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Tag: Fatai Owoseni

  • Lagos police arrest seven suspects in new underground kidnappers den

    Lagos police arrest seven suspects in new underground kidnappers den

    The police in Lagos have arrested seven suspected ritualists following the discovery of an underground kidnappers’ den at Obadeyi in Ijaye area of the state.

    The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, told newsmen at the scene on Tuesday evening that the dungeon was discovered by joint efforts of security agents and members of the public.

    According to Owoseni, the place was discovered after a highway sweeper with the Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA) raised an alarm when she heard the voice of a woman calling for help from the canal.

    He said that two of those caught were set ablaze by the mob before the arrival of the police at the scene.

    Owoseni said that detectives would be on ground on Wednesday with more sniffer dogs and other security gadgets to ascertain more facts concerning the incident.

    “In the process, people moved in there to help and also noticed that some persons who had some charms like gourd in their mouths tried to escape and that made the crowd to suspect something unusual.

    “For now about seven persons, who are suspected to be using those buildings as base for rituals, have been arrested.

    “We will continue to give it a touch of professionalism and scientific approach by deploying sniffer dogs that can also penetrate into the canal to see whether we can get materials to be of evidential value,” Owoseni said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that items including clothes, under wears, identity cards and wigs of people suspected to be victims were seen at an abandoned house near the canal reportedly used as a hideout by the suspects.

    According to an eyewitness who pleaded anonymity, two of the kidnappers had come out of the canal in an attempt to escape but they were overpowered by the angry mob.

    Mr Fatai Ajibola, an eyewitness, said that some members of Oodua Peoples’ Congress also went into the dungeon to continue with the search and recovered shoes, clothes and other female items.

    A resident, who identified himself simply as Kunle, said the discovery of the den came as a surprise to most members of the community.

    “Most of us in the estate pass through the bridge on daily basis without observing such a thing under the bridge; only God knows how many people that have been killed by the ritual killers in the dungeon.” he said.

    The police commissioner said that investigation was underway and assured that perpetrators would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

  • Igbonla kids: Lawmaker hails Ambode, Akeredolu, Lagos police chief

    Hon. Wale Raji representing Epe federal constituency at the House of Representative has hailed Lagos State Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni for the release the kidnapped Igbonla school children.

    Raji also thanked Governor Akinwumi Ambode and his Ondo state counterpart, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for their swift actions in ensuring that the children were released alive.

    He said: “I will like to seize this opportunity to appreciate the Lagos State Commissioner of Police Mr Fatai Owoseni for his unrelenting effort to secure the release of these schools children. Likewise I want to appreciate his Excellency Mr Akinwumi Ambode, the governor of Lagos State and his counterpart from Ondo State Mr Akeredolu for their swift actions in ensuring that the children were released alive.

    “I will like to beg Nigerians to believe in this government and let’s all remember that security of life and properties should not be left on the shoulder of government alone. We should all rise to the clarion call and support government on every of its moves to secure a better Nigeria.

    “However, I will like to charge His Excellency Mr Akinwumi Ambode to please intensify more effort to secure the people living in riverine areas of Lagos State. Recently, a residence in Ise Town was kidnapped for 35 days and latter, like 5 other people were abducted and no one knows their location up till this moment but I believe if a well-equipped marine police station is established in ISE TOWN in Ibeju Lekki, it will serve a great security purposes for people living in the riverine border town of the Lagos and Ogun state.

    “However let our public schools be more secured to avoid future occurrence.”

  • Who’s more powerful: Fatai Owoseni or Olopa Ibeju?

    IF by now you are not familiar with the name of Fatai Owoseni, then you are a new-comer in town. The moderate-sized cop is the commissioner of police in charge of internal security in Lagos State and he’s, without a doubt, proactive and fleet of feet; always at the scene of action, whenever and wherever it breaks in the state. He’s my idea of a dutiful guy in uniform but I’m not about him today. He’s referred to here just to draw a nexus between him and the one for which Ibeju has been renown over ages. The Lagos CP apprehends you only when you commit an infraction of the law and seeks to be your friend when you are on the right side of the law; remember the plaque in almost all police stations that says: “Police is your friend” The “police”, reverenced locally as “olopa Ibeju” in the the Lekki axis of Lagos State, makes no friends with anybody.

    Once you get into its ‘net’, you get trapped; and you will need to go for all the acquarian tricks in the bag to get freed, but certainly not until after shedding hot sweat in an otherwise cool and windy atmosphere. My first encounter with this queer “police”, in 1978 was when Alhaji Lateef Jakande was on the hustings, seeking election as the first civilian governor of Lagos State.

    At that time, and after 1004 flats, in Victoria Island, there was no motorable road and the only “GRA” in that area was reserved for the scums of society and it was known as Maroko where only the Leyland Motors Land Rover was fit to ply. Anytime, we had a campaign programme in places like Lekki and Ibeju, we always left Jakande’s Ilupeju home at 7.30 in the morning for Maroko where the road coming from Ozumba Mbadiwe on Victoria Island terminated. From there, we were allocated into several land rover jeeps with auxiliary gears without which they could navigate their way through the sands to somewhere near Lekki.

    The journey from Maroko from where Mobil head office now stands, to Lekki took some two hours then, a trip that is less than 40 minutes now. When in one of our electioneering campaigns then and Jakande promised to open up the axis by constructing motorable road to Maroko if voted into office, many were sceptical it was impossible, not just because people took politicians promises with a pinch of salt but because the terrain seemed more suited for waterways than motorways.

    He kept his promise on winning the Governorship and opened up the Lekki axis, hence the eventuality of driving from Lagos Island to Epe now, a journey hitherto undertaken by engine boats from Maroko or by road through Ebute Metta, Yaba, Ikorodu road to Ikorodu and on to Epe through Imota, Agbowa and Itoikin.

    Engine boats plying the Maroko-Lekki/Ibeju water channel were enjoyable to ride in, savouring the aquatic splendour of the Atlantic Ocean until they meander their way wrongly into the shallow portion when “olopa ibeju” is permanently stationed. Once your boat gets in there, the “olopa Ibeju” takes over and gets your boat exhaust all its powers of manoeuvrability before finally stucking.

    When the boat ferrying Jakande and his aides of which I was one, got stuck at a point in one of our electioneering campaigns to that area one fine midday, I didn’t at first realise we were in for some trouble until after several minutes of revving the engine of the boat, it was just swivelling round like a barber’s chair instead of a forward movement. On enquiry, I learnt the propellers of our engine boat had gotten stuck in the underwater mud; and it was at then revealed that “olopa ibeju” had gotten us arrested.

  • 20 kidnappers killed during rescue of abducted Lagos students – Police

    20 kidnappers killed during rescue of abducted Lagos students – Police

    Twenty kidnappers were killed, while eight policemen and four civilian volunteers sustained injuries in the rescue of the abducted Lagos School boys on Friday.

    Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni disclosed this while briefing the media on the rescue of the students of Igbonla Model College, Epe.

    He, however, disclosed that one civilian volunteer unfortunately died in the process of rescuing the students.

    The Commissioner  also said that a suspect, who attempted to capitalize on the situation to swindle the parents of the students by asking that they should bring ransom to Abeokuta, was arrested and is currently in police custody.

    He praised the South West Governors for demonstrating clear commitment to combat crime in the region, saying that the communiqué issued in Abeokuta with respect to creation of Joint Security Task Force for the region, is already yielding positive result.

    The State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode hailed the successful rescue of the six kidnapped students and assured that the government would utilise the academic break to reinforce security in all schools in the State, especially in the suburb and riverine areas to prevent a re-occurrence.

    The Governor, who spoke through the State’s Deputy Governor, Dr. Mrs. Oluranti Adebule said he remained totally committed to ensuring the security of all residents especially students and would spare nothing to ensure that schools remain safe from all forms of crime and criminality.

    He said: “The issue of security is a social contract that we have signed with the people of Lagos and we would ensure that we do not disappoint. As far as our schools are concerned, we are going back to the drawing board to secure our schools before the next academic session”.

    Governor Ambode, who commended the collaborative efforts by security agencies from Lagos and Ondo States, specially thanked the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo for his interventions towards ensuring the safe rescue of the students.

    Presenting the rescued students to the media, he said they would be debriefed and taken through comprehensive medical tests so as to ensure that they recover from the trauma they might have passed through while in the custody of their abductors.

    Also speaking, Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu commended Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and Governor Ambode for working tirelessly on the matter, saying that the duo demonstrated uncommon interest in the whole process leading to the safe return of the students.

    Akeredolu said he never believed the kidnappers could be hibernating in Ondo creeks until he was told about a month ago during the National Economic Council (NEC) Meeting in Abuja by Osinbajo, and later Governor Ambode, while he immediately deployed his deputy, Mr Alfred Agboola who is from the riverine areas in Ondo, to take up the matter.

    He said Agboola immediately swung into action and worked with the Delta State Deputy Governor, as well as security agencies to ensure safe return of the students.

    While acknowledging the role of Governor Ambode, Akeredolu said: “I must commend Governor Ambode for his commitment to the rescue of the students. At the meeting of Western Nigeria Governors’ forum held in Abeokuta on Monday, we discussed the issue of the students and Governor Ambode mentioned the issue of joint security patrol in our riverine areas.

    “He (Governor Ambode) was very committed to it and he expressed readiness to support with the needed resources. Throughout the days the students were in captivity, the Lagos State Governor never kept his eyes off the ball and he kept working on it until today that we have the students back,” Akeredolu said.

  • Three policemen arrested for ‘maltreating’ suspect

    Three policemen arrested for ‘maltreating’ suspect

    Three policemen attached to Bariga Division in Lagos have been arrested for allegedly chaining a man to a generator.

    The state Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, said the cops are currently facing orderly room trial at the command headquarters in Ikeja and would get appropriate sanctions.

    He said the errant cops  arrested the victim on July 16.

    Rather than treat him in accordance with the rules, they chained him to a power generating set at the station.

    Fortunately, a Divisional Police Officer (DPO), who was on a routine inspection at the station, discovered the dehumanising act and ordered the three officers arrested.

    Owoseni, who frowned at unprofessional conducts by some policemen, assured the public that the directives of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on international best practices for policing, would be respected.

    He said: “In view of the desire by the IGP to sanitize the force, the three policemen involved in the act are being tried and adequate disciplinary actions would be taken against them at the end of the trial. The Policemen had arrested a man for committing an offence along Bariga road. They took him to the station where he was handcuffed to a generator.

    “The command frowns at any case of misconduct against any of its men. Policemen are advised to operate within the ambit of their guidelines. Anyone found wanting in the discharge of his duty would be made to face the wrath of the law.

    “People who feel their rights have been trampled on should approach the various platforms for compliant and desist from self- help.”

     

  • 30,000 cops for Lagos council polls

    30,000 cops for Lagos council polls

    … Hamburger’s suspected killers arrested

    The Lagos State police command said on Tuesday that at least 30,000 policemen would be deployed for Saturday’s local government election in the state.

    The state Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, stated this during a press briefing, adding that security agencies are well prepared for the polls.

    According to the commissioner, the police and sister agencies have been meeting to ensure that the election was violence free.

    He said an inter-agency committee had been put in place and operational plan drawn with special attention to flash points.

    Owoseni said: “The command can say that security agencies are fully prepared for the local council election. We have scheduled training/workshop for participating agencies. We have also fashioned out an interactive session with representatives of political parties and candidates for the election.

    “We are looking at deploying 30,000 personnel to cover the election. This figure would be augmented by personnel from sister agencies.

    “We are using this forum to warn all those, who plan to cause trouble or truncate the exercise that they won’t be given any chance. Violence would not be tolerated. We are poised to ensure that the election and electioneering are devoid of violence.

    “We would discharge our responsibilities and obligations in consonance with the Lagos State Electoral Laws. All electorates, candidates and officials are assured of their safety and security. Anyone who dares to test the ability of security forces will have his/herself to blame because perpetrators of violence would face the full wrath of the law.

    “Political parties are advised to discharge their obligations under the Electoral Laws with regards to necessary voter education. If all involved play their rules well, the election would be hitch-free.”

    The police commissioner also disclosed that two suspected killers of the Chairman of Tricyclist Association, Rasak Bello aka Hamburger, are currently in police custody and would be charged to court.

    Samson Agbetoye alias Golden and Babatunde Saka “Hanger” reportedly surrendered themselves to the police on June 20.

    He recalled that the police had promised to ensure justice prevailed in the murder case, noting that they were not unaware of the allegations and counter allegations Hamburger’s murder generated.

    “When the incident occurred, the command indicated that it would not be swept under the carpet. Investigation has been on since then and pursued with all sense of seriousness. The principal suspect, Samson Agbetoye alias Golden and one Babatunde Saka have been in our custody. They have volunteered useful statement to the police and will soon be arraigned in court for prosecution,” Owoseni added.

     

  • Suspended Baale was travelling around but ‘faked kidnaping’

    Suspended Baale was travelling around but ‘faked kidnaping’

    Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday suspended the Baale of Shangisha in Magodo, Chief Yusuf Ogundare, for allegedly faking his kidnap.

    The governor’s order was contained in a memo signed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Teslim Folami.

    It directed Ogundare to stop parading himself, henceforth, as the Baale of the community till further notice.

    The ‘fake’ kidnap allegedly took place on July 5 along Centre for Management Development (CMD) Road in Ikosi-Isheri LCDA.

    Folami said: “I am directed to convey the approval of His Excellency, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of the suspension of Chief Yusuf Ogundare, Baale of Shangisha, with immediate effect.

    “The suspension is in accordance with Section 38 (1) of the Obas and Chiefs Laws of Lagos State which states that ‘the Governor may suspend or depose any Oba or chief whether appointed or after commencement of this law, if he is satisfied that such suspension of disposition is required according to customary law or is necessary for the interest of peace and good government.’”

    According to Folami, Ogundare’s suspension was approved moments after the Lagos State Police Command paraded him alongside his younger brother, Mohammed Adams, for allegedly conspiring to fake the kidnap.

    Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said Adams, on July 5, reported the alleged kidnap to the police which collaborated with other security agencies, especially the Department of State Service (DSS), in the investigation.

    Owoseni stated that Ogundare was apprehended by men of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Alausa on July 11, after he was dropped off by a car.

    Owoseni said: “On July 11 at about 10pm, a team of RRS patrol officers working around Alausa sighted a vehicle which dropped a male adult in a suspicious manner close by Shoprite along the Secretariat road.

    “The speed with which that car drove off attracted them to that spot and, fortunately, before they got to the spot, the car had taken off. But a quick inquiry revealed that it was the Baale that was allegedly kidnapped.

    “While Ogundare was being debriefed, he sold a dummy that the kidnappers dropped him off, but, unknown to him, it had been found out that on the 5th of July, the day he was allegedly kidnapped in Lagos, investigation had revealed that he was driving around in Ibadan around Ashi; he went to Ilorin, he went to Iwo, he was just on a frolic.

    “Also, unknown to him, his younger brother and his wife were being questioned because of some discrepancies that were noticed in the interaction they had with security agencies.

    In furtherance of the synergy existing between the police and DSS, we jointly compared notes and our findings were such that the act of the chief was despicable and amounted to crying wolf where there was none,” Owoseni said.

    He said Adams told security agencies that he was with the Baale at CMD Hotel when some people who claimed they wanted to buy land whisked them away and later freed him.

    But, according to Owoseni, Adams was never in the hotel with the Baale but was only at the hotel’s restaurant but left after some minutes.

    “The wife of the Baale actually drove the Venza car allegedly used to abduct the supposed victim into the hotel,” he said.

    The CP added that after the suspects were confronted with the facts, they confessed.

    Owoseni said immediately Ogundare was allegedly kidnapped, Adams went to the community and called the town crier to order traders to close their shops and markets.

    Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, who also spoke on the incident, demanded the unconditional release of the six children kidnapped from Igbonla Model College since May 25.

    He said it was disheartening that while the state government and security agencies were working to secure the release of the children, “some unscrupulous persons deemed it fit to raise false alarm,” on kidnapping.

    Kazeem said it was situations such as this that prompted Governor Ambode to sign the anti-kidnapping bill into law.,

    The government, he warned, would not hesitate to prosecute anyone who runs fowl of the law.

    Kazeem noted that Section 5 of the anti-kidnapping Law prescribes that “a person who overtly or covertly puts himself forward to be kidnapped or abducted by another for the purpose of extracting money or ransom, from another or for any other reason commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to fourteen (14) years imprisonment.”

  • Man kidnaps self, demands N60m from sibling

    Man kidnaps self, demands N60m from sibling

    The police in Lagos have arrested one Ufom Udoh for allegedly staging his kidnap in order to fleece his sibling.

    The incident occurred on July 3, at Liverpool, Apapa.

    It was gathered that one Victor Udoh, had reported at the police command that his younger brother was kidnapped by unknown persons.

    According to the command’s spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), the case was referred to the anti-kidnapping unit and they swung into action.

    He said the unit traced all calls the complainant got on his phone, adding that it led to the arrest of one Paul Okiemute, who reported the case at Udoh’s work place.

    Okiemute, upon questioning confessed that Udoh staged his own kidnap to collect money from his elder brother due to his financial problems.

    Famous-Cole said: “Udoh was not kidnapped. It was all planned. He staged his own kidnap so that his elder brother can pay ransom.”

    The suspect said he made calls to the victim’s elder brother with an unknown number demanding a ransom of N60 million.

    “Udoh was later picked up and he confessed to the crime. He said he had checked into a hotel at Iyana-Ipaja area on July 3, where he spent three nights without food and water.

    “The suspect said he later trekked to Ifo area in Ogun state, only to return to Lagos looking frail for his story to look convincing,” said Famous-Cole.

    Police spokesman said the Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, has directed that Udoh and his accomplice be charged to court to serve as deterrent to others likely to cause breach of peace.

  • Badoo: Police arrest 87 suspects, declare 20 wanted

    Badoo: Police arrest 87 suspects, declare 20 wanted

    In continuation of its clamp down on suspected Badoo members, Lagos State Police Command, in collaboration with other security agencies and local security volunteers have arrested 87 suspected Badoo members while declaring 20 other people wanted in connection with activities of the group in Ikorodu.

    The 87 suspected Badoo members were arrested in an all-night operation on their hideouts in Owutu and Odongunyan in Ikorodu.

    Those declared wanted for cult related killings include: Moshood (a.k.a Mosho); Alfa (a.k.a King of Boys); Papa; Fela; Alakoto and  Chukwudi.

    The police also declared 14 others wanted for kidnapping in Ikorodu. They include: Agbara; O/C; Femi (a.k.a FM); Pencil, Odidan; Jaru; Allen; Bush; Happiness; Fagbo; Junior; Nuru and Jamiu.

    The police called on the suspects to come out of their hideouts and report themselves to the nearest police station.

    The Command equally advised members of the public with useful information on the suspects who are all residents of Ikorodu to assist the police.

    The raid was an extensive operation on the two areas – Odongunyan and Owutu. The operation was necessitated by more intelligence on the membership of the dreaded cult group and their mode of operations.

    Before the operations, the police in conjunction with members of the Department of State Security Service, representatives of the Nigerian Army, Lagos Neighbourhood Security Corps and Odua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) met with herbalists and Babalawos in Ikorodu and its suburbs on the need to collaborate with the police to wipe out the cult group in Ikorodu.

    Representing the Lagos State Police Commissioner, CP Fatai Owoseni at the meeting, Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Imohimi Edgal warned the herbalists and Babalawo and local vigilantes to eschew jungle justice, stressing that the Command would not tolerate further excesses from the security stakeholders.

    Edgal solicited for more information that would help the police to speedily end the activities of the group in the area.

    The Police Commissioners later met with Obas and traditional rulers in Ikorodu.

    Also involved in the exercise were the Commander, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), ACP Olatunji Disu; Acting Area Commander, Ikorodu and all DPOs in Ikorodu among other senior police officers.

     

  • Fatai Owoseni’s daughter holds classy wedding in US

    Fatai Owoseni’s daughter holds classy wedding in US

    Aminat, the beautiful daughter of Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, recently exchanged marital vows with her heartthrob, Abayomi Apooyin, in far-away Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Interestingly, Aminat’s new husband is a police officer like her father. The wedding was a classy and expensive affair witnessed by numerous dignitaries flown in from Nigeria and elsewhere to lend colour to the occasion.

    The bride’s father left no stone unturned in giving his daughter a befitting wedding. Earlier last month, Aminat and her beau had their traditional wedding in Lagos, which was the talk of the town. The high-class affair had in attendance no less a dignitary than the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, among other prominent sons and daughters of the land.