The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Killer cop’

  • Police begin trial of suspected killer cop

    The police in Bayelsa State have begun trial of a policeman, Sergeant Timadi Emmanuel, who allegedly killed a 300-level student of the Niger Delta University (NDU), Tariela Nikade

    Tariela, 20, an engineering student, was allegedly shot and killed last Friday about 7pm by Sgt. Emmanuel, close to their house on Tinacious Road, Edepie, Yenagoa.

    The incident generated outrage, compelling landlords and youths to protest.

    It was gathered that Police Commissioner Joseph Mukan was jolted by the incident.

    Following Mukan’s order, the killer cop was arrested, disarmed and subjected to orderly room trial.

    The suspect was said to have blamed the murder on accidental discharge, but the team of investigators was determined to arraign him for prosecution.

    A senior police officer, who spoke in confidence, said the command would not tolerate any unprofessional misuse of firearms by policemen.

    “We can assure the public that the suspect will not escape justice. This level of unprofessionalism cannot be tolerated.

    “It is inexplicable and the policeman involved will surely be prosecuted. We will keep people informed about the progress of the investigation,” he said.

    Police spokesman Asinim Butswat in a statement condoled with the family of the victim and assured that justice would be done.

    He urged the residents to remain calm.

  • Kogi killer cop dismissed

    Kogi killer cop dismissed

    The Kogi State Commissioner of police, Mr. Besan Gwana has confirmed the dismissal of Cpl. Onoja John from the police force, over his alleged shooting of a tanker driver along the Okene-Lokoja road, last week Thursday.

    The CP who said that the IGP frowns at acts such as the shooting of any Nigerian by a policeman, said the accused had undergone orderly room trial, dismissed and will soon be charged to court.

  • Owoseni: Killer-cop will be dismissed posthumously

    Owoseni: Killer-cop will be dismissed posthumously

    The late Sergeant Stephen James, who shot himself after killing three men in Lagos last Saturday will be dismissed posthumously, police chief Fatai Owoseni said yesterday.

    The late James, Owoseni said, would be tried posthumously and dismissed.

    “We will try him even in death and dismiss him for his action. We want to use this medium to sympathise with the bereaved families. We apologise for the irrational action of the policeman, who also took his own life,” Owoseni said.

    He added that the late James could no longer remain in the police after his callous behaviour.

    James killed three men, including two siblings, in Ketu, Lagos for asking him to behave well at a bar.

    The late Taiwo and Kehinde Oyesunle (the only children of their mother) and their friend identified as Jeje, were said to have admonished the late officer, who entered the premises of Paulson Hotel on Anibaba Street, and harassed customers to buy him drinks.

    James, with force number 217884 attached to MOPOL 22, Oduduwa, GRA, Ikeja, was said to have threatened to shoot if anyone dared him.

    An eyewitness said the policeman ambushed and killed the three men, as they stepped outside the hotel premises where they had gone to celebrate Jeje’s birthday.

    It was gathered that when he realised the implications of his action, the policeman shot himself on the chest.

    In the ensuing confusion, passersby and residents scampered to safety.

    An angry mob, The Nation gathered, attempted to burn the hotel and the policeman’s body but for the swift intervention of police officers from Ketu division.

    The mob was said to have thrown bottles and stones at the hotel, prompting lodgers to flee their rooms.

    A guest at the hotel, who witnessed the killings, said that the policeman had boasted about wanting to kill people hours before the incident happened.

    The customer, who identified himself simply as Femi, said all efforts to pacify the policeman proved abortive as he kept fomenting trouble harassing visitors with his gun all afternoon.

  • Deceased killer cop to be dismissed posthumously – Lagos CP

    Deceased killer cop to be dismissed posthumously – Lagos CP

    A police Sergeant, Stephen James who shot himself after killing three men at the weekend in Lagos would be dismissed posthumously.

    This disclosure was made by the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, while condemning the actions of the cop.

    It was gathered that James at about 4pm on Saturday in the Ketu area of the state, ambushed and killed three men, including two siblings for admonishing him to behave appropriately at a drinking spot.

    The deceased twin (only children of their bereft mother),Taiwo and Kehinde Oyesunle, as well as their their friend identified as Jeje, were said to have admonished the drunken officer, who entered the premises of Paulson Hotel on Anibaba Street, and harassed customers to buy drinks for him.

    James, a Sergeant with force number 217884, attached to MOPOL 22, Oduduwa, GRA, Ikeja, was said to have threatened to shoot anyone who refuses to buy alcohol for him at the hotel bar.

    Aside being drunk, the cop was also said to have been a chronic Indian hemp smoker and was probably high on narcotics that fateful evening.

    An eyewitnesses said the policeman ambushed and killed the three young men, who were in their early 30s, as they stepped outside the hotel premises where they had gone to celebrate Jeje’s birthday.

    It was gathered that when he realized the implications of his action, the policeman allegedly shot himself on the chest.

    The incident threw the entire neighborhood and its environs into confusion with passers-by and residents running for safety, it was learnt.

    An angry mob, The Nation gathered, attempted to raze the hotel as well as burn the corpse of the cop but for the swift intervention of police officers attached to Ketu division.

    The mob was said to have thrown bottles and stones at the hotel, prompting lodgers to flee their rooms with their luggage.

    Reacting to the misfortune, Owoseni said the cop will be tried and dismissed in death, adding that the Sergeant can no longer be a member of the force following his callous behaviour.

    “ We would try him even in death and dismiss him for his actions. We want to use this medium to sympathize with the families of the deceased and we apologize for the irrational actions of the policeman who also took his life,” said Owoseni.

  • Trial of ‘killer cop’ begins today

    The orderly room trial of Police Sergeant Godwin Otene, who allegedly shot dead a 33-year-old businessman, Oyoma Edewor, last weekend, begins today, it was learnt yesterday.

    Otene risks dismissal and prosecution for alleged murder, if found guilty of the offence.

    The suspect, who was arrested after his escape by the  Area ‘E’ Police Command, was moved to the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Panti, on Tuesday.

    Command’s spokesperson Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said investigation into what prompted the policeman to kill Edewor was ongoing.

    She said the suspect could not be dismissed without following due process.

    Otene was alleged to have abandoned his duty post as station guard at Area ‘E’ Command Headquarters, FESTAC for “illegal duty” in the Alakija area.

    The late Edewor, whose car broke down, while returning to his FESTAC home, had hired a van to tow the vehicle home.

    While on the way, three policemen at a checkpoint around Third Gate Bus Stop, were said to have flagged down the towing van but its driver refused to stop.

    The policemen forced the driver to stop after a chase. The driver abandoned the van and escaped.

    Edewor was allegedly dragged out of his vehicle, asked to sit on the floor and remove his shirt before he was allegedly shot dead by Otene.

    His family is demanding justice, claiming that Edewor was intentionally killed by Otene.

    Yesterday, Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, assured the family that justice would  be done.

  • Suspected killer cop in custody

    The police in Edo State said yesterday that the corporal, who allegedly bit his 19-month-old baby to death, is now in custody.

    Police spokesmen Moses Eguavoen said: “As I speak with you now, the corporal is in our custody.”

    Investigation showed that the corporal was taken to the police by his father.

    Sources said Corporal Samuel Abiola fled to his father, a retired police officer, in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

    Attempts by our reporter to speak with the suspect were resisted by the command.

    Abiola on March 25 allegedly bit and strangled his son, Ayomide Samuel, after he battered his wife, Abigail.

    Abigail said the incident occurred in their apartment at Flat 1c, Omorogieva Compound, Sam Enobakhare Crescent, off St. Saviour Road, Benin City.

    She said they never had any dispute before the domestic aggression.

    It was gathered that Abiola’s landlord, Samuel Enobakhare Omorogieva, has ejected him from his house.

    Sources said Abigail was locked out of their three-bedroom apartment, following the expiration of their rent last month.

    Omorogieva said his action was informed by the series of complaints of domestic violence.

    “Other tenants were always coming to me, complaining that the quarrel from that flat was disturbing them, he has a record of coming home late at night,” he said.

    The landlord said a quit notice, which expires this month, has been issued to the police officer.

    Abigail told our reporter that her husband called her twice, exonerating himself from the death of their baby.

  • Ondo: ‘Killer cop’ remanded in prison

    Ondo: ‘Killer cop’ remanded in prison

    A Magistrate’s Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, yesterday remanded a Police Constable, Abdul Alonge (32), in prison custody.

    Alonge was arraigned for allegedly killing an expectant mother, Mrs. Segi Olajiga.

    Police prosecutor Ayodele Atandeyi said at about 6:30pm last Tuesday, Alonge shot Mrs. Olajiga with his service rifle at the Plaza Hotel, Akure.

    Atandeyi said the charge would be amended to include attempted murder.

    He said the suspect allegedly attempted to kill the driver of the vehicle in which the deceased was.

    Atandeyi said the court lacked the jurisdiction to try murder cases.

    He sought an adjournment to enable him send a duplicate of the case file to the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) in the Ministry of Justice for legal advice.

    Defence counsel Mr. Fele Aso did not object to an adjournment.

    The Magistrate, Mrs. Charity Adeyanju, adjourned the case till June 18.

    Women lawyers in the state have urged the Commissioner of Police, Patrick Dey-Dokumor, to ensure that Justice is done in the matter.

    In a petition by the State Secretary of the Federation of International Women Lawyers (FIDA), Mrs. Bunmi Niyi-Arajua; the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mrs. Abimbola Ajileye and eight others, the group described the killing as “very painful”.

    The statement reads: “It is sad, given the fact that the accused was neither responding to a distress call, armed robbery or a civil disturbance in the community.

    “Eye witnesses said the police constable aimed to shoot a taxi driver, who refused to bribe him, but the bullet hit the expectant mother. We are making this representation to your good office to ensure that justice is done in this matter.

    “The death of two lives cannot be treated with levity. The constitution of Nigeria guarantees every citizen the right to life as stipulated in Section 33(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

    “A police officer who points a loaded gun at an innocent civilian on the street is assumed to intend the killing of such civilian. We seek proper prosecution of the suspect.

    “Mere dismissal from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) will be grossly inadequate. This petition is the first way we can register our disdain for this unwarranted killing.”