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Tag: Haliru Gwandu

  • 2019 elections: IGP warns officers against unethical conduct

    2019 elections: IGP warns officers against unethical conduct

    The Inspector-General of Police ( IGP ), Mr Ibrahim Idris, on Tuesday warned officers of the  Nigeria Police Force against unethical conduct during the 2019 general elections.

    Idris gave the warning at the monthly meeting with officers of the rank of Commissioners of Police and above in Abuja.

    He also urged them to avoid temptations from politicians who would want to compromise them, adding that the force was doing its best within limited resources.

    “You have to avoid temptations from political actors at the cost of having smooth and credible elections in 2019,“he said.

    Idris said there was need for officers and men of the force to be steadfast in carrying out their duties professionally.

    He charged commissioners of the various commands to impress it on their officers to be civil in discharging their duties.

    The high point of the meeting was the decoration of 15 commissioners of police by the inspector-general, among them was Danjuma Ibrahim, who was recently discharged and acquitted over the killing of the Apo six traders.

    Read also: Our plans for 2019 elections, by INEC, AGF, IGP, Rep

    Meanwhile, the police said it had appealed a Federal High Court judgment awarding the Peace Corps of Nigeria a N12.5 million compensation for unlawful arrest and detention of its officials.

    The Commissioner of Police in charge of the legal department, Mr David Igbodo, who disclosed this, said the force was a law abiding institution.

    “We are on appeal and we have transmitted records to the Court of Appeal, until the full process of the court is completed, no action will be taken about the Peace Corps,“he said.

    The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had on November 9 ordered the Nigeria Police to pay N12.5 million to the Peace Corps of Nigeria as compensation for unlawful arrest and detention of its officials and unseal its headquarters in Abuja.

    On the reorganisation of the Special Anti Robbery Squad ( SARS ), the police said it was ongoing.

    The commissioner of police in charge of SARS, Mr Haliru Gwandu, made the disclosure at the Inspector-General of police monthly meeting  with senior officers in Abuja.

    He explained that after reorganisation, the unit would only concentrate on violent crimes such as murder and armed robbery.

    Gwandu said at the completion of the ongoing reorganisation of the unit, the issue of extrajudicial killings in the country would be a thing of the past.

    He said there would be training and retraining of personnel of the unit to enhance efficiency.

    Some group of Nigerians recently in the social media, called for the scrapping of SARS over alleged harassment of innocent Nigerians, using the #EndSARS.

    NAN

  • Edo Police Command arrests 207 suspects in three months

    Edo Police Command arrests 207 suspects in three months

    The Edo Command of the Nigerian Police Force says it arrested no fewer than 207 suspects for various criminal activities between July and September.

    The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Haliru Gwandu made this known on Wednesday in Benin in an interview.

    Gwandu said that 12 vehicles, 35 assorted arms with 143 live cartridges were recovered from the suspects within the period under review.

    The police commissioner explained that the command had received 38 reports on armed robbery and arrested 90 suspects.

    He said that so far, 22 of the armed robbery cases were in court while nine were under investigation.

    The police chief also said 31 suspected kidnappers allegedly involved in 17 abductions were arrested during the period.

    Gwandu further said that 57 suspected cultists were nabbed during the period, out of which 31 were charged to court and 26 cases still under investigation.

    “In the case of murder, we have 26 reported cases, 16 suspects arrested, nine charged to court, 22 victims and 26 cases under investigation”, he said.

    The police commissioner said the command had also arrested three suspects in a case of human trafficking involving a victim.

    He stressed that the command was committed to fighting crime and bringing it to the barest minimum in the state.

    Gwandu attributed the achievements recorded by the command in the last three months to the determination of the personnel to tackle all forms of criminal activities in the state.

    Meanwhile, two prominent people in the state, Mr Andy Ehanire, a brother to the Minister of state for Health, and Chief Osayomore Joseph, a social crusader and musician, are still being held by kidnappers.

    Ehanire was kidnapped a fortnight ago, while Joseph was abducted this Wednesday from his residence in Benin.

  • Farmer arrested for killing plantain thief

    Farmer arrested for killing plantain thief

    A farmer at Odighi village in Ovia North East local government identified as Moses Erutuya has been arrested for killing one Jonathan who stole his plantain.

    Moses who was paraded alongside 43 other suspects at the police headquarters in Benin City said the deceased had been stealing from him since 2007.

    He said he killed Jonathan by hitting him with a stick.

    His words, “I started the farm in 1998. In 2007 while waiting for the plantain to mature, somebody went there and stole 60 bunch. I complained and was told nobody will guard my farm for me. Since then, I have been monitoring the farm. Luck ran against him this 2017 when he stole 35 bunches. I traced him to where he wanted to sell them.

    “He said the plantain was not mine. He stole seven bunches from my farm. I asked him to go and show me where he got others. On our way, he stopped. The wood he used to hold his bike, I took it and hit him on the head and he died. His family was looking for him. They came to me and I told them I left him to go but I later took them to where the body is. I want government to forgive me.”

    State Police Commissioner, Haliru Gwandu, said the suspect would soon be charged to court.

     

  • NUJ announces reward for information on killers of NTA reporter

    NUJ announces reward for information on killers of NTA reporter

    The Edo State council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists has announced financial reward for anybody that could provide useful information that would lead to the arrest of the killers of a reporter with the Nigeria Television Authority, Mr. Lawrence Okojie.

    Late Okojie was killed on July 8 by suspected cultists while he was returning from work at about9pm.

    His corpse was found deposited at the morgue by the police who said it was cult related killing.

    Edo State Chairman of NUJ, Mr. Roland Osakue, announced the financial reward at the lying-in-state of the remains of Okojie at the premises of NUJ secretariat.

    Mr. Osakue called on security agencies to ensure adequate protection of lives especially journalists in the state.

    He challenged the police to unravel the killers of Okojie whom he described as a dedicated and hardworking journalist.

    The remains of late Okojie was later taken to his hometown, Olihin Uzea in Esan North East local government for internment.

    When contacted for comments, State Commissioner of Police, Haliru Gwandu, said the killer of late Okojie has been arrested and currently cooling his heels in prison.

    Gwandu said he received commendation for bursting the crime.

    He said increased police patrol prevented cultists in the state from carrying out deadly attacks on July 7 and August 8.

    Those two dates, according to him, were days to celebrate founder’s day for some cult groups.

    He said, “We arrested many of them in their regalia. Those into cultism did not have the chance to kill themselves. We were able to foil their operations and arrested many of them.”

  • Police parades 50 suspected criminals in Edo

    Police parades 50 suspected criminals in Edo

    Edo State Police Command Thursday paraded 50 persons arrested for various crimes ranging from murder, kidnapping, armed robbery and illegal possession of firearms.

    The suspects were among those arrested between April and July in Edo State.

    State Commissioner of Police, Haliru Gwandu, who paraded the suspects, said it was information provided by members of the public that led to the breakthrough.

    Gwandu stated that many other suspects arrested within the period under review have been charged to court.

    He said large quantity of firearms including 132 live cartridges,126 rifles,two double barrel guns, 11 vehicles were recovered within the period under review.

    Among the suspects paraded was a 19-year old confessed killer teenager, Uyimwen Lawrence.

    Lawrence said he has killed two persons who are members of rival cult group and left others injured.

  • Woman hired assassins to kill ex-lover in Edo

    Woman hired assassins to kill ex-lover in Edo

    Men of the Edo State Police Command are on the trail of a lady who allegedly hired assassins to kill her ex-lover, Mr. Okundolor Omoruyi.

    Omoruyi, aged 39, was killed in May at Utagban quarters in Egor local government area few weeks after he arrived Nigeria from Italy.

    The lady whose identity was yet to be ascertained was said to have contracted the killers because she was jilted by the late Omoruyi.

    State Commissioner of Police, Haliru Gwandu, who paraded two suspects arrested in connection to the killing said another 18 years old girl was killed by the gang for recognizing one of them.

    He said a lady contracted the suspects to kill the Italian returnee.

    Gwandu assured that other suspects in the killing would soon be arrested.

    One of the suspect who gave his name as Odion Igbinogun gave the names of other fleeing suspects as Power and Moses.

    Odion said it was Power that pulled the trigger killing Omoruyi saying he was only asked to accompany them on the mission.

    He said the deal to kill Omoruyi was sealed at a bar but he could not recognized the lady that gave out the job.

    According to him, “My friend put me into this problem. He said I should follow them somewhere. When we got to a shop, he said I should collect the apron from the seller. I didn’t know how much was in the apron.

    “I later saw my friend brought out a gun and kill the girl. They later said we should go to another place where we killed the man.”

     

  • ASUU demands N2bn damages from Edo CP

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ambrose Alli University (AAU) chapter has asked the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Haliru Gwandu, to pay it the sum of N2bn as damages for allegedly making what it termed malicious and false statement against its members.

    It also demanded a public apology from Gwandu within seven days or face legal action.

    In a Demand Notice through its lawyer, Chief A. B. Thomas, ASUU-AAU said the public apology must be published in at least five national newspapers, and aired in three major television stations in the state.

    The demand notice said a press briefing by the CP was meant to ridicule and denigrate the entire ‘world class credentials of our clients’ in a malicious manner.”

    It would be recalled that Gwandu had in a press briefing denied that men of his anti-cult unit beat and harass Prof. Sunday Edeko, the Dean, Faculty of Law in AAU.

    Gwandu who displayed a letter of apology tendered by Prof. Edeko vowed to arrest and prosecute lecturers in the university found to be sponsoring cult activities in the university.

    He also paraded arms and ammunition recovered from a lecturer in the university and said headless bodies were recovered from a site in Ekpoma after a cult war.

  • Three killed in renewed cult war in Edo

    Three killed in renewed cult war in Edo

    Three persons including a cripple have been shot dead at Iduowina and Iguosa communities in Ovia North East local government in a renewed cult war in Edo State.

    Two were killed at Iguosa community while the third was killed at Iduowina while taking his bath.

    Mother of one of the victim identified as Sunny, Roseline Igunwe, said her son was killed after he returned from his poultry farm.

    She stated she heard gunshots and ran out to lock her gates when a boy came that it was her son that was shot dead.

    The victim father was said to have died last month and was yet to be buried.

    At Iduowina, an eyewitness who gave his Ogbeide, said the victim was in the bathroom when six gunmen stormed the building and chased him out.

    Ogbeide said the victim was shot twice until the attackers caught up with him and used battle axe to hack him to death.

    Police Commissioner, Haliru Gwandu, could not be reached for comments.

     

  • ASUU demands transfer of Edo CP

     

     

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma chapter, has called on the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to immediately transfer the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Haliru Gwandu.

    It said Edo State deserves a patriotic, resourceful and efficient policeman to lead the Nigerian Police Force in the state.

    ASUU also called on the IG to commence investigation of Gwandu and his activities in the state.

    The current face off between the Police Commissioner and authorities of AAU is coming after the dean, Faculty of Law, Professor Sunday Edeko, accused the police of illegal detention after brutalizing him with cutlasses and hammer.

    Gwandu who described Prof. Edeko’s allegation as tissues of lies announced the arrest of a Professor in the university for illegal possession of firearms.

    Chairman of the ASUU, AAU chapter, Dr. Monday Igbafen who spoke at a press briefing at Ekpoma yesterday accused the police Commissioner of blackmailing the university instead of investigating activities of his anti-cultism unit.

    Dr. Igbafen said investigation showed that one Dr. Oboh in the Department of Public Administration was arrested in February and later released without the police making a formal report to the university management.

    Igbafen wondered why the CP would use the arrest of a lecturer arrested in February to blackmail the university over an issue that happened in March.

    He challenged the CP to show the world the site where 14 dead bodies were recovered in Ekpoma.

    His words, “As a union, our members used to take Police briefing as a serious business. But from this Gwandu macabre dance, we know better and have resolved to take any briefing by the police with a pinch of salt.

    “Gwandu’ story is not only spurious and unfounded but a calculated attempt to bring our university to public odium. It is a clever attempt to cover up a lingering case of unwarranted arrest and unjustifiable brutalizations Prof. Edeko.”

  • Edo CP’s claim on lecturer’s arrest false, embarrassing – Varsity

    Management of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma has demanded an apology from the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Haliru Gwandu, over claims that arms and ammunition were recovered from some lecturers in the university.

    The institution threatened to institute legal action against the police commissioner if the apology was not tendered.

    A statement signed by Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr. Edward Aihevba, debunked all the claims made by Gwandu as “totally false and embarrassing.”

    The statement said the institution has not recorded any cult-related activities since the inception of the administration of Prof. Ignatius Onimawo.

    It said there was no report from the Police Force or any individual or groups about any incident of cultism or cult-related activities.

    The institution said, “The Police Commissioner and his team could not have arrested any staff of the university, or found 14 students dead and not make a report, formal or informal, to the authorities of Ambrose Alli University.

    “The police commissioner, by his pronouncement has opened the way for damaging and libelous display of falsehood in the social media.

    “We want to assure the general public that there is and there has been peace within and around the university environment.  There is no cult activity and no death of any student in the university.

    “Currently, the first semester examinations are going on in a peaceful manner and students are going about their academic duties peacefully.”