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Tag: Faith Yahaya

  • Corruption: Blow whistle on Police – IG urges Nigerians

    Corruption: Blow whistle on Police – IG urges Nigerians

    The Inspector-General of Police, (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has asked Nigerians to expose any trace of corruption and misconduct amongst officers and men of the Force.

    The Police Chief also assured that any police officer found wanting would be punished, adding that public assessment of the Personnel of the Force was necessary.

    Members of the public are expected to report any police officer by using the various social media platforms set up for the purpose.

    Idris said this on Thursday in Abuja during the inauguration of the partnership project between the police and Akin Fadeyi Foundation on an anti-corruption initiative titled, “Corruption, Not in my Country.”

    The IG who was represented by the Deputy Inspector-General in charge of Operations, Joshak Habila, said he had instituted various  programmes to make the police more accountable, responsible and reliable.

    He said: “Nigerians should blow the whistle on police corruption through the various platforms we have set up on WhatsApp, Instagram, email and GSM telephone numbers.

    “Please do the whistle-blowing and see what action the police would take, we will do the right thing and ensure justice.”

    As part of moves to totally rid the Force of corruption, he also disclosed that his administration has so far promoted over 33,000 personnel from various ranks.

    He said the promotion has boosted the morale of those affected adding that it has made them discharge their duties professionally.

    According to him: “Since the inception of this administration, 4,410 senior officers and 28,627 Inspectors and Rank and File have been promoted. In all, 33,037 have been elevated to their next ranks.”

    He added that additional list of those yet to be promoted will be considered soon.

    Also speaking, the Director of the foundation, Akin Fadeyi said he was motivated to initiate the anti-corruption advocacy to engender an efficient police force that is public friendly, reliable and responsible.

    “The police have had tainted image as an institution  for such a long time and we feel it’s time to change the narrative”.

    Fadeyi also called for a change of attitude among policemen and Nigerians.

  • FAAN, Airport car hire operators clash as airport reopens

    FAAN, Airport car hire operators clash as airport reopens

    There was a clash between Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Abuja Airport Car Hire  Association (AACHA) on Wednesday.

    FAAN alleged that five of its workers were injured and one in a coma after they were attacked by members of AACHA.

    The clash also resulted in the destruction of some property belonging to the car hire operators including canopies and some vehicles.

    Commenting on what transpired between both parties, the Legal Adviser of FAAN, Clifford Omozeghian said: “the problem we have is with the car hire people.

    “They took us to court and the court gave the judgement against them. The court gave some specific order that they should be removed from this premise because they are not registered with FAAN.

    “The court empowered the airport manager to act as a bailiff in order that this order be executed. We have tried all possible means when we sought to execute the judgement.

    “These people who are so violent. They came hard on our staffs, they broke some people’s head, some people were rushed to the hospital, we had some persons who fell into a coma.

    “So we had to send a petition to the Inspector-General Police because we were being intimidated and harassed.

    He further said: “The IGP immediately ordered that his men be on the ground to investigate the issue. They were here yesterday, and some persons were arrested and the place evacuated.

    “We had to barricade the main carpark in order to maintain sanity but by this morning, these same persons who have constituted themselves as a menace to the authority came again in full force and forcefully removed the barricade that was placed there.

    “When some of our security men approached them, they lynched some of them, they beat them up seriously, and this is embarrassing to us.

    “You can not force yourself on us, the law is so clear about that. They are not registered with us, the court has said that, but they said they must impose themselves on us. So that is where we are now.

    On the number of FAAN officials affected, he said: “We have about five men beaten this morning, we have one in coma and we have one on admission right now.

    Some of them were arrested on Thursday, we do not know what is happening right now but we expect the policemen to continue their investigations and invite us to come for further briefings.

    Reacting to the allegations raised by FAAN, one of the Board of Trustees of the association, Chief Uche Chinese said FAAN was only trying to intimidate some of its members.

    He denied having any physical confrontation with officials of FAAN.

    According to him: “They came here with personnel of SARS  and you know that they carry arms. It’s only a mad man that will want to fight someone who was carrying arms.

    Also speaking, Mr. Victor Chuba said: “We were here at the car park and they came to us with a team of SARS and they asked for Alhaji Dele, when they chained his legs and hands.

    “They arrested four other people and asked every other persons to remove his or her cars that we are not supposed to be at the airport because they said we are not legitimate concessionaire but we told them we were but we were forcefully removed and they went ahead to destroy our canopies and spoilt some of the cars.

    On what he suspects to be responsible for the clash,  Chuba said: “FAAN wants to impose other companies on our association.

    “We are concessionaire and the space we occupy presently was given to us by FAAN but now they want to intimidate us.

    “The painful thing is that members now carry one turn per week, we find it difficult to fend for our families and now they are trying to impose N2000 daily payment on us.”

    On whether the clash in any way affected the security of passengers, the Chief Security Officer of the airport, Akewusola Adisa said: “The actions did not affect the security of our passengers.

    “The security of our passenger is intact and our men are on ground to ensure that there is law and order. We have registered car hire and they are fully on ground doing their business. Everything is intact, the runway completed.

    “If you look around you will see that there is business as usual. We have come to term with the period we said we were going to use even before the day; you saw that we commenced operations on Today.”

  • 33,037 police officers promoted in nine months

    33,037 police officers promoted in nine months

    33,037 officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force have been promoted since the inception of the administration of the Ibrahim Idris as the Inspector General of Police.

    Details of those so far promoted was revealed on Wednesday by the Force Spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood during the decoration of twelve newly promoted officers at the Force headquarters in Abuja.

    Giving details of the promotion in the Force in the last nine months, Moshood : “Seven Deputy Inspector General of Police  (DIGs) were promoted, 27 Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGs), 40 Commissioners of Police  (CP), 86 Deputy Commissioner of Police  (DCP), 118 Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACPs), 12 Chief Superintendents of Police,785 Superintendent of Police, 3,144 DSPs Deputy Superintendents of Police  and 191 AssistantSuperintendent of Police  (ASP).

    Others affected belong to the rank of Inspectors and Rank and File.  They are; 7,628 Inspectors, 20,667 Sergent, and 332 Corporals.”

    Those however affected in the latest promotion are eleven officers who were elevated from the rank of  Deputy Commissioner of Police  (DCP) to the rank of Commissioners of Police while one was elevated from the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).

    The officers include; CP John Amadi, CP Undie Adie, CP Olugbenga Adeyanju, CP Patrick Garba, CP Joseph Agaji, CP Akinpelu Olajumoke, CP  Attabor Aromeh, CP Augustine Ezechukwu, CP Ududo Ududo, CP Busari Aramide, CP Johnson Kokumo and ACP Akinbayo Olasoji.

  • Benue crisis: 18 associates of Benue militant arrested

    Benue crisis: 18 associates of Benue militant arrested

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris on Wednesday said 18 people suspected to be responsible for the crisis in some parts of Benue state have been arrested.

    The police chief also disclosed that a cache of arms belonging to a repentant militant, Tewase Akwaza popularly known as Ghana has also been recovered.

    The suspects arrested are believed to be the close associates of Ghana.

    The police noted that Ghana and his associates are responsible for some of the crisis witnessed in the state, adding that he (Ghana) has been placed on a wanted list.

    The police chief also hinted that the weapons in Ghana’s possession can be used to attack a country.

    He said this in Abuja at the monthly meeting with members of the management of the Force and other senior officers.

    According to him: “A non-militant who has been declared wanted has taken it upon himself to cause havoc in Benue State.

    “As at two days ago, a joint operation was conducted with the military and state services and a lot of array of weapons have been discovered and some of the weapons are going to be used to prosecute some of the suspects.

    “We have about 18 suspects in detention presently from that area, though the man himself is still on the wanted list and we are pursuing him.

    “His close associates have all been arrested and in few days times, some of them will be paraded so that this country can see the kind of people that are causing crisis all over the country.

    Describing the weapons in Ghana’s possession, the police chief said: “I want people to see the array of weapons recovered from him. With the arms he has, you will think he wants to attack a whole country.

    “I have to appreciate the governor of the state because he came openly and admitted that he made a mistake to have given him amnesty because with the recent recovery of arms, what he gave during the amnesty programme was just to deceive Nigerians.

    “I am saying it because some of the disarmament processes are just connivance to fool the public.

    He urged senior officers to give special attention to repentant criminals.

    According to him: “No matter the issue of amnesty, we should put a close eye on repentant criminals because in the case of Ghana, he has so many weapons like machine guns and he claimed to have repented during the amnesty programme.

    “He was paraded in the public with rickety weapons to deceive us unknown to us that he has more. So, we have to take a second look at some of these things.

    “Hundreds of people were killed by him who pretended to have embraced amnesty while in the real sense, his armaments are buried within those areas,” Idris said.

    It was also revealed that over 100 kidnappers have been arrested in less than a year by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit led by ACP Abba Kyari.

    He said: “We have to give kudos to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit for what they are doing to arrest some of the criminals. The team led by Kyari is doing wonderful jobs because they have arrested hundreds of kidnappers.

    “In the history of this country, we have not seen where police respond immediately to kidnapping issue and so far, we have to commend them.”

  • Police parade former DSS personnel, others for robbery, kidnapping

    Police parade former DSS personnel, others for robbery, kidnapping

    • Police say arrested DSS was dismissed over N310million scandal

    The Police yesterday in Abuja paraded a former personnel of Department of State Service and ten others for their alleged involvement in a kidnapping and armed robbery.

    The suspects were arrested after they kidnapped one Alhaji Isa Salami Former GM PAN, MD Nigeria Paper Mills Jebba and Chairman Gateway Insurance.

    The victim was rescued from the kidnappers hideout, a two bedroom house rented by the kidnappers in remote side of Suleja Town of Niger State.

    The gang consists of the gang leader, the second in command, a former DSS personnel, driver, guards, and the supplier of registered sim cards which they use for their operation.

    Those paraded are; Kelvin Emeka, Ndubushi Prince Uzor, Abdulraheed Maigari, Sunday Travnor, Zayor Alfred, Avah Joseph, Gabriel Friday, Rajab Baba Ishiaka, Ali Sani, Nuhu Sule and Mohammed Abubakar.

    Items recovered from them included one AK 47 rifle, three AK 47 magazines, 90 rounds of 7.62 live ammunition, two pistols, 14 rounds of 9mm live ammunition and two bedroom flats at different locations in Suleja.

    [quote font_size=”18″ color=”#000000″ bgcolor=”#ddab5f” bcolor=”#dd3333″ arrow=”yes”]The Police disclosed that the arrested former DSS personnel had earlier been dismissed by the service for alleged involvement in a N310million foreign exchange scandal belonging to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki.[/quote]

    Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja at the Force headquarters, the Force Spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood said operatives of IGP Intelligence Response team IRT jointly with Anti-kidnap Squad of FCT Police Command swung into action following the kidnap of Alh. Isa Ozi Salami.

    Alhaji Salami was the former GM of Peugeot Automobile Nigeria PAN, MD Nigeria Paper Mills Jebba and Chairman Gateway Insurance.

    Highlighting the roles played by each member of the gang, he said: ” Kelvin EMEKA 28yrs overall gang leader, who was earlier Charged to Gwagwalada High Court in October 2016 with 3 others for Kidnapping and armed robbery of several people in Abuja.

    “The suspect and his gang members were released by the Court on 8/12/16 less than 8 weeks after been Charged for Kidnapping and Armed Robbery.”

    “Ndubisi Prince Ozor, the second in command was also charged to Court for Armed Robbery in November 2016 and was released by Court on 25/1/17.

    Continuing, Moshood said: “Abdulrasheed Maigari 35yrs native of Donga LGA Area Taraba State a 2006 Political Science graduate of Bayero University Kano recruited into DSS as a graduate Officer and was dismissed and charged to court for robbing N310million with some dismissed Army Personnel in Abuja.

    “He was also released by Court and he immediately joined the gang and became the Coordinator and also rented the two houses where victims were kept.”

    Others who were paraded are: “Sunday Tyavnor, he is the arms dealer who Sold the AK47 Rifle used for the kidnappings for four hundred and seventy thousand Naira (₦470,000) and the two (2) Pistols for sixty thousand Naira (₦60,000) each he was arrested in Nasarawa State.

    “Mohammed Abubakar 21yrs native of Mokwa LGA Niger State supplier of pre-registered Sim cards to the kidnappers.”

    Other members of the gang were guards responsible for guarding and securing the victim from escaping.

    The police added that the suspects were identified by the victims, adding that they also confessed to the crime admitting to the various roles they played in the commission of various kidnappings, armed robberies and other violent crimes linked to them.

    The police noted that they will be charged to court on completion of the investigation.

    The Inspector General of Police assured members of the public of adequate security and urged them to co-operate with the Police personnel deployed in their localities.

  • FG invites foreign airlines to inspect Kaduna airport

    FG invites foreign airlines to inspect Kaduna airport

    The Federal Government has invited Foreign airline operators to the Kaduna airport to see the level of its preparedness at relocating flight operations to Kaduna state.

    The government had announced that Abuja airport runway will be shut by March 8 in order to repair the dilapidated runway.

    The government maintained that the Nnamdi

    Speaking in Abuja yesterday during a meeting with

    “Also to invite you to visit Kaduna within the next two to three  days as you may wish and to show you the level of preparedness we are to take you into Kaduna.”

    The minister later went into a closed-door meeting with some of the operators.

    Some of the International airlines that fly into Abuja are; Air France, Air Côte D’Ivoire,

  • PSC approves promotion of 11 CPs, 3,201 DSPs, others

    PSC approves promotion of 11 CPs, 3,201 DSPs, others

    The Police Service Commission has approved the promotion of 11 Deputy Commissioners of Police to the rank of Commissioners of Police.

    Also promoted are, one Assistant Commissioner of Police to the next rank of Deputy Commissioner, 12 Chief Superintendents of Police (CSP) to Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACP) and 3201 Assistant Superintendents of Police to Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSP).

    In a statement in Abuja on Thursday the Head of Press and Public Relations Unit, Ikechukwu Ani, he said the decision was reached at the Commission’s plenary Meeting.

    The Commission noted that one ASP Emmanuel Aigbedion was upgraded to the rank of Superintendent of Police following an appeal based on a court judgment.

    The Commission also explained that the newly promoted Commissioners of Police were before their promotion subjected to a health and session with the leadership of the Commission.

    The newly promoted CPs are: “Johnson-Babatunde Kokumo. Until his promotion, Deputy Commissioner, Operations, Anambra State Command, former Deputy Commissioner, Operations, Lagos State Command and one time Area Commander Karewa, Adamawa State. He also served as Commander 16 PMF and Assistant Commissioner, Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad; Joseph Agaji who also until his promotion was the Deputy Commissioner, Administration, Oyo State Command, Deputy Commissioner Administration, Zone 9, Umuahia and Deputy Commissioner Zone 8, Lokoja and Gbemisola O. Akinpelu, former Deputy Commissioner in charge of Central Criminal Registry, Force CID, Alagbon, Lagos, and former Deputy Commissioner, Force CID, Abuja.

    “Others are; Hakeem Aramide Busari who until his promotion was the Deputy Commissioner, Administration, Airport Command Lagos, former Deputy Commissioner, Force CID, Force Annex Kaduna, Deputy Commissioner, Zone 9 Command Umuahia, Area Commander Nnewi and Assistant Commissioner, Training, Force Headquarters, Abuja and Adat Ududo, a former Deputy Commissioner, Administration and second in command, Benue State, Deputy Commissioner and Head, Counter Terrorism, Force Headquarters, Deputy Commissioner in-charge of State CID, Ogun State Command and Deputy Commissioner representing the IGP in joint Military operations in Maiduguri. He was also former Assistant Commissioner, Operations, Ekiti State and Assistant Commissioner, Academics, Police Academy, Wudil Kano.

    Others are: “John Daniel Amadi; Undie J. Adie; Olugbenga Adeyanju; Patrick Ladul Garba; Aromeh Peter Attabor and Augustine Ezechukwu.

    “Friday T. Ibadin was the only Assistant Commissioner of Police promoted to the next rank of Deputy Commissioner”.

    The Commission noted that its decisions have been conveyed to the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris for implementation.

  • We did not bar Markarfi’s faction – Police

    We did not bar Markarfi’s faction – Police

    The Police have described as false an online report claiming that it barred Ahmed Makarfi’s faction of PDP from holding its meeting.

    Contrary to the report, the police said they got intelligence that both faction plan to hold it’s meeting at the same venue adding that they stepped in to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

    This is contained in a statement in Abuja yesterday by the Command’s Spokesman, ASP Anjuguri Manzah.

    The statement read: “The attention of the FCT Police Command has been drawn to an online report posted by Breaking Times subscribing that Police bars Makarfi faction of PDP from using International Conference Centre (ICC) for the meeting.

    “The report was misleading, malicious and capable of misinforming members of the public on the statutory roles of the Nigeria Police Force to restore law and order, and guarantee the protection of lives and property throughout the country.

    “The story is absolutely a shadowy imagination of the writer and should be disregarded.

    The statements further read: “Credible Intelligence at the disposal of the FCT Police Command indicated that the two factions i.e. the Ahmed Makarfi Group and the Ali Modu Sheriff Group scheduled to hold their meetings at the International Conference Centre (ICC) today and this can lead to serious clash and breach of Public peace.

    “The Command did not close down the International conference Centre nor barred the Makarfi faction of PDP from using the ICC for meeting as alleged in the report but intervened to prevent a breakdown of law and order by advising the Management of the ICC not allow any of the group to use the place for any meeting.

    However, the Command provided visible security for the Ahmed Makarfi Group when they relocated to Ekiti State Government lodge in Asokoro, Abuja despite not been informed.

    “To this end, the FCT Police Command wishes to assure the media of its support and cooperation to ensure law and order, crime free society and credible reportage.”

  • Five suspects  paraded for killing Customs officer

    Five suspects  paraded for killing Customs officer

    • We got N600,000 from the officer

     

    The police on Friday in Abuja paraded five suspects for allegedly killing an officer of the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS).

    The officer, Assistant Superintendent of Customs (ACS) Aliyu Dayyab was killed in Tincan area of Lagos while he was on his way from work.

    Speaking, the Force Spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood said: ” Sequel to the report of the incident and a cordoned operation  arrived out by the IGP’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU) on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, to fish out the killers of the Custom officer”

    Moshood said the suspects were trailed and arrested between 28 December 2016 and 18 January 2017.

    The suspects arrested are The gang leader; Lucky Williams, Akinloye Samuel, Abraham Lot, Bolaji Taiwo& and Lanre Humphrey.

    An Infinix phone belonging to the deceased was recovered from the suspect.

    The police said Humphrey Aimudo organised the gang that killed the Customs’ officer.

    According to the police “The suspects confessed to have information that the Customs’ officer had in his possession #4million and some dollars.

    “This prompted the attack and killing of the officer after they snatched the bag containing some money from the officer”.

    The police said the suspects volunteered confessional statements admitting the various roles they played in the commission of the crime.

    The Force also noted that they would be charged to court for murder, armed robbery and conspiracy.

    On his part, one of the suspects, Williams said: “They called me that there is a job in the Port Authority. We went but the job was not well done, so we went back the next day. The told us that the officer was always going home with money every day and someone who works at the gate drew my attention to it.

    “He told us that the officer was with plenty dollars. On the day we carried out the operation, we were told that he was wearing a Chelsea jersey and carrying a bag.

    “When the officer left work, one of the gang members called us that he was on his way. When we got the information, the Okada men that were used to trail him also called us.

    “When we got to the victim, we dragged his bag and it was after that one of us decided to shoot the officer. I don’t know what came over him.

    “We quarrelled ourselves because we were not supposed to kill him. It was Humphrey that gave us the job.

    On the amount he made, he said: “the money we found in his bag was #600,000 instead of over #4million. We shared the money #50,000 because we are ten in number”.

    Also speaking, Humphrey who claimed to be a former clearing agent at the port said: “someone who works at the gate told me that an officer was always carrying money home and that he changes it to dollars.

    “I know the officer and to avoid us being identified, we decided to look for an outsider to do the job”.

    The suspects said they got #50,000 each from the operation.

  • Police, CBN threaten to begin arrest of Naira abusers

    Police, CBN threaten to begin arrest of Naira abusers

    • Two CBN staff, others arrested for abuse

    The Nigeria Police Force and the Central Bank of Nigeria have disclosed that they would embark on a nationwide arrest of whoever defaces the Naira.

    The CBN lamented that there is an increase in the rate of abuse of the currency which contravenes Section 20 and 21 of the CBN act.

    Section 20 and 21 of the CBN Act stated that whoever sells, buys, sprays and squeeze the naira will be imprisoned for six months or given an option of N50,000 fine or both.

    This was disclosed in Abuja by the Commissioner of Police in FCT, CP Muhammad Mustafa during a joint briefing with senior directors from Central Bank of Nigeria.

    The police have arrested two staff of CBN and tow other who were caught in the act of defacing the Naira.

    Those arrested are Iliyasu Musa, Awua Felix, Mercy Otuma and Abdulwahab Kusa.

    The CP said: “The CBN Enforcement Committee on the abuse of the Naira in collaboration with the FCT Police Command carried out raid at Dei-Dei, Jabi and other locations within the FCT which were used for illegal trading and hawking of Nigerian currency, an act contrary to Section 20 and 21 of the CBN Act, 2007.

    The CP said is part of the effort of the Committee to enforce provisions of sections of the CBN Act, 2007.

    “The offence of selling, buying, spraying and squeezing of the Naira attracts six months imprisonment or an option of N50,000 fine or both as the penalty upon conviction.

    The police said it recovered the sum of N1,713,200 during the raid.

    The CP also said that the suspects and exhibits have been transferred to the Command Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation adding that the case will be charged to court on completion of the investigation.

    Also speaking, the Ag. Dircetion on Corporate Communication, Isaac Okorafor said: ”

    “This is just the very first one this year, the efforts are going to continue just to let Nigerians know that it is an offence and abuse of our national sovereignty to squeeze, hawk, spray, dance or write on the Naira. It is an offence and we are pleading to Nigerians that they should try to respect the naira because it costs a lot of money to print and it is also an insult on our nation.

    The operation would also go to wedding halls and do not be surprised when couples will be arraigned because if you want to give money, give them instead of dancing on our national currency, they do not do that else where.

    He also disclosed that the CBN has set up a mechanism to ensure that any staff of the CBN connected with the offence be punished.

    “We will also extend it to other banks in the country because this is a battle we must win”.

    Earlier, The police also warned intending protesters not to embark on any protest.

    According to the police: “Following reports making the rounds on the social media of  a planned nationwide protest slated for February 5th, 2017, the Command wants to advise the conveners of such protest to jettison any plan of carrying out the protest on the streets of FCT as it is capable of breaching the peaceful atmosphere.

    “The conveners of the protest are also enjoined to adopt legal and legitimate means to register their protest instead of taking over streets of the FCT, which will not be accepted by the Command”.

    The Police also noted that it is not in possession of any notification from the group.