The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Inspector- General of Police (IGP)

  • ‘Why Igbonla pupils have not been rescued’

    ‘Why Igbonla pupils have not been rescued’

    …As another victim falls sick

     

    Parents of the six pupils kidnapped on May 25 from the Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, on May 25, have blamed the Inspector General of Police’ (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT) for the continued detention of their wards by militants.

    Yusuf Farouk, Ramon Isiaka, Pelumi Philips, Peter Jonas, Adebanjo George and Judah Agbaosi were kidnapped from their hostels by militants clad in police uniforms.

    The parents said the publicity given the arrest of three suspected members of the gang picked up in Edo State by Abba Kyari led IRT made the kidnappers to relocate the boys to a creek in Niger Delta.

    According to the parents, the police have forgotten about their children and were more interested in celebrating the capture of kingpin, Chukwudumeje George Onwuamadike alias Evans.

    The parents, who said they have resorted to prayer and fasting for the return of their wards, expressed worries that it might turn to another Chibok saga.

    Egelu Endurance, 25 alias Jubby, Stanley Yomi Irabomini, 25, (Powei) and Bentel Endurance, 24, all from Ovia South Local Government Area   (LGA) were said to have left the creeks for Benin City in order to check the locations they planned to move the victims before they were caught.

    Knowing that their cover was blown, those in the creek changed plans and allegedly moved the victims in a creek in Ondo State, which was inaccessible to security forces.

    A parent who confirmed that the kidnappers collected N10million but failed to release the pupils, said they were insisting on communications with the government.

    He said the kidnappers after collecting the N10million, contacted one of the parents demanding that the balance be remitted or the pupils would be killed.

    He said: “The police should be held responsible if anything should happen to our children. We were shocked when we read in the newspapers that three of the suspects have been arrested. How can the police, knowing that our children were still held by the kidnappers announce the arrest of some gang members?

    “What did they want to achieve with that announcement? Now, the kidnappers have relocated the children, collected our N10million and switched off their phones. Is it because we are not rich people?

    “How can they in the middle of an investigation reveal that they arrested some members of the gang. What were they hoping to achieve? Were they expecting the gang to remain in their hideout given the arrest of some of their members?

    “We are still running around, hoping they would call again so that we can tell them how far we have gone.

    It was gathered that some senior police officers officers were also unhappy with the way Kyari exposed news of the arrest, when the pupils were still held captive.

    The officers, it was learnt, condemned the bridge of protocols employed by Kyari, describing it as unprofessional.

    Meanwhile, it was gathered that another pupil took ill and was taken out of the camp for treatment.

    According to a police source, they were not giving up on the rescue of the students and arrest of the kidnappers.

    He said IGP Ibrahim Idris has already placed a bounty on the gang leader’s head, Americana, adding that the Lagos State Command has been directed to intensify efforts towards getting the pupils unhurt.

    In a related development, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone II, Adamu Ibrahim, during his visit to Government House, Alausa, assured that all hands were on deck to ensure the safe return of the pupils.

    He said: “Infact very soon, you will hear good news on the issue. We are working seriously on it. At this stage, I will not want to disclose too much because these are security issues. I want to say that people should give us a chance and very soon, they will hear good news.”

     

  • Alleged threat to life: Let Kashamu submit self for investigation, IGP tells court

    Alleged threat to life: Let Kashamu submit self for investigation, IGP tells court

    …Court to rule June 6

     

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Wednesday told a Federal High Court in Abuja to direct Senator Buruji Kashamu (representing Ogun East Senatorial District) to submit himself for interrogation in relation to allegation of threat to life made against him by a House of Representatives member, representing Ikenne, Sagamu and Remo North Federal Constituency in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu.

    The IGP made the request while objecting to a suit by Kashamu, seeking among others, to restrain the Police and Department of State Services (DSS) from arresting and transporting him to the United States for trial on drug related offences.

    Adopting IGP’s written submissions Wednesday, David Igbodo, who represented the IGP, said the fundamental rights suit by Kashamu was intended to frustrate ongoing police investigation of the petitions by Adebutu and the applicant (Kashamu) in which they made allegations and counter-allegations against each other.

    He said Adebutu was the first to petition the IGP, accusing Kashamu of threatening his life in a hotel in Port-Harcourt. He said Kashamu equally filed a counter petition.

    Igbodo noted that while Adebutu has made statement to, and been interrogated by the investigating panel constituted by the IGP to investigate the petitions, Kashamu refused to, but instead filed the suit, alleging of plot to transport him to the US on drug related cases.

    Igbodo said: “Our contention is that the issue of drug has nothing to do with the incident that happened in Port Harcourt and on which the petitions being investigated relate. We urge this court to refuse this application and urge the applicant to make himself available to investigators to make his statement.”

    Lawyer to Adebutu, Ehi Uwaifo, argued in similar manner and urged the court to refuse Kashamu’s application and ask him to submit himself for interrogation in relation to allegations contained in the petition against him.

    Although the DSS was absent during proceedings, Igbodo drew the court’s attention to the counter affidavit it filed and its prayer that the court rejects Kashamu’s application, which the court adopted in the absence of any lawyer representing the DSS.

    Earlier while arguing his client’s case, Kashamu’s lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede urged the court to grant the prayers contained in the application.

    Oluyede said the complaint made by the 3rd respondent (Adebutu) against the applicant (Kashamu) has been dismissed by the Police, through a report signed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, to the effect that the complaint was found to be baseless.

    He said despite the fact that the police report showed that there is no basis for the arrest of the applicant any more, one Sergeant Tanko Mohammed, who is under the control of the IGP was still insisting that Kasahmu must appear before the investigating panel, which he (Mohammed) is a member.

    Oluyede, who noted that the DSS has said, in its counter-affidavit, that it was not part of the plot to arrest Kashamu, urged the court to hold the assertion as undertaking against the 2nd def (DSS) that they are not going to join the conspiracy to arrest the applicant.

    After the lawyers adopted their written submissions, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba adjourned to July 6 for judgment.

     

  • Police arrest five suspected militants, foil plots to rob banks

    Police arrest five suspected militants, foil plots to rob banks

    Attempts by suspected militants to attack several commercial banks in Lagos have been foiled by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

    This is just as four suspected members of notorious kidnapper, America’s gang and a guard attached to one of the banks have been arrested at the Ajah and Ikorodu areas of the state.

    The banks targeted, the police said were Zenith and First City Monument Bank (FCMB) in Lekki, as well as FCMB, Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB) and Keystone Banks in Ajah.

    It was gathered that the gang was behind last Thursday’s kidnap of six pupils of the Lagos State Model College, Igbonla.

    According to the police, Abiodun Olaroye (Gbeleju), 38, Ebipatgh Tuwei (Segun), 47, Benjamin Powei  (Ben), 42, Samuel Chinedu (Hitman), 30, and Samuel Innocent Ikechukwu (IK), 33, were arrested on May 30.

    While Olaroye, a native of Ode Kreme village, Tuwei and Powei of Arogbo, Ondo State, Chinedu was said to be an indigene of Delta State and Ikechukwu, the guard, was said to be from Abia.It was gathered that the suspects were picked up following credible intelligence and they confessed that plans have been perfected by the gang to attack five banks in the state.

    The police said Puwei confessed to have participated in the ambush that killed four policemen and an Army Captain. Their arrest, the police said, followed days of unrelenting tracking by the IRT.

    The four militants were said to have been sent by America from the creek to survey the banks and hire two operational buses that would be used to convey the criminals to and fro the river banks in the course of the attack.

    It was gathered that the banks were marked because of their proximity to river banks.” All suspects arrested confessed to the planned bank robberies and confirmed that they were sent by their boss in the creek, America, to survey the five banks together with the guard who tipped the militants off. ”

    They also said America fixed Wednesday June 1, for the attack, but his boys were arrested before then. The suspects are cooperating with detectives in the Investigation. Serious efforts to arrest the gang leader, other members and rescue the school children in progress

     

  • Igbonla kidnap: Police arrest three suspects in Edo

    Igbonla kidnap: Police arrest three suspects in Edo

    Three suspected members of the gang that kidnapped six pupils of Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, Epe, have been arrested by operatives of the Inspector General of Police’ (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT), The Nation learnt Wednesday.

    This is just as parents of the kidnapped pupils said they were yet to hear from the kidnappers, adding that the number militants used to contact them was no longer going through.

    Egelu Endurance, 25, alias Jubby, Stanley Yomi Irabomini (Powei) 25, and Bentel Endurance, 24, all from Ovia South LGA, were arrested Tuesday evening in Benin City, Edo State.

    It was gathered that IRT operatives led by Abba Kyari, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) arrested the three suspects who left the creek and went to Edo State to visit a gang member who was injured during gun battle with security forces.

    According to the police, the suspects confessed to have participated in several high profile kidnappings in the southern region.

    It was gathered that they conformed the location of the students to the police.

    A source said: “They confessed to have participated in various kidnappings of prominent personalities in Lagos and Ogun State including the Oniba of Iba, Turkish School, Isheri landlords and Epe School children.

    “The suspects claimed they came to Benin to see their injured colleague and also relax for a while before going back to the creek.”Serious efforts to arrest remaining gang members and rescue the school children in progress.”

     

  • Biafra Protest: IGP orders AIG, CPs to put personnel, equipment on red alert 

    Biafra Protest: IGP orders AIG, CPs to put personnel, equipment on red alert 

    …Warns group to rethink

     

     

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris has ordered that Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) in South Eastern states of the country put personnel and equipment on red alert ahead of planned protest by some Biafran groups.

    The Police also warned the groups; the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Biafra Independence Movement (BIM) and other like groups not to embark on its planned protest.

    The group which plans on embarking on a protest on the 30th of May has also ordered market closure and restrictions of vehicular movements.

    The Police said it sees the activities of the groups as unlawful, highly provocative and capable of causing breach of the peace currently being enjoyed in the South East States and other States of the Federation.

    This is contained in a statement in Abuja Friday by the Force Spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood.

    The statement reads: “The Nigeria Police Force is deeply concerned with the security implications with regards to the renewed hostilities and subversive propagandas aimed at undermining law and order in some States of the Federation by these groups, their associates, sponsors, apologists and sympathizers.

    “Consequently, the Commissioners of Police in the affected States and their supervising Assistant Inspectors General of Police, have been directed by the Inspector General of Police to be strict, polite, civil and firm in dealing with the situation and put all the Police Personnel and Police Anti-Riot equipment on red alert to deal decisively in accordance with the law with any eventuality from these groups, that can disrupt commercial activities, vehicular movements and safety of lives and properties in some States of the Federation considered to be flash points which have witnessed the unfortunate disturbance of public peace by these groups in the recent past.”

    “The Force sees the activities of these groups as not only unlawful but highly provocative and capable of causing breach of the peace currently being enjoyed in the South East States and other States of the Federation.

    “The planned protests and orders of Market closure and illegal unilateral self-imposed restrictions of vehicular movements by these groups in the affected States should be disregarded by all well-meaning Nigerians.”

    The statement further reads: “The Police Force is hereby calling (IPOB), (BIM), (MASSOB) to consider the consequences of their actions and activities and without delay and call themselves to order in the interest of National Security, and safety of lives and properties of every Nigerian across the Nation as the full weight of the law will be made to bear on violators of the laws.

    “The Force will not hesitate to deal decisively with any group(s) and their sponsors that attempt to cause disturbance of the peace or carry out any unlawful demonstration, unlawful assembly/procession or gathering and public disobedience that can jeopardise law and order and harmonious co-existence within and amongst Nigerians throughout the country.”

    The police while quoting the constitution noted that it was aware of the provision as contained in Sections 38, 39,40 and 41 of the 1999 amended constitution.

    “The Nigeria Police Force is not unaware of the rights of every Nigerian to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association and freedom of movement, as essentials of democracy provided by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended particularly sections 38, 39, 40 and 41.

    “However, these rights must be observed with decorum, in good faith and without violating the rights of other millions of Nigerians to free movements and access to public/private facilities and their means of livelihood on daily basis.

    “The Nigeria Police while observing the rights of all Nigerians as stated above is equally conscious of the fact that these rights are not absolute as section 45 of the same Constitution provide for derogations to these rights.

    “The fact that freedom of expression as one of the dictates of democracy is being observed by the Police, should not be misconstrued as liberty by any groups for sectional or group interest to violate the laws and cause mayhem, confusion and apprehension in the minds of more than about one hundred and seventy millions of Nigerians.

    “The Police will resist actions of any person or group of persons for whatever course that is against the interest of public defence, public safety, public order, public morality and a threat to the rights and freedom of other Nigerians,” it emphasised.”

    The Police advised the members of the public to go about their lawful duties and other responsibilities without any fear or apprehension as adequate security arrangements have been put in place for their safety.

     

  • Police arrest eight suspected car thieves 

    Police arrest eight suspected car thieves 

    Operatives attached to the Inspector-General of Police’ (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT) have arrested eight suspected armed robbers who snatch cars between Abuja and Suleija.

    Leader of the syndicate, Adam Mohammed, 33, Musa Gana, 34, Okonkwo Kingsley, 23, Mohammed Suleiman, 25, Yahaya Saliu, 23, Awal Zuberu, 27, Mohammed Idi alias Soja, 29, and Haruna Umar, 32, were arrested in Abuja, Suleija and Lokaja by IRT operatives lex by Abba Kyari, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).

    The suspects were apprehended on Monday following directives from the IGP Ibrahim Idris that the group be fished out within 72 hours.

    They were said to have confessed to multiple car theft, including Toyota Camry 2010 Model, Honda Accord (E.O.D) car, Mazda saloon car and Hyundai car.

    According to the police, Idi and Umar admitted that they received stolen cars from the armed robbers.

    Confirming the arrest, Force Headquarters’ spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) said efforts are on to arrest other fleeing suspects, recover arms and more stolen cars.

     

  • ‘Bail us out of religious crisis in Ondo riverine community’

    Stakeholders in Ilaje local government area of Ondo state have pleaded with security operatives to bail them out of religious acrimony in Ayetoro community.

    They particularly called for the intervention of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to check the alleged breach of peace by a cleric, Oluwambe Ojagbohunmi with impunity.

    Speaking to reporters in Igbokoda, headquarters of the local government, through the former Ilaje council chairman, Tola Alabere, the leaders lamented that peace had eluded Ayetoro community since Ojagbohunmi started his ministration in 2006.

    Alabere alleged that the cleric was running a parallel government with secret move to forcefully take over the throne of the monarch who also doubles as the spiritual leader of the community.

    According to him, Ayetoro, a community with a theocratic form of government has been under the control of Oba Micah Ajijo who was installed in 2015 as the 6th Ogeloyinbo.

    He said,several efforts had been made by the leaders, government, police and Olugbo-In-Council led by Oba Fredrick Obateru Akinrutan (Obat) to ensure that peace reign in the community to no avail.

    The former council boss said the ascension of Oba Ajijo as the spiritual leader of the community followed established processes and ratification by the Ogeloyinbo-In-Council.

    He denied the allegation that Oba Ajijo was imposed on Aiyetoro Community,stressing that his appointment followed a due process in accordance with the age-long tradition of the church and the Constitution of the Holy Apostles’ Church, Aiyetoro.

    Alabere threatened that the community would resist any attempt by Ojagbohunmi and his cohorts to destabilise Ogeloyinbo’s throne.

    Oba Ajijo had earlier accused prophet Ojagbohunmi of allegedly instigating some youth in the community under the guise of “prayer warriors” to destroy both private and public properties.

    The monarch, expressed surprise at the action of Ojagbohunmi whom he said was one of those who prophesied his emergence as king and paid him homage before declaring himself as
    General Overseer of the church.

    However in his swift reaction, Ojagbohunmi accused Oba Ajijo of imposing himself on the people of the coastal community.

    Ojagbohunmi who spoke through one of his aides, Victor Akinluwa, said he was unanimously ordained by the people of the community as their leader.

    He denied the report that he was breeding youth to revolt against the doctrines of the community.

  • Court adjourns church case till May 31

    The High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, presided over by Justice Constance Dappa-Addo Tuesday adjourned the case involving the Niger Delta North Anglican Church and some of its members till May 31, 2017.

    In the case with reference number: PHC/769/2017, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) is the prosecutor while one Victor Amachree and 12 others are the defendants.

    The defendants are being accused of alleged “conspiracy, aiding and abetting and the offer of violence to officiating religious.”

    It should be recalled that around December 2013, internal wrangling which had been brewing at St Matthews Anglican  Church, Nkpogu, Port Harcourt escalated, leading to the closure of the church by the Police who consequently charged the case to court.

    However, when the matter came up for hearing Tuesday, the defendants were not in court, leading to the adjournment of the case till May 31, 2017.

  • Benue crisis: 18 associates of Benue militant arrested

    Benue crisis: 18 associates of Benue militant arrested

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris on Wednesday said 18 people suspected to be responsible for the crisis in some parts of Benue state have been arrested.

    The police chief also disclosed that a cache of arms belonging to a repentant militant, Tewase Akwaza popularly known as Ghana has also been recovered.

    The suspects arrested are believed to be the close associates of Ghana.

    The police noted that Ghana and his associates are responsible for some of the crisis witnessed in the state, adding that he (Ghana) has been placed on a wanted list.

    The police chief also hinted that the weapons in Ghana’s possession can be used to attack a country.

    He said this in Abuja at the monthly meeting with members of the management of the Force and other senior officers.

    According to him: “A non-militant who has been declared wanted has taken it upon himself to cause havoc in Benue State.

    “As at two days ago, a joint operation was conducted with the military and state services and a lot of array of weapons have been discovered and some of the weapons are going to be used to prosecute some of the suspects.

    “We have about 18 suspects in detention presently from that area, though the man himself is still on the wanted list and we are pursuing him.

    “His close associates have all been arrested and in few days times, some of them will be paraded so that this country can see the kind of people that are causing crisis all over the country.

    Describing the weapons in Ghana’s possession, the police chief said: “I want people to see the array of weapons recovered from him. With the arms he has, you will think he wants to attack a whole country.

    “I have to appreciate the governor of the state because he came openly and admitted that he made a mistake to have given him amnesty because with the recent recovery of arms, what he gave during the amnesty programme was just to deceive Nigerians.

    “I am saying it because some of the disarmament processes are just connivance to fool the public.

    He urged senior officers to give special attention to repentant criminals.

    According to him: “No matter the issue of amnesty, we should put a close eye on repentant criminals because in the case of Ghana, he has so many weapons like machine guns and he claimed to have repented during the amnesty programme.

    “He was paraded in the public with rickety weapons to deceive us unknown to us that he has more. So, we have to take a second look at some of these things.

    “Hundreds of people were killed by him who pretended to have embraced amnesty while in the real sense, his armaments are buried within those areas,” Idris said.

    It was also revealed that over 100 kidnappers have been arrested in less than a year by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit led by ACP Abba Kyari.

    He said: “We have to give kudos to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit for what they are doing to arrest some of the criminals. The team led by Kyari is doing wonderful jobs because they have arrested hundreds of kidnappers.

    “In the history of this country, we have not seen where police respond immediately to kidnapping issue and so far, we have to commend them.”

  • IGP briefs Buhari on Zaki Biam, Ile-Ife, other crises

    IGP briefs Buhari on Zaki Biam, Ile-Ife, other crises

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris on Friday briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on security crises in the country.

    This included the Zaki Biam crisis in Benue State and Ile-Ife crisis in Osun State which resulted in the death of many Nigerians.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, he said “I came to see the President to update him on the deployment of the police in our effort to ensure that we have security all over the country.

    “Obviously it’s to share with him our deployment strategies on ground our deployment to some of these flash points all over the country, especially Benue which is the current one, deployment to Kaduna state which started some few weeks back and deployment to the Ile-Ife crisis where recently we have a lot of police officers both special squads and investigation team on ground to conduct investigation on the matter.

    On allegation that policemen only arrested people from one section of the country during the Ile-Ife crisis, he said “You know we are police officers, crime has no tribe if you are a criminal you are a criminal. Crime has no face; we don’t look at crime in the identity of where you are coming from. As far as you are a criminal and the police find you wanting we apply the law.

    Speaking on the crisis in Benue State, he said “We deployed mobile police unit on 16th of this month and of recent that incident that happened at Zaki Biam there are allegations on that Gana, one of the wanted man, this man has been in the police wanted list I now decided to deploy some special unit both investigative to go after him and get him by all means, like I said earlier definitely that man we are going to get him.”

    He also ruled out the possibility of Fulani herdsmen being responsible for the Zaki Biam crisis.

    He said “No I don’t think it’s Fulani herdsmen, it was an activity of a criminal who is using some of his criminal gangs in the state to harass people that I have assured the governor when I met with him few days ago.”

    On the alleged dissatisfaction of the President over resurgence of crimes in the country while he was away in the United Kingdom, he said “I think we are all in this country, the crisis in Kogi axis is not kidnapping, it’s a case of militants wanting to disrupt the peace in that state and we are out to get them.

    Asked to speak on the specific directives given to him by the President, he said “Obviously there should be a specific directive to ensure that all of us use all the facilities at our disposal to make sure that some of these incidents we are talking about are brought under control as soon as possible.

    “I gave the President my assurance that we are going to do that. Like I said earlier we have deplored a special squad to Benue and we are surely going to get that Gana  within a short time.” he said

    On the claim that the police has no strategy for fighting crimes in the country, he said “You know some of these crisis, we have to look at the origin of these crisis and the immediate cause for you to make a proper classification of these crimes,

    “If you follow some of these crimes, they are just crimes that happened without any warning, if you look at that Ife crisis, if you see how it started its just a disagreement between two people selling food along the road, so you have to look at the dynamics of the country itself.

    “Obviously when you have such situation we have to react to it. We had to move in to ensure we provide some security to the people,” he added.