The police in Niger State arrested 194 suspected criminals for banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling in one month, it was learnt yesterday.
Commissioner of Police Zubairu Muazu, who paraded the suspects, added that 21 victims were rescued from the kidnappers.
“The ariel surveillance and ground raids culminated into harvest of arrests and recovery of assorted weapons. 194 suspects were arrested; 24 of them are most wanted kidnappers and cattle rustlers. 612 cattle were recovered.
“Weapons recovered include five AK 47 rifles with 648 rounds of live ammunition, 21 single barrel guns with 249 cartridges, one revolver rifle, five revolvers short guns, six Ghana-made pistols, one locally-made pistol, nine dane guns, axe, bow and arrows and knives,” Muazu said.
No policeman was killed during the onslaught on criminals.
Tag: criminals
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Police parade 194 criminals in Niger
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‘We’ll make Aba hot for criminals’
Soldiers from the 14 Brigade Command of Nigerian Army converged on Ngwa High School Forward Operation Base (FOB) to embark on a military exercise tagged Operation Show of Force on Monday, December 19.
About 50 personnel from various army formations that made up the 114 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Aba participated in the exercise during which they moved round the state to ward off internal or external aggressions. It was also meant to assure residents of the readiness of the military to protect their lives and property at all times, especially during this year’s Yuletide.
Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State usually witnesses high volume of economic and commercial activities and movement during festive periods such as Christmas and the New Year. This situation, over the years, has resulted in increase in crime rate. The situation exerts more pressure on security agents and other para-military organisations that ensure that they were not caught unawares by hoodlums who believe that the “ember” months are periods for their prosperity. This informed the Operation Show of Force in Aba.
The exercise, which lasted for about three hours, the military convoy moved from Ngwa High School through the ever-busy Aba-Owerri Road to Factory Road, Asa Road, Ngwa Road, Ogbor Hill, Azikiwe Road, Okigwe Road, Brass Road and later terminated at Ngwa High School.
While addressing reporters after the exercise, the Commanding Officer, 144 Battalion Ukwa West Local Government Area, Lt. Col. Kasim Umar Sidi assured visitors and the entire Aba business community of a crime-free Yuletide celebration as the command has ensured tight security in Aba and its environs.
Sidi said the exercise was expected to last throughout the festive period and to further assure residents and visitors of safety of their lives and property.
According to him, the exercise was an off-shoot of the Operation Python Dance (Egwu Eke) that was launched in Awka, the Anambra State capital.
He further assured that the command had the necessary logistics to respond swiftly to distress calls as soon as they were contacted. He urged residents of Aba and its environs to give the command maximum co-operation by reporting any case of criminal activities in their areas for prompt action.
“Aba is the commercial nerve of Abia State which also serves as a melting point for traders across the country and neighbouring West African countries. By this time of the year, a lot of people from neighbouring Southeast and South-south states and those from Cameroun and Ghana come here to buy what they need during the Christmas. We are therefore aware of the increase in commercial and economic activities.
“What you have just witnessed was part of our proactive steps to ensure that Aba is safe this festive period and after. It is also a way of showing off the strength of the Battalion. We also use the event to warn those who want to use the opportunity of the festive period to steal from the residents or commit any form of crime that we (the army) is battle-ready for them.
“We will make the city uncomfortable for them to operate. We also assure them that they will not succeed or escape. Our men are always on the ground and we will be doing a spontaneous stop-and-search on the road at some of the locations where we may deem fit to.
“All we need from Aba residents is to inform us promptly of any criminal activities and suspicious movements around their areas as soon as possible. I assure you that residents of Aba will sleep with their two eyes closed.”
He debunked the rumours getting the rounds that the Python Dance was targeted at some people, saying that it was to ensure that there was peace in the Southeast, especially during the festive period.
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‘We’ll make Aba hot for criminals’
Soldiers from the 14 Brigade Command of Nigerian Army converged on Ngwa High School Forward Operation Base (FOB) to embark on a military exercise tagged Operation Show of Force on Monday, December 19.
About 50 personnel from various army formations that made up the 114 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Aba participated in the exercise during which they moved round the state to ward off internal or external aggressions. It was also meant to assure residents of the readiness of the military to protect their lives and property at all times, especially during this year’s Yuletide.
Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State usually witnesses high volume of economic and commercial activities and movement during festive periods such as Christmas and the New Year. This situation, over the years, has resulted in increase in crime rate. The situation exerts more pressure on security agents and other para-military organisations that ensure that they were not caught unawares by hoodlums who believe that the “ember” months are periods for their prosperity. This informed the Operation Show of Force in Aba.
The exercise, which lasted for about three hours, the military convoy moved from Ngwa High School through the ever-busy Aba-Owerri Road to Factory Road, Asa Road, Ngwa Road, Ogbor Hill, Azikiwe Road, Okigwe Road, Brass Road and later terminated at Ngwa High School.
While addressing reporters after the exercise, the Commanding Officer, 144 Battalion Ukwa West Local Government Area, Lt. Col. Kasim Umar Sidi assured visitors and the entire Aba business community of a crime-free Yuletide celebration as the command has ensured tight security in Aba and its environs.
Sidi said the exercise was expected to last throughout the festive period and to further assure residents and visitors of safety of their lives and property.
According to him, the exercise was an off-shoot of the Operation Python Dance (Egwu Eke) that was launched in Awka, the Anambra State capital.
He further assured that the command had the necessary logistics to respond swiftly to distress calls as soon as they were contacted. He urged residents of Aba and its environs to give the command maximum co-operation by reporting any case of criminal activities in their areas for prompt action.
“Aba is the commercial nerve of Abia State which also serves as a melting point for traders across the country and neighbouring West African countries. By this time of the year, a lot of people from neighbouring Southeast and South-south states and those from Cameroun and Ghana come here to buy what they need during the Christmas. We are therefore aware of the increase in commercial and economic activities.
“What you have just witnessed was part of our proactive steps to ensure that Aba is safe this festive period and after. It is also a way of showing off the strength of the Battalion. We also use the event to warn those who want to use the opportunity of the festive period to steal from the residents or commit any form of crime that we (the army) is battle-ready for them.
“We will make the city uncomfortable for them to operate. We also assure them that they will not succeed or escape. Our men are always on the ground and we will be doing a spontaneous stop-and-search on the road at some of the locations where we may deem fit to.
“All we need from Aba residents is to inform us promptly of any criminal activities and suspicious movements around their areas as soon as possible. I assure you that residents of Aba will sleep with their two eyes closed.”
He debunked the rumours getting the rounds that the Python Dance was targeted at some people, saying that it was to ensure that there was peace in the Southeast, especially during the festive period.
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Stay off Nigeria’s waters, Navy warns criminals
•Command lowers ensigns
The Navy at the weekend warned criminals to stay off the nation’s waterways, warning they will be caught and prosecuted.
Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command (WNC) Rear Admiral Ferguson Bobai spoke during the annual ceremonial sunset and lowering of ensigns, which connotes end of activities for the year.
Bobai, however, warned the celebration will not stop patrols and other activities to checkmate criminality in the nation’s water.
According to him, the ceremonial sunset was a ritual performed by navies worldwide to showcase what they do every day during sunset.
He said: “Once we do the ceremonial sunset and end of year ball, it means that routine, administrative naval activities have closed for the year, but that does not mean we will not go on patrol.
“This is not a window for criminals to come out because we are and will always be at the waters to patrol and to make sure it is safe from illegalities.
“The ceremonial sunset is always held at the end of year to bring activities of the navy to a close. This year’s event is being held simultaneously in Delta and Calabar areas.”
On the Navy’s performance this year, Bobai scored the service high, adding that the acquisition of ships and boats improved its capability.
At the ceremony were top brass serving and retired military personnel, including Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ifeola Mohammed; Chief Staff Officers (CSOs) WNC and NAVTRAC, Rear Admirals Thaddeus Udofia and Ngolmo Aliyu; Admiral Superintendent Naval Ordinance Depot (NOD) Rear Admiral SO Paul; and Commander NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Maurice Eno; among others. -
Policing criminals and criminal policing
It has often been said that in Nigeria, anything and everything is possible. So why does Hardball think that some things should not happen in Nigeria of 2016? Why is he struck dumb when he hears or reads about certain strange stuff? Is it sheer naivety or is it that he is not in tune with reality?
Here is one good example of such matters that set Hardball tizzy. At about 9:30 pm on May 30, 2016, as the report goes in a national newspaper, a detachment from the Owutu Police Division in Ikorodu area of Lagos State pounced on Ori Okuta in the Agric area of Ikorodu. They seized anyone in sight, intimidating and subduing them – boots and butts and ‘abducting’ them to their station nearby.
They ‘captured’ over 70 persons, including a 15-year-old boy and a Lagos State Polytechnic student. At the station, according to the account of the student, it immediately became a sordid mammy-market of sort where you bargain-and-pay-for-your-freedom or you are doomed. In a while the place was a beehive of activities as relatives of ‘captives’ converged quickly to ‘rescue’ their people lest they stay in the cell overnight for a start.
The price for freedom was between N5000 and N30.000 depending on your ability to bargain with the police and whether you tried to prove you know the ‘law’ or your right. Those who insisted on their innocence and their right paid more.
Such was the case of the student, Taiwo, who wanted to know what his offence was slapped to muteness. He bought his freedom with N30.000 and with profuse ‘abeg’, as we say here, according to his account. Another victim, Yemi, recounted that he was in front of his wife’s shop and only intervened when the police picked up the 15-year-old son of his friend. The lad had called out as they made to haul him away.
But he too was pummelled by the team and taken away. He too had to pay for his freedom.
But if you thought this was Hardball’s usual elasticitification (this is a Hardball special, don’t bother rushing to your dictionary) of facts, here is the police’s side of the story. The officer in charge of the Nigeria Police Complaint Response Unit (CRU), CSP Abayomi Shogunle, has this to say: “It is a week-long operation and it is in response to recent cult-related attacks in Ikorodu town. Some of the apprehended persons found not to be linked to the ongoing investigation have been released after initial screening, while 120 persons of interest… have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.”
Hmmm, what more can Hardball add than to say that if you have to haul in the whole community in order to find the criminal elements therein, then sorry, Hardball must term it CRIMINAL POLICING that is starkly bereft of intelligence. Would Scotland Yard work like this?
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Don develops tool to track criminals
A Professor of Telecommunications Engineering at the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMinna), Prof Elizabeth Onwuka, has developed a tool of complex analysis for investigators and security agencies to track criminals.
She said the tool would help to track criminal from telecom data without harming innocent citizens or invading their privacies.
The don was presenting the 47th Inaugural Lecture of the university titled: “Cellular mobile communications: Connecting the world and empowering the people”.
She said the data got from the tool could also be used to study user behaviour on the network and plan. She added that research is ongoing to optimise the use of the device.
“With collaboration with some of my students, I am researching on how to use the tool of complex analysis to track criminals from telecom data.
“There is a need for further research in mobile communication system in order to help man enjoy his stay on earth. Of all the technological communications systems, the one that has positively impacted the society most is the mobile communication system,” she said.
Underscoring the need for the Federal Government to invest in communication technology, Prof Onwuka said mobile connectivity brings economic empowerment. Besides employment by mobile companies and mobile services-related businesses, mobile connectivity enhances businesses by bridging distances, enhancing the cost of contacts and provides information at cheaper rate.
She lamented that Nigeria is poorly connected due to high cost of connectivity attributed to many national problems, including poor power supply, multiple taxation and average individual poverty level and recommended the laying of communication infrastructure across the country to enable mobile operators tap into it to provide services at affordable rate.
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Two suspected ritualists arrested as police raid den
Operatives of the Assistant Inspector General of Police’ (AIG) Zonal Intervention Squad (ZIS), Onikan, have arrested two suspected ritualists in Ogun State.
Taiwo Adeleke, 47, and Kayode Oseni, 52, were apprehended at Abule Ifa, in Obafemi Owode after detectives uncovered the alleged ritualists’ den used by criminals to fleece people of their money.
According to the zonal spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, a Superintendent of Police (SP), policemen had mounted on surveillance on the activities of the culprits, following a tip off.
Adejobi said that the den, a massive ediffice, had names of prominent persons who might have fallen victims to the suspects inscribed on it.Also seen at the place we’re fetish materials/structures, charms, figurines and shrines, said Adejobi.
He said: “The AIG Abdulmajid Ali led a team of senior officers including the Commissioner of Police (CP) Ogun State, Ahmed Iliyasu, Deputy Commissioner Operations Zone II, Suleiman Balarabe, a DCP, ZIS Commander, Gbenga Megbope, a Chief Superintendent (CSP) and Commander 16 Police Mobile Force, among others to the scene for on-the-spot assessment.
“They also designed possible legal means to take over the dangerous den and dislodge the syndicate.
“The AIG reiterated his readiness to set all machineries in motion to tackle crimes and criminality within the zone, assuring resents of effective policing. He urged them to be more vigilant and to challenge people who come around for such deals, ordering that those arrested be prosecuted.”
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Navy chief warns criminals in Abia
The new commandant of the Nigerian Navy Finance and Logistics College, Owerrinta, Abia State, Captain Abdullahi Aminu has warned criminals to steer clear of the state or face the music.
Aminu said that the navy in the state was prepared to tackle criminality with all seriousness, adding that the naval headquarters had empowered to bring felons to heel.
Speaking at the naval college, Owerrinta during the third quarter of its quarterly route march and show of strength, Capt Aminu said that the exercise was aimed at ensuring that naval ratings and officers were fit at all times.
Capt. Aminu said that during the exercise that officers and men of the naval college are expected to show the people how ready they are to tackle the menace of criminals within and around the state.
He noted that part of their charge is to ensure the security of life and property of their host community and the state wherever they are based, stressing that since their advent at Owerrinta that there has been peace.
He recalled that barely two days he assumed office as the new commandant, that his men rescued a four year old boy who was kidnapped at St Theresa’s Catholic Church Obosi in Anambra state.
The naval boss said that the boy was kidnapped on Sunday at Obosi Anambra state and was rescued the next day in Abia state, “This tells you the preparedness of my officers and men in crime fighting and we are determined to do more”.
Capt Aminu said that from what he has observed on the fitness of his men which shows low level of fitness, “I am going to introduce the route march to be a monthly thing, which will be done at the end of every month”.
“The idea is to ensure that my men are fit at all times to face the security challenges that have been trying to overrun both the state and country, every military man should be fit and ready at all times in case of any crisis so as not to be caught unawares”.
“What we are doing which is done every quarter is approved by the navy headquarters, as signals are sent before the date of the route march, as it is enshrined in our rules”.
“The exercise is also to let criminals operating within the state to stay clear or be consumed as we are prepared to ensure that our environment is secured at all times and I am sure that we have not been doing badly in that area”.
He used the forum to give kudos to members of the host community for their effort in ensuring that they perform their security duties to the optimum level, stressing that they have been giving them useful information to work with.
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Stay away from Abia, Navy warns criminals
The new commandant of the Nigerian Navy Finance and Logistics College, Owerrinta in Abia State, Captain Abdullahi Aminu has warned criminals operating within the state to stay away or risk meeting their waterloo.
Aminu said that the navy in the state is prepared to tackle the menace of criminality to a logical conclusion, adding that the naval headquarters has adequately empowered the naval team to flush out criminals from their hideouts anywhere in the state.
Capt. Aminu, who was speaking during the third quarter of their quarterly route march and show of strength, said that the exercise is aimed at ensuring that the naval ratings and officers are fit at all times.
He said that during the exercise, officers and men of the naval college are expected to show the people their readiness to tackle the menace of criminals within and around the state.
He noted that part of the charge to the men and officers is to ensure the security of life and property of their host community and the state in general, stressing that peace has continued to reign in the community as a result of the location of naval base there.
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Navy chief warns criminals in Abia
The new commandant of the Nigerian Navy Finance and Logistics College, Owerrinta, Abia State, Captain Abdullahi Aminu has warned criminals to steer clear of the state or face the music.
Aminu said that the navy in the state was prepared to tackle criminality with all seriousness, adding that the naval headquarters had empowered to bring felons to heel.
Speaking at the naval college, Owerrinta during the third quarter of its quarterly route march and show of strength, Capt Aminu said that the exercise was aimed at ensuring that naval ratings and officers were fit at all times.
Capt. Aminu said that during the exercise that officers and men of the naval college are expected to show the people how ready they are to tackle the menace of criminals within and around the state.
He noted that part of their charge is to ensure the security of life and property of their host community and the state wherever they are based, stressing that since their advent at Owerrinta that there has been peace.
He recalled that barely two days he assumed office as the new commandant, that his men rescued a four year old boy who was kidnapped at St Theresa’s Catholic Church Obosi in Anambra state.
The naval boss said that the boy was kidnapped on Sunday at Obosi Anambra state and was rescued the next day in Abia state, “This tells you the preparedness of my officers and men in crime fighting and we are determined to do more”.
Capt Aminu said that from what he has observed on the fitness of his men which shows low level of fitness, “I am going to introduce the route march to be a monthly thing, which will be done at the end of every month”.
“The idea is to ensure that my men are fit at all times to face the security challenges that have been trying to overrun both the state and country, every military man should be fit and ready at all times in case of any crisis so as not to be caught unawares”.
“What we are doing which is done every quarter is approved by the navy headquarters, as signals are sent before the date of the route march, as it is enshrined in our rules”.
“The exercise is also to let criminals operating within the state to stay clear or be consumed as we are prepared to ensure that our environment is secured at all times and I am sure that we have not been doing badly in that area”.
He used the forum to give kudos to members of the host community for their effort in ensuring that they perform their security duties to the optimum level, stressing that they have been giving them useful information to work with.