, our men at Ogbere Division received a distress call about a group of armed bandit who blocked Sagamu/Ore expressway at J4 area to rub commuters plying the road.

    “Upon the distress call, the DPO of the station, SP John Okoh led his antirobbey and other tactical and combat team to the scene where they met the robbers dispossessing commuters of their valuables.

    “In sighting the policemen, the bandits engaged them in a gun duel which lasted for hours. At the end of the encounter, two members of the dreaded syndicate were gunned down and one was arrested alive while others escaped with various degrees of gunshot injuries.

    “The victims were rescued unhurt and we’ve launch serious manhunt for the escaped members of the gang.

    “Recovered from them are single barrel gun, one phone, a carton of car sound protector and other instruments used in their heinous activities.”

    While assuring of safety of life and property in the Command, the Police boss appealed to members of the public, especially health workers to report any incident of gunshot wound to the police.

    “I hereby appeal to members of the public, especially hospitals and other health workers to report to the police if anybody with gunshot wound is seen around this area.

    “The Command is determined and resolute against crime and criminality and any criminal who dares any part of the state will definitely have himself to blame,” Iliyasu said.

  • Monarch, police partner to curb crime

    In an attempt to curb all forms of criminality in Mowe town, the Baale, Chief Olatunde Babatunde Ojelade has said that his community would co-operate with security agents within the community and the entire Mowe town to dismantle the stronghold of daredevil criminals.

    Ojelade, who was responding to call by police in the town to help locate the hideout of the criminals, noted that he’s poised to get rid of them in response to the letter sent by Badoo gang to Mowe in recent time.

    He, however, stated that he accompanied the combined team of police from Mowe and Sagamu divisions where they combed the town and arrested some of the suspected criminals. According to him, Mowe is peaceful and safe.

  • ‘LSSTF’s seven vehicles will help tackle crime’

    The police have praised the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) for donating seven new Nissan Pickup Vehicles to the command, saying the vehicles would be deployed to tackle crime.

    Acting Commissioner of Police Imohimi Edgal, who stated this while receiving the vehicles from LSSTF’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun, described the donation as timely.

    “With these vehicles, the challenges of mobility often experienced by our men would be drastically reduced,” he said.

    Edgal praised the LSSTF for sustaining the tempo of donations which recently marked its 10th year.

    He said the intervention and support of such critical security infrastructure, had made lives and properties better secured.

  • ‘LSSTF’s seven vehicles will help tackle crime’

    The police have praised the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) for  donating  seven refurbished Nissan Pickup Vehicles to the command , saying the vehicles  would be deployed to tackle crime.

    Acting Commissioner of Police Imohimi Edgal, who stated this yesterday while receiving the vehicles from LSSTF’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun, described the donation as timely.

    “With these vehicles, the challenges of mobility often experienced by our men would be drastically reduced,” he said.

    Edgal praised the LSSTF for sustaining the tempo of donations which recently marked its 10th year, adding that with the intervention and support of critical security infrastructure, lives and properties have been better secured.

    Balogun urged the Police to make the best use of the assets.

  • Re-arrested suspect absolves ex-Sergeant of any crime

    The 23-year-old murder suspect, Ifeanyichukwu Maxwell Dike,  has said he was not aided by ex-Police Sergeant Johnbosco Okoroeze to escape from the custody  of Rivers State Criminal investigation and Interrogation Department (SCIID).

    He spoke in Port Harcourt yesterday.

    Dike, a 200-level Physics undergraduate of the University of Port Harcourt, allegedly drugged,  raped, killed and removed vital body parts of  eight-year old Chikamso Victory  in Port Harcourt, last month.

    The officer ,who investigated the crime, Sergeant Okoroeze, was dismissed and charged to court on a two-count of aiding and abetting. He was remanded in prison.

    Dike was rearrested at Brinkin-Ladi in Plateau State on Saturday night.  He said he took advantage of the darkness on the SCIID premises to run away.

    He said: “When I got to Jos, because it was late, I was unable to get good food to eat. I went to get some food to eat when I was caught. They were interrogating me.  I failed to give my aunt’s contact.

    “At first, I was hiding my identity,  when I got fed up I decided to give out my aunt’s number,  the police officer interrogating me called my aunty and she said I have been declared wanted, they asked her to call the police. When she called the police, the police officer she called then reached my IPO, who confirmed that I was the person. It was at that point that I was detained and brought to Port Harcourt on Sunday.

    “Sir,  I know that what I did was wrong,  I am sorry.  I am tired of answering questions.  I am thirsty. I am saying to the world that I am sorry.”

    The Rivers police, in a statement, said: “Barely two weeks ago, after I spoke to you about the determination and resolve in the re-arrest of Ifeany Dike,  the 200-level student of the University of Port Harcourt,  who mindlessly and without fear of God,  raped and murdered eight-year old Chikamso,  whose only sin was her absolute trust on her close relation and uncle.

    “Today,  with profound humility, I present to you the most wanted ritual killer, Mr.  Ifeanyichukwu Maxwell Dike. His re-arrest was made possible by God, through your prayers and concerns, following his escape three weeks ago.

    “Your positive actions in information dissemination, both in the print,  electronic and social media so much circulated, even in faraway places of the world.  The consciousness of every Nigerian was awakened in the search for this mindless killer.

    “I wish to assure you that justice will not only be done,  but be seen to be done in the circumstance to bring the full weight of the law to bear on him or any other person implicated in the course of further investigation.”

    Ahmed noted that the suspect will be charged to court when investigation is concluded.

  • Police vow to end crime siege on Abuja-Kaduna road

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has vowed to end the menace of kidnapping, robbery and other crimes on the Abuja/Kaduna Expressway.

    A statement by force spokesman Jimoh Moshood said Idris spoke after a sensitisation and mobilisation visit to communities, military and police personnel deployed in the 209km highway, at the weekend.

    The statement reads: “Concerned with cases of kidnappings, robberies and other crimes on the Abuja-Kaduna road, the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris, in June, deployed an additional 600 officers of Special Intervention Forces, comprising Police Mobile Force (PMF), the Counter Terrorism Units, Federal Highway Patrol Teams, Safer Highway Patrols, Intelligent Response Team (IRT), Special Tactical Squad (STS), Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and Anti-Kidnapping Units, in the road.

    “Their mandate is to root out these vicious kidnap-for-ransom and robbery gangs and render the highway safe.

    “The operations have been yielding positive results. Consequently, the IGP, on July 13, began an official visit to officers deployed in the road.

    “He also did an on-the-spot assessment of the security situation on the Abuja/Kaduna/Kano highways to ensure high alertness of officers there.

    “The IGP also addressed the communities and other stakeholders in the towns and villages along the road, on the need to be vigilant and cooperate with policemen.

    “At Suleja, the IGP visited the Emir of Suleja, Alhaji Muhammad Awwal Ibrahim, to commiserate with him on the flood disaster in his domain.”

  • Why crime, violent conflicts are on the increase —IG

    Why crime, violent conflicts are on the increase —IG

    The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and other stakeholders, have called on the Federal Government to curb the peddling of small arms and light weapons (SALWs) among the civilian populace.

    The stakeholders made this declaration at the end of the National Security Summit organised by the Nigeria Police Force in collaboration with the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria and The Leadership Newspapers Group Limited in Abuja.

    Idris, who read the declaration in Abuja yesterday, said the availability of SALWs had sustained crimes and violent conflicts.

    He also said the availability of SALWs had further heightened the fragile nature of peace building initiatives through effective implementation of global best practices and conventions on illicit SALWs in Nigeria.

    Idris said: “The government should curb the easy availability of small arms and light weapons (SALWs) among the civil populace, which has sustained criminalities and violent conflicts, further heightening the fragility of peace building initiatives through the effective implementation of global best practices and conventions on illicit SALWs.

    The IGP also called on the federal government to strengthen security agencies in the country, calling for adequate funding of the force.

    He said: “The government should strengthen the security and law enforcement agencies, especially the Nigeria Police Force through capacity building, equipping and funding to face the onerous task of maintaining internal security for sustainable peace and democracy.”

  • My crime exploits, by kidnap kingpin Evans

    My crime exploits, by kidnap kingpin Evans

    Suspect who owns two houses in highbrow Magodo, Lagos relives life of crimes

    The sensational life – big crime and luxury – of a kidnap kingpin Chukwudubem George Onwuamadike (aka Evans), has collapsed with a tripe of regrets.

    He yesterday advised those in the illicit trade to quit.

    “I am feeling bad. People who are still into kidnapping should quit. They should learn from what has happened to me,” he told reporters when he was paraded at the Lagos Command Headquarters in Ikeja.

    Police spokesman Jimoh Moshood, a Chief Superintendent (CSP), who paraded him and his gang, said Evans ran a highly sophisticated operation where members did not know themselves.

    Others paraded are Felix Chinemerem, Nwosu Chikodi Chukwuma (aka Sado), 42, Suoyo Paul (aka Nwana), 42, Ikenna Emeka, 28, Uchechukwu Amadi and Ogechi Amadi.

    Evans, who relived his sojourn in the underworld, said: “I was into auto spare parts importation but lost all my money (over N25m) when Customs seized my goods. From there, I relocated to South Africa, where I started peddling drugs. But along the line, my business partner shot me and passed me off as dead. I recuperated, returned to Nigeria and decided to start kidnapping rich men for ransom.”

    He said he started the evil trade under the late notorious Chyna, adding that he was among theose who attempted to kidnap the owner of Young Shall Grow Motors, Chief Vincent Obianodo.

    Two members of the gang, he said, were killed in the operation in which Chyna died. He started his own gang, adding that he has six men in Lagos, who he sends to any part of the country to operate.

    They went in groups of three or four to execute any mission, Evans said, adding that others were recruited for particular operations and discharged once the job was done.

    The suspect claimed that he never killed adding that most killings were done by his gang members.

    He named, Urchman, Uche and Nnamdi as those who carried the gang’s weapons, adding that Chinedu and Ehis brought contacts and names of those to be kidnapped. Evans claimed to have  kidnapped 10 people since he started his gang in 2015. He said two of his victims, Uyi Technical and Dan Odete, who brought N100million and N50million ransom, were picked up during  the late Chyna’s reign. He got N10million from the operation.

    Evans said: “Once the victims pay the ransom, the money goes to the people who own it. I don’t have a boss but some people own the money. Does money stay with a human being? (He queried reporters in Igbo).

    “I have people heading different sections. There are two gangs that work for me in every operation.  It is not all the time I follow them for the job. Most times, I control them on phone. The two gangs do not know themselves and neither of them knows my house.

    “Two people take charge of the detention camp at Igando and on every operation, I pay them N2million each. My parents are in the village. My mother knows what I do but she has never approved of it. I have five children. Three boys and two girls. I sent my family to Canada.

    “I have dual citizenship – Nigeria and Ghana. I got visa for my family in Ghana because I couldn’t get it in Nigeria. I have not left Nigeria since 2007 that I returned from South Africa but my family usually travelled and I also give money to people to buy whatever I need or I buy online.

    “Most of our victims are targetted and picked along the road or before they enter their homes. We do not pick victims from their homes”.

    On how he was arrested, Evans said he believed it was “time for me to be arrested; that was why I was caught because I have always been in Nigeria”.

    “I am suffering from abdominal cancer and I am always on drug,” he said.

    “Uche Amadin is incharge of the detention camp at Igando. At first, I told him I was into International business (drugs) but along the line, he knew it was kidnapping and he stayed with me. He was the one who brought his wife into it not me because he was the one who said I should rent a house for them with his wife’s name.

    Chinemerem, 36, who claimed Evans usually called them and sent messages with hidden numbers whenever the need arose, said he met the kingpin when he (Chinemerem) returned from Malaysia.

    According to him, the highest amount he collected from Evans was N200,000, which he described as a gift.

    Ogechi Amadin, who is said to be the suspect’s chef, claimed that she knew nothing about the gang, adding that her husband used her name to get an accommodation at Igando.

    Her husband, she said, told her he was going into drug business and wanted to relocate them to Lagos. The woman, who claimed to be a petty trader in Port Harcourt, said she agreed that her name be used to secure the accommodation and contacted her friend, Ngozi, for help.

    She claimed she had only visited the place once (last July), adding that her husband sent her N600,000 once for their rent and children’s school fees in Rivers State.

    ‘We kidnapped Young Shall Grow’

    Amadi said he first met Evans in 2013, on his return from Malaysia, after a woman he promised to marry threw him out for keeping a wife and son in Nigeria.

    According to him, he met the kingpin at Maza-Maza,Mile II, where Evans was buying rolls of nylon used for sachet water.

    “One day, he asked me to follow him. They had a convoy of three vehicles. I was not told where we were going to, but we went to Festac. That was when I knew it was kidnapping because it was the Young Shall Grow attempted kidnap.

    “After that day, I relocated to Port Harcourt. But last year, Evans called me to move back to Lagos, that he was going to help me secure an accommodation and start up a business for me. I discussed it with my wife and she called her friend,Ngozi,who helped to get the accommodation. I told my wife I was going into drug business. I didn’t tell her it was kidnapping. I have not received any money from Evans since then.”

    ‘Evans gave me N3m for arms’

    Suoyo Paul, 42, an ex-militant from Bayelsa State, said he met Evans in 2008 when he was in the camp as a militant.

    He said his boss, Peter, gave Evans two rifles, adding that when he embraced the Amnesty offer of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, he lost contact with Evans.

    “But I ran into Barrister Evans’ friend in Port Harcourt. He was the one who reintroduced me to Evans. In the course of our discussions, Evans said he had lost all the arms he purchased from Peter, my former master. He gave me  N3m to get new guns for him. In the course of our telephone communications, police tracked me down to Port Harcourt and arrested me.”

    How gang operated, by police

    Police spokesman Jimoh Moshood said five AK47 and an AK 49 rifles, two double barrel long guns, two English pistols, 59 AK47, magazines with ammunition, 1,272 9mm live AK47 ammunition and five number plates were recovered from the gang.

    Inspector General of Police’ (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Lagos Police Command and Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU) busted the gang, he said.

    “In every kidnap attack, he has a separate armed group that takes victims with them and has another armed group that takes the victims to their hideouts and prevents them from escaping. The members of the two groups do not know themselves. They comply with his instructions.

    “This is a huge success for Nigeria Police. The force would build on this success and continue to prevent kidnap cases and criminality in the country.  He has two mansions in Magodo GRA Phase II worth about N300million. He has two houses in highbrow area of Accra, Ghana, among many other properties, such as exotic cars, expensive watches, jewellery he bought from ransom.”