The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Intelligence Response Team (IRT)

  • IGP deploys special forces to rescue kidnapped Germans 

    ….Orders arrest of criminals

     

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has deployed special forces to Janjala in Kaduna State with a mandate to rescue the two German archaeologists kidnapped Wednesday morning.

    The forces comprising Intelligence Response Team (IRT), the Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU), the Anti Kidnapping Unit, the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), the Police Mobile Force, Police Surveillance Helicopters and Special Investigation Team on kidnapping and terrorism were also mandated to capture the kidnappers dead or alive.

    The Germans were kidnapped around 8:55am at an excavation site at Janjala in Kagarko LGA were they worked in collaboration with the National Commission for Museum and Monuments on the relics of NOK Culture.

    Two of the locals who were with them when the gunmen attacked were killed.

    According to a statement signed by the Force Headquarters spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, a Chief Superintendent of Police  (CSP) the special forces were already on ground in Kaduna and working with the state command.

    He said: “Concerned with the unfortunate incident, the IGP Ibrahim Idris has deployed Special forces under the command of Deputy Inspector General of Police, Department of Operations to Janjala Village to search and rescue the two Germans unhurt and arrest the perpetrators.

    “The team is already on the ground working in synergy with the Kaduna State Police Command and the local indigenes of towns and surrounding villages where these German Archaeologists were kidnapped.

    “Though the two German archaeologists have Police officers attached to them for their protection at the NOK Archaeology Research Project Centre, they did not go with the Policemen to the excavation site where they were kidnapped.

    “The Special Forces and Police Investigators deployed are in contact with the colleagues of the victims and have provided additional security for their safety.

    “In order to achieve prompt result, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department has also been mandated to coordinate the investigation aspect of the operations.

    “The Nigeria Police Force while assuring all Nigerians and foreign Nationals in the country of their safety, wishes to implore them to always request and obtain Police escort to protect them any time they are embarking on research, mining and related endeavours outside the towns and cities across the country.”

  • Isheri kidnap: Police confirm suspect’s arrest 

    Isheri kidnap: Police confirm suspect’s arrest 

    The Nigeria Police have confirmed the arrest of one of the suspected kidnappers of Isheri North GRA landlord, Dr Dayo Adekoya.

    Force Headquarters spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) confirmed the suspect’s arrest on the telephone on Wednesday.

    Joseph Omoni, 38, was apprehended around 4:00 am on Tuesday, at Ogijo in Ogun State by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police’ (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

    Omoni, an Ondo State indigene, allegedly confessed to being among the gang that killed broadcaster Aisha Alli-Balogun Abiose and kidnapped nine persons including the deceased’s daughter.

    The suspect also confessed to being among those who invaded Nigerian Tulip International Colleges (NTIC), adding that he got N2million as his share of the ransom paid.

    For the kidnap of Adekoya where three persons were killed and two others injured, Omoni, the police said confessed to getting N250,000 as his share of the ransom, adding that so many people partook in the loot.

    Omoni, it was gathered, took policemen to two houses he and another gang member called Chairman built at Century Village in Ogijo, from proceeds of kidnapping and they were sealed.

    In his confessional statement, Omoni said: “I got N250,000 from the ransom of the Isheri North estate secretary kidnap because the sum paid was too small, but for the Nigerian Turkish International College, I got N2 million. I was also involved in the kidnap at Ikorodu road where Aisha Balogun, a popular TV presenter was killed. We didn’t know her until we read in the papers that she was a presenter. I think that incident happened in December, I got about N1m from the ransom.

    “I cannot say what really happened during the estate secretary’s kidnap, but we exchanged fire while escaping with the man. We read in the papers that three security men were killed. Well, I cannot say that I regret everything. I was able to build houses with the money I got from the Nigerian Turkish school. I bought tiles, windows and other accessories to complete my house at Century village, in Ogijo community,” he said.

    It was learnt that the police were working hard to arrest other fleeing culprits, who are said to all be natives of Ondo State.

    Meanwhile, kidnappers of two guards and five Eliasa farm workers in Epe have demanded N50million for their release.

    Their demand was said to have been communicated to the farm manager through the mobile phone of one of the victims.

    Reacting to the kidnap in the area, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police  (AIG) in charge of Zone II, Kayode Aderanti assured the victims would be rescued alive.

    He said: “We are going to rescue the victims alive. We are doing everything to police that area because the major problem in that part of the state is its porosity.

    “We will police that area 24 hours daily and my advice to business owners, school operators in that area is that they should be security conscious and do their background check of anybody they want to employ.

    “We are also going to do our own job to see to the release of the victims without paying a dime to the abductors.”

  • Five suspects  paraded for killing Customs officer

    Five suspects  paraded for killing Customs officer

    • We got N600,000 from the officer

     

    The police on Friday in Abuja paraded five suspects for allegedly killing an officer of the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS).

    The officer, Assistant Superintendent of Customs (ACS) Aliyu Dayyab was killed in Tincan area of Lagos while he was on his way from work.

    Speaking, the Force Spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood said: ” Sequel to the report of the incident and a cordoned operation  arrived out by the IGP’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU) on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, to fish out the killers of the Custom officer”

    Moshood said the suspects were trailed and arrested between 28 December 2016 and 18 January 2017.

    The suspects arrested are The gang leader; Lucky Williams, Akinloye Samuel, Abraham Lot, Bolaji Taiwo& and Lanre Humphrey.

    An Infinix phone belonging to the deceased was recovered from the suspect.

    The police said Humphrey Aimudo organised the gang that killed the Customs’ officer.

    According to the police “The suspects confessed to have information that the Customs’ officer had in his possession #4million and some dollars.

    “This prompted the attack and killing of the officer after they snatched the bag containing some money from the officer”.

    The police said the suspects volunteered confessional statements admitting the various roles they played in the commission of the crime.

    The Force also noted that they would be charged to court for murder, armed robbery and conspiracy.

    On his part, one of the suspects, Williams said: “They called me that there is a job in the Port Authority. We went but the job was not well done, so we went back the next day. The told us that the officer was always going home with money every day and someone who works at the gate drew my attention to it.

    “He told us that the officer was with plenty dollars. On the day we carried out the operation, we were told that he was wearing a Chelsea jersey and carrying a bag.

    “When the officer left work, one of the gang members called us that he was on his way. When we got the information, the Okada men that were used to trail him also called us.

    “When we got to the victim, we dragged his bag and it was after that one of us decided to shoot the officer. I don’t know what came over him.

    “We quarrelled ourselves because we were not supposed to kill him. It was Humphrey that gave us the job.

    On the amount he made, he said: “the money we found in his bag was #600,000 instead of over #4million. We shared the money #50,000 because we are ten in number”.

    Also speaking, Humphrey who claimed to be a former clearing agent at the port said: “someone who works at the gate told me that an officer was always carrying money home and that he changes it to dollars.

    “I know the officer and to avoid us being identified, we decided to look for an outsider to do the job”.

    The suspects said they got #50,000 each from the operation.

  • Police arrest more NTIC kidnap suspects, recover N3m

    Police arrest more NTIC kidnap suspects, recover N3m

    Operatives of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT) Tuesday arrested two more suspects in connection with the kidnap of three pupils and five officials of Nigerian Tulip International Colleges (NTIC) Ogun.

    The Nation gathered that detectives also recovered N3million from the suspects identified as Egbasimokumo Ayeomi, 24, and Super Alex, 21, both Ondo state indigenes.

    They were said to have been apprehended at Ikorodu, a Lagos district, while trying to escape to Ondo State.

    According to a source, the suspects confessed to have participated in several other kidnappings within Lagos and Ogun states.

    He said they were giving useful and valid information to the police, adding that their confessions would assist in rounding up other suspects.

  • Police arrest mastermind of CBN governor’s wife kidnap

    The operatives of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT) have arrested one of the masterminds of the CBN governor’s wife kidnap.

    According to the police, the arrested suspect, Umar Abubakar is the 10th member of the kidnap gang.

    The wife of the CBN governor, Margaret Emefiele was kidnapped in September, 2016.

    The police said Abubakar acquired two houses and three plots of empty land with the proceeds of his share of the ransom.

    In a statement in Abuja on Monday by the Force Spokesman, Don Awunah, Abubakar aka Kiriwa was trailed and apprehended in Minna, Niger State on 9th of December, 2016.

    On how the arrest was successful, Awunah explained that intelligence gathering and collaborative efforts of public spirited members of the community led to his arrest.

    According to the statement: “Umar Abubakar, one of the arrow heads of the dare devil kidnapping gang led detectives to two (2) houses and three plots of empty land he purchased with the proceeds of his share of the ransom.

    “The arrested kingpin confessed that he used N3million, part of the ransom, to open a provision shop in Minna, Niger State which he was running with his wife.

    “The original papers of the houses and plots of land have been recovered and registered as exhibits and the shop also sealed”.

    The Police have however assured that with support from people, no crime committed will go undetected adding that perpetrators will be apprehended for justice and closure to prevail in the court of law.

    The Police chief, IGP Ibrahim Idris while reassuring members of the public of the readiness of the police under his leadership to deliver dedicated and quality policing services also urge all and sundry to be vigilant and provide useful information to the police.

     

  • Criminals will not escape Justice – IGP

    Criminals will not escape Justice – IGP

    The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has assured Nigerians that the Nigeria Police Force is ever ready and more determined to ensure that all those who engage in vicious crimes do not escape justice.

    A statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Don Awunah, said the IGP listed the crimes as: kidnappings, armed robbery and other criminal activities.

    Awunah said this stance was what made the operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) to swing into action to check such crimes.

    He said the team had on Oct. 12 launched a massive onslaught on the kidnappers of some residents of GRA Phase II, Port Harcourt main town, Borikiri General Area and YKC axis of woji in Rivers.

    “This feat yielded prompt outcome as the hoodlums were arrested as a result of due diligence and intelligence exhibited by members of the Police Force complimented by public spirited citizens eager to curb crimes in the society.

    “The suspects who were responsible for most kidnappings in Port Harcourt, were arrested at different locations in Rivers,’’ he said.

    Awunah said the suspects arrested during the operation were: Daniel Gabriel, the gang leader, Alaso Igodo, Akeodi Aselemi and Ayibinmoter Livinus, among others.

    He said items recovered from them were: One 1 AKA 47 Rifle with bridge NO. 0731, Four 4 AKA 47 Magazines with 42 live ammunitions, Four Face Masks and One Green Mazda saloon car used by the syndicate as operational vehicle.

    The Force Spokesman also recalled that some residents of an Estate in Isheri area of Lagos State were kidnapped on Sept. 27 and that the Intelligence Response Team swung into action and arrested four of the kidnappers.

    “The spirited effort of the team led to the arrest of the fifth gang member, Temmi Enormi, 31. The suspect was arrested in Lagos State on Oct. 7 and confessed to being a member of the Isheri Landlord kidnapping and was confirmed by other gang members earlier arrested.

    “The I-G wishes to restate the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force in ensuring that all forms of crimes, particularly kidnapping for ransom and other violent crimes are brought to a bearable and tolerable state throughout the country.

    “He urges Nigerians to always be law abiding and regard themselves as stakeholders in the fight against crime and criminality,’’ Awunah added.

  • We planned to kidnap Otedola – Robbery suspects

    We planned to kidnap Otedola – Robbery suspects

    An armed robbery suspect, Ikechukwu Daniel, also known as Ike, has disclosed that his gang hatched a plan to kidnap businessman, Femi Otedola, but the plot was foiled by the police.

    He also confessed that his gang, which was linked to the abduction of Senator Iyabo Anisholowo, operated with military uniforms and hijacked three trailers on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    Ike was arrested sometimes in June at Festac Town in Lagos while negotiating the ransom of a victim kidnapped in Ibadan.

    His disclosure emerged following Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris’ directive to the Force Intelligence Response Team (IRT) to arrest anyone linked to the kidnap of Senator Anisulowo.

    Within a few days of receiving the instruction, the IRT operatives arrested one Mohammed Babuga, and he owned up to the fact that he and one Mamman masterminded the kidnap.

    He confessed that he and Mamman robbed some people in Kwara State, along Kaduna road.

    They dispossessed innocent motorists of their belongings. During an argument with Mamman, however, Babuga said that he slapped the other for disrespect towards him as gang leader and the carelessness that put the police on their trail.

    Mamman, he said, got angry and went away to form his own gang of kidnappers with Boyi, Abubakar, Alayidi and Ike as members. Led by one Mohammed, the gang operated with three rifles, an AK 47, AK 49 and a pump action gun.

    Mamman’s gang confessed to have carried out six kidnapping raids: two in Ibadan, two in Ilorin and two in Kebbi State, and various ransoms were collected. The Kebbi State operation fetched the gang N6 million, while it got N26.1 million from the Ilorin and Ibadan cases.