There was chaos at Trinity, Ajegunle area of Lagos on Thursday after a policeman allegedly shot a tanker driver dead for refusing to part with N1,000.
The alleged killer cop was said to be an operative of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) posted to Ajegunle to tackle traffic robbers along the Mile Two-Apapa axis.
It was gathered that trouble started after the driver insisted he only had N500 to give the cop, who got infuriated and fired the driver.
Other drivers who witnessed the incident were said to have descended on the policeman who was fortunately rescued and whisked away by colleagues.
The policemen, who rescued the trigger-happy cop, allegedly shot in the air to scare the mob before they took their colleague away.
Not satisfied, the tanker drivers were said to have mobilised their colleagues from other parts of the state and laid siege to the road to Apapa, worsening traffic congestion.
A source said the protesters also burnt tyres on the road while hoodlums capitalised on the protest to rob and loot wares.
It was gathered that some vehicles were vandalised while businesses in the neighbourhood closed abruptly.
As people scampered to safety, it was gathered that many sustained injuries.
According to a driver, Danladi Usman, they were protesting being over extorted.
He said: “We pay N1,000 to police. We pay to officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) and to local government officials and above all to area boys.
“The extortion is becoming a burden on us. If we do not have any money to pay, they make us pay with our lives. Is it a crime to be a truck driver?”
Shehu Adamu said they were tired of the reckless killings of drivers by security operatives, adding that they have vowed to oppose it.
Police spokesman Chike Oti, a Chief Superintendent (CSP) said details of the incident were still sketchy as of press time.
He said: “There was a crisis in the area and we heard that someone died in the crisis.
“The Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, has directed a full investigation into the matter and at the end of the investigation anyone found culpable will be made to face the wrath of the law. However, the outcome of the investigation will be made known to the public.”
For allegedly diverting clothes worth about N5.2m and selling them N100,000, a transporter Gabriel Onyeka has been arrested by operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) Lagos.
Onyeka was apprehended after the buyer to took the bags of clothes to at Ebute Ero Market alerted the police.
It was gathered that the unnamed buyer had suspected the seller after he offered 12 bags filled with clothes for sale at N500,000.
According to the police, the said buyer offered to pay N100,000 and Onyeka agreed, fuelling suspicion in the mind of the buyer who notified security operatives.
It was gathered that in the course of investigation, detectives found out that the clothes belonged to one Alhaji Dabuzu in Kano State who handed them to Onyeka for delivery to a customer in Aba, Abia State.
It was gathered that the real owner had gone to New Park in Kano State to waybill the goods but instead of taking them to the intended buyer, the suspect diverted them to Lagos with intent to sell them and keep the money.
According to the police Onyeka admitted to have stolen the goods, adding that he was desperate to raise money to travel to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The FSARS operatives also arrested a suspected gang of armed robbers alleged to have terrorized lodgers, residents around Igando and Ikotun.
It was gathered that the gang allegedly led by one Emmanuel Olasunkanmi alias Federal were arrested in a hotel last month by a team led by Festus Olaniyi, a Superintendent of Police (SP).
According to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) incharge of FSARS Lagos Ibrahim Kaoje, others arrested alongside Olasunkanmi were Ahmed Agunbiade alias Omo Jo Ibo, Dotun Ogunsanya, Nurudeen Agbeyewo, Segun Okinade and Usman Akinde.
Kaoje said 15 stolen motorcycles, household items and three cut-to-size pistols were recovered from the gang.
The suspects were said to have told the police they bought the guns at N30,000 each.
Lagos Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal has ordered the immediate release of 40 persons detained at the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) without cause.
He also directed that 30 detained for alleged cultism related offences be charged to court without further delays.
The police boss gave the directive during an unannounced visit to the unit stationed inside the Command Headquarters in Ikeja.
Aside FSARS, Edgal, it was gathered visited five police divisions unannounced, where he interviewed suspects and inspected the stations.
He warned his personnel to respect the rights of suspects and ensure they were treated with dignity, adding that he would continue unannounced night patrols of police formations under his command.
It was gathered that the night patrols were also not unconnected to resurgence of militancy in some parts of the state and pockets of cultism related activities.
Asked the reason for the patrol, Edgal said: “Patrols are a routine exercise in the force and we act according to directives from the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris. The IG said we should intensify efforts towards community and safety partnership. That is exactly what we are doing.”
A syndicate that allegedly specialised in stealing people’s vehicles was Monday paraded by the police in Lagos.
The suspects, Opeyemi Ogundokun, 24, Qudus Abdulkareem, 42, Abdulwaheed Abdulkareem, 28, Shehu Shittu, 42, Nurudeen Abdulrahman, 38, and Musiliu Abdulwahab, 40, were arrested between February 24 and 28 in Kaduna State, after a vehicle they allegedly stole in November was traced there.
The police said seven cars, 119 ammunition, grenade; an English pistol and eight number plates were recovered from them.
According to Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal, one Saheed Aminu had complained on November 19, last year, that his green Toyota Camry marked ER468KRD was stolen barely 30 minutes after he parked in front of his residence at 45, Awolowo Road, Ikorodu, to enable a co-tenant, who was going to church, drive out.
Edgal said detectives from the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Ipakodo, were mobilised based on the strength of that complaint.
“Intelligence revealed the vehicle was in the workshop of one Opeyemi Ogundokun, an auto mechanic. He was arrested and interrogated. He made some startling revelations, which led detectives to a town called Rigassa in Kaduna State.
“At Rigassa, two suspects- Qudus Abdulkareem, 42, and Abdulwaheed Abdulkareem, 28, were arrested. Their job in the syndicate was to steal cars either from where they are parked or to snatch them from their owners.
“The duo led the police to the other suspects identified as receivers of all cars stolen by them. The Toyota Camry was seen and identified by the complainant and immediately recovered from the suspects.
“A search warrant was promptly executed at the Rigassa base of the receiver and 118 rounds of AK47 ammunition, an English pistol, military camouflage, one hand-grenade, a Nissan versa, one RAV4 SUV, Toyota Camry Honda CRV and various plate numbers were recovered.
“Suspects confessed they are based In Kaduna and only come to Lagos when they want to steal vehicles. Investigation into the case is in progress. Opeyemi Ogundokun has been charged to court.”
The Police Command in Nasarawa State has arrested 20 suspects and recovered some firearms in February.
The Command’s Spokesman, DSP Kennedy Idirisu, disclosed this on Tuesday in Lafia.
Idirisu said the suspects were picked in various locations for offences such as robbery, culpable homicide, kidnapping and illegal possession of firearms.
He said the fire arms recovered included four assault rifles; six locally fabricated pistols and 220 rounds of live ammunition of different caliber.
According to him, the feat was recorded through the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad ( FSARS ) and with prompt information from members of the public.
The spokesman said some of the suspects had already been charged to court, while others were being investigated and would be charged later.
He said that the command had also given a 21-day ultimatum to all those in possession of illegal firearms in the state to surrender them or face arrest and prosecution.
He said the notification was in line with the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to Commissioners of Police to commence disarmament and recovery of prohibited firearms, ammunition and weapons in the possession of groups and individual(s) across the country.
“After expiration of the grace period, a Joint Task Enforcement Team will be constituted by the Command to commence the mop-up, seizure and recovery of all illegal and prohibited firearms and ammunition from individual(s) and groups, particularly the Vigilance Groups and Neighbourhood Watch, amongst others.
“The Command wants to categorically state that person(s) or groups thereafter seen or found to be in possession of any lethal weapon will be arrested and charged to court accordingly, ” Idirisu added.
He stressed the need for all citizens to support the effort at checking the proliferation of arms and ammunition as a means of curbing cases of violent crimes and communal skirmishes, thereby reducing bloodletting.
“The command implores all to cooperate with us by giving useful and timely information on local manufacturers of firearms, person(s) in possession of firearms illegally or person(s) that are trading in firearms through the following numbers: 08108795930, 08112692680 and 08123821571,” he said.
Operatives of the Federal Special Anti – Robbery Squad ( FSARS ) of the police have gunned down a suspected kidnapper after night invasion of Ilaro forest, Ogun State, for members of a kidnapping gang.
The gang’s victim, Sanni Dan Nasarawa, who escaped from their den after spending a week with them in the forest, reported his abduction to the Police in Abeokuta which made the FSARS to storm the forest and in the process, one of them was shot dead while seven others escaped with wounds.
Sani Nasarawa was said to escaped when the rope used to tie him snapped by night while his abductors were fast asleep.
An AK47 riffle loaded with 15rounds of ammunition was recovered from them.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, in a release, stated that the kidnapper was shot dead on Friday morning on discovering their hide out after the FSARS combed the forest all through Thursday night.
Abimbola the dead kidnapper is a member of a kidnap syndicate terrorizing Ilaro and its environs.
“He was a member of kidnapping syndicate when in the early hour of Friday 2nd of February, he was shot dead by men of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad led by Uba Adam.
“The gang have earlier kidnapped one Sanni Dan Nasarawa, took him to a thick forest where they tied him down for seven days waiting for his people to pay them ransom.
“Luck however smiles on him when the rope they used to tie him got loose while his abductors were fast asleep. He subsequently escaped and ran to FSARS office in Abeokuta where he lodged complain.
“Upon his report, the officer –in charge FSARS quickly mobilized his men and followed the victim to the forest. The team combed the forest from6pm of 1st February up till about 4:00am of 2nd February before they came across the gang who engaged them in serious gun battle which lasted for almost an hour.
“At the end of the encounter, one of the suspects was gunned down while others numbering about seven escaped with various degree of gunshot injuries.
The Police Spokesman in the state state appealed to the public, especially hospitals and traditional healers, to report anybody they see with gunshot injury in their vicinity.
THE operatives of the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad (FSARS) have arrested a staff member of a new generation bank, Christian Amechi, who allegedly helped fraudsters to steal millions of naira from customers account using a string of impersonators.
Amechi, who until his arrest, was serving at the ATM customers service unit, of the bank in Victoria Island Lagos, is currently being detained at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos State Police Command.
He was arrested penultimate Wednesday along with five other members of the syndicate. Together, the gang had allegedly removed over N20 million from accounts belonging to different customers.
Those who were arrested along with Christian are Oyozoje Joseph, 30, Nelson Matthew Eugari, Henry Omogbemi, 31, and Ene Mona Gabriel.
Luck ran against the banker after the police team arrested the leader of a gang of pickpockets, Akeem Apejoye, in Lagos. In his confessional statement, the pickpocket told the police how Amechi and his gang encouraged him to continue to steal phones.
Akeem told the police that the gang’s interest is mainly the SIM cards of stolen phones.
After his arrest, he led the police to the homes of those who had been collecting SIM cards from him.
Though, he denied that he was not in the know that Amechi and his group used the SIM card to steal money from the accounts of customers, he said that the group often bought drinks for him at beer parlour joints whenever he ran into them.
He said that they all grew up in Ajegunle and that he enjoyed being in the company of the gang members, particularly at weekends.
“I used the proceeds which I made from picking pockets to open a boutique in Ajegunle. My shop is located along Ojo Road,” Akeem told the police.
Narrating how his gang removed several millions of naira from victims account, Amechi said that all that was needed for the illegal transfer to succeed was the customer’s SIM card, stressing that any account holder who does online transaction has his or her BVN number stored on his or her phone.
“I grew up in Ajegunle and I know almost all members of the gang. I knew them on the street, but I was introduced into the business by one of my friends known as Osey Boy and DJ. I attended the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN). I read Banking and Finance. I am an ATM card system analyst.
“Osey Boy and DJ are referred to as the gang “shooters”. What it means is that they could remove bank secret code numbers, particularly the BVN from phones. The moment any member of the gang laid his hand on stolen SIM card, they would dial the USSD number and with this they would access the owner’s BVN. That is if the owner does online banking. Once this is done, they will send me the six last digits with which I could access the owner’s account. My job is to ascertain how much is in the account and at times help transfer money to the person who provided me the information. The gang could then transfer at least N200,000 per transaction into their own account from where they will have easy access to the stolen funds.
“The gang pays me between N10,000 to N15,000 per transfer and I have lost count of how many of such transactions we have done in the past. In all, I have made at least N150,000 and I used part of it to upgrade my certificate,” he said.
Chris, as he is fondly referred to by his gang members also revealed that, aside helping the gang to generate information of account holders, he also provided the gang with telephone numbers of victims.
He disclosed in his confession that, at times, the gang would do a welcome back of some of the telephone numbers he generated.
His words: “What happens in this case is that the original owner of the line would not be able to make or receive calls. All calls or text messages on such numbers can only be accessed by the person who did the welcome back. The gang members are staff of Telecommute Tin Providers. This people are the ones who do the welcome back for the gang on any number to be profiled.
Amechi and Enamo
“My greatest pain was when my aged mother came to see me when I was in police custody. I pray that God will give her the heart and courage to bear the pains because I know that she will be going through so much pain right now.”
Another member of the gang, Oyosoje Joseph, an engineer who graduated from the University of Lagos, said he had made well over N10 million from local fraud.
The 30 year old who resides at No. 80 Adekeye Street, Ajegunle, said he joined the gang out of frustration.
As at the time of his arrest, the suspect had over N5 million in one of his accounts. It was learnt that the suspect is also presently being hunted for by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
An account he operates with one of the new generation banks has been frozen.
Another suspect, Henry Omagbemi, 31, is said to have operated a network of bogus names to launder the proceeds. A police source said that members of the gang were all involved in a scheme to defraud account holders of millions of naira.
‘Accounts belonging to people with large balances – in some cases several millions of naira were targeted. To identify those rich accounts, Amechi, an employee of a new generation bank was recruited to help the gang. As an insider, he would then assist in breaching the security protocols in order to steal the money. The money would be transferred to accomplices who would swiftly transfer the money through a number of bogus businesses before the money would eventually disappear” the police source said.
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Chike Oti, confirmed the arrest. He said that one of the victims lost more than N2 million after a member of the gang used a fake welcome back telephone number in the account holder’s name to set up two transfers over three days.
A customer with N200 million in the bank only escaped becoming a victim when they were arrested.
FOR 69-year-old Musibau Abudu and his family, the phrase “police is your friend” is nothing but an irony. They have seen nothing but the bitter side of that arm of government, whose duty is the protection of lives, properties and the maintenence of law and order. Abudu has for the past 15 months been without his 37-yearold son, Akeem Alakan Abudu, who was arrested by operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) at Ikorodu, Lagos moved to the command headquarters in Ikeja where he allegedly died in controversial circumstance.
His plight was worsened by the fact that police authorities till date have neither told him what happened to his son nor handed over his remains for interment. At his Imota-Ikorodu residence, Abudu, who told The Nation he had handed over the matter to God, said his family has not been the same since September 19, last year. He said he wakes up each day confused and helpless, especially because he still cannot understand why the police would kill and then hide his son’s body. Abudu said: “This whole issue is still like a dream to me. My son lived with his wife and four children not too far from my house. That morning (September 19), he came to my house to see us and then he said he wanted to also see some of his friends, who were at a gas station. “That was where some SARS men, who came in a van, saw them.
That was where he was arrested. I went there to find out what happened and they told me that the SARS people came in a vehicle and Akeem, who knew one of them, went to greet him. “After they had greeted, the people at the gas station said the SARS people told Akeem to enter the vehicle, that someone inside the vehicle identified him as one of the leaders of cultists. “That was the last time anyone saw him. We went to Imota police station to look for him; they told us that they took him to SARS Ikeja. I went to Ikeja with my son, Obama, but the police people initially denied that he was in their custody. “They first told us that there was no one like that in their cell.
Then, later they said they would not allow us to see him, that he was under investigation. I asked what he did but they did not tell me anything. “But while there, some youths they also arrested at Imota, who were inside the cell, told us that the SARS people shot Akeem and that he was in the hospital. I asked the police but they denied it. “So, I called Akeem’s boss, Chief Kaka Benson, and he advised that I should get a lawyer. He said if they refused me from seeing my son, they cannot refuse a lawyer. We got a lawyer, Olufemi Oladunni, and he went to SARS and demanded to see Akeem. “We wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police demanding to see Akeem but they did not show us my son. We kept going but no result. The lawyer started making more financial demands from me. He said we should sue the police to court and asked for a huge amount of money for the case. Since I did not have the money, I told him to forget about the court case.
“That is how it has been since then. The police till date have not said anything to me. But my son, Obama, later got to know through an unnamed policeman that Akeem was tortured to death.” Although the police were yet to inform the family the reason Akeem was arrested, the family believed that his arrest might not be unconnected with a land dispute between a traditional ruler and Chief Benson. Although the police had told Obama that a locally made gun was found in his brother’s possession, none of the family members was shown the weapon. Obama said: “I was the closest to my brother and I was the one who knew about the land issue.
The thing is that Chief Benson and the Oba were dragging a vast land in Imota. Chief Kaka is into real estate. They went to court and he won the other side. “My brother worked for him. When he was travelling, he put my brother in charge of the land. My brother usually went there every day to be sure there were no trespassers on the property. “So, that Oba was not happy. He felt that my brother was taking sides with Chief Benson, a non-indigene. He was the one who arranged to kill my brother. “One of the policemen who took part in it opened up to me and told me that they were paid to eliminate my brother. It was the policeman who sent me the pictures of my brother’s body and told me that he died in their custody. “Initially, he lied that my brother slumped and died the day he was arrested but after some time, he opened up and told me that he was tortured to death. Even from the pictures he sent, bruises were still obvious on my brother’s body.
“There was plaster on his leg and his forehead. His arms were bruised. I had to tip the policeman and he confessed that Akeem was tortured to death. I asked where the body was so that we can go and carry it. He said General Hospital, Ikeja, but I went there and did not see my brother. We went to the mortuary but still did not find him. “Let SARS tell the world where my brother is. They claimed he was a cultist but that is a big lie. My brother is no longer a kid. He was 37 years old. Assuming he was a cultist as they claimed, did that give them the right to kill him? “Go to Imota and find out yourself. Ask anyone around my house if my brother was troublesome. You will hear things for yourself. They are just lying against him. My brother was a ‘born again’ Christian and very easy going.
“I know that when he was in school, LASPOTECH, he moved with bad boys and got into trouble. That was in 2004. After that time, he stayed away from them and gave his life to Christ. Since 2005, my brother had been a God fearing Christian and he didn’t like trouble.’’ Obama said policemen had been threatening him over the matter, warning him to avoid speaking with our correspondent. He said: “Those SARS men have been threatening me. They contacted me and warned me that I should not give you my number and I should stop talking to you.
They said I should not give you any information. They think I am a fool. I am not scared of them and I will not keep quiet. Let them provide my brother or his corpse. Let them say why they killed him.” The lawyer, Oladunni, who had since relocated to the United States of America (USA), was contacted and he confirmed that a petition was written. He said: “I was briefed by Obama and I took the necessary steps. We went to SARS Ikeja and they confirmed Alakan was in their custody. “They prevented us from seeing him at that time. I immediately wrote a letter to the Commissioner of Police demanding that the matter be taken to court. Later, they disclosed to us that Alakan died the day he was arrested. “We demanded for autopsy and for the release of his body but they insisted they were conducting their own autopsy and that when they were done with theirs,
The police in Lagos have arrested a physically challenged man, Godwin Fawehinmi, for alleged illegal possession of fire arms and dangerous weapons.
Fawehinmi was arrested at Alhaji Sadiku Street in Akowonjo, Egbeda, by detectives led by the Area M Commander, Austin Akika, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) last week.
It was gathered that his arrest followed a tip off to the police that the suspect usually threatened people with gun.
Fawehinmi, who was said to have spent the better part of his life abroad, it was learnt, usually fired warning shots in the air.
According to a police source, three guns including a pump action rifle and a locally made pistol were recovered from his residence.
He said: “He was arrested last Sunday. The suspect lived in Europe and that was where he had an accident and became crippled. He returned to Nigeria and since then, he has been acting as area father to boys in his neighbourhood.
“We got information that he usually opened fire and that people in the area were scared of him. We acted on the information and the Area Commander led some officers to his place to investigate.
“We found a gun on his body. His house was searched and more guns, two cutlasses and axe were recovered. He does not have licences for them.
“When he was asked what he was doing with the weapons, he said he used them to protect himself. He was transferred to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) at the command’s headquarters.”
Operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Ikeja, Tuesday arrested an alleged member of the kidnap gang that killed a priest in Owerri, Imo State.
Raphael Ndukwu, 29, a native of Imo State, was also alleged to be an armed robber.
It was gathered that the suspect was apprehended after he kidnapped one Gloria Emordi in Orlu and collected her Toyota Venza Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV).
After the operation, the suspect allegedly fled to Lagos but was arrested when the police got a hint of his whereabouts.
According to a source, the suspect led a kidnapping and armed robbery gang that had terrorised Imo and neighbouring states.
He said: “He usually came to Ojo to hide after each operation. He was arrested by FSARS operatives, after a tip-off. From our investigation, the suspect is among the gang members that killed the reverend father in Owerri, Imo State.”
