The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lagos State Police Command

  • Isheri Kidnap: Ambode orders prompt arrest of culprits

    Isheri Kidnap: Ambode orders prompt arrest of culprits

    …Commiserates with families of killed security guards

     

    Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday directed the State Police Command to ensure prompt arrest of kidnappers who struck on Wednesday evening in Isheri area of the State killing three security guards.

    The kidnappers were said to have also abducted the Secretary of the Isheri North Residents Association, Mr. Dayo Adekoya.

    A statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said Governor Ambode has already directed the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni to move decisively and promptly to arrest the kidnappers.

    Governor Ambode, according to the statement, specifically commiserated with the families of the security guards that lost their lives to the unfortunate incident, and assured that government is on top of the situation and working with security agencies to ensure early release of the victim.

    Ayorinde said: “A while ago, the CP of Lagos Command of the Nigerian Police, confirmed that police has commenced investigation as well as put in place necessary rescue operation to ensure the release of the victim.

    “While the State Government commiserates with the families of the three dead estate security guards, it will leave no stone unturned to ensure that lives and property of residents in the State are protected.”

    It would be recalled that just last week, Governor Ambode had demonstrated his seriousness and determination to eradicate the menace of kidnapping when he signed into law the anti-kidnapping bill recently passed by the State House of Assembly.

    The law imposes a penalty of life imprisonment on kidnapping for ransom and death penalty in the event of death of a kidnapped victim.

  • Police, TuFace reach truce on protest

    Police, TuFace reach truce on protest

    …We won’t stop Tuface, other Nigerians from protesting – Presidency

     

     

    The Lagos State Police Command Friday rescinded its threat to stop the anti-government protest slated for Monday by pop star Innocent Idibia popularly known as TuFace .

    The two sides met Friday and resolved to modify their hard line positions, according to

    Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni.

    Owoseni explained that the police were concerned about the safety of residents of Lagos, including the protesters and would not want anything untoward to happen to them.

    He said: “We had a meeting with the protesters and we explained to them why we advised against the protest. A pro-government group wants to protest that same day and we don’t want a situation where there would be friction.

    “We also don’t want hooligans to hijack the process and injure the protesters.

    “After explaining to them, they said they will go back and discuss with others. They said if they decide to go ahead, they won’t demonstrate but would assemble at a point and read their demands.

    “That notwithstanding, we have resolved to provide security for them. It is our responsibility and we won’t shy away from it. We will ensure trouble makers do not hijack the process.”

    The Presidency also declared that it has nothing against the protest and that Tuface and other Nigerians are entitled to express themselves in peaceful protests.

    The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Vice  President, Yemi Osinbajo, Mr. Laolu Akande said on his Twitter handle that the Buhari Administration  “will not prevent Nigerians from expressing themselves in peaceful protests, it’s a fundamental right of the people.”

    He added: “No govt has ever laid out the kind of Social Investment Prog, the Buhari govt is now running across the nation, that will touch millions.”

    Meanwhile, Afrobeat singer, Femi Kuti has denied insinuations  that he is against the TuFace protest.

  • Police arrest three suspected internet fraudsters

    The police in Lagos have arrested three suspected internet fraudsters who allegedly specialised in duping property dealers in different parts of the state.

    The spokesperson for the Lagos State Police command, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed this on Monday in a statement.

    The statement said that the suspects were arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS).

    Those arrested, according to the statement, included a 28-year-old, a 27-year-old and a 33-year-old.

    The statement said that they were picked up last Wednesday in Akwa, Anambra, following intelligence reports.

    It said the suspects had swindled a property dealer in Lagos State of about N4 million while posing as potential clients to perpetrate their crime

    The statement said their arrest came less than a month after the RRS burst another syndicate  of  fraudsters who operated   on the internet.

    ”The suspects are part of internet fraudsters that specialise in hacking into e – mail addresses and using them to send messages seeking transfer of funds in tranches to different accounts.

    ”Unlike the present gang, the other gang comprising of four young men were arrested in Onitsha for hacking into the e – mail account of the CEO of a popular loto company based in Lagos.

    ”They fraudulently transferred N5 million into four separate accounts.

    ”The Lagos-based estate agent claimed he received an e-mail giving payment instructions.

    ”The owner of the e-mail address is his client.

    “It gave payment instructions to transfer funds in his custody to an account belonging to one Emmanuel Ajinubi with First bank Account No. 3046974892.

    ”The first transfer of N800,000 was Oct. 24th , 2016. On 27th Oct., 2016, there was another instruction to transfer N530,000 to the same account.

    ”On Nov. 1, 2016, he transferred N720, 000 into Ifenancho Kingsley (a suspect) First Bank account 3050290672 and further instruction the following day of N850,000 to same account.

    ”The total amount transferred into the two accounts was N3, 820,000,” it said.

    The statement said the victim only realised that the payment instructions did not emanate from his client after he got a phone call from him.

    It said efforts were ongoing to arrest other members of the gangs who were directly involved in the hacking into some corporate and individuals’ e-mail addresses.

    “The three suspects have been transferred to SCID Panti for further investigations,” it added.

     

  • Lagos Police uncovers illegal oil depot in oregun

    Lagos Police uncovers illegal oil depot in oregun

    …Arrests suspected kingpin, seven others

     

    The Lagos State Police Command on Thursday uncovered an illegal oil depot located underneath the Oregun-Opebi Link Bridge in Onigbongbo Local Government Area of the State, arresting eight suspects in the process.

    The illegal oil depot was uncovered during a joint raid by men of the Lagos Police Command and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), led by the Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Fatai Owoseni and the RRS Commander, Mr. Olatunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police.

    Owoseni, who briefed journalists shortly after inspecting the area, alongside officials of the State Lands Bureau, said the suspects had been engaging in adulteration of petroleum products, which they then proceed to sell to unsuspecting members of the public.

    “With what we have seen on ground, the magnitude of the activities taking place here, it shows that this probably must have been happening for some period, it could be years that people don’t get noticed and this could explain why some people would buy new cars, new generators and they would tell you that they put diesel inside and the engine knocks, these are probably the criminal minds behind these things.

    “They have so many drums; they even have plenty tankers here and they must have been doing this for long. They take the adulterated products out to go and sell to unsuspecting members of the public and we end up with people having their valuable items destroyed and in some cases leading to fire incidents,” Owoseni said.

    The Commissioner of Police, who confirmed that eight suspects were arrested during the raid including the kingpin of the gang carrying out the illegal activities, said a thorough investigation would be carried out, while those found culpable will be prosecuted accordingly.

    He also warned those still involved in such practice to desist forthwith, saying that there would be no hiding place as all security apparatus in the State would be deployed to the nook and crannies across the metropolis to fish out criminally minded persons.

    “We would use this to send a message across to other people that are engaged in illegal business like this, no stone would be left unturned to get to the root cause, to get to all the people that are involved; the perpetrators, the conspirators and we would ensure that the investigation is carefully handled and done to logical conclusion so that at the end of the day we would get people to face the music and deal with them according to the law.

    “Would ensure diligent prosecution as well and with that, we would be sending a message to other perpetrators that are engaged in acts like that to tell them that in Lagos no act of lawlessness and illegality would be entertained and that everyone that has run foul of the law through this kind of thing, would face the music,” the Commissioner of Police said.

    Owoseni said the area would be cordoned off by the Police immediately pending the period of conclusion of the investigation process.

    “Since this has been uncovered, a stop is going to be put to what is happening right here, because of the illegal activities of the bunkerers, you have mechanics here who are here illegally, you have food vendors here and once the illegal business taking place here is taken away, they also have to relocate somewhere else and run their business legitimately,” he said.

  • Police restore calm, rescues 2-day old baby from Lagos community clash

    Police restore calm, rescues 2-day old baby from Lagos community clash

    The Lagos State Police Command on Wednesday intervened to restore calm during a clash between two communities in Otodogbami area of Ikate, Lekki Phase 1, rescuing a two-day old baby in the process.

    A battle of supremacy of the area had triggered the clash between the Egun speaking community; mostly indigenes of Benin Republic and the Yoruba speaking community resulting in serious fighting and burning of houses.

    When contacted, Public Relation Officer of the State Command of the Nigerian Police, Dolapo Badmos confirmed the clash, saying that the police immediately moved into the area to prevent further breakdown of law and order.

    Giving a background of what transpired, she said, “There is an Egun community mainly made up of people from Republic of Benin. They actually occupy illegal shanties. We were alerted about the breakdown of law and order in the area and immediately went to check Otodogbami community, Ikate Lekki Phase 1, where there is a fight between the Benin- Yoruba communities fighting over the supremacy of the territory.

    “It’s an illegal settlement area, most of the structures there are shanties and because of a protracted dispute between themselves, they set fire on their different shanties. The Police moved into the area to restore peace and in the process of checking the area, we discovered that there was a woman who was trapped in one of the shanties with a two-day old baby who would have been burnt in the process,” she said.

    She said the State Government has taken over the area while the State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development would move in to demolish the remaining shanties and clear the rubbles caused by the inferno.

    “The Police is alive to its responsibility of ensuring the safety of lives and property of its citizenry and would not hesitate to carry out the necessary action where the need arises,” she said.

    Badmos also appealed to both factions in the community to remain lawful and shun acts of violence that could trigger civil unrest.

  • Four ‘killed’, others injured as Customs officers go on rampage 

    Four ‘killed’, others injured as Customs officers go on rampage 

    At least four persons were Thursday feared killed and three others injured after some trigger-happy Nigerian Customs Service (NIS) operatives went berserk.

    The incidents occurred at Moshalashi and Kola Bus Stops at Alagbado and Ajegunle in Alakuko.

    It was gathered that the Customs operatives, allegedly attached to the Federal Operations, were chasing some rice smugglers while they suddenly started shooting sporadically in the crowded areas.

    The four persons, who were said to have been hit by stray bullets, were commercial motorcyclists.

    Among them, The Nation gathered, was a 25-year-old identified as Saheed, whose wife was said to be pregnant.

    It was gathered that the operatives who rode on four patrol vehicles, took one of the victims as they fled. They were said to have injured about three other persons who were taken to an undisclosed hospital.

    It was gathered that the Customs operatives while fleeing, threatened to shoot policemen from Alakuko Division, who attempted to stop them.

    A resident who hinted on the incident said that the officers acted as though they were drunk.

    He said: “It was around 7am. I was inside my house and suddenly I started hearing gunshots. I looked through the window to see what was happening and people were running. I saw about four Customs vehicle and the officers were just shooting anyhow.

    “Later, I heard they were chasing rice smugglers but all the people they killed were Okada riders. Bullet hit one on the stomach; another person was hit on the leg and another one on the hand. About four people died. Blood was everywhere and the Customs men escaped.”

    The Nation gathered that residents of the area soon took to the streets in protest against the operatives. They were said to have vandalised several properties and burnt tyres on the major roads to ground vehicular movements.

    Commercial motorcyclists were said to have attempted to raze an Oando gas station, where the Customs officers usually stayed but they were stopped by policemen led by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Commander, Tunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).

    Efforts to get the Customs’ spokesman, Uche Ejesieme’s reaction on the issue failed at the time of filing this report.

    Contacted, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP) said one person was killed.

    She said: “Some Custom officials were on the trail of a vehicle, in the process they went berserk and started shooting. One passerby was shot to death around Ajegunle in Alakuko. A patrol team led by the DPO of Alakuko Division, moved to the area to douse the tension.

    “They fired sporadically and escaped from the scene. The dead body was evacuated to morgue. Investigation is ongoing.”

  • Police rescue 28 persons, including 13 teenagers

    Police rescue 28 persons, including 13 teenagers

    The Lagos State Police Command had rescued 28 persons that included 13 teenagers found in chains in a house at Oke-Ira, Ojodu area of the state.

    The command’s spokesperson, SP Dolapo Badmos, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday that the victims were rescued on Friday.

    Badmos said that the command had also arrested one Emmanuel Adeyemi alleged to have been responsible for the crime.

    She said that the rescued people comprised: six male adults, nine female adults, seven female children and six male; adding that they had been taken into protective custody.

    “On Aug. 19, at about noon, the command received information that a child was in chain in a house at Oyinbo Unity Estate, Olamidun Close, Yakoyo, Oke-Ira, Ojodu.

    “Consequently, he command mobilized a team of policemen to the location, where a 17-year-old boy, (names withheld) was found in a room with a chain around his legs.

    “The victim was allegedly chained by the suspect who claimed to be his father to restrain him from going out.

    “Further search of the premises led to the discovery of 27 others chained by the same suspect,’’ Badmos said.

    The image-maker said that the suspect was currently undergoing interrogations, stressing that the command was working assiduously to get to the roots of the matter.

  • Five die in motor accident in Lagos – Police

    Five die in motor accident in Lagos – Police

    Not fewer than five persons lost their lives on Wednesday afternoon at Alakija on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, in an accident involving a trailer carrying container.

    SP Dolapo Badmos the spokesperson, Lagos State Police Command, confirmed the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    Badmos, who did not give details of the accident, said that the police was investigating the incident.

    In a related development, Badmos said that Felix Oyeleye, a police Corporal, attached to Operations at the command headquarters, lost his life on Monday after his patrol motorcycle was knocked down by a vehicle.

    The PPRO said that the hit and run driver, allegedly hit the motorcycle carrying Oyeleye and one Cpl. Macaulay Esimiye while on patrol on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway at about 5 p.m. on Monday.

    “They were knocked down while on patrol in their motorcycle along Oshodi-Apapa expressway, inward Mile 2 by one LT bus, with Reg. No. AKD 949 XF, driven by yet to be identified driver.

    “They were rushed to Save World Health Centre, Oshodi for medical treatment, where the rider, Cpl Oyeleye later died.

    “The corpse of the officer has been deposited at Mainland General Hospital mortuary, Yaba for autopsy.

    “Meanwhile, the vehicle has been impounded. There are efforts to arrest the driver,’’ Badmos said.

     

  • Lagos police nab five suspected armed robbers, recover vehicle

    Lagos police nab five suspected armed robbers, recover vehicle

    Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a five-man gang of armed robbers who specialises in car snatching.

    The suspects, Apolo Ejah,  Michael Yakubu, Samuel Adeniyi, Sunday Oda, Eman Najo, were nabbed in Saturday at the Baruwa Ipaja area of the state, while they were fleeing with a car they stole in Ogun state.

    It was gathered that the suspects has carted away a Toyota car belonging to one Benedict Ologbosere at Aiseno close, Ogijo in Ogun and escaped through Ikorodu to Baruwa Ipaja.

    Detectives attached to the state  Anti-Robbery Sqaud (SARS) led by a Superintendent of Police (SP) Adamu Amadu were said to have trailed the suspected criminals to their hideout where the stolen vehicle was recovered.

    Confirming the arrest, the command’s spokesperson, SP Dolapo Badmos said the vehicle was at the SARS base in Ikeja.

    She stated that the suspects have confessed to the crime, adding that investigations have commenced.

  • Police parade 25 suspects for various offences

    Police parade 25 suspects for various offences

    The Lagos State Police Command Friday paraded 25 suspects for various offences allegedly committed since January 27.

    Among the suspects were six aliens from Niger Republic who were nabbed for alleged armed robbery.

    They are Mustapha Musa, Abdulahi Ali, Isah Musa, Seidu Isah, Aliyu Azuma and Yakubu Adamu.

    Their gang also had a Nigerian identified as Isiaka Yakubu.

    According to Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, they were nabbed on January 27, at about 2:30am inside a Nissan Sunny vehicle marked AKD163DW, while going for an operation in Ebute Metta.

    He stated that six cutlasses, an iron cutter and two torchlight’s were recovered from them.

    “While searching the vehicle, various offensive weapons including handsets, a driver’s license and some wraps of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered.

    “The suspects were interrogated and they made confessional statements that they specialised in shop breaking and stealing within Lagos Island metropolis.

    “In the course of investigation, they led operatives of the Anti-Robbery Sqaud to one Alic Hairworld Limited Fashion Queen ACB building in Lagos, where it was confirmed by the complainant that on January 26, at night time, unknown persons broke into their shop and stole N1, 150,000.

    “Six if the seven suspects are from Niger Republic while there is a Nigerian among them. However, a letter has been sent to their embassy for information,” he said.

    Similarly, four suspects were paraded for allegedly robbing guests at a hotel in Alagbado on January 27.

    They are Jimoh Fatai, 28, Isiaka Iyanu, 22, Rotimi Oduola, 26, and Lasisi Muftau, 26.

    According to the police, the suspects robbed guests at Latest View Hotel, located on Baruwa Street, Alagbado.

    Two locally made double barrel short guns and eight live cartridges were allegedly recovered from them.