The Nation Newspaper

Tag: nabbed

  • Three suspected vandals nabbed in Ogun

    Three suspected vandals nabbed in Ogun

    Police operatives attached to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT) yesterday nabbed three suspected pipeline vandals.

    Waheed Saudu, Jide Bamigboyo and Alhaji Asha were yesterday arrested on on their way to vandalise a pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    It was gathered that they were arrested close to Shagamu. And while they were being searched, the policemen discovered three pump action guns; four packets of cartridges, a dagger, pumping machine and a long pipe in their possession.

    It was, however, not clear if the suspects were members of the gang that attacked and killed some military personnel last Friday.

    The Nation gathered that their arrest was sequel to an ambush laid by the police who had earlier nabbed the group’s kingpin identified as Somoyo Eniola.

    Eniola, popularly known as Baale had contacted the other suspects from police custody without their knowledge.

    He was said to have informed them of an operation, telling them to come with all necessary tools.

    But unknown to them, it was a sting operation.

    A security source who pleaded anonymity said that the suspects were being held at the Special Anti-Robbery Sqaud (SARS) office in Ikeja.

    The source said: “They have been into the business for a long time. Alhaji used to be a buyer before he turned into a vandal. They usually collude with pipeline security agents who give them information on when the valves are opened on exchange for money.

    “The suspects did not know we have arrested Baale. Baale is the one who usually invited them for operations and so, what we did was to use him to get them.

    “They said they used to be at Ishawo in Ikorodu until the military chased them out of that place and so, they relocated to Arepo and Shagamu.

    “The suspects have been moved to SARS, where Million, another terrible criminal and vandal is being held.”

    The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Bisi Kolawole confirmed the arrest.

  • Eight nabbed for meter bypass in Ikeja

    Eight persons have been arrested for allegedly tampering with meters installed by Ikeja Electric at its Abule-Egba and Ikorodu Business Units.

    The suspects arrested for ‘meter bypass,’ were said to have deliberately manipulated meters installed in their residences to circumvent appropriate payment for energy consumed. The suspects who reside at No. 8, Ibrahim Adejare Street, Ajuwon, Abule-Egba, Block 7 Flat 5, Block 50 Flat 1, Block 10 Bungalow, Block 2 Flat 5 and Block 1 Flat 6 of Tinubu Estate, Odonla Ikorodu- Lagos, were apprehended by officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Mobile Policemen on October 6 and 9, 2015, following a complaint by Ikeja Electric.

    According to a statement issued by Ikeja Electric, investigations are ongoing to ensure the suspects are made to face the wrath of the law, along with possible collaborators who are believed to be part of a notorious syndicate.

    The management said the company has been grappling with the menace of individuals who deliberately destroy the firm’s equipment and installations across its business units. The Managing Director, Abiodun Ajifowobaje said the company has within the last 18 months spent over N11million to malicious damage to its transformers, installations and upgrade equipment. The company has also lost revenue through meter bypass involving over 75,000 customers who have not paid their electricity bills in the last couple of months.

    He urged customers to be part of continuing efforts aimed at safeguarding equipment in their neighbourhood by reporting the activities of vandals and saboteurs to law enforcement agencies and/or Ikeja Electric business offices.

    The company has received the backing of various security agencies who have vowed to check the menace of vandals and energy thieves through prosecution. Ikeja Electric is currently installing advanced prepaid meters across its network in line with its commitment to service excellence.

    The company stated that the advanced meters, meter application forms as well as installation services are free and as such customers are advised not to pay adding that customers its helplines on 01-4483900, 0700-0-2255-453 and 01-7000250 or send an email to Customercare@ikejaelectric for help and clarifications.

  • ‘How police nabbed me with 27 phones’

    A 19-year-old man, Saliu Oladunni, has narrated how he was caught by the police with 27 phones burgled from a shop at Wole Ajeboriogbon Street, Sabo, Ikorodu, property of one Mrs Wasiu Omolabake.

    Oladunni, who was arraigned before an Ikorodu Magistrate’s Court in Lagos yesterday, told The Nation that he wasn’t part of the gang that stole the phones, but he helped the thieves to deliver them to phone sellers.

    He said: “I was taking my broken phone to a Mallam for repair when the guys asked me to take the 27 phones to the same Mallam.

    “The Mallam repairs and sells phones, but I didn’t know he was working for the police too. It was when the police came and arrested me there that I knew the phones were stolen,” Oladunni said.

    The Prosecutor, Corporal Mary Ajiteru, told the court that on August 31, Oladunni and several others at large at about 3:30am burgled Mrs Omolabake’s shop and made off with 44 different phones and accessories worth N180,000.

    When the three-count charge was read to him in Yoruba, Oladunni pleaded guilty to conspiracy and stealing punishable under Sections 409 and 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

    He denied the second charge of burglary.

    Magistrate O. O. Olatunji ordered the accused be remanded in prison and adjourned the matter till October 22.

  • Employee nabbed for ‘stealing’

    An employee of Pathway Financial and Consultancy Services Limited Joesph Esemogie has been arraigned before an Isolo Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, for allegedly stealing N1,175,000 belonging to the company.

    Esemogie is facing a one count charge of stealing.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Oje Uagbale told the court that Esemogie committed the offence in March at Remilekun Street, Surulere, Lagos.

    Uagbale said the accused was employed to collect funds and loans from customers, but decided to convert the money to his own personal use.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Joy Ugbomoiko granted the accused N20, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She adjourned the case till September 14.

  • Pastor, others nabbed for murder, cultism in Edo

    Operatives of the Edo State Police command have arrested a pastor and four others for the murder of a welder, identified as Abu Iboje.

    Abu was killed in April at his workshop along Upper Sokponba road in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state.

    The pastor, who identified himself as Greatman Ita, however, denied being involved in the killing of Abu.

    He said he was arrested outside his shop by another suspect.

    Another suspect, Lazarus Anthony, said he led other members of his cult group to kill Abu.

    Lazarus, aged 21, said Greatman was the driver of the vehicle they used to commit to murder.

    He said they killed Abu because a member of their cult group was earlier killed by Abu.

    According to him, “I am a cultist and belong to black axe. Abu and his squad killed Kelvin at Upper Sokponba. The next day, I led my squad to kill Abu at his workshop. I used locally made gun.”

    “It was Edoba that asked us to do the killing, This is the first person I have killed. After killing him, I became confused and did not know what came over me.

    “I am pleading with the government to forgive me. I want to renounce my cult membership. We are many that are cultist in that street.”

    Other suspects arrested are Sylvester Ikhifa, Obiosa Noble and Okeh Godstime.

    It will be recalled that over 40 persons were killed in a renewed cult war before the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, ordered a clampdown on cultists in the state.

  • Owo robbery suspect nabbed in Edo

    Owo robbery suspect nabbed in Edo

    A suspected robber, Etopa Sadiq, who participated in last week’s attack on banks and police stations at Owo in Ondo State, has been arrested by  the police in Edo State.

    Etopa was believed to have been abandoned by his gang, which fled after engaging the police in a shoot-out.

    Police Commissioner Samuel Adegbuyi said his men engaged the robbers at Ibillo, following reports that the hoodlums were heading towards that area.

    Samuel said the robbers fled after minutes of gun battle and abandoned some of their arms.

    He said arms 32 AK47 magazines, three LAR rifle magazines, seven TO6 rifle magazines, 23 teargas canisters, three boxes of ammunition, 12 rounds of dummy cartridges, 23 live ammunition, three police crash helmets and one police uniform were recovered.

  • Six nabbed for alleged kidnap, murder of council boss

    Six nabbed for alleged kidnap, murder of council boss

    Six persons have been arrested by the Department of State Security Services (DSSS), Ebonyi State Command, for alleged kidnap, murder and armed robbery.

    They were accused of allegedly abducting and killing the former coordinator of Okposi Development Centre, Mr. Ihebunandu Okorie, in March.

    The DSSS Director, Mr. L.B. Baba, parading the suspects at the weekend, said they abducted the council boss on March 16 at the Presbyterian Church, Okposi in Ohaozara Local Government.

    He said after contacting the family and demanding N50million ransom, which they later reduced to N5million before collecting N500,000, the suspects killed the council boss in Nguzu Edda forest.

    Baba gave their names as Ebere (32), Odichimma (30), Chukwudi (32), Amos (23), Peter (30) and Adamu. He withheld their surnames, saying some of them also engaged in drug pushing (cocaine).

    Items recovered from the gang included three AK 47 rifles, 16 magazines loaded with 437, Honda IV Tech car with Lagos State registration number FST 254 AE and Ash colour Toyota Picnic with Lagos State number plate JJJ 777 PU.

    The DSSS chief said one of the suspects, Ebere from Edda in Ebonyi State, was arrested in Abia State when he wanted to collect the ransom, adding that he owned two AK47 rifles and was a notorious cocaine dealer, Odichimma from Abia State was arrested in Asaba, Delta State in April. He is said to own one AK 47 rifle.

    Baba said Chukwudi from Umuozo Abia State was arrested in April at Promise Hotel, Lagos where he fled to after the kidnap of the late Okorie, while Amos, from the same town with the deceased in Ebonyi State, brought the business and involved other suspects. He was arrested at Ajegunle in Lagos State.

    Baba said Peter from Enugu Ukwu in Anambra State, a panel beater who built a compartment under the Toyota Picnic van used by the gang for the movement of arms and ammunition, bulk cash and cocaine, was arrested this month, while Adamu from Kogi State contacted one of the suspects, demanding AK47 rifle to rob a company in Port Harcourt.

    The DSSS boss said the suspects also participated in other kidnaps and armed robberies, including the abduction of an 80-year-old woman in Ilesha, Osun State in December last year, during which a N28.6 million ransom was paid before the victim was released, adding that they stole over N5 million from a bank in February.

  • Four suspected cultists nabbed in Osun Poly

    Four suspected cultists were nabbed at the weekend by the authorities of the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, for allegedly trying to initiate three students into a cult.

    Ajayi Olayemi Lawrence, Olorede Hammed, Olabiyi Afis and Hammed Akindele, have been handed over to the police after they were interrogated by the institution’s Students Disciplinary Committee (SDC).

    A source, who asked for anonymity, said the suspects were apprehended by the institution’s security men in Iree and Obaagun after a botched attempt to initiate the three students.

    The source said records showed that three of the suspects are not students of the polytechnic. The fourth, Akindele, was a National Diploma II student of Business Administration.

    The Director of Media Relations of the institution, Mr. Tope Abiola, who confirmed the incident, said Akindele was expelled last year by the authority for involving in cultism.

    The source said Ajayi confessed that he was a member of a confraternity before he dropped out of the institution.

    “He claimed that he is an apprentice with an Osogbo-based aluminum industry, but was in Iree for an undisclosed mission. Hammed, who also confessed to be a member of a notorious confraternity, claimed to be a student of Civil Engineering department of our school, although records prove otherwise,” the source said.

  • Suspected car thief nabbed

    Suspected car thief nabbed

    The police at Wuse division have arrested a suspected car snatcher at Kayes Street, Wuse Zone 1, Abuja.

    The Divisional Police Officer of the station, Chief Superintendent Joshua Bakyi, said the man was arrested by his men on patrol who noticed him struggling to remove a Toyota Camry car where it was parked.

    “My men on routine patrol saw a man struggling to remove a Toyota Camry car from where it was parked at around 4am at Kayes Street, Wuse Zone 1 on Easter morning.

    “Immediately they saw his suspicious moves, he was arrested and a handset and laptop computer were found on him,” he said.

    The police officer hinted that the mobile phone was later discovered to be one of the items earlier reported stolen by a lady at the division last week, adding that they were able to make such discoveries based on the text messages found on the phone.

    A resident of Wuse  Zone 1, Mr. Taiwo Oyerinde, told our reporter that such incidents are rampant in the area, adding that armed robbers attack residents of the area frequently.

    “I was recently robbed of my handsets and money in my street but the police are now aware of the level of armed robbery attacks here and they have intensified patrol. I hope that it would be sustained,” he said.

    When contacted, FCT police spokesperson, Deputy Superintendent Hyelhira Altine Daniel, said the police at Wuse were able to arrest the suspect because of the command’s determination to rid the territory of any form of criminality, assuring that the commissioner is working harder to ensure that Abuja is safe for all.

    ”Residents of FCT should endeavour to call [police] emergency numbers at any particular time whenever they suspect any criminal activities within their areas.”

     

  • One dead, 10 nabbed as cultists clash in Delta

    A man has died following a bloody clash between two rival cult groups in Delta State.

    The victim, Victor Odoye was allegedly killed in Okwagbe, Ughelli South Local Government Area.

    The victim, it was learnt, died after been caught in a cross fire by the warring groups. It is unclear if the victim was a cultist.

    The victim’s remains were recovered in a bush close to St. Vincent College, Okwagbe.

    It was gathered that the suspected cultists brandished dangerous weapons while engaging each other in a battle before security agents were alerted.

    Delta Police Public Relations Officer, Famous Ajieh who confirmed the death of the victim, said his men, with the local vigilance group, arrested ten suspects who allegedly participated in the battle.

    Ajieh, however, stated that the deceased had been deposited at morgue in the area, adding that two daggers were recovered at the scene of battle.

    Ajieh, who said the ages of those arrested were between 18 and 27 years, disclosed that the police were hot on the trail of one of the leaders of the cult groups simply identified as Solomon said to be an ex-militant.

    Also, the Delta Police said they had intensified investigation into the alleged self-kidnap of a 63-year-old mother, Kate Emienor and her 22-year-old son, Obehi.

    Obehi , it was learnt, conspired with his mother to arrange her abduction in order to extort money from her wealthy son based overseas.

    The duo who reside in Benin City, Edo State, were said to have relocated to their hideout in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Council area and made phone calls to her overseas-based son, demanding N20 million ransom.

    The duo, it was gathered reduced the ransom to N10 million after about ten days of negotiation.

    However, the police acting on a tip-off swung into action arresting both suspects.