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Tag: Edgal Imohimi

  • Lagos, Kwara, Kogi, others get new CPs

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the appointment and deployment of 37 Command Commissioners of Police for the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.

    Their appointment came following recommendation by the acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu to the Commission.

    With the approval, Lagos, Kwara, Kogi and other states now have new Commissioners of Police while the Commissioners of Police in charge of FCT, Borno and few other states’ appointment were revalidated.

    With the approval, CP Mu’azu Zubairu will take over from CP Edgal Imohimi as the new Commissioner of Police Lagos State.

    Details of the approval and deployment is contained in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday by the Commission’s Spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani.

    The Commissioners of Police and the states they are deployed to are: “Buba Sanusi, Katsina State; Mohammed Wakili, Kano State; Rabiu Ladodo, Jigawa State; Ahmed Iliyasu, Ogun State; Mu’azu Zubairu, Lagos State; Ibrahim Sabo, Niger State; Alkassam Sanusi, Taraba State; Garba M. Mukaddas, Adamawa State;

    Others are Omololu Bishi, Benue State; Bola Longe, Nassarawa State; Isaac Akinmoyede, Plateau State; Odumosu Hakeem Edo State; Olushola David, Bayelsa State; Adeleke Yinka, Delta State; Austin Iwero Agbonlahor, Cross Rivers State; Bashir Makama, Akwa Ibom State; Awosola Awotunde, Ebonyi State; Belel Usman, Rivers State; Bello Makwashi, Gombe State and Abdulrahman Ahmed, Kaduna State.”

    Read Also: Buhari restates commitment to fighting corruption

    Others are:  “Bala Ciroma, FCT; Egbetokun Kayode, Kwara State; Hakeem Busari, Kogi State; Asuquo Amba, Ekiti state; Galadanchi Dasuki, Imo State; Suleiman Balarabe, Enugu State; Dandaura Mustapha, Anambra State; Etim Ene Okon, Abia state; Ibrahim Kaoje, Sokoto state.

    Also appointed are: Celestine Okoye, Zamfara State; Garba Danjuma, Kebbi State; Abiodun Ige, Osun State; Undie Adie, Ondo State; Olukolu Shina, Oyo State; Ali Janga, Bauchi State; Damian Chukwu, Bornu State and Sumonu Abdulmalik, Yobe State.”

    According to the Commission, the CPs are expected to proceed immediately to their new Commands ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    The Chairman of the Commission, Alhaji Musiliu Smith charged them to quickly settle at their new posts and ensure that the forth-coming general elections in their various Commands are peaceful, free, fair and transparent.

    He also stated that the country cannot afford any disruption of the elections anywhere as the world was looking up to Nigeria for a proof that its democracy has continued to mature.

    The Commission also said its approval has been conveyed to the acting Inspector General of Police for implementation.

  • 32-year-old prince arrested for sodomy with 16-year-old

    The operatives of Lagos state police command have arrested a 32 year old prince for having sodomic knowledge with a 16 year old child.

    Parading the suspect on Thursday the commissioner of police Cp. Edgal Imohimi said, on the 22nd Jane, 2019 at Ejigbo area of Lagos state, a 16 year old child was seen sneaking out of the house of one Prince Chinecherem aged 32 in a rather suspicious manner.

    Fortunately, curious neighbors accosted him and asked what he has gone to Prince  Chinecherem’s house to do.

    When he could not give satisfactory answer they asked him to open up the plastic bag  in his possession which contained freshly used condoms filled with semen.

    At this point the boy revealed that prince Chinecherem was his lover.

    The matter he said was immediately reported to the police at Ejigbo police station and the said Prince was arrested for interrogation.

    After preliminary investigation the matter was called for further enquiry by the gender section of the command.

    He said both the suspect and the survivor has been taken to  laboratory for medical examination and the result revealed that the survivor has long been to homosexual act.

    The worst he said, is that both of them are infected with HIV virus which causes AIDS.

    He said suspect would be charged to Sexual and Special Offences court in Ikeja.

     

  • ‘Operation Reinforce Insanity’

    Afew ago, the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Edgal Imohimi, and heads of several security agencies in the state, launched with much media fanfare a so-called ‘Operation Restore Sanity.’

    This was ostensibly an effort to bring a measure of control to the city’s notoriously unruly roads. As often happens at such events, there was the usual tough talk, spiced with a few threats about what would befall those caught violating the state’s traffic rules. For instance, those caught driving against traffic stood the risk of having their vehicles impounded.

    As a longsuffering resident of Lagos, I welcomed any effort that would curtail the madness on the roads. Today, driving against traffic by commercial motorcycles, tricycles and all manner of vehicles is standard practice in a city with pretensions to being a modern megalopolis.

    A few days ago, somewhere in the city, I witnessed two policemen – one male and another female – actually facilitating a long line of cars driving against traffic. For their shameful action they were tipped openly by the offending drivers and they brazenly pocketed their filthy lucre. It was a clear case of reinforcement of traffic insanity.

    On the first work day of the so-called ‘operation’ to restore sanity, I watched a few policemen at Oshodi going about their task with body language that suggested they would rather be doing something else. Little wonder that after Imohimi’s grand press conference, it’s been business as usual with a vengeance.

    What is happening on Lagos roads should worry all of us. Unless firm action is taken quickly one incident of road rage could result in fatalities that would shock the nation.

    But the traffic conundrum is not just about what security agencies do or don’t do. Three factors are fuelling the chaos. First is the massive construction going on in different parts of the city. While in the long term we might see some benefits from these developments, in the short term we have not seen the same scale of efforts devoted to managing the traffic disruptions caused by the ongoing work.

    Related to the construction is the fact that there is virtually no road artery in the city that is not pockmarked with potholes or mini craters. In the past, these would be filled up during the rainy season and patched up at the first sign of dryness, to ease traffic flow. But for some reason the failed roads have been left in this awful condition as though they were bombed by some enemy air force.

    To these first two reasons, we can then add lawlessness and impatience of the typical Lagos road user. This can only be managed by proper and continuous education of the citizenry on traffic laws and road etiquette. This is then backed up by strict enforcement of the law.

    In recent times, it is only former Governor Babatunde Fashola that exhibited the willingness to take the fight to the outlaws who have made Lagos roads some of the most dangerous on the continent.

    Unfortunately, it appears as if the government has surrendered where law enforcement is concerned. It is possible to sanitise the roads where there is the will. I fear, though, that with the campaign season upon us we might not see the type of tough action that is required. After all, which office-seeking politician wants to offend a PVC-wielding okada rider who wants to be allowed to do as he pleases?

    That leaves us with the scary prospect that as outgoing Governor Akinwumi Ambode speeds up the process of completion of his legacy projects, and law enforcement turns the blind eye to traffic offenders, a perfect storm of chaos is about to be unleashed. God help us all!

  • EDGAL IMOHIMI: I used to play tennis until golf arrested me

    Upon admitting that the work of Lagos State Commissioner of Police is a tough one, soft spoken Edgal Imohimi, has taken to golf to remain fit as fiddle.

    Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Nation, recently, the CP opened up on his love for golf. However, before golf, he has been a keen tennis follower and player.

    Tennis, he said was his passion for many years as a Police officer until the ‘gentleman game’ of golf stole that desire.

    “I used to play tennis a lot until I tried my hands in golf and since then, I have not gone back to tennis. Golf is my game now and I am a member of the Ikeja Golf Club, where I play regularly.”

    The game is golf has indeed been the choice of many top ranked officers in the Police, Army, Air Force and Navy. This is not forgetting many industry chiefs that are hooked to the game.

    Some of them are former Inspector of Police, Sunday Ehindero, former military heads, Toye Sode, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Dele Ezeoba, David Mark, and industry chiefs; Olusola Adekanola, Godfrey Oboh, to mention but few.

    “I play off handicap 18, and would have come lower but for the job of policing Lagos. I don’t get to go to the course as I would love too, though I try not to stay away for too long. Golf is a great game that keeps you active and focus, while you are doing it in a very cosy environment.”

    He noted golf has also helped the Nigeria  police corps:    “You will notice that golf is associated with policy makers in the private and public sectors and there was a time that I was in Ikeja Golf Club to tell them about my policing plan for Lagos and I was warmly received.

    “I shared my idea of community policing with them and the fact thatfor it to work we need the trust and confidence of the people and we need to be professional to gain that.The trust I built so far earned me several intelligence information which had led to various crack down on criminal hideouts. So it is the cooperation that I have come to ask you for and if you see anything, please say something.”

    Blessed with three children, the Edo State-born, said golf has taught valuable lessons of life. “Golf is a game that can teach you be humble if you are not. You may think you are playing well and if you  are not careful, the course will simply humble you. It is a game that teaches focus and alertness too.”

    His favourite dish he says is rice, plantain and chicken. “I like rice, plantain, and chicken. I eat once daily and eat late. It is not good for me. But I always take tea and water.I also like dancing. When I was a younger officer I had the opportunity to attend parties and I danced a lot. But I can no longer do that now  not for any particular reason. But you know what people will say when they see the Commissioner of Police dancing,” Imohimi added.

    Remarkably, Imohimi has always wanted to be a policeman. “I’ve always wanted to be a Policeman. As a young man, if you ask me how I wanted to be remembered I would tell you that I want to protect people. I have always been convinced that is what I want to do in the future. It is my dream like everybody has one. When we were growing up, we were instructed on civic education. Thereafter, I proceeded to Federal Government College, Warri  it was one of the best schools in the country. The school fostered unity as the students were from various parts of the country  most those students are still my friend. I went to the University of Jos where I obtained a first degree in History. Later, I got a master’s degree in Public and International Affairs from the University of Lagos.”

    When he had the opportunity to choose after his first degree he simply told his mum that he would like to join the Police force.

    “After my first degree I told my mother that I would like to join the Police Force. Of course everybody shouted why Police? My mother used to have an NGO and always visiting the prison so she has contact with the Police. So, she simply called former Inspector General of Police, Etim lnyang who agreed to get a form for me and I went for their examination and passed. That is how I began the journey.”

    CP Imohimi is married to Mary and blessed with three lovely kids. He recalled how he met his wife.

    “We met as mutual friends,” he revealed.“I had just joined the Nigeria Police Force and my wife’s family were staying somewhere in Lagos.

    “ My brother, who is a banker, happens to know certain friends who knew her. We met at an occasion we were both invited to attend. Immediately I saw her, it was if I had seen an angel. From that moment, I did the best I could to woo her until we got married,” he revealed.

     

  • ‘Six out of ten young people are cultists in Lagos’

    The Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Edgal Imohimi, on Friday said six out of ten young people are cultists in Lagos.

    The police boss, who expressed sadness over the rising cases of  cultism among youths in Lagos, called for a state of emergency on cultism.

    Imohimi spoke at  a town hall meeting with some residents of Surulere area of the state.

    The forum had as theme: “ Partnership with Community for Crime Prevention.’’

    “I instructed one of my officers to carry out a research on the reason for increase in cultism among the young ones, and it was revealed that it gives them a kind of advantage over their peers.

    “For some, they joined to avoid being intimidated. Whatever reason it is, the blame is on us parents for not caring enough about our children,” he said.

    Imohimi  commended residents of Surulere for their support to crime fighting  and criminality, adding that there had been reduction in criminal  activities in the area.

    He said the success story of  crime fighting in Lagos  could be attributed to intelligence information volunteered by members of the public.

    The commissioner  urged Surulere residents to continue to provide useful information to the police in their area, advising them to report  any unprofessional conduct  of police officers.

    He also advised parents and guardians to monitor their children to prevent them  being used as political thugs during the forthcoming general elections.

    “The election year is approaching and it is time we started talking to ourselves. Do not allow politicians to come and use your children as touts.

    “All you need to do is get your PVC and vote peacefully. Let us not allow some people come from elsewhere to disrupt the peace in Lagos,’’ he said.

    Imohimi also  warned against attack of  police formations and property in the state.

  • Police arrest woman, 45, for maltreating minor

    The Police in Lagos on Tuesday said they have arrested a 45-year-old woman for  allegedly maltreating an eight-year-old boy after accusing him of being a wizard.

    Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Edgal Imohimi, told newsmen in Ikeja that the act was “a case of man’s inhumanity to man.’’

    “This is a case of man’s inhumanity to man reported by one Chinonye Iyonetu, eight-years-old,  against one Charity Iyonetu of Animal Kingdom, close to Seme Border, Lagos.

    “The complainant alleged that the suspect is the elder sister to his father.

    “That sometime in 2016, the suspect came to their village, Agbaai, Nkota LGA of Imo State and brought him to Lagos after his mother abandoned him and left to an unknown place.

    “He claimed that the suspect always maltreat him, accusing him of being a wizard,’’ the CP said.

    He added: “However, the ordeal of the little boy came to the fore when on May 9, at about 9am, the suspect use horse whip a.k.a Koboko, to flog the complainant, inflicting injuries all over his body.

    “She thereafter locked him in her one room apartment with his two hands tied behind his back and left to her shop. The complainant was crying and shouting for help which made one Peter Aluku to call the Police.

    “When the police team arrived, they broke the door of the house and rescued the child”.

    Imohimi said that the suspect would be charged to the Special and Sexual Offences Court as soon as investigation was concluded.

    NAN

  • Pastor in police net for propagating hate speech

    Police in Lagos have arrested a 35-year-old pastor, Chris Mordi, of the Miracle of Fires Ministry, Langbasa, Ajah, Lagos, for allegedly propagating hate speech in the state.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Edgal Imohimi, disclosed this to newsmen, stressing that the suspect was arrested on May 5 at Ado Road, Langbasa area of Ajah in Lagos.

    Edgal said that the Pastor was arrested allegedly while in possession of an inciting publication titled: “Beware of Catholic Women Organisation (CWO) and Knights of the Catholic for they are occultic.”

    He said that the pastor had invited his church members for a programme where he was to make a public pronouncement on the issue before the publications were intercepted on May 5.

    “This is a case of insult to religion and propagation of hate speech which contravene Sections 124 and 168 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.

    “This should be a lesson to be imbibed by all religious leaders. We must encourage and preach religious tolerance,” he said.

    He said that the clergyman would be charged to court for alleged hate speech and religious intolerance.

    Meanwhile, 10 traffic robbers who specialise in dispossessing motorists of their valuables at Charity Bus-Stop, Oshodi, were also rounded up by policemen and presented to newsmen.

    According to the commissioner, the hoodlums were traced to their hideouts where they were arrested with a toy gun.

    He added that the police was working toward arresting other members of the gang and urged victims of traffic robbers to visit the Command and identify the suspects.

    He assured that all the suspects would be charged to court.

    NAN

  • Police nab suspects, seize over N9m worth of Indian hemp in Lagos

    The Lagos State Police Command has recovered over N9m worth of weed suspected to be Indian hemp from criminal hideouts at Majidun and Ajegunle area of the state.

    In an operation which was carried out by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad and Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), 26 suspected cultists and kidnappers were also arrested.

    The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Edgal Imohimi, who briefed the press, said that the arrests were carried out on April 24 and April 26.

    “In our effort to ensure that we fight those using Lagos for hard drugs peddling and taking over our neighborhoods, a Toyota Sienna bus carrying five bales of suspected weed was accosted on April 24.

    “Similarly, a bus carrying 34 bags of suspected weed was also intercepted during police patrol. The occupants of the vehicles were arrested and the owner of the exhibits has also been arrested.

    “The suspected weed, valued at N9m, has been impounded and will be destroyed as soon as possible.

    “On April 26, between the hours of 11pm and 3am, the creeks of Itowolo, Majidun and Ajegunle areas were raided by the operatives of Anti-Kdnapping Squad of the Lagos State Police Command.

    “Assisted by operatives of FSARS Ipakodo, 26 suspected cultists and kidnappers were arrested and two bags of weed suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered from a makeshift structure at the Creek of Ajegunle.

    “The owner of the structure and the weeds was not arrested because he was not seen. In a similar vein, at 2pm, on April 27 at Itowolo Creek close to the waters, a man with a gun in his hand sighted us and ran.

    “When he was pursued, he dropped the gun and jumped into the waters. One double barrel gun was recovered.  Meanwhile, effort is on to arrest him,” he said.

    In another development, a notorious cultist was arrested at Oworonshoki on April 17 by the operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad.

    According to the CP, the officer-in-charge, Anti-Cultism, received credible information that a wanted dreaded cultist and leader of the Aiye Confraternity, who had been terrorising Oworonshoki community was sighted.

    Based on the information, the O/C Anti-Cultism mobilized his operatives, went after the suspect and arrested him. Investigation is in progress and effort is on to arrest other fleeing members of his gang,” he said.

    NAN

  • Police arrest suspected operator of fake WAEC centre

    The Police Command in Lagos State has arrested a 48-year-old man suspected to be the operator of a fake West Africa Examination Council ( WAEC ) examination centre in Igbogbo, Ikorodu.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Edgal Imohimi, said the suspects were arrested on April 25 following a complaint by a senior member of staff of WAEC office, Ogba.

    “The complaint was that there exist a fake WAEC centre at El-Supreme Private School located at No. 3, Oseni Adekogbe Street, Igbogbo Ikorodu.

    “Operatives of the Command attached to Area ‘G’ Ogba, were mobilised to the above address where one Pastor Adeniyi Joshua of El-Supreme Church was arrested.

    “WAEC question papers and answer sheets suspected to be forged were recovered from the suspect.” Imohimi said.

    Similarly, four suspects who specialise in solving examination questions and circulating the answers through various websites and Whatsapp numbers were also paraded by the police.

    Read Also: Police debunk rumours of planned attack on mosques in Benue

    Imohimi said the Rapid Response Squad ( RRS ) decoy team traced and arrested the suspects from Edo, Osun and Ondo State.

    “Some other suspects had been traced to Ghana. We are working with Interpol to make sure they are arrested as soon as possible.

    “We are also working with the examination bodies involved to make sure we get to the bottom of this.

    “This is something of national interest and a great embarrassment. We will ensure that this does not repeat itself.

    “Parents, guardians and tutors must also guide their wards not to engage in exam malpractices,’’ Imohimi said.

    NAN

  • Police recover over 200 firearms in Lagos

    The Lagos State Police Command on Tuesday said it had recovered more than 200 illegally acquired firearms from individuals and suspected hoodlums in the last seven months.

    The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Edgal Imohimi, made the disclosure at a news conference in Lagos.

    Imohimi said that the firearms were recovered from suspected hoodlums and those that embraced the 21 days grace period given by the Inspector-General of Police to submit their illegally possessed firearms.

    The News men reports that the recovered arms and ammunition were taken to the Lagos State Police Command armoury.

    The police chief added that the recovery covered a period of seven months, starting from September, 2017 when he assumed duty in the command.

    Read Also: Police nab drivers for allegedly defiling, robbing passenger

    Giving statistics of recovery, he said that the firearms consisted of 38 pump action rifle, six AK-47 rifles, 12 double barrel rifles, 11 single barrel rifles and 70 single barrel locally made cut to size shot-guns.

    Others are 18 locally made revolver pistol, three Beretta pistol, 220 cartridges and 60 7.62mm AK-47 ammunition.

    “As you can see on display, the firearms mop up exercise yielded positive result in the command.

    “I’m also using this opportunity to call on citizens to take advantage of the grace period and return voluntarily, prohibited firearms.

    “Failure to do so will lead to lawful search of buildings and property that we have credible information on which will eventually lead to arrest and prosecution. I hope it won’t come to that,” he said.

    NAN