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Tag: Johnson Babatunde Kokumo

  • Kokumo assumes office, promises to curtail arms proliferation

    Kokumo assumes office, promises to curtail arms proliferation

    The new National Coordinator of the National Centre for Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSLW), Deputy Inspector-General of Police Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, has promised to combat arms proliferation in the country.

    Kokumo made the pledge during the handover ceremony between him and the outgone National Coordinator, Maj-Gen. Abba M. Dikko (rtd) at the centre’s office in Abuja.

    A statement by the centre’s Director of Strategic Communications and Information, Group Captain Pius Okwuego, said the new NCCSLW boss “acknowledged the achievements of his predecessor and pledged to continue the good work in fulfilling the centre’s mandate.”

    Read Also: Tinubu seeks support for Africa’s battle against arms proliferation, others

    “Earlier in his handover speech, Gen. Dikko who was the pioneer National Coordinator of NCCSLW, highlighted his efforts in steering the Centre in the right direction during his tenure. 

    “He expressed confidence in the ability of the incoming National Coordinator to build upon the foundation laid and take the centre to greater heights,” the statement said.

    The Nation reports that Kokumo, a retired DIG of the Force 

    Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department, was appointed the National Coordinator of the NCCSLW by President Bola Tinubu on March 26.

    Kokumo is expected to bring to bear his wealth of experience in crime prevention, security management, operational leadership and other expertise to combating illicit arms proliferation in the country.

  • Edo CJ warns lawyers against perpetuating injustice

    Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Esohe Frances Ikponmwen, has warned lawyers against perpetuating injustice by being oppressive in the way the processes of court are used.

    Justice Ikponmwen said it was wrong for lawyers to deliberately delay case of their client when they know that there is no truth in the claim.

    Speaking on Saturday at the annual Nigeria Bar Association, Benin Branch dinner, Justice Ikponmwen reminded lawyers that their duty was not only to the court or client but also to the greater cause of justice.

    Ikponmwen stated that lawyers have to abide by the rules of court and appealed to them to embrace the services of the multi-door court house for the purpose of achieving quick dispensation of justice.

    According to her, “I am glad that legal practitioners in Edo State are rising up to the challenge for the improvement of our justice delivery system which informed the new Civil Procedure Rules for Edo State.

    “There is no need for apprehension as it is my view that once quick dispensation of justice is achieved, many persons will be willing to approach courts to redress wrongs which are prevalent in this society but overload because of lack of trust in our justice system.”

    Among those conferred with the NAB awards were Justice Ikpomwen, Justice Ada Ehigiamusoe, Ken E. Mozia, Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, Barr. Osarodion Ogie, Senator Mathew Uroghide, Hon Patrick Obahiagbon amongst others.

  • Edo residents count gains of anti-crime strategy, laud govt, new CP

    Edo residents count gains of anti-crime strategy, laud govt, new CP

    …3 kidnap victims freed, Otasowie’s killers nabbed in 8 days in Edo state.

     Residents of Edo State are currently breathing a sigh of relief with the marked improvement in security across the state following the anti-crime strategy of the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, backed by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration.
     
    In just one week as the new sheriff in town, Kokumo’s heat on kidnappers is yielding unprecedented result with three persons abducted by kidnappers last month, released from the kidnappers’ den, aside the proactive and aggressive policing across the state.
     
    The Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has made real his promise to implement the state’s new security architecture with the new Police Commissioner, a promise he made while receiving Kokumo last week at the state Government House, in Benin City, as the new CP.
     
    “Although it is not yet uhuru with regard to the security situation in the state, there is remarkable improvement now,” Mr Ode Silver, a resident of the state said.
     
    Mrs Joy Ahanor simply said “Edo is safer now, compared to the days of the former police commissioner.”
     
    To the credit of the new partnership between the Edo State Government and the police command is the release of three kidnap victims and the arrest of over 50 suspected criminals.
     
    “We will give you the needed support to succeed. We believe that the responsibility for restoring law and order rests with the police. We hope that you will fulfill your constitutional responsibility by helping us enforce law and order in Edo State,” Obaseki promised.
     
     The governor urged the new police boss to urgently change the security plan he inherited to curb crimes in the state. “We need to change the entire security architecture in the state and together we will work to implement it and address all the security challenges in the next one week,” he added.
     
    In response to the governor’s appeal, barely 48 hours of assuming work as the Commissioner of Police in Edo state, the kidnapped retired Superintendent of Police, Chief James Omafuaire regained his freedom.
     
    He was abducted two days earlier with his wife and one other person by suspected Fulani herdsmen at his Ikpeshi quarry site in Akoko Edo Area of Edo State.
     
    Omafuaire’s release was followed by the arrest of seven members of the gang suspected to have murdered a lecturer at the University of Benin ( UNIBEN ), Prof. Paul Otasowie.
    The lecturer was shot dead by gunmen at his private residence on October 4, in Benin City.
     
    Parading the suspects along with 46 other suspected criminals; kidnappers, armed robbers, cultists and car snatchers, the state police commissioner, Mr. Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, said the Professor’s mobile phone was recovered from one of the suspects, adding that family members of the lecturer have come forward to identify the phone.
     
    On his fifth day in office the Edo State Police commissioner paraded four suspected kidnappers who abducted one Mr Andy Ehanire, the manager of Ogba Zoo and Nature park, in Benin.
     
    They allegedly killed three policemen in the operation and were said to have collected N25 million and $100,000 as ransom were arrested in Sapele, Delta State.
     
    Confirming the incident, Spokesman of the Edo State police command, DSP Moses Nkombe, said the suspects were arrested in their hideouts.
     
    He said “We are making effort now to recover arms and other things. They were arrested in Delta State early Thursday morning and they were already in Benin before 5a.m. They have confessed to the crime. One of them who shot the policemen and the driver are among the people arrested.”
     
    The arrest of Ehanire’s kidnappers was followed by the release of the relative of former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who was kidnapped in Edo North, but abandoned in the bush after the new police commissioner and his men charged at the kidnappers.
     
    On Thursday, November 2, Popular Edo musician, Mr. Osayomore Joseph, who was kidnapped by gunmen was released. Osayomore regained his freedom on Thursday after spending almost a month in captivity.
     
    His manager, Mr. Frank Ugbomah, and State Chairman of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, Mr. Willy Eghe-Nova, confirmed his release.
  • Obaseki receives new Police Commissioner, assures of new security architecture

    Obaseki receives new Police Commissioner, assures of new security architecture

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Wednesday received the new Commissioner of Police of the state command, Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, at the Government House in Benin City, with an assurance that he would work with the new police boss to enforce a new security architecture in the state.

    Obaseki further pledged his administration’s support for the new police commissioner to enable him succeed in his new assignment.

    “We will give you the needed support to succeed. We believe that the responsibility for restoring law and order rests with the police. We hope that you will fulfill your constitutional responsibility by helping us enforce law and order in Edo State,” he said.

    The governor urged the new police boss to urgently change the security plan he inherited to curb crimes in the state.

    “We need to change the entire security architecture in the state and together we will work to implement it and address all the security challenges in the next one week,” he said.

    The governor thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his prompt response in granting the request for a new police commissioner by deploying a grounded operations police officer to serve in the state.

    “We believe the new CP has the requisite experience to help in   securing life and property in the state. We believe this is what he has been doing in his policing career and has the ability to replicate what he did in other states here in Edo. We will give him our support to help him succeed in fighting crime in the state,” Obaseki assured.

    In his response, the new CP advised criminals to relocate from Edo State as it will no longer be a haven for their activities. “I want to assure you that Edo State will no longer be a haven for criminals. I advise them to leave the state. Edo people and residents of the state should go to sleep with both eyes closed because there will be proper policing both in the day and at night,” the new CP said.

    He explained that he is currently doing criminal profiling in the state and in a matter of days will come out with a clear strategy aimed at fighting crimes in the state.

  • Insecurity: Pressure on Edo CP to leave Edo

    In July, the Police Service Commission (PSC) announced the redeployment of Commissioner of Police, Armament, Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, to Edo State. Kokumo, who was among four Police Commissioners redeployed that day, was to replace Haliru Gwandu as Commissioner of Police in Edo State.

    The PSC, according to the statement signed by its Head of Press, PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, said the redeployment of the four Commissioners of Police was to aid effective and efficient policing in line with its commitment to re-engineer the police force for optimal results.

    Others redeployed were CP David A. Akinremi, CP and Deputy Force Secretary was moved to head the Taraba State Command; Ag CP Garba Baba Umar was redeployed from Bayelsa State Command to Anambra State Command while CP Lawan Ado, CP General Investigation (FCIID), was posted to head the Kwara State Command. They have since resumed duty at their new posting.

    But in Edo State, the story is different. Kokumo is yet to assume duties for unexplained reasons. News of Gwandu’s removal as Edo police boss was celebrated by some members of the Civil Society Organisation, Academic Staff Union of Universities, Ambrose Alli University chapter, some police officers at the state command and some state government officials.

    It was gathered that Governor Godwin Obaseki who was not happy with the modus operandi of Gwandu had made several efforts to make the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, effect the July 5th redeployment  of Gwandu met brick wall.

    Obaseki gave a hint about his displeasure with Gwandu’s security architecture after the abduction of Ehanire when he said he would meet President Muhammadu Buhari to strengthen the security apparatus in the state. The visit to Mr. President is perhaps yet to yield any result.

    A government source said: “Since July till date, nothing has happened. And we are beginning to suspect that something is amiss. For the CP to remain at his post even after the Police Service Commission has posted him out of the command, it only means he has the backing of the IGP, who has also not done anything to get the CP to heed the directive.

    “Recently, Governor Obaseki embarked on a trip to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari, with the aim of persuading him to prevail on the IG to honour the posting carried out by the PSC, which is yet to yield any fruits. By these turn of events, Edo People and the state’s operating environment are now at the mercy of these criminals.”

    Concerned Citizens of Edo State staged a peaceful protest in Abuja, demanding the removal of Gwandu.

    The protesters demanded an apology from the IGP for not doing enough to address the worsening security situation in the state and stated that the continued stay of Gwandu has given criminals freedom to cause mayhem in the state.

    Leader of the protesters, Mr. Henry Okpamen, informed the IGP that recent resurgence of kidnappings and armed robbery was an indication that the police commissioner was incapable of protecting life and property in the state.

    Okpamen said recent abduction of Dr. Andy Ehanire, the Chief Executive Officer of Ogba Zoo and Nature Park, killing of three policemen in the abduction process, kidnapping of Osayomore Joseph and killing of Professor Paul Otasowie of the University  were signs of bad policing in the state.

    In a letter addressed to leaders of the National Assembly and the Presidency signed by its coordinator, Hon. Henry Okpamen, the group said, “We, the concerned citizens of Edo State, are gathered here today to share our pains with Mr President, the President of Senate and the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives and all their members on the worsening security situation in our State.  While Mr Governor and his Cabinet, with cooperation from the revered Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II, are working round the clock to encourage investments into Edo State, the Inspector General of Police has refused to support the government of Edo State in this effort.

    “The incompetence of Mr Gwandu came to the fore in March 2017, when a former Council Chairman of Etsako East, Hon. Suleiman Malik Afegbua and some other persons were kidnapped by suspected herdsmen along the Benin-Ehor road.  Hon. Afegbua was later killed by the kidnappers.

    “Strangely, while the family was still negotiating the release of the other persons that were kidnapped along with him, Mr Haliru Gwandu announced gleefully to the whole world that the kidnappers had been arrested by his men, which was not true. This breach of trust demonstrates that Mr Gwandu was out of touch with reality and incapable of relying on security reports to manage delicate situations in the State.

    “Even after this well-publicised incident involving Hon. Suleiman Afegbua, herdsmen continued to operate freely in that area and this led to the kidnapping and killing of innocent, vulnerable farmers especially women in Ewu, Uromi, Ubiaja and Ebigbere communities of the state. “

    Edo police spokesman DSP Moses Nkombe said there was no letter posting Gwandu out of Edo State. He said the police would not join issues with the protesters.

  • Edo, Taraba, Anambra, Kwara get new CPs

    Edo, Taraba, Anambra, Kwara get new CPs

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the redeployment of four Commissioners of Police to Edo, Taraba, Anambra and Kwara States.

    Their redeployment, according to the Commission would aid effective and efficient policing in line with its commitment to re-engineer the police force for optimal results.

    The Head of Press, PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

    The statement reads: “Those affected are – CP Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, CP Armament, who is now in charge of the Edo State Command; CP David A. Akinremi, CP and Deputy Force Secretary, who has been moved to head the Taraba State Command; Ag CP Garba Baba Umar redeployed from Bayelsa State Command to Anambra State Command and CP Lawan Ado, CP General Investigation (FCIID), who has been posted to head the Kwara State Command.”

    The Commission noted that postings have been communicated to the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, for implementation.

    The Chairman of the PSC, Mike Okiro, urged the affected officers to rededicate themselves to the service of the nation.