The Nation Newspaper

Tag: held

  • Hotel worker held for ‘attempted robbery’

    Hotel worker held for ‘attempted robbery’

    A 24-year-old man Chimezie Osuagwu has been arrested by the Lagos State Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for allegedly conspiring with a friend, Austin Chukwuemeka, now at large, to rob his company’s accountant.

    Osuagwu, an employee of Royal Bliss Hotel in Lagos, allegedly conspired with Chukwuemeka area to rob the hotel’s accountant of workers’ salaries.

    According to the Police, Osuagwu, at a time, complained about his poor pay to Chukwuemeka, threatening to resign, but his friend prevailed on him not to, saying things will be better.

    “The salaries cannot solve reasonable problem even if I work for 20 years there,” Osuagwu reportedly told his friend.

    On the day he was arrested, Osuagwu after a rendezvous with Chukwuemeka, told him of a plan to rob his firm’s accountant.

    The police said: “The accountant had collected the money to pay workers salaries and the duo planned to snatch the money from him with a toy gun. Chukwuemeka produced the toy gun. When they got near the gate, he put the gun in Osuagwu’s bag and they entered. As they were approaching the accountant’s office, he gave the gun to Osuagwu. When they entered, Osuagwu pointed the gun at the accountant. As the accountant screamed ‘Ole Ole’ meaning thief, thief,’ fear gripped Osuagwu and he dropped the gun. Chukwuemeka got disappointed and ran away. He tried to run after him but it was too late. The workers had surrounded him and arrested him; they beat him and handed him over to the police.

    Osuagwu said he dropped the gun because “I lost courage.”

  • Enyimba held by Lobi 1-1

    Enyimba held by Lobi 1-1

    Enyimba International Football Club were forced to a 1-1 draw by Lobi Stars Football Club at the refurbished Apa Aku Stadium yesterday.

    Moses Bunde was the only player in Lobi Stars’ starting 11 who had played a league match on the old turf of the Aper Aku Stadium.

    Former UNICEM Rovers goalkeeper, Agbor Ekoi made his first start for the Pride of Benue.

    Former Nasarawa United defender Babatunde Solomon was handed his debut by the People’s Elephants, while bulky striker Ebenezer Odeyemi wasn’t listed for the second time.

    The opening periods saw Lobi Stars winning three corners, but all were futile.

    Enyimba skipper Chinedu Udoji defended massively for the visitors. He successfully stopped the attacking threats of the duo of Obioma Arinze and Emmanuel Ajia within minutes. The game that failed to record goals in the opening 42 minutes was finally alive.

    Left-back Idris Aloma put Enyimba ahead in the 43rd minute, before Ihuarulam equalised for the hosts from the penalty spot at added time of the first half.

    Efforts by both teams to score in the second half proved abortive as the match ended 1-1.

  • Lotto agent, others held for alleged robbery

    Lotto agent, others held for alleged robbery

    A 26-year-old former Lotto Agent, Gbolahan Lawal, has been arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for alleged robbery. He was arrested with two others, Monday Obebe, 28, and Benette Kwam, 20, (a Ghanaian).

    Three others are still at large.

    The three suspects, according to the police, are members of a six-man gang, that specialises in snatching vehicles and house-to-house robbery in Ijora, Ikorodu, Bariga, Oworonshoki of Lagos state.

    They were arrested at Ijora Seven Up on January 17, following a robbery at Bariga where  the snatched a car.  SARS operatives tracked them down and recovered four guns used in the operation.

    The suspects, were paraded before reporters yesterday. Lawal said:  “I am single and I live with my sister at Ijora.  I was a Lotto agent before I joined armed robbery gang.  I am from Adegbayi area in Oyo State.

    “That fateful day, we went for armed robbery operation we were six in number.  We all met at Bariga at about 1.30pm, we used four guns.  I collected the one I used from a cult boy named  Yusuf. I have participated in five armed robbery operations in Ajah, Orile, Bariga twice and Oworonshoki.  We snatched cars and collected phones, laptops and money.”

    Obebe said.  “I am from Igbokoda Village in Ilaje area of Ondo State. I am a plumber and I reside in Ijora. I left plumbing for armed robbery because I was no longer getting plumbing jobs; I started with street boys who engaged in street fighting.  We used street fighting to loot shops and rob people.”

    Kwam said: “ I am a foreigner I came from Takwarade town in Ghana, I went into sand loading when I came to Bariga, Nigeria.  It was the boys in Ilaje, Bariga that told me that they can get any type of car or jeep for me to sell if I can go into selling stolen vehicles.  I decided to settle in Cotonou and Ghana, because I knew the environment better there. When they bring the stolen car I pay them reasonable amount but I don’t sell the vehicle to Nigerians and I don’t change, the engine number, chassis numbers and plate numbers.  You don’t need vehicle document to sell stolen vehicle on Ghana, Cotonou and Seme area.  Initially I used to arrange robbery against yahoo boys because they are very stingy but when I discovered that the gang members were cheating me I started going to rob with them.  If I see any of them with cash up to N10, 000 we storm his house in the night and rob him.”

  • Four criminals held in Anambra

    THE joint military team set up by Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano yesterday arrested four suspected criminals.

    It also recovered bags of substance suspected to be Cannabis Sativa (Indian Hemp), estimated at 100 kilogrammes.

    The operation is part of Governor Obiano’s initiative to rid the state of criminals.

    The team comprises the Army, Navy, Police, Department of Security Services and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

    They stormed a hideout near the Old Motor Car Spare Parts (Mgbuka) Market, Obosi, near Onitsha about noon.

    But the suspects, on sighting the team, ran away. Five of them were tracked down, while others escaped into a nearby bush.

    One of the suspects turned out to be a passerby. He was later released.

    A principal suspect, who identified himself as Chibuzor Echendu, from Imo State, told reporters he was a major distributor of Indian hemp, adding that Samuel Nonso, another suspect, was once his apprentice.

    Some of the residents of Mgbuka Obosi market hailed Governor Obiano for setting up the team and urged him to sustain the tempo.

    They regretted that some hoodlums attacked residents on that same spot and urged the team not to harass and intimidate law-abiding citizens.

    Grand commander of the team and Deputy Commissioner of Police Agyole Abeh told reporters the operation started about 10 days ago.

    Leader of Army team Captain Tukuru and his NDLEA counterpart, Ameh Inalegwu, said the operation would continue until criminals in the state were flushed out.

  • Fuel scarcity: Pipeline ‘vandal’ held as others flee

    The police have spoilt “business” for some suspected vandals who cashed in on the lingering fuel scarcity to burst a major Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline.

    They had allegedly vandalised the pipeline at a riverine location in Ogun State, where they stole petrol, which they sold to the public.

    Their dirty business ended during an encounter with operatives of the Inspector General of Police Special Task Force on Anti-Pipeline Vandalism Unit, Lagos Command. The men aborted a plot by the suspects to steal fuel from an NNPC pipeline at Ikate-Akute in Ogun State.

    It was gathered that the operatives engaged the suspects in a gun duel. They arrested one of them, Abey Daniel. The others fled, abandoning their equipment. Five wooden speed-boats and about 4000 empty 50-litre gallons were recovered from them.

    An Akute resident said: “Our area had been peaceful until the vandals visited. Shooting between them and the police lasted more than one hour. They (the suspects) were firing from the other side of the river. They later fled when they could no longer contain the fire-power of the policemen. That was when we assisted the police with our boats to ferry them across the river.”

    Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in charge of the Task Force, Friday Ibadin, said: “We got a tip-off that vandals had resumed their activities along Ikate-Akute in Ogun State from the NNPC. Policemen led by the newly posted Lagos Sector Commander, Samson Olawoyin, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), cordoned off the area and the vandals opened fire. When they realised that their game was up, they fled. The boat containing countless numbers of 50-litre gallons was destroyed, while one of the suspects was arrested.

    “There have been several attempts by vandals to operate, but our men who are always on ground stopped them. We are quite aware that those boys who knew the desperation of Nigerians for fuel would want to cash in on it. Hence, we fortified the areas.”

    Remorseful Daniel said: “We did it to help Nigerians to get fuel. We were sure that before the police would reach us, we would have disappeared. There is high demand for fuel in Lagos and buyers are paying good money, especially operators of filling stations.  I wasn’t armed and cannot swim; so, I hid in the bush. I was on my way back home when the police traced me through my phone that I left at the scene. Now, I ask for mercy. “

    However, the vandals’ activities may not end soon as another round of scarcity of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) looms. Reason: There is a report of shortage of the product in Apapa depots, worsening queues of vehicles at most filling stations, while others are under lock and key.

    Spokesman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association, South-West Zone, Comrade Tayo Aboyeji, said over 800 fuel tankers are currently stranded in Lagos owing to the unavailability of the product in Apapa depot. He said the influx of more fuel tankers had exacerbated traffic obstruction in Apapa axis despite the presence of a special taskforce comprising men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).

    “Some of the tanker drivers are also on hunger strike as most of them who arrived about five days ago waiting to load had been out of cash to feed and are now begging for food in Lagos as they did not expect to spend up to two days,” Aboyeji said.

  • Injured ‘robbers’ held in Lagos hospital

    Two of the injured robbery suspects who escaped after a gun battle with the police in the Ogijo-Sagamu area of Ogun State have been arrested while receiving treatment in a Lagos hospital two days after the encounter.

    The suspects, Oladeji Sherif and Akinbami Owode, are still receiving treatment in the hospital and will be taken to the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigations before their prosecution in court.

    The Nation gathered that the Anti Crime Patrol unit of the Ogijo Divisional Headquarters led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr Toyin Afolaogun, arrested the two fleeing suspects.

    Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said: “The suspects were injured following a fierce gun duel between the police and the hoodlums on Thursday in Ogijo and this left one of the robbers dead after the battle; while the hoodlums took away a police rifle from an injured police corporal.”

    Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) added that the officer’s rifle was recovered with additional three local pistols and other offensive weapons from the hoodlums by Afolaogun with the help of the public.

    “The aggressive investigation launched by the Commissioner of Police Mr. Ikemefuna Okoye into the incident that occurred at Ogijo in Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State led to the discovery and arrest of these suspects, who were on danger list, on Saturday around 7am, while receiving treatment in a Lagos hospital.

    He said all arrested robbery suspects and hoodlums in Ogun State would face the full wrath of the law.

  • Deposed Oyo chief held for ‘murder’

    Deposed Oyo chief held for ‘murder’

    The deposed Baale of Agudu in Oyo State, Molike Ogunsanya, and two others have been arrested by the police for allegedly killing Saheed Ogundele (25) last Thursday.

    Ogunsanya was deposed by the Olubadan and replaced with Chief Tajudeen Adeyemo.

    Police spokesperson Olabisi Clet-Ilobanafor said the suspects, who are being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Iyaganku, Ibadan, would be charged to court when the police conclude their investigation.

    It was learnt that the late Ogundele was on a motorcycle with two of his friends when a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) parked in front of them.

    Mr. Yemi Onifade, who was riding the motorcycle, said: “The SUV parked in front of us and its four occupants ordered us not to move. Suddenly, thugs overwhelmed us, wielding cutlasses and axes. One of them dragged Ogundele down from the motorcycle.

    “We were still at a fix, when one baba (Ogunsanya), who sat in front of the SUV holding a gun, shot at us. I and the third person (Mr. Jide Adewale) ran into the bush. Later, we heard Ogundele crying aloud for help. When Adewale and I came out of hiding, we found Ogundele rolling on the ground and bleeding. We took him to Akanran Police Station and some policemen accompanied us to Bembo Hospital, where the doctor told us he was dead.”

    It was gathered that Ogunsanya and some members of the community were fighting over a parcel of land.

     

     

     

     

  • Banker held for alleged N50m fraud

    An account officer with GT Homes has been arrested by operatives of the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) in Ikoyi, Lagos, for allegedly using fake authorisation to defraud a customer of over N50million.

    The suspect, Adeola Olokojobi, was arrested following a petition to the Commissioner of Police in charge of the SFU, Mr Tunde Ogunsakin, by the customer.

    The petitioner had alleged that his account officer had not been forthcoming with his account balances, adding that the balance given to him was at variance with what he actually had in the account.

    Ogunsakin said before the alleged fraud was reported to the SFU, the bank’s internal investigation into the account showed a forged instruction by the account officer in April, transferring N15million into an unknown customer’s account.

    “Also, the bank discovered other various fraudulent withdrawals made by the account officer from other customers’ accounts in his care through fake transfer instructions amounting to over N50million,” Ogunsakin added.

    Olokojobi (31), was paraded by SFU’s spokesperson, Ngozi Isintume-Agu, a Deputy Superintendent on Tuesday.

    The suspect, a graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Banking & Finance, according to Isintume-Agu, confessed to the crime.

    “I used the money to finance my political campaign, a proposed pure water factory and the purchase of an uncompleted building at Sango-Ota, Ogun State,” he said.

    Isintume-Agu said arrangements were being made to arraign Olokojobi in court soon.

  • Five held for girl’s murder in Jos

    Five people have been arrested by the police in Plateau State for allegedly killing an 11-year-old girl in Fillin-Sukwa, Jos North Local Government Area.

    The suspects were alleged to have removed some parts of the victim for rituals.

    She was reportedly lured into an uncompleted building by the suspects.

    An eyewitness, Abubakar Tanko, who claimed to be one of those who apprehended the suspects, said: “We saw the girl’s grandmother and two other girls arguing with one of the suspects.

    “The grandmother had earlier told us that she had sent the girl to buy masa (local snack) for their breakfast around 7:30am on Friday but the girl never returned.

    “The masa seller said the girl left but returned to buy masa for Auwalu Ajanguwa.”

    Tanko said Ajanguwa claimed to have seen Nafiu going up the hill with the girl, but after a search around the hills, the girl and Nafiu were not found.

    Her body was discovered the next day, with her eyes and tongue missing.

    Another eyewitness, Habibu Nakande, said: “We found her in one of the uncompleted buildings in the area after arresting Nafiu on Friday evening at 4:35 pm.”

    Tanko said Ajanguwa’s arrest led to the arrest of Nafiu, Rabiu alias Rabson and one other person.

    It was gathered that the suspects claimed to have been paid N300,000 for the supply of the human parts by Alhaji Aminu, a shoe seller in Jos, who is also said to be in police custody.

    Police spokesman Felicia Anselm confirmed the arrest, saying investigation was on.

  • Man held for 10-year-old cousin’s death

    The police in Osun State have arrested a 26-year-old man, Rafiu Idowu, for allegedly raping and killing his 10-year-old cousin, Tawa Bilawu.

    Idowu allegedly committed the crime around 4:30pm at his home in Ile-Ogbo, Osun State, on November 4. He allegedly suffocated the victim by holding her neck tightly.

    The suspect’s confessional statement reads: “I was born and brought-up in Lagos. I attended Oloye Primary School in Ijora, Lagos. Thereafter, I attended United Secondary School, Apapa. I dropped out of secondary school when I was in SS1.

    “I dropped-out of school because my father died prematurely. I learnt how to repair motorcycle for six years under the care of my brother at Bida in Niger State.

    “Presently, I work at a concrete block industry at Ile-Ogbo. I am not married and I do not have a child. Tawa Bilawu is my first cousin. She came to my house on November 4 around 4:30pm. She met me at the passage and said she was running an errand for somebody.

    “She dragged me into my room and removed my trousers. We both got on the bed and she put my manhood inside her, but after about two minutes, she started shouting. I asked her why she was shouting but she continued, so I held her neck and nose and pressed them until she died. I also covered her mouth with my hand, so as not to alert my neighbours. Nobody heard her shouting.”

    Idowu denied being intimate with the late Tawa before the incident. He begged for forgiveness, saying her death was an accident.

    Idowu admitted that he had been smoking Indian Hemp for many years.

    Police spokesperson Sade Odoro said the suspect would be arraigned at the end of their investigation.