The Nation Newspaper

Tag: criminals

  • Security selling arms to criminals!

    •Time to streamline hiring of security personnel and to monitor arms meant to secure the nation

    The culture of impunity that led to the change of government in 2015 seems to be very much in place in the country’s security sector. At a public hearing of the House of Representatives’ Joint Committee on Customs and Excise and National Intelligence on Influx of Small Arms into the country, the Director of Operations of Department of State Security (DSS), Godwin Etang, revealed that many individuals in the military and other security agencies are in the habit of selling arms to criminals.

    Such acts encourage various forms of criminality—armed robbery, kidnapping, terrorism, assassination, etc., and have the potential to destabilise the population that the arms were provided to protect. If not properly addressed, such criminality has the tendency to cause further erosion of trust between citizens and security agents.

    The DSS’ director of operations further revealed that the agency “conducted more than 27 operations and arrested more than 30 persons involved in the supply of arms and ammunition and some of them are serving security men.” He added that the reason for this is that “some agencies have over a period of time recruited people who were before cultists and armed robbers and are now wearing uniforms.”

    We view the news about this criminal habit of persons paid to secure the state and its citizens as alarming, to say the least. Indeed, it is shocking that citizens provided with arms to secure life and property in the country feel at ease to turn legal arms in their custody into illegal arms in the hands of criminal elements. If such revelation had come from other sources like the media, and not from the DSS, many partisan citizens could have taken it to be an attempt to smear the character of men in uniform.

    We call on the Federal Government, to which all security agencies are responsible, to do the needful immediately, given the danger inherent in such heinous acts.

    In the context of illegal transfer of arms and ammunition to people who should not have access to them, by persons who are paid to hold such arms in trust, any wonder that Boko Haram has existed for years, or that kidnapping has been on the rise? Any wonder that violent herdsmen from within and outside the country carry combat weapons such as AK-47 to kill or harass innocent farmers? And is the mushrooming of militancy in different parts of the country surprising, or that there is growing disaffection between citizens and security personnel?

    We consider it ironical that at a time that sanity should have returned to all arms of government, many citizens in sensitive agencies still find the environment conducive to impunity, two years into a regime of anti-corruption war. We ask the Federal Government to give the revelations by the DSS serious and immediate attention by ensuring, in the short-run, speedy trial of individuals that have been involved in the sale of arms to criminals. And in the long-run, there is a need for public inquiry into existing regulations and practices guiding hiring of security personnel; management of materials sensitive to national security; and post-severance access to official arms  and ammunition by  security personnel.

    We commend the DSS for not choosing to cover up such sabotage of the country’s security by bad eggs in the security service. We, however, call on the service to do more investigation on the abuse of trust on the part of serving personnel in the entire security sector. With this kind of news, the ministers of defence and internal affairs have a challenge requiring immediate action. Citizens have a right to believe that those paid to secure them are not criminals in uniform.

  • Ondo Community raises alarm over invasion by criminals

    Disturbed by alleged invasion of Igbotako community in Okitipupa local government area of Ondo State by suspected criminals, its residents have urged the police and other security agencies in the state to bail them out of the menace.

    Already, the community has organised a security summit with the State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adeyanju, with other stakeholders.

    The law enforcement officer canvassed the support of residents in tackling the security challenge facing the community.

    The CP described criminal activities in the area as disturbing, saying his command was battle-ready to fortify the community and the whole state.

    He warned the youths in the area and other neighbouring towns that his command was battle-ready to deal with anyone found culpable.

    The summit was organised by Igbotako Community Development Council (ICDC) to tackle security threats in the community.

     

  • Ondo community raises alarm over invasion by criminals

    Ondo community raises alarm over invasion by criminals

    Disturbed by alleged invasion of Igbotako community in Okitipupa local government area of Ondo state by suspected criminals, its residents have urged the Police and other security agencies in the state to bail them out of the menace.
    Already, the community has organized a security summit with  the State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adeyanju in attendance with  other stakeholders.
    Adeyanju used the occasion to warn criminals in the state particularly Igbotako community to relocate.
    The law enforcement officer canvassed the support of residents in tackling the security challenge facing the community.
    The summit was organised by  Igbotako  Community Development Council(ICDC)to tackle security threats in the community.
    There had been reported cases of kidnapping, armed robbery and cultism in the area in the past few years causing anxiety to the people.
    The CP described criminal activities in the area as disturbing, saying his command was battle-ready to fortify the community and the whole state.
     Adeyanju,however armed the youth criminal tendencies to re-think, stressing that the command had mapped out strategies to deal qitë the culprits.
    The police boss said he was touched when the community leaders led by Chief Paddy Arikawe visited his office in Akure to lodge complaints on the incessant activities of the hoodlums in the community.
    He warned the youths in the area and other neighbouring towns that his command was battle ready to deal with anyone found culpable.
    The convener of the Summit, Arikawe hailed the CP for personally present, stressing that the cases of kidnapping, armed robbery and cultism in the community was disturbing.
    He advised parents to caption their wards, as police are ready for action to secure the community.
    A youth leader, Omotoye Olusola noted that the summit was a success, stressing that the youths would cooperate with the police for peace in the society.
    He however pleaded with leaders in the community to find a means of empowering the youths in order to be gainfully engaged.
  • Buratai warns criminals as Army renovates first oil well

    Buratai warns criminals as Army renovates first oil well

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has asked Nigerians to expect more military operations, following  threats across the country.

    He spoke in Ogbia, Bayelsa State, at the weekend when the 16th Brigade renovated the first oil well, Oloibiri Oil Well 1, as part of the community relations activities of the Army in its Operation Crocodile Smile II.

    Oloibiri, a community at Otuabagi in Ogbia Local Government, is where oil was first discovered in commercial quantities in 1956.

    Buratai, represented by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Maj.-Gen. Enobong Udoh, vowed to deal with criminals.

    He said military operations were conducted to deepen civil-military relations and combat threats.

    Buratai said the Army must be professionally-responsive and discharge its roles.

    He praised the 16 Brigade for rehabitating the historical oil well,  saying it would enable Oloibiri to regain its status as a tourist attraction.

    The Army chief urged the brigade to ensure security at the Oloibiri oilfield, to prevent hoodlums from destroying the national monument.

    He warned criminals in  Niger Delta to desist from crimes, saying the Army was positioned to deal with militancy, piracy, cultism, kidnapping and others.

    Buratai said: ‘’The Army, in consonance with my vision, is to provide a professionally-responsive army in the discharge of its constitutional roles to conduct operations/training in order to position itself to respond professionally to threats we have across the country.

    ‘’You know the threats are many; we have robbery, kidnapping, cultism, militancy, oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism, piracy, oil theft, among others. The Army will continue to have these operations.

    ‘’We have had Operation Python Dance and we have been running Operation Crocodile Smile II. These operations are conducted to position the Army to combat crimes threatening our nation.

    ‘’We also conduct operations so that we can have a conducive environment for business activities to thrive and to guarantee the safety of law-abiding citizens, in order to enable them go about their activities.

    ‘’During such operations, the Army goes close to the people because in the first place, we belong to the people, identify with them, carry out community relations, medical services and conduct sanitation activities.

    ‘’As in the case of Oloibiri oil well, the 16 Brigage decided to rehabilitate this place as part of its activities so that it can be positioned to regain its status as a tourist attraction, which it is.’’

    Deputy Governor Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd.) said the Army had challenged the government through the Oloibiri initiative.

    He appealed to Nigerians to appreciate the sacrifices of the Army, saying some people had not been fair in the interpretation of the roles of the military.

    Jonah said:’’The military has evolved over the years. Like they say, crocodiles never used to smile, but they have smiled now; and pythons also danced.

    “Now, they are going for octopus grip. We are moving on. The most important thing is that what has been the textbook teaching is now getting translated into reality in our lives.

    ‘’The military as much as it is trying, I do not think it is getting the right attention, interpretation of the roles it has been playing. It is not easy to leave one’s family in the defence of the country.

    ‘’Tourism is one area we are concerned about, to generate funds. Oloibiri, given its historical significance, is one area we are interested in. For the Army to have taken this initiative, it is a big challenge to us.’’

    The Commander, 16 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Kevin Aligbe, said the renovation was carried out to underscore the historical and economic significance of the well.

  • Task force, others arrest 220 suspected criminals

    Task force, others arrest 220 suspected criminals

    About 220 suspected criminals were arrested on Saturday in various hideouts around Lagos Island by the police, operatives of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit  (Task Force) and other security outfits.

    The joint mid-night operations tagged ‘Mother of all Raids’ was led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Area ‘A’ Command (Lion Building), Olushola Akinyede.

    Other formations included in the operations were the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and all Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Area ‘A’ command Lagos Island.

    Task force Chairman, Olayinka Egbeyemi, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said the suspects include 214 males and six females.

    The operations, he said, were carried out around Obalende, Sura, Adeniji-Adele, Oke-suna, Sangros, Falomo, Agarawu, Bishop-Oluwole, Tokunbo, Idumota and Apogbon areaS of Lagos Island.

    The task force quoted a suspect, Ibrahim Oluwole, to have said he was arrested under the Obalende fly-over at mid-night.

    He allegedly confessed to belonging to a criminal gang that dispossess people of their valuables, such as phones, wallets and jewellery at night around Obalende.

    Oluwole, 27, who hails from Sagamu area of Ogun State appealed for leniency, promising to turn a leaf.

  • Edo will not negotiate with criminals – Obaseki

    Edo will not negotiate with criminals – Obaseki

    Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has said the state will not be forced by criminal elements and organised crime overlords to the negotiation table, stressing that law and order, as well as the liberty of the ordinary law-abiding Edo citizens and residents, are not for sale.

    Obaseki, who called on Edo people to remain calm but vigilant, noted that an elaborate scheme was being finalised to rein in the orchestrators of the recent violence, bring them to justice and restore sustainable peace and safety in the state.

    According to Obaseki, “Edo people, the majority of whom are law-abiding, should be rest assured that the promise to restore sanity to the state have been fulfilled. The state government would never return to the old order. The oppressive actions of different groups who had been fattened over the years by extorting honest and hardworking people in the name of revenue collection have been curbed. No matter the amount of pushback from perpetrators, they remain dislodged and would not have any reason to harass honest traders, citizens, and other residents.”

    He said it was regrettable that the perpetrators of criminal activities had lived on the proceeds of crime, oppression, and extortion so much so that they have forgotten how to earn a living through honest means, noting that the state government intends to teach them how to do honest work and earn a living in the process.

    “We are opening up various sectors of the economy to ensure that jobs are available to both the skilled, semi-skilled and even the unskilled. We are also building vocational and technical training institutions where these people will be directed and trained for free in order to reintegrate them into the society where people live off the fruit of their daily labour in legitimate enterprises,” the governor said.

  • No hiding place for criminals in Osun

    No hiding place for criminals in Osun

    Dr. Ajibola Basiru is Osun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice. In this interview, he discusses the strides taken by the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola-led administration in judicial reforms, law and economic development. Legal Editor John Austin Unachukwu met him.

    A reformed, modernised legal and judicial sector is a sine qua non to socio-economic and democratic growth. What is the position in Osun State?

    Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola during his electioneering campaign published the ‘Green Book’ titled: ‘My pact with the people of Osun State.’ The Green Book is the manifesto of the Aregbesola administration and in it he made a documented promise that his government will ensure speedy access to justice for all individuals in Osun State by reforming the courts system and procedural rules, introducing alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms and free legal services.

    So, how has he addressed these promises?

    To address these electoral promises, the Aregbesola government has made legal and judicial sector reform critical aspects of governmental intervention. This is because development ought not to be at the pleasure of a benevolent leader; it must be institutionalised and made sustainable. It is also apposite to state that in order to galvanize the needed socio economic development of the State, his administration has no choice but to embark on aggressive legal reform initiative.

    Can you give us a sectoral break down of these legal reforms initiatives?

    The legal reform initiatives cut across key sectors, including public finance management, revenue generation, education and human capacity development, urban renewal and environment, governance and security, judicial sector reform, health, safety, agriculture and food security and the institutionalisation of social welfare schemes.

    What is the philosophy or principles behind these reforms?

    The objectives of the legal reform initiatives of the Aregbesola-led administration is to modernise governance, institutionalise good governance practices, facilitate and support investment, improve security and social welfare, promote public good and realise the Six-point Integral Action Plan of the Administration.

    Law is seen as a catalyst for economic development. The Nigerian legal regime seems to be different.

    The problems with the Nigerian legal regime for economic development are myriad and are indicated by archaic or multiple laws and regulations, overlaps in administrative and institutional structures, absence of laws in critical areas and a general state of confusion that is a disincentive to investment by local and international investors and entrepreneurs.

    How has Osun used laws to improve its peoples’ welfare?

    We have done this through a number of bills which we have passed into laws in the state. For instance, the State of Osun Bonds, Notes and other Security Insurance Law which came into force on   June 12, 2012, is intended to enable the state issue debt instruments, such as bonds, notes, and other securities and to establish the Consolidated Debt Service Account (CDSA) and Sinking Fund for the management of the debt. By section 1(1) of the Law, the CDSA shall be a Savings account to be fully funded from the 20 per cent appropriated in accordance with section 1 (2) of the Law, this provision authorizes the state to appropriate 20 per cent of the monthly Internally Generally Revenue (IGR) to the servicing of the state’s debt obligations arising pursuant to the Law. The CDSA shall be fully funded in cash equal to the maximum yearly debt service on the tranches series or issue of the debt instruments issued from time to time by the state.

    Other laws passed by the state include State of Osun (Omoluabi) Conservation Fund Law 2012,  State of Osun Debt Management Office Law 2012, the State of Osun  Fiscal Responsibility Law 2012, the State of Osun Revenue Administration Law 2012, Land use Charge Bill 2013, the State of Osun  Signage Hoarding and Advertisement Law 2012 and State of Osun Public Private Partnership Bill 2012.  All these laws were made to improve the quality of governance and the welfare of the people in the state.

    Security of life and property remains one of the country’s challenges. What is the situation in Osun?

    Osun is safe for all Nigerians. There is no place for cults and cultism. We have state of the art security surveillance both air and land so there is no place they can hide. We have also deployed enormous resources in ensuring that the police are well equipped and encouraged. On our part, our expert team of lawyers in the ministry of justice conduct their case in a timely and effective fashion to ensure that criminals are brought to book

    Many states have adopted the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) as their laws to combat crimes in the states. What is the position in Osun?

    We have already begun work on the laws of Osun, which was last reviewed in 2002. We have commissioned consultants and recently 44 new laws have been passed while about 20 are pending. Part of the pending laws is the Administration of Criminal Justice Law. Making law is always an ongoing process, what we are currently focusing on is developing capacity within the Judiciary for the speedier dispensation of Justice. We have to realise that the Police and the Nigerian Prison Service play a vital role in this regard and unfortunately we have no real say or authority over those institutions but we are trying our best to work with them to ensure that we decongest our prisons and prosecute the right people. The Chief Judge of Osun State is reviewing the Civil Procedure Rules which will further ensure that there is quick dispensation of Justice is both civil and criminal matters.

    Alternative Disputes Resolution (ADR) mechanisms seem to be gaining popularity, especially in commercial transactions. What is your view on this?

    Osun State has a mediation centre as well as an office of the public defender. The Mediation Centre has helped in reducing the amount of cases pending before the regular courts. This is a service that the government has provided at no cost to its people. Since 2012, over 250 cases have been resolved while another 120 are still ongoing.

    There have been calls for judicial autonomy. What is the position in Osun?

    There are serious infrastructural challenges that the Judiciary faces but we must look at it from the point of view that even though we have three arms of government, they are not totally independent of each other and they are there to complement each other. The Executive cannot give the Chief Judge allocation to build courts, it is the job of the executive to execute projects. So to give the Judiciary all it needs to build its infrastructures etc. is not the way it works. This is not to say that the Judiciary should not be well funded, on the contrary, the Judiciary should be well catered for as it will encourage more local and foreign investments and that is why we are working hard to ensure that the judiciary is restructured

    Many states have passed anti-open grazing laws to checkmate conflicts between cow breeders and local farmers. What is the position in  Osun?

    The issue of grazing is cultural. In Osun we have invested heavily in setting up a cow-fattening facility to maximise on the production of milk and cow flesh which is the real value in the feeding of these cows in the first place. We don’t want animals running around. That is not the way to go about it. We need to resolve this issue from a socio-economic point of view but if the National Assembly continues along this path we will have to test the constitutionality of the bill at the Supreme Court if the bill passes into law.

    Payment of civil servants is a major challenge for the Osun government. What is responsible for this?

    It is my sincere belief that this is a fallout of the declining economy, the fall in the price of crude oil and our inability to diversify our economy. We simply have too many bureaucracies, 38 states sharing meagre national resources. We have no viable industries or production capacity. Nigeria needs to radically restructure at the regional level otherwise we will continue to regress. We understand the problem we are having in paying our civil servants and we have called all the stakeholders together in a transparent manner. Each month we show them what we receive from the Federal Government and from our IGR. Armed with this information, the leaders of the various unions have agreed on a new salary scale that is reasonable and reflects the economic situation in the country.

     

  • In Abia, crackdown on criminals continues

    Criminals have continued to keep the security community in Abia State busy, but the outlaws, themselves, have not quite been having fun either. Kidnappers, armed robbers and human traffickers, among other hoodlums, have not given up their thirst for criminality. A  lawmaker even called for a state of emergency on violent crimes in the state. But the police, sometimes working in concert with the military and other security agencies, have been battling them, busting their gangs, destroying their camps and tools, and arresting a number of them.

    As the onslaught continues, the state police command under the leadership of Mr Adeleye Oyebade has reiterated its commitment to making the state safe for business and economic activities. Oyebade, during a visit to some of the police divisions under his command, promised that his command would tackle kidnapping, armed robbery, child theft, human trafficking and other criminal activities in the state.

    The command’s spokesman, Geoffrey Ogbonna said the command has made some arrests and have recovered some stolen items.

    He reeled out the police efforts and results: “On 06/06/2017 at about 2100hrs, operatives of Special Anti-Robbery Squad attached to Area Command Umuahia on a tip-off, raided the houses of Ugochukwu Okereke ‘m’ of Umeremeze Village Nkwoegwu and Obilor Icha of Umueze Road Umuahia, where they recovered one locally made pistol and a pump action rifle buried in the ground.

    “On 08/06/2017 at about 1300hrs, patrol team attached to Central Police Station Aba while on patrol along Aba Main Park, accosted the duo of Chibuike Nwoke 20yrs ‘m’ of Umuduruji Obohia Ahiazu Mbaise Imo State and Chukwuebuka Okafor 29yrs ‘m’ of Umuezechi Bende L.G.A Abia State, with a big Sumec Generating Set, which account they were not able to give. On interrogation, the suspects confessed to have burgled the house of one Emeka Ikeafuama (alias Tuma Wowowo) ‘m’ of Ahiazu Mbaise based in USA and have brought the generator to Aba for sale.

    “On 09/06/2017 at about 0215hrs, men of Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU) on patrol responding to a radio message from the control room, recovered one Toyota Lexus Jeep with reg. no. FST 202 ER, black in Colour which occupants abandoned during a hot chase by the CTU patrol team and ran into the bush at Agalaba Road in Osisioma. Effort is intensified toward the arrest of the fleeing hoodlums.

    “On 09/06/2017 at about 1220hrs, one Nissan Pathfinder Jeep with reg. no. ABM 297 FK, Navy Blue in colour, snatched from Pastor Chinonso James ‘m’ of Omoba by four armed men within the early hours of date was recovered by a patrol team attached to Omoba Division along with one Toyota Highlander Jeep with reg. no. WWR 275 SV suspected to be the operational vehicle of the hoodlums.

    “On 10/06/2017 at about 0530hrs, operatives attached to Ndiegoro Division arrested one Chidera Nwachukwu ‘m’ for stealing a Laptop belonging to one Jolly Ledesi of the Nigerian Army whose Military uniform, the suspect had sometime stolen and used in robbery incidents. It is apposite to state that the suspect had earlier escaped in a reported case of armed robbery, murder and personating sometime in March, 2017.

    “On 10/06/2017 at about 0900hrs, following a report at Area Command Aba, that from 2300hrs of 09/06/2017 to 0300hrs of 10/06/2017, cultists numbering up to 14 besieged a compound in Egbelu Street Aba with arms and axe. Consequent upon the report, operatives of Anti-Kidnapping Section attached to Area Command, Aba swung into action and arrested five (5) boys and two (2) girls, two locally made pistols and weeds suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered in the process. Suspects will be arraigned in Court as soon as investigation is concluded.

    “On 12/06/2017, one Stephen ’m’ reported that he was robbed of his Gionee M2 phone valued N28,000, along Uzuakoli Road, Umuahia on 11/06/2017 by three men and a lady, one of whom was dressed in military uniform. Based on the report, one Nwadi Paul was arrested by combined efforts of patrol teams of 28PMF and Central Police Station Umuahia. Subsequently, on 13/06/2017, the fake soldier identified as Okezie Chukwuebuka was arrested with one Gift Johnson, a female member of the gang and the following items were recovered from them: Two pairs of Army camouflage uniform, Two Itel phones, Cash sum of N23,000.00, UBA cheque leaves belonging to Uwajumogu Ikechukwu, Fidelity Bank and Skye Bank cheque leaves belonging to Eni Virginia Enyinnaya, One Peace Corps ID card for Nwadi Paul, One UBA ATM card belonging to John Oluchi, One Diamond Bank ATM card belonging to Paul Nwadi, Two wraps of weed suspected to be Indian hemp, Four passport photographs of Paul Nwadi, One voter’s card of Paul Nwadi. The suspects confessed being members of a gang terrorizing Umuahia residents and dispossessing them of their valuables. Suspects will soon be arraigned in court.

    “On 13/06/2017 at about 1540hrs, Operatives attached to Ugwunagbo Division recovered one white Toyota Hilux van with reg. no. FKJ 853 BH in a bush at Umugwu Umuodo village, Ugwunagbo. Documents found inside the vehicle indicated that the Hilux van belong to one Colonel Orire Nikiro (rtd) and his phone number was also seen on the documents. The Officer was contacted through the phone number and he disclosed that the vehicle was removed from where it was parked on Sunday, 11th June, 2017 in Elimbi Rivers State. Investigation conducted so far has confirmed that the incident took place in Rivers State Command.

    There were several other inroads the police made in keeping criminals at bay in the state, according to the police spokesman, but enjoined members of the public to provide information about the activities of suspected hoodlums within their neighbourhoods.

    With more work from the police and cooperation from the public, crime would be unattractive in the state.

     

  • Suspected criminals set family house ablaze, kill three in Rivers

    Suspected criminals set family house ablaze, kill three in Rivers

    Unidentified criminals believed to be cultists has set ablaze a family house at Okpako-Ejemah in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State killing one  Alhaji Hamza Garuba, his wife and a step son.

    Mr. Muhammed Sani, younger brother to Garuba, narrated to The Nation that the arsonists, five in number invaded his brother’s house at about10.00p.m. Tuesday and attempted to rob the family.

    Sani said the bandits had attempted to rape wife of Garuba, but that the deceased who was infuriated stabbed one of the bandits to death.

    He said: “I believed the stabbing of that criminal may have infuriated other gang members who quickly ran out of the house, locked the entrance door and set the house ablaze. My brother, his wife and a step son were locked up inside the house while the house was on fire. Nobody was at hand to rescue them as all of them were burnt beyond recognition.”

    Muhammed stated that killing was not in connection of the clash between Hausa community and task force team in Onne, Eleme LGA, Monday, adding that Garuba was killed by criminals that invaded his house.

    However, the Public Relations Officer of Rivers State Police Command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the incident and added that two persons have been arrested in relation to the matter.

    Meantime, Arewa Consultative Forum, South-South, South-East branch, has condemned the killing and worried that mischief makers want to cause disunity among Hausa community and the people of Eleme.

    Speaking, the Coordinator of the body, Alhaji Musa Saidu, noted that Garuba was killed by bandits, saying: “The incident at Okpako-Ejemah was a clear case of robbery and arsonist attack. The Young man and his family were killed by arsonist who set their house ablaze. Hausa people have co-habited with their host community and they don’t have any issue.”

     

     

  • Abia police to name lawyers backing criminals

    Abia police to name lawyers backing criminals

    Abia State Commissioner of Police Adeleye Oyebade has said the command will soon make public names of lawyers whose work is to defend robbers in court.
    Oyebade spoke at Osisioma divisional headquarters, during a tour of the 16 divisions under the Aba Area Command. He said for the war on crime to be won, the police must work with the judiciary.
    The police chief said he was relocating the command headquarters to the state’s commercial hub to be aware of activities of his men in Aba and environs.
    He noted that the command is doing all it can to instil discipline and fish out “bad eggs” among its officers and men, saying many of them have been tried, demoted and in extreme cases, dismissed from the service.
    Oyebade urged his men to be dogged in crime fighting because of the persistent efforts of hoodlums and criminal elements to beat security intelligence.