The Nation Newspaper

Tag: CRIME

  • Council tackles crime

    The Executive Secretary of Coker/Aguda Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Ismail Bello has said the council will fight crime head on, even as he said efforts have been made to engage youths in positive ventures.

    He explained that it was worrisome that miscreants were in the habit of robbing people going to their places of work early in the morning in the Orile-Iganmu area of the council.

    He added that the council had donated power motorcycles and other security gadgets to the police, stressing that the gesture would assist their operations in flushing out criminals from the area.

    Bello further explained that it was easy for criminals to operate in the area because of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway which separated the police station from the criminal’s hideout.

    He said: “I have received series of complaints about breakages into people’s homes. People are robbed on their way to work in the morning and late in the night when they are returning from work.

    “The boys usually come out in the morning to carry out their evil acts. I can assure you that we are on top of the matter. The police have pledged to live up to their duty in the entire community. We have secured a parcel of land and we are equally trying to see how we can erect a police post in Opeloyeru area. The post will help the security agents to apprehend these boys and detain them before they are transferred to the divisional office.”

    Bello said the council has recorded some improvement in its development strides, noting that government would do everything possible to ensure that tax payers’ money are well expended.

    “The period we assumed office was very close to the election period, so we have embarked on rehabilitation work on some of the dilapidated roads within the council. We carried out some empowerment programmes for the aged and skill acquisition for the youth. Honestly, it has not been easy.

    “We equally provided utility vehicles for the market women. They have been agitating for it for several years. The agitation has been on since the creation of the council. We acquired a bus for the Department of Environment for enhance revenue collection for the council,.

    “Currently, Orile Primary Health Care (PHC) which was built before the creation of this council and which lacks necessary facilities for upgrading has been rehabilitated by the council. The administration has made everybody to feel a sense of belonging through its people-oriented programme,” he said.

    Continuing, he said: “Revenue collectors in the council are well trained. They don’t intimidate anybody. They explain things clearer to the tax payers before collecting the taxes. The people must see reason why taxes have to be paid.”

     

  • RRS nab suspected fraudsters in Lagos

    RRS nab suspected fraudsters in Lagos

    Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad  (RRS) have arrested two members of an alleged fraudster syndicate who specialises in defrauding people along the Lekki-Epe expressway in Lagos.

    The suspects, Ojo Dauda, 30, and Segun Olatoye, 36, were nabbed Monday at about 1pm, around Ajah.

    Their arrest came four days after the duo allegedly swindled a certain Abayomi Ayoola, 28, of N45, 000.

    Unfortunately for the suspects, the victim sighted, recognised them Monday afternoon and informed RRS men who were on routine patrol.

    Reliving his ordeal, Ayoola said: “I dropped my boss’ wife in her shop at a plaza in New Road and she sent me to the bank to deposit some money. While coming from the bank, one of the suspects accosted and asked me if I know one man called Baba Ijebu and I told him no.

    “Suddenly, another guy met us at the same spot, whom I later got to know that they were working together. In fact, I don’t know how they took me to Alpha Beach, where my Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card was collected. They used the card to withdraw N15, 000 from my account.

    “Before then, they took the N30, 000 which I had on me, a Q10 Blackberry and a Nokia phone. They abandoned me there and fled.

    “Since then, I have kept a tab on them. When I saw them again at that same spot on Monday, I rushed quickly and called RRS operatives who are working within the axis, to assist me in arresting them. I thank God that they were eventually arrested.”

    Confessing to the crime, Dauda stated that he joined the illegal business after he was duped last November.

    He said: “In November 2015, while I was on my way home from work around Ikorodu, a guy later identified as Olaiya accosted me to ask for direction. After giving him the description of the area he asked for, he went further to cajole me to walk some miles with him.

    “Before I could gain my consciousness, I didn’t find my money on me any longer. I rushed down to the spot where I still found him but he said my money has been shared and cannot be refunded.

    “He now gave me an option to join them to dupe people in same manner I was duped. He told me I would realise N10, 000 per day, so I joined him in fraud business in order to support myself financially.

    “I have made a lot of money but I cannot say exactly how much I made because I don’t keep my money in the bank. I spent them on frivolous things.

    “My base is in Jakande, Lekki-Ajah Expressway while others position themselves around the axis and across the state. Every night, we all converge on Olaiya’s house (group leader) around Jakande where we share anything we realised for the day.”

    The other suspect Olatoye said he has realised over N200, 000 since he started two months ago.
    “I am a native of Ekiti State from Imoba Local Government Area (LGA) but I was born and bred in Lagos State. I was once a dry cleaner but left the job. I joined the syndicate about two months ago. To be truthful, on my own account, I have duped three people where I made N200, 000,” he explained.

  • Council tackles crime

    The Executive Secretary of Coker/Aguda Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Ismail Bello has said the council will fight crime head on, even as he said efforts have been made to engage youths in positive ventures.

    He explained that it was worrisome that miscreants were in the habit of robbing people going to their places of work early in the morning in the Orile-Iganmu area of the council.

    He added that the council had donated power motorcycles and other security gadgets to the police, stressing that the gesture would assist their operations in flushing out criminals from the area.

    Bello further explained that it was easy for criminals to operate in the area because of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway which separated the police station from the criminal’s hideout.

    He said: “I have received series of complaints about breakages into people’s homes. People are robbed on their way to work in the morning and late in the night when they are returning from work.

    “The boys usually come out in the morning to carry out their evil acts. I can assure you that we are on top of the matter. The police have pledged to live up to their duty in the entire community. We have secured a parcel of land and we are equally trying to see how we can erect a police post in Opeloyeru area. The post will help the security agents to apprehend these boys and detain them before they are transferred to the divisional office.”

    Bello said the council has recorded some improvement in its development strides, noting that government would do everything possible to ensure that tax payers’ money are well expended.

    “The period we assumed office was very close to the election period, so we have embarked on rehabilitation work on some of the dilapidated roads within the council. We carried out some empowerment programmes for the aged and skill acquisition for the youth. Honestly, it has not been easy.

    “We equally provided utility vehicles for the market women. They have been agitating for it for several years. The agitation has been on since the creation of the council. We acquired a bus for the Department of Environment for enhance revenue collection for the council,.

    “Currently, Orile Primary Health Care (PHC) which was built before the creation of this council and which lacks necessary facilities for upgrading has been rehabilitated by the council. The administration has made everybody to feel a sense of belonging through its people-oriented programme,” he said.

    Continuing, he said: “Revenue collectors in the council are well trained. They don’t intimidate anybody. They explain things clearer to the tax payers before collecting the taxes. The people must see reason why taxes have to be paid.”

  • Why crime persists, by NDE official

    The Coordinator of the Nigeria Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Lagos State, Bashir Okunola, has reflected on the increasing wave of crime, saying youths indulge in social vices because they lack avenue for skill utilisation to make money.

    He attributed the criminal tendencies among youths to poverty, ignorance about skill usage and what he described as the acquisition of skills without settlement.

    Okunola said: “One of the challenges we have is that people are trained to acquire skills. But, they do not make use of the skills. There is the acquisition of skills without settlement. That’s why we have criminals in the society.”

    The NDE official spoke at the “Skills Acquisition, Training and Empowerment for Women”, jointly organised by the directorate and House of Representatives member from Kosofe Constituency Rotimi Agunsoye.

    The 50 beneficiaries of the programme received training on hairdressing, catering, cosmetology, GSM repairing and bead making.

    Hailing Agunsoye for partnering with the directorate, Okunola said the programme, which trailed the skill acquisition and empowerment programme for 200 Kosofe youths, underscored the beauty of representation and concern for the indigent by the legislator.

  • ‘PDP institutionalising crime in Rivers’

    ‘PDP institutionalising crime in Rivers’

    The leaders of All Progressive Congress (APC ) in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State have accused the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of institutionalising crime.

    Two of the leaders, Hon Azubuike Wanjoku and Hon. Lucky Worlu, spoke at a meeting yesterday at Isiokpo, the headquarters of Ikwerre Local Government.

    Wanjoku,  who spoke on behalf  of other political leaders in the area, accused PDP of knowing those perpetrating evil against Rivers people.

    He urged President Mohammadu  Buhari to visit Rivers State to see things for himself, adding that Rivers State had became a state where those who commit crime walk the streets free.

    He said Wike as chief security officer of the state  has not done anything to stop the incessant killings and kidnappings in the state.

    The PDP chairman’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Mr. Jerry Needam instead of reacting to the allegation spent over 30 minutes abusing the reporter and The Nation.

    He said: “You are mad to expect me to react on that allegation, you people are anti-PDP, are you are anti-PDP, you have never written good story about PDP except the one that is against PDP. What do you people think you are doing? Is Obuah your father that you will want me to react? You are stupid.”

    The APC, Southsouth yesterday urged members and supporters of the party in Rivers State to be vigilant as they cast their votes in teh legislative rerun slated for Saturday.

    Its spokesman, Ahweyevu Mukoro, in a statement in Warri yesterday, lamented the wanton killings being recorded in different parts of the state. He expressed worry over the blanket labelling of known members of the APC as cultists.

     He said: “Rather than apply the law on over voting as provided for in section 53 of the Electoral Act, their lordships were more interested in discrediting the lie detector (the card reader) and supported the blatant lie of over voting.

     “This is why voters in the South-South States especially in those states where re-run election will be conducted must remain vigilant, as the judicial system has shot down the card reader, the official protector of vain and banal electoral malfeasance.

    “All APC members and their teeming supporters in the Southsouth must refuse to be discouraged from exercising their right to vote. Do not let proven election riggers and votes thieves make you to be apathetic towards exercising your civic right to vote. The battle for truly free card readers mediated electoral system in Nigeria has just begun.”

  • Crime: Lagos to establish DNA Forensic Centre

    The Lagos State Government Tuesday said plans are already underway to establish a first ever DNA Forensic Laboratory in Nigeria in furtherance of its commitment to reforms in the justice sector and its resolve to tackle all forms of criminal activities headlong.

    The lab, which would be known as the Lagos State DNA Forensics Centre (LSDFC), is expected to take off within the next six to twelve months.

    Addressing journalists at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, said the establishment of the centre was another proof of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s sincerity and seriousness towards fighting all forms of criminality.

    According to him, when fully operational, the Centre would fulfill an unmet need for DNA profiling which is a unique forensic technique that is now being used all over the world.

    Kazeem, who addressed journalists alongside senior officials of the Ministry, said Governor Ambode had been at the vanguard of the war against domestic, sexual and violent crimes, and that the centre was geared towards vigorous justice sector reforms.

    Speaking on the importance of the forensic centre, the Commissioner said the facility which would be driven by the Ministry of Justice with active support of the Governor, will focus on DNA analysis to support the justice sector in diverse areas such as “collection and preserving reference and evidentiary DNA which can later be used in identifying criminals; decoding familial relationships of individuals which could also be a tool for the judicial system; and identifying victims and remains after natural and man-made calamities.”

    Kazeem who explained that DNA profiling is an extraction of DNA from body fluids, semen, nails, hair and other DNA generic sources, said the centre would greatly help to controvert evidence of alibi and confirm physical presence of suspects at the scene of a crime and the origin of DNA to such suspects.

    He said: “Even though the role of DNA in forensics, law enforcement and the justice sector is well known globally, a high-powered DNA analysis centre is not available in Nigeria. This means that most, if not all the DNA testing needs are performed outside Nigeria, a situation that leads to longer turnaround times and an overall higher cost of bringing closure to investigation and prosecution of crimes.”

    He said when operational, the centre will serve the DNA needs of the state, members of the public, other states and neighbouring countries, saying it would be of international standard which all stakeholders including security agencies would benefit from.

    On the areas of focus, Kazeem said the Centre would be deployed for criminal investigation to identify criminals with incredible accuracy and exonerate suspects mistakenly accused or convicted of crimes.

    The Centre, according to the Commissioner, would also aid investigation on domestic and sexual violence cases, boost family and paternity proceedings, and help in identifying victims of natural and man-made disasters.

    The Commissioner expressed optimism that the Centre would be a unique solution to fighting crime in the quest of the present administration for a safer and secured Lagos, adding, “Lagos is a unique place with a unique Governor who has continued and will continue to provide unique solutions.”

  • Dasukigate: Falana asks ICC to investigate Dasuki, others

    Dasukigate: Falana asks ICC to investigate Dasuki, others

    Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate allegations of crimes against humanity committed by some former and serving military officers, public officials and private persons including former security adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki who are involved in the alleged diversion of $8 billion earmarked for procurement of arms and armaments for the armed forces to fight insurgency.

    The request is contained in a petition dated January 19, 2016 and sent to the Prosecutor of the ICC Mrs Fatou Bensouda.

    Specifically, Falana urged the ICC prosecutor to “urgently investigate proprio motu the allegations of the criminal diversion of the security fund of $2.1 billion and N643 billion earmarked by suspected perpetrators, with a view to determining whether these amount to crimes against humanity within the Court’s jurisdiction”
    He said the ICC prosecutor should also invite representatives of the Nigerian government to provide written or oral testimony at the seat of the Court, “ so that the Prosecutor is able to conclude on the basis of available information whether there is a reasonable basis for an investigation, and to submit a request to the Pre-Trial Chamber for authorization of an investigation.

    According to Falana, the prosecutor should bring to justice those suspected to bear full responsibility for deliberate under funding of the armed forces through widespread and systematic corruption in Nigeria.

    He urged the Nigerian government to fulfill its obligations under the Rome Statute to cooperate with the ICC; including complying with your requests to arrest and surrender suspected perpetrators of the criminal diversion of security fund, testimony, and provide other support to the ICC.

    The lawyer whose firm represented a majority of the soldiers charged with mutiny, cowardly behavior and sundry offences before the courts-martial instituted by the former military authorities said the only “offence” proved against the soldiers in the military courts were that they had the temerity to demand for weapons to fight the well equipped troops of the Boko Haram sect.”
    Falana alleged that the insurgents have killed about 25,000 soldiers and civilians including children and displaced over 2,000,000 people because of the refusal of the former military authorities to equip and motivate the members of the armed forces involved in combat operations.

    He alleged further that the former military authorities compromised the security of the people of Nigeria by collaborating with the terrorists and deliberately encouraged the brutal killing of innocent people including ill-equipped officers and soldiers.

    He submitted that the former public officials, serving and military officers as well as civilian collaborators who engaged in the criminal diversion of the security fund are liable to bear full responsibility for the death of about 25,000 people who were killed by the Boko Haram sect and the over 2,000,000 people displaced by the terrorist organisation.

  • Court acquits 10 of murder, pipeline vandalism

    Court acquits 10 of murder, pipeline vandalism

    The Federal High Court in Lagos Monday discharged and acquitted 10 persons charged with murder and pipeline vandalism.

    Justice Mohammed Idris held that the prosecution failed to prove that the defendants committed the offence.

    He said the police could not discharge the burden of proof placed on it in establishing the accused persons’ guilt.

    “A summary of the evidence of eye witnesses is that they were in Arepo near Ikorodu on September 5, 2012 when petroleum vandals opened fire on them and they scrambled for safety.

    “All the eye witnesses could not identify the vandals who shot at them, neither was it proved that the persons named in counts five, six and seven were dead,” the judge held.

    The accused persons Joel Inerepamu (25), Rueben Oluwole (60), John Isaiah (28), Ineye Okposa (40), Timi Gunugunu (22), and Olisa Saheed (25).

    Others are Jigo Jiperende (31), Timi Koro (29), Johnbosco Igbhofose (26), and Peter Opidi (28).

    They were arraigned on November 29, 2012, on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy, breaking of oil pipeline, dealing in unrefined petroleum products and murder of three engineers of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    They had all pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Justice Mohammed Idris had ordered accelerated hearing of the case.

    The prosecution called 10 witnesses, while the accused testified for themselves.

    Justice Idris held that pathologist report was never tendered and there was no proof that the NNPC engineers, who were reported missing, were dead.

    He said the witnesses who testified merely suspected that the victims were dead.

    “The prosecution initially filed proof of evidence signed by ACP Ibadin, Legal officer prosecuting counsel, in whom the ninth and 10th accused were named as witnesses.

    “However, in a dramatic turn, the witnesses later became accused persons in an amended charge dated April 12, 2013.

    “In my view, the prosecution has failed to meet the requisite standard of proof which is beyond reasonable doubt and the court so hold.

    “It is clear that the first to eight accused were charged on mere suspicion and the law is clear that suspicion no matter how strong, cannot amount to proof in criminal trial. It is a wavering accusing finger which must stand straight to establish guilt.

    “I hold that the entire body of evidence led by the prosecution is inadmissible; it is better to save several guilty men, than to condemn one innocent man.

    “This court cannot find its way clear in convicting the accused based on the evidence adduced by prosecution; this case must therefore fail.

    “All of the accused persons are hereby discharged of all counts of the charge, and this court so hold,” Justice Idris held

    The accused were alleged to have conspired to vandalise an oil pipeline located at Arepo in Ogun State.

    It was alleged that on sighting engineers on maintenance work from the NNPC, the accused opened fire, killing three of the engineers.

    The alleged offences contravened sections 3(6), 4(a), 7 (a) (b), 17 (a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, Laws of the Federation, 2004, and Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

     

  • Crime: Ambode launches three helicopters, two gun boats

    Crime: Ambode launches three helicopters, two gun boats

    Lagos state Governor Akinwumi Ambode on Friday repositions RRS to combat crime and robbery in the state.

    Ambode unveiled three patrol helicopters, two gun boats, Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), patrol vehicles and power bikes at a ceremony in Lagos.

    Details later..

  • Police smash robbery gang in Ebonyi

    Police smash robbery gang in Ebonyi

    The recent onslaught against the men of the underworld in Ebonyi state has led to the arrest of 18 persons on suspicion of committing various crimes ranging from armed robbery, attempted murder, unlawful possession of firearms, cultism, vandalism etc, Ebonyi Command of the Nigerian Police have said.

    Nine of the suspects were paraded to reporters on Tuesday at the Command’s headquarters in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State Capital.

    According to the CP Peace Abdallah Ibekwe, three of the suspects Ndubuisi Iseh, Uchenna Nweke and Sunday Elom were arrested while planning to embark on a robbery attack.

    She said the gang had attacked a police patrol team at Evangel Camp Junction Okpoto Ishielu along the Abakaliki-Enugu expressway in the wee hours of the morning and inflicted bullet and machete cut wounds on them and snatched three AK47 riffles and twenty rounds of ammunition in each of the riffles.

    “While the Police officers are hospitalized, the command through intelligence led policing, diligence and gallantry smashed an intended robbery attack by the same gang the three suspects.

    “The three AK47 riffles were recovered with thirteen live ammunitions. The suspects confessed that they had planned to block Lokoja/Abuja Highway to rob innocent citizens before the command aborted their planned operations”

    She said efforts are still on to track the rest of the fleeing suspects.

    CP Ibekwe also said three other suspects Samuel Agha, Francis Okoro and Chukwu Ogbonnaya were arrested for being in possession of four locally made pistols and four live cartridges and have since been charged to court.

    Also the command arrested one Onyema Nwali, John Nwopokwu and Friday Nwakpa at Ihoto Ameka Ezza South on a tip off and recovered an AK47 from them.

    The command also swooped on a meeting of a cult group known as the Vikings Confraternity who took to their heels and in the process dropped a pistol which was recovered.

    “Again one Nnanna Igwe and Ugbu John were arrested on a tip off while planning an armed robbery operation. One locally made pistol, a live ammunition and one expended cartridge were recovered by the Police,” the CP added.

    The CP said the Police patrol team intercepted one Kelechi Alo at Abaomege-Afikpo Highway and recovered four newly made local pistols with thirteen 9mm live ammunitions from him.

    She further stated that the command’s officers in conjunction with Commercial bicycle (Okada) operators arrested two robbers who robbed two passengers on Okada dispossessing both of them of a total sum of N81,400.

    She commended the Okada operators who trailed the robbery suspects and alerted the police to effect their arrests.

    The command, the CP said, also arrested one Ndubuisi Ogbonnia and Chinedu Gabriel all of Amasiri Community in Afikpo North as they vandalized EEDC Transformer and stole the armored cables. The two suspects were charged to court where they pleaded guilty and were convicted.

    “In the same vein, one Odinaka Nwafor of Ezza Effium and Sunday Akpu of Igbudu Ekka village in Ezza South LGA vandalized EEDC Transformer and stole armored cables at Ndufu Echara village in Izzi LGA. They were arrested and later arraigned in court where they are still facing trial”.

    CP Peace restated her earlier warning to criminals to leave the state or be ready to face the onslaught of the command which have been re- strategized and re-organized for effective policing of the state.

    While appreciating the support and cooperation of relevant stakeholders, CP peace Ibekwe assured residents of the state during the yuletide and at all times.

    “The Command will continue in its efforts to stamp out criminality in the state. The Nigerian Police is driven by a leadership that demands excellence and commitment to selfless service to all Nigerians,” she concluded.

    One of the suspects, Ndubuisi Iseh confessed to the crime.

    He, however, said he was lured into the gang after they had already attacked the Police and robbed them of the guns.