The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Johnson Kokumo

  • Police assures of safety during Yuletide

    ….warns against thuggery ahead of 2019 polls

    The Edo State Police Command has assured of the safety of life and property during the Yuletide, adding that peace and respect for law and order would be upheld in the run-up to the 2019 general elections.

    The Commissioner of Police, Edo State, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, made the assertion during a stakeholders’ meeting organised for representatives of political parties, security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He said the meeting became necessary to get all actors to play by the rules in their activities before, during and after the February 2019 general elections to ensure credible, free, fair and transparent polls.

    Kokumo explained that the duty of Police Officers is to enforce laws, noting “Our focus is for a peaceful, transparent and credible election, as there is nothing to gain from violence. Our interest is on the sovereign entity of Nigeria. I want to assure all political parties that we would not hesitate to bring to book all electoral offenders.”

    Read Also: Police foil robbery attempt in Ondo

    “We would not allow lawlessness, thuggery, oppression, violence and other forms of electoral offences. All of these will never be tolerated by law enforcement agencies. We are here to serve the people of Nigeria,” he said.

    The Edo State INEC Commissioner, Emmanuel Hart, who spoke on electioneering campaigns, said campaigns are opportunities for political parties to speak to voters on what they intend to do if they win elections.

    The INEC Commissioner, who was represented by Head, Election and Party Monitoring, Edo State INEC Office, Kombo Briggs, urged political parties and their candidates to be guided by the provisions of the Electoral Act in their conduct and campaign messages.

    Chairman, All Grassroots Alliance (AGA), Osarumwense Oshodin, called on INEC officials and security agencies to put modalities in place to arrest and prosecute politicians who spend beyond stipulated amount of money for campaigns and elections.

  • Police in Edo to prosecute sellers, buyers of fireworks

    The Nigeria Police Force, Edo Command, on Tuesday reiterated the ban on sales of fireworks, also known as knock out and warned that offenders would be prosecuted.

    DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, the command’s Public Relations Officer, gave the warning in Benin.

    “The command warns sellers, buyers of fireworks, parents, guardians and children to desist from sale, purchase and use of fireworks before, during and after the yuletide,’’ Nwabuzor said in a statement.

    He said this was because hoodlums might want to hide under the unwholesome practice to perpetrate their nefarious act.

    Read Also: 22 Yahoo Yahoo boys jailed in Edo

    The spokesman said that in view of this, there would be continuous manhunt for offenders, saying that offenders would be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.

    He noted that the Edo Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo, had said that adequate measures had been put in place and operatives drafted into markets and other places of sales with a view to arresting dealers and buyers.

    Nwabuzor said that the command remained committed and steadfast in its efforts at fighting crime and criminality, while also giving assurance of safety to residents in the state during and after the yuletide.

    NAN

  • Edo: Police command parades 72 for Cultism, others

    The Edo State Police Command on Tuesday paraded 72 armed robbery, cultism and kidnapping suspects, who have been terrorizing Benin metropolis over the past few weeks.

    Speaking to journalists in Benin on the arrest of the suspects, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Johnson Kokumo, said 58 cult members linked to the killings of eight persons in different locations in the state were among those paraded.

    “There was heightened criminal activity viz cultism by rival cult groups: the Black Axe, Eiye, Black Mafians, Vikings within the period 11th and 14th October, 2018, which led to death of eight persons.

    “The police quickly moved in and restored normalcy. 39 arms, 54 cartridges, three battle axes and five fake drinks were recovered from the 72 suspects.

    Kokomu gave break down of the suspects to include one Sampson Omorodion, 34, who was arrested for allegedly killing his younger brother, named Imuetiyan Omorodion aged 27, by stabbing him twice on the neck with a knife after an argument between them.

    “On October 10, this year, the Command arrested two kidnappers at Five Junction for allegedly kidnapping a 36-year-old lady at Ugbowo area of Benin city,” he added.

    The Police boss reiterated the need for citizens to be vigilant at all times and to report any suspicious activity to the police for prompt attention, assuring that the state was unsafe for criminals.

    Read Also: Police rescue woman from ‘one chance robbers’

    One of the suspected cultists, who is a member of Eiye Confratenity, identified as Azuka Ike, said he joined the cult few years ago and has remained a member but was arrested in Delta State when he fled Edo State, following the renewed fracas with rival cult group.

    Precious Okpako, a cab driver, who was rescued by the quick response of the Police, commended the Force for saving him from the armed robbers, who posed as customers.

    “I was hired and my car taken from me at gun point and was locked in the booth of my car but I managed to escape and raise an alarm and the police responded to save me,” he said.

  • Igarra Bank Robbery: Obaseki commends police for foiling attack

    …commiserates with victims

    …pledges more support for security agencies

     

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has commended the gallantry of men of the Edo State Police Command, who foiled a robbery attack on a bank in Igarra, in Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State.

    Obaseki expressed regret over the death of some persons while the attack lasted and prayed for the repose of their souls.

    He said those that were wounded would be treated and assured that the state government is working assiduously to rid the state of criminal elements, through vigorous synergy with the various security agencies in the state.

    “The attack is unfortunate and we will do all within our power to forestall such heinous incidents in the future,” the governor said.

    He said the bravery of men of the state police command is an evidence of the ongoing reforms and synergy between the state government and the hierarchy of the Police.

    The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, said that the attack was foiled by the combined force of Policemen, who were on guard duty at the two banks in the vicinity, noting that three of the armed robbers were killed during a gun duel.

    While parading the bodies of the dead criminals at the State Police Headquarters, in Benin City, on Friday, he said that two civilians and a Police Inspector were killed, when members of the gang staged a simultaneous attack at the nearest Police station in the area.

    According to him, “The attack on the bank in Igarra was on Keystone Bank, and not on two banks.

    “Actually, there are two banks in the vicinity, and adjacent to each other. One is keystone Bank, the second is Unity Bank. The marauding criminals actually attacked Keystone Bank, but they met with very stiff opposition from Policemen who were on duty at Unity Bank and Keystone Bank. They were men of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force (MOPOL 60), Edo State,” Kokumo said.

    Read Also: Edo APC lawmakers back Obaseki

    “They were able to give a very good account of the stuff they are made of in a gun duel that ensued between the criminals and the policemen who were on bank guard duty. Three of the criminals were gunned down. Here you see them with their operational weapons recovered,” he added.

    On reports that the criminals attacked a police station in Igarra, he said, “Criminals will always evolve different means of perpetuating their acts. What this gang of criminals did was to divide themselves into two halves. One of them had gone to the Police station ostensibly to prevent the Police from responding to possible distress call from the bank when the attack would have been wrecked on the bank. The second half went to Keystone Bank for the attack.

    “The moment the distress call went to the Police station, there was no way the Policemen at the station could hasten down to prevent them. The ones at the Police station were the ones that wreaked the havoc, killing two civilians and one Police inspector. I would regard that as the minus of the operation, but on the whole, it is sad that we lost an inspector of Police to this criminal gang. Three of the armed robbers were gunned down,” the police commissioner said.

    He denied claims that some persons lost their lives at the bank premises, noting, “After the encounter, two of the armed robbers were actually dead. The third one was not dead as at the time the Police swooped on them; he was able to give us useful information that we are processing with a view to apprehending others who have taken to flight.”

    Obaseki urged Edo people and residents to rely on credible sources of information as unscrupulous individuals in the society are determined to misrepresent facts and spread outright falsehood and fear on the social and other media platforms.

     

  • Police arrest 44 suspected criminals in Edo

    The Edo State Police Command said on Sunday that it  arrested no fewer than 44 suspects for various crimes in the state.

    State’s Commissioner of Police, CP Johnson Kokumo, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the command’s activities in the last few months.

    Kokumo said that the suspects were arrested in different parts of the state between June and July.

    He said the suspects were arrested for crimes ranging from murder, kidnapping, armed robbery and cultism.

    He disclosed that arms and ammunition recovered from the suspects include double barrel riffles, cartridges, locally made pistols, as well as battle axe.

    Other items recovered from them include three computer sets, and telephone handsets.

    The CP further said that in continuation of the mop-up of illegal arms and ammunition in circulation earlier initiated in March and in compliance with I-G Ibrahim Idris directive that some arms were mopped up.

    He disclosed that the arms include one dismantled Jojeff pump action rifle, three locally made single barrel guns, one fabricated gun and 11 live cartridges.

    He also said that two suspects were arrested during the mop-up.

    The police commissioner reiterated the command’s commitment to rid the State of crime and criminality and make the State safe for the citizens.

    He, however, urged the citizens to be vigilant at all times and report any clandestine activities in their domain to security agencies.

  • Edo beefs up security architecture

    …as Obaseki procures another Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC)

    In furtherance of the drive for a formidable security architecture in the state, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has unveiled a new Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) for the state Police Command.

    The APC is the second procured within one-year period to retool the state’s Police command, amid several other initiatives rolled out to fortify the state’s security architecture.

    Handing over the APC to the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, at the Government House in Benin City, Governor Obaseki said government is determined to secure life and property in the state and will deploy resources at its disposal.

    Obaseki noted, “It is a holistic approach to strengthen security in the state.”

    He noted, “The security architecture will involve equipment like APC, police patrol vehicles, protective gears, other security devices. There will also be training of police personnel and equipping them with motor bikes to fight crime.”

    He explained that in addition to the APC, the state has concluded plans to procure gunboats, helicopters for surveillance, noting,“The APC is one among other equipment we have procured as we fortify the state’s  security architecture due for launch soon.”

    Read Also: Edo State workers are paid as and when due – Govt

    Obaseki said high speedboats would be acquired for the Marine Police, to provide adequate security on the waterways and riverine communities in the state.

    “We have spent lots of resources to ensure our state is safe, as we encourage the people to be part of the security architecture, from intelligence gathering to serving as first responder in the event of any incident. There will be call-centres which will serve as a control centre for people to call-in when they are faced with a security threat.”

    Commissioner of Police, Edo State, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, commended governor Obaseki for his effort in ensuring that the state is safe and secure for all, noting that the newly acquired APC can be deployed to any terrain.

    He noted that adequate arrangements were on ground to ensure that equipment donated to the Police by the governor are maintained, especially the APC.

    Kokumo said, “The first APC donated to the Police by Obaseki has been deployed to King Square in Benin City since November 2017, to check crimes in the area and its environs.”

    According to him, the Police Command will deploy a Police helicopter to patrol the state, adding that through these measures, there will be no hiding place for criminals.

  • Edo: Police arrest 28 suspected kidnappers, robbers, cultists

    The Police Command in Edo on Tuesday in Benin announced the arrest of 28 suspected kidnappers, armed robbers and cultists terrorising the state.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo, announced this while briefing the media on the command’s activities in the last two weeks.

    Kokumo said that four of the suspects were arrested for alleged involvement in kidnapping, 11 for armed robbery and 13 for cultism.

    He disclosed that of the four kidnap suspects is a Fulani herder, while two others disguised themselves as herders in order to perpetrate their crime.

    The commissioner said that the four kidnap suspects had confessed committing the crime.

    He said that items recovered from the kidnap suspects were one AK 47 riffle with a breech no. KO 340119, 10 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, one Dane gun, a cutlass, a dagger and some charms.

    Read Also: INEC: elections in Edo, Ondo, Anambra were see and buy

    He said that two single barrel cut to size guns, a double barrel short gun, three live cartridges and a Mercedes Benz saloon car were recovered from the robbery suspects.

    Other were a black toy gun, an improvised gun, one Techno phone, a double barrel short gun, a hammer, 28 assorted telephones a Vox Wagen Golf car and N19,040 cash.

    Kokumo further disclosed that one locally made pistol, one single barrel short gun, two live cartridges and three telephones were also recovered from the suspected cultists.

    He reiterated the command’s commitment to fighting crimes while commending the continued assistance of other security agencies and residents of the state in volunteering credible information.

    NAN

  • Police kills robbery suspect in Edo

    Police kills robbery suspect in Edo

    The Police in Edo have confirmed shooting to dead a member of an armed robbery gang and the escape of five other members of the gang that escaped with various degrees of gunshot injury

    The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Johnson Kokumo, made this known to newsmen on Wednesday in Benin.

    Kokumo said that in the early hours of Jan. 24, the command received a distress call about the activities of the gang at Evbuomore Quarters in Ugbowo Division.

    He said the command quickly deployed policemen from the division and surrounding division to the scene.

    “There was a gun battle between the robbers and the police, and in the ensuing fire-force, one of the gang member was shot and others escaped.

    “Sadly, one Dr Godwin Omofuma, a lecturer with the University of Benin, later died as a result of gunshot wounds he received from the robbers.

    “Items like phones, one single barrel gun, one iron cutter, one live and 12 expended cartridges, among others, were recovered from the robbers.

    “Similarly, last Thursday, Jan. 18, at about 0700 hours, two suspected armed robbers who robbed their victim of her Lexus 330 SUV, cash, jewelries and other valuables were arrested,’’ he said.

    Read Also:One die, two police  injured in NURTW factions clash

    He said that the items recovered from them included two cut to size guns, one locally made pistol and one live cartridge were recovered.

    Kokumo also said that on the same day, three men suspected to be cultists were arrested in a bus with one locally made pistol and eight live cartridges.

    The commissioner of police also said that two suspects who murdered their victim over an infraction were arrested on Jan. 3, while another suspect was arrested on Jan. 21 in the state capital for being in possession of 150 rounds of live cartridges.

    Kokumo further said that the command was inundated with reports of misuse of policemen attached to VIPs in the state.

    He said in view of this and to sanitise the system, all persons to whom policemen were attached to as escorts and guards should report to the State Police headquarters with their letters of authority for verification.

    NAN

  • Police train 147 officers in Zone 5 to counter terrorism

    Police train 147 officers in Zone 5 to counter terrorism

    The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, said on Friday that 147 officers of the Nigeria Police Force and sister security agencies in Zone 5, have been trained to counter terrorism.

    The I-G made this disclosure at the closing ceremony of the five-day National Counter Terrorism Incident Commanders’ Management Course held in Benin.

    Idris represented by Commissioner of Police in Edo, Mr Johnson Kokumo, said that the Force would continue to synergise with sister security agencies to counter terrorism.

    “The Nigeria Police will continue to partner with other sister security agencies to curb any form of criminal activities, especially terrorism in the country.

    “The training is a clear indication of the willingness of police to synergize with sister security agencies to sustain peace in the country.

    “The training is to impart new security knowledge on the participants.

    “The Police will always make his officers and men available to attend similar training when called upon by sister security agencies,’’ he said.

    In his remarks, the Assistant Commissioner, ACP Emmanuel Aina, urged the participants to domesticate the thematic concerns of the training in their various formation and agencies.

    He said the training has further exposed the participants to taking urgent steps to respond to emergencies timely without recourse to who should take the lead with other security agencies.

    Earlier, the lead facilitator for the training, CSP Okon Asuquo, thanked the I-G for approving the training.

    He said the training has further exposed participants to contemporary policing challenging issues through group discussion, presentations, simulations and lectures.

    He said the concern was to demonstrate practically various topics such as major incidents, method of terrorist attacks, and multi-agency response to incidents.

    The 147 officers drawn from the Police, Army, FRSC, NSCDC, EDSMA, Nigeria Fire Service, and DSS, who successfully participated in the training programme, were presented with certificates.

    NAN

  • ‘Arrests of kidnappers, Otasowie’s murderers Justify Obaseki’s insistence on new CP’

    ‘Arrests of kidnappers, Otasowie’s murderers Justify Obaseki’s insistence on new CP’

    The Edo State Government has said that the recent arrests by the State Police Command of seven persons in connection with the murder of Prof. Paul Otasowie, a lecturer with the University of Benin, killers of three police officers who also kidnapped Andy Ehanire, the Chief Executive of Ogba Zoological Garden, justify Obaseki’s insistence on a new commissioner of police for the state.

    While commending the new Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo, the state government, through the Special Adviser, Media and Communication Strategy to the Edo State Governor, Crusoe Osagie, stated that the security challenges in Edo required a highly experienced operational police officer at the helms of affairs and that it is quite gratifying that CP Kokuma has since hit the ground running, “a result of which is the large hurl of arrests in barely 48 hours of his assumption of duty in Edo State”.

    Otasowie, a senior lecturer in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, was on October 4 killed by gunmen in Ekehuan area, in Oredo Local Government Area of the state.

    The deceased, who was the Director of the institution’s Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme, was said to have been shot in front of his residence.

    The police explained that seven out of those principally responsible for the killing have been arrested and each has given useful statement to the police. The police further stated that four suspects in the murder of three police officers and the kidnap of Ehanire of have been arrested.

    The police, through Moses Mkombe, the force public relations officers, said that the command is still on a manhunt for the rest other members of the group.

    “Each of them has spoken on the role he played in the crime and we have been able to extract useful information from them. We are currently on a manhunt for the other members of the gang,” Mkombe said.