The Nation Newspaper

Tag: held

  • Suspected child kidnappers held

    Three members of a dreaded kidnap gang who specialise in kidnapping rich men’s kids have been arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos State Police Command.

    The suspects, who were paraded in Lagos yesterday, are: Olalekan Benjamin Faniran, 30; Gbenga Sholaja, 31, and Samson Shomorin, 29.

    The Deputy Police Public Relations Officer (DPPRO), Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Chukwuma Ozoani, said: “On July 9, 2013 at about 1am, the Igando Divisional Police Officer received information about a gang of suspected kidnappers living at 12, Olowojeunjeje Street, Egan in Igando. He swiftly mobilised his anti-robbery operatives who stormed the place and arrested Olalekan and transferred the case to SARS for discreet investigation.

    “During interrogation at SARS Scorpion House, the suspect confessed and mentioned some of his gang members as Gbenga and Samson, who are based at Alagbado in Lagos and Owode Ijako, Ogun State. SARS operatives led by Superintendent of Police (SP) Abba Kyari swung into action and arrested the two suspects on September 29 at their hide-outs. They all confessed to the kidnap of three children – one from Omole Phase One, Kola from the Alagbado area and the third in Owode Ijako in Ogun State for which various ransoms were collected from their parents ranging from N20,000 to N160, 000. It was also revealed that Olalekan is a jail-bird who was imprisoned for kidnapping children from their homes or on their way to school last year.”

    Olalekan said his first attempt at kidnapping in 2009 earned him imprisonment. Gbenga, who said he is a graduate of Economics, said he read about Olalekan in a national newspaper when he was jobless. He said he called him on phone to partner him on a kidnap job. “We usually go for fresh boys,” he said.

    Samson said: “My role is to carry fresh boys either from his parents’ houses or on their way to school. I kidnapped one boy, David at Omole Grammar School. I also kidnapped another boy, Emmanuel as he was coming back from school. We beg for pardon and promise not to kidnap again. I feel bad now that I’m arrested.”

  • ‘PHCN equipment vandals’ held in Ondo

    The police have arrested two suspects for allegedly vandalising a 300KVA electricity transformer in Pele, Ondo State.

    Ojo Abiodun (21) and Oladiran Olawale (29) were arrested around 6am on Saturday while allegedly trying to escape with their loot in a Golf taxi painted in the state’s commercial colour, marked Lagos EU 199 KRD.

    Electricity cables, transformer winding coil, laminated cord, feeder pillar, laminating sheets, two 50-litre jerry cans filled with transformer oil were recovered from the suspects.

    Also recovered were several bottles of liquor, pliers, knives, torch, spanner and a substance suspected to be cannabis.

    It was learnt that two other suspects escaped on a motorcycle.

    The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Funbi Fagun Police Division, Mr. Emmanuel Okorie, said the suspects would be arraigned as soon as investigation is concluded.

    The taxi conveying the suspects has been impounded.

    Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) spokesman Mr. Orghale Eduziare lamented several cases of vandalism in the community.

    He hailed the police for arresting the suspects and urged the people to always protect public property.

     

  • Suspected notorious robbery kingpin held

    Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos, had a major harvest yesterday. They arrested the leader of a notorious robbery gang that had been terrorising Lagos and South West states.

    It was gathered that the suspect, Abiodun Ogunjobi, aka ‘Abbey Godogodo,’ was caught when the SARS operatives who had long been on his trail at his Egbeda, Ibadan, Oyo State home. The operatives were there for three weeks before they finally got at him, recovering two Ak47 rifles and 10 fully-loaded magazines.

    It was further gathered that the suspect was behind the July 7 gruesome murder of seven persons at O4 Hotel, Ajah area of Lagos, including its owner, Olanrewaju Subair.

    They also allegedly killed two security guards at a popular hotel, along Apapa Road, Ebute-Metta on the same day.

    Police sources disclosed that Godogodo escaped arrest on July 14 after his gang’s shoot-out with the SARS operatives on the Eko Bridge, Lagos Island, after killing two policemen at Ebute-Ero and Ajao Estate respectively.

    A police source said Godogodo had coordinated several bank robberies in Kwara, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti and Osun states, adding: “He is the biggest and most notorious armed robber we’ve had in the South West in the past 14 years.  We arrested him 11am today in his Olowu area of Egbeda, Ibadan mansion. Godogodo has killed over 50 policemen and many civilians… we have been arresting many of his boys, but he kept on recruiting to replace those arrested. Our officer, Abba Kyari changed his strategy and focused on him because without getting at him, his gang would continue to regenerate. This is a great victory for the Nigeria Police and Lagosians and South West in particular.”

    The 36-year-old suspect, who is a native of Abeokuta, Ogun State, confessed to reporters:”I started robbery in 1996 and in 1999 I was charged with fighting. I spent more than seven years in prison. My prolonged stay in prison for minor crime of fighting hardened me and I vowed to pay back the police for that injustice. After I was released, I went to Gatangwa in Iyana-Ipaja area of Lagos to meet my armed robber friend, Odun, who was arrested by the police recently at O4 Hotel in Ajah.

    “We started operating. We worked with several other gangs and I invested my loot in arms buying. I also built five houses in Ifo, Ilaro, Ikorodu and Ibadan. I usually kill policemen and take their rifles because policemen killed several of my boys and took most of my rifles from them. I have no regrets for all I have done I have no advice for young people who wants to become armed robbers like me. I have three children from three women. The police should take all my properties.” Commissioner of Police Umar Manko has ordered for his treatment before he would be tried at the court.

  • Four ‘pipeline vandals’ held

    FOUR suspected pipeline vandals have been arrested by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Special Task Force on Anti-Pipeline Vandalism, Force Headquarters Annex, Lagos.

    The suspects – Ismailia Adetoro, 40; Raufu Odoniyi, 39; Oyedeji Salim, 22, and Tobi Olalekan, 25, were arrested at Sagamu, Ogun State.

    It was learnt that a truck marked XP453SMK, containing 33,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), was also impounded.

    Assistant Commissioner (ACP) Friday Ibadin, who is in charge of the Task Force, said that on June 27, that there were reports that the suspects were siphoning petroleum products from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipelines.

    Policemen, led by Sector Commander Onaghise Osayande, he said, hit the scene and arrested the suspects, while they were about to leave the spot after loading their truck.

    “Ismailia, popularly known as “commissioner,” had been on our “wanted list.” Investigations revealed that while he was assisting the police to track down vandals, he was also actively involved in pipeline vandalism,” Ibadin said.

    Ismailia said he went back into the crime when police failed to review his compensation as their informant, adding: “The truth is that I am a family man with so many responsibilities. My vulcanizing business was no longer booming; this was why I decided to reconsider going back to the same business.”

    Olalekan, who pleaded for mercy, said he was lured into the business because of the easy money accruing from it.

  • Man held for ‘raping’ varsity student

    A man, who allegedly kidnapped and raped a 22-year-old female undergraduate of the University of Lagos, Akoka, for refusing to date him, has been arrested by the police.

    The suspect, Babajide Bashorun, also 22, is a dog breeder. He was said to have raped the student, took pictures of her nudity and posted them on the Internet, with the victim’s academic details.

    The Nation learnt that the victim was unaware of the development until her colleagues told her.

    The matter was reported at the Adeniji Adele Police station from where operatives moved to arrest Bashorun.

    Detectives are also hunting for two undergraduates of the university – Aje Mayowa and Babajide Ademuyiwa – both 400 level students of Architecture, for their alleged complicity.

    Narrating her ordeal, the girl (names withheld), said: “Jide came to our house to treat our dog. He asked for my Black Berry pin and phone numbers, which I gave him because I saw him as a friend. When he suddenly said he wanted to date me, I told him that I already had somebody that I love. But he insisted.

    “I deleted him from my BB and phone. I was returning home for the weekend one day, when a car drove and blocked me at Idumota bus stop. Jide was in the car. When I saw Jide, I hissed and made to walk away. He held my hand, dragged me closer and showed me a gun under the waist band of his trousers. He dragged me into the car and took me to his house. He started beating me and tore my clothes. He and his friend raped me.”

    She recounted further: “He asked me to unlock my phone. My password is my boyfriend’s name. He started beating me again because I used my boy friend’s name as my password. He gave me his phone to speak with his cultist friends. They threatened to kill me. He hit my head and back with a bottle. When he wanted to take my picture, I tried to cover my face, but he started beating me again. He took different shots. When I was bleeding, he begged me, that he didn’t know what came over him. His friend, had left.”

    “I cried. He asked me for what I would eat, I said I was not hungry. He did not allow me call my mother. I begged him to delete my nude pictures, but I guessed he didn’t. He covered my face with a shirt. In the morning, he made to get me some drugs.

    “I was surprised that the door was unlocked … I ran out. When I got home, my brother saw blood on me. I told him I had an accident and told my mother I fought with a fellow student, who used to smoke Indian hemp.”

    “When Jide discovered I had escaped, he called and said if I told anybody, he would kill me. Because he is a cult member, I didn’t. His friends also threatened me.”

    The girl’s mother said: “When Jide discovered that we had been informed of the crime, he threatened that he and his co-cultists would come to burn our house down! We couldn’t sleep. We embarked on a vigil.”

    Bashorun said: “She is my girlfriend. We fought in April and settled. I have begged her and she has forgiven me. What happened in April was that she asked me for money, that she wanted to buy I-Pad. The costs is about N100,000. She was always asking for money. And I always tried my best to satisfy her.

    “I raised about N70,000 for her. She came to my house to collect the money. I told her to desist from going to clubs for prostitution. We fought. I used floor mop to hit her back. I took her pictures, sent them to my friend, but I didn’t tell him to distribute them on the Internet.”

    Bashorun was charged to Tinubu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos lsland before Magistrate A.O Awogboro on a six-count charge of kidnapping, rape, conspiracy, attempted murder, indecent assault, and assault occasioning harm.

    He pleaded not guilty. He was granted bail with three sureties in the sum of N250, 000 each. The case was adjoined till July 10.

  • Man held for ‘sleeping with daughter’

    A 57-year-old man has been arrested by operatives of the Bar Beach Police Station on Victoria Island, Lagos for allegedly sleeping with his daughter.

    The girl, a Primary 5 pupil, broke down on Monday as she told the story of how her, father had been sleeping with her with a warning not to tell anybody.

    She said her mother just brought her back to her father after many years of separation, adding that since the incestuous act began, her father had been giving her N200 daily as compensation.

    The girl said because she could no longer continue the act with her father, she confided in her mother during one of her visits. She said her mother dismissed her claim.

    “My mother said my father could not bring himself that low as having carnal knowledge of his biological daughter,” she explained.

    The bubble, burst after she told her head-teacher, who subsequently invited the police to investigate the matter.

    She said: “When I was reunited with my father, I was happy because I had been living with an aunt in the village since my parents separated. He usually told me that I would take the place of my mother in his life since my mother had divorced him. I did not know what he meant until he started having carnal knowledge of me at night.

    “At a point, I got tired and insulted him. Then, he started beating me and changed to me. He would beat me, strip me naked and have his way whenever he wanted. When I attempted to scream, he would hit me harder and cover my mouth. He later apologised and told me he would buy me a car. All I want at the moment is for my father to be punished for what he has done to me.”

    The suspect dismissed the allegation, saying he only beat his daughter when he discovered that she was into a clandestine relationship with an unnamed man.

    Police sources said he was charged to the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, where he was ordered remanded in prison custody until his bail application would be considered.

  • Fake army officer held in Lagos

    A fake army officer who specialised in snatching cars in Lagos, has been arrested, police chief Umar Manko said yesterday.

    Manko said the suspect, who is widely known as “Lt. Sule” in his neighbourhood, was arrested in his girlfriend’s house at Ogudu, a Lagos suburb, following a tip-off.

    The suspect’s arrest followed series of complaints about car snatching by residents, who claimed that the syndicate was led by an army officer.

    Manko said operatives from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) arrested the suspect after a manhunt.

    He said four pairs of army uniforms with different badges of various ranks, two army identification cards and boots were recovered from the suspect.

    Other items recovered from him include a Honda Civic car marked PQ 786 KJA and Honda CRV Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) with registration naumber BU 277 FST, which were stolen in Lagos and Imo states.

    Manko said investigations revealed that the suspect had never enlisted in the Nigerian Army, adding that he was just a member of a criminal syndicate that wanted to tarnish the image of the security institutions.

    He urged the public to promptly report such criminals to the Police, promising that his command would strive to reduce crime to the barest minimum.

  • 74 suspects held for Lagos chief’s ‘murder‘

    The police in Lagos State have arrested 74 suspects in connection with last Thursday’s murder of a Lagos chief, Chief Kayode Adeshina Onimole.

    Onimole was killed in his palace at Iga Iduganran in Isale-Eko.

    Police spokesman Chukwuma Ozoani confirmed the arrest yesterday.

    He said 73 suspects are being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba.

    Ozoani said one of the suspects was arrested on Saturday during the deceased’s funeral service at the Ebute Ero Anglican Church.

    He said: “The police have started investigating the gruesome murder of Onimole and we made about 74 arrests. We arrested this large number because we are looking at all angles on the possible cause of his murder. “We do not want to leave any stone unturned, so we are looking at the case from a broader perspective. In order not to jeopardise investigations, we cannot disclose all we know, but be assured that we will fish out the culprits and free the innocent.”

  • Sergeant, dismissed corporal held for extortion

    THE X-Squad, a special team of the Lagos State Police Command, yesterday arrested a dismissed corporal and a spy sergeant who have been under watch.

    Bolatunde Alabi, the dismissed corporal, and Spy Sergeant Patrick Udoh were said to have been involved in extortion and illegally escorting car snatchers and stolen goods.

    They were paraded in Lagos Police Commissioner Umaru Manko’s office by the Officer-in-charge of X-Squad, Chief Superintendent (CSP) Kola Okunlola.

    Okunlola said Alabi and Udoh were arrested inside the same vehicle.

    According to him, Alabi boarded a commercial bus going to Sango-Ota in Ogun State from Oshodi. His men arrested Alabi when the bus parked at Ile-Epo Bus Stop to pick a passenger.

    Udoh, who was in the bus, stirred suspicion because he was improperly dressed. He was arrested for questioning and was discovered to be on the wanted list. He would parade himself as a general duty officer to extort money from people.

    Alabi, 33, said he served for three years in MOPOL 16 Oluwuda Post at Abeokuta before he was dismissed for stealing the armourer’s mobile telephone handset. He said he never suspected that the X-squad operatives were monitoring him.

    “One of my gang members even told me that the Commissioner of Police had ordered the squad to track down policemen reportedly parading themselves on Oshodi-Abeokuta Expressway, I doubted it, thinking that it was only the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) that are after dangerous criminals,” he said.

    “We have been operating successfully until yesterday when an operative of the X-Squad ordered me to come down from a commercial bus that wanted to park and pick a passenger at Ile-Epo market area. I was later taken to Police Headquarters, Ikeja and that is why I am here.

    “I am a dismissed police corporal and I used my uniform to help myself. I escort smuggled goods, help snatchers to pass difficult areas but I have never used arms. I gave them my arms and uniform when I was dismissed. I bought these uniforms later.”

    Udoh said he enlisted in the police in September 1991 at the Police Training School (PTS) Calabar, Cross River State, at 28.

    “I was later posted to Railway Lagos where I was promoted corporal for my gallantry. I have served for 22 years. My salary is N60,000. I am 40 years old; I am from Ikot Abasi in Akwa Ibom,” he said, adding that his last operation fetched him “N500 recharge card”.

    “Sorry sir, I want to confess; I am not a conventional police officer. I am not a general-duty police officer. I am a spy. I was merely looking for money to feed my family in Lagos. I will not do it again. Please tell O/C X-Squad to release me. I promise not to use police uniform to commit crimes.”

  • Varsity student, five others held for ‘kidnapping’

    Varsity student, five others held for ‘kidnapping’

    A final-year student of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye in Ogun State, Adeyinka Adesina and five others were arrested yesterday by the police for allegedly abducting Mr. Aremu Oluwasogo from his Ijebu-Ode home.

    Bode Kolawole, Seun Obakoya (27), Adesina Adeyinka, Biodun Ajomale and Segun Samuel allegedly trailed Oluwasogo from his office to his home in Iwesi quarters, Ijebu-Ode, around 8pm last Thursday and “kidnapped” him at gun point.

    They allegedly took him to their hideout at Ajobo in Odeda Local Government Area.

    While the suspects were working out how to collect part payment of the N25 million ransom demanded from the victim’s family, men of the State Vigilance Service got wind of their hideout and alerted the police.

    The police and the vigilance team stormed the suspects’ den and arrested them, freeing their captive.

    Narrating his experience, Oluwasogo said the kidnappers collected his car key and forced him into the car boot before driving away.

    He said: “They stopped at a filling station to fill the car tank and continued to an unknown destination. When we arrived at their den, I was tortured and asked to make a call to my family. The gang leader, Kolawole, demanded N25 million ransom.

    “They threatened to kill me if my family failed to pay the ransom within 24 hours. After much pleading, they reduced the ransom to N5 million. I told my family to sell my house and valuables to raise the ransom.

    “They tied my hand and fed me bread, soft drink and water. A member of the gang told me that their leader, who happened to be one of my customers, planned the kidnap.”

    Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said: “The police noticed the gang around Odeda and followed them. We later arrested them at their hideout with the help of men of the vigilance service.

    “The case will be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Eleweran. We are happy to have made the arrest. This shows that the police are doing everything necessary to rid Ogun of kidnappers.”