The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria Police Force

  • Update: Ex-presidential aspirant Shinkafi dies in London

    Update: Ex-presidential aspirant Shinkafi dies in London

    Former presidential aspirant, Alh. Umaru Aliyu Shinkafi on Wednesday died in London after being in and out of the hospital for more than six months.

    Shinkafi, who was a former Director-General of the Nigerian Security Organization (NSO), now Department of State Security Service ( DSS) from October 1979 to November 1983, was flown abroad in January after a health relapse.

    According to sources, the late Marafan Sokoto had initially received treatment at both St. Nicholas Hospital and Reddington Hospital, Ikeja in Lagos before the referral to London became necessary.

    A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We lost Shinkafi in London at about 4pm where he was flown to in January with some members of his immediate family and three medical doctors.

    “In the last six months, he had been battling with his health. But it has pleased Allah to call him home. From Allah we came and unto Him we shall return.

    “Arrangements are being made to bring his corpse to Nigeria for burial on or before Friday because of flight logistics.”

    He is survived by three wives and five children including the present First Ladies in Kebbi and Zamfara states.

    Shinkafi, who opted for a career in the Nigeria Police Force in 1959, was also a graduate of the University of Lagos where he bagged his LLB degree in Law in 1973.

    Respected for his specialization in intelligence gathering, Shinkafi was appointed a former Minister of Internal Affairs( now Interior Ministry) in 1975 before he was made the DG of NSO between October 1979 and November 1983 when he resigned from office.

    But as the DG NSO, he ran into storm over the deportation of a former Majority Leader of the Borno State, Alhaji Abdurrahman Shugaba Darman in 1981.

    Shugaba, who was of the defunct Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP)  was accused of alleged “assassination plot against tex-President Shehu Shagari, who was then of the ruling National Party of Nigeria(NPN).

    Shugaba was later confirmed to be a Nigerian by a High Court after his aged mother succeeded in identifying his voice in a testimony which shaped the nation’s legal history.

    His foray into politics almost overshadowed his police cum secret service career.

    He was a leading presidential aspirant under the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) in 1992 before the the Military regime of ex-President Ibrahim Babangida aborted the primaries.

    He however succeeded in being the vice-presidential candidate of Olu Falae in the APP/AD alliance in 1999.

    The alliance was defeated at the poll in 1999 by the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) which fielded Olusegun Obasanjo/Atiku Abubakar for the presidential race.

  • Police tasked on skills acquisition training

    Police tasked on skills acquisition training

    The Nigeria Police Force has been advised to set up a Police Skills Acquisition Institute where it could train inmates while decriminalising and remodelling them into productive elements of the society through exposure to training and inculcation of various skills at the institute.

    The concept if embraced would also help to decongest Nigerian prisons which currently have huge number of trainable youths as inmates.

    Gombe state Commissioner for Trade and Industry, Alhaji Bakura Mohammed Bajoga at the weekend in Gombe during the graduation ceremony of 292 vocational/employment trainees jointly trained by Kishimi Vocational Training Institute and the state Command of the Nigerian Police.

    He said the call was against the backdrop of “various forms mischief by political power mongers and other selfish unpatriotic individuals has given birth to serious security challenge in the country which is currently consuming huge financial resources that would have been used to improve the socio-economic wellbeing of the citizens.”

    “You can see clearly that we have a big problem in our hands. Our youths are becoming endangered species that urgently need to be rescued,” he added.

    The Commissioner then called on individuals, groups and organisations to support government in the rescue mission as he appreciated Gombe Commissioner of Police and Kishimi for their initiative.

    Austin Iwar, Commissioner of Police, Gombe state said the training was a continuation of the ongoing intervention under the social crime prevention programme of the crime prevention and community safety strategy of the state police Command.

    He said 250 youths had earlier been trained by the Command on the making of emulsion and text-coat paints.

    “The essence of this approach is to rescue idle youths from the ills of the strrets and channel their enormous tarlent, strength and enthusiasm into profitable ventures and by so doing, reduce factors that fuel crime and criminal propensity,” the Commissioner explained.

    Executive Director Kishimi Shelter and Care Foundation, Mrs. Grace Samuel said the foundation came to being eight years ago, but the institute was officially commissioned in 2015 after which it trained 423 youths with the support of CIHP.

    She said the theme of this occasion: ‘Youth Empowerment as a panacea for crime prevention’ was “borne out of the need to curb youth restiveness and crime in the society by engaging youths into noble causes that will help them earn a living and avoid idleness.”

  • Maiduguri explosion: Army seals off State secretariat

    Maiduguri explosion: Army seals off State secretariat

    Men of the Explosive Ordinance Devices (EOD) of Nigeria Police Force and the K9 Team of the Nigeria Army have condoned off the Musa Usman State Secretariat of Borno State, where an explosion occurred on Thursday for screening until its declared safe.

    Troops have also successfully evacuated all workers from the secretariat and reinforced security in the area.

    The Acting Director of Army Public Relations Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman in a statement in Maiduguri also disclosed that two policemen lost their lives in an attempt to stop  bomber who apparently was targeting a higher casualty should he succeeded  entering the secretariat to attack workers.

    The statements reads: “This afternoon, combined team of Nigeria policemen maintaining security duties at the entrance of Borno State Government   Secretariat, (which was known as Musa Usman Secretariat) in Maiduguri   intercepted and prevented a male suicide bomber from entering to attack workers based on suspicion.

    “Unfortunately, in the process of stopping him, he detonated the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on his body, instantly killing himself, a policeman and critically injuring another policeman that stopped him from gaining entry into the Secretariat Complex. Sadly, the injured policeman died later.  Similarly, 18 people have sustained various degrees of injuries and have since been evacuated to hospital for treatment.

    “Troops have cordoned off the area and evacuated all workers from the Secretariat and reinforced security.  In addition, the Explosive Ordinance Device (EOD) and K9 teams have been mobilized to the Secretariat for screening until it is declared safe.

    “This unfortunate incident has reinforced the need for more security consciousness and awareness on the part of all of us as the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists and their sympathizers still mingle with the society. It therefore behoves on all and sundry to ensure that they are detected and prevented from carrying out their dastardly acts,” the statement said.

     

  • Police recruitment: PSC warns against defrauding applicants

    Police recruitment: PSC warns against defrauding applicants

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) has warned that anybody caught giving or receiving money to facilitate the recruitment of applicants into the Nigeria Police Force would be investigated, arrested and prosecuted.

    This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by Mr Ikechukwu Ani, Head, Press and Public Relations of the commission.

    It said that some arrests have been made in some parts of the country and the Police are currently investigating the cases to establish the level of involvement of the culprits.

    The statement said that the commission has continued to receive reports of fraudsters soliciting for payment to help candidates either to obtain the recruitment forms or to assist them secure employment.

    `The commission wishes to reiterate that the recruitment forms are free and filled online without any person to person contact.

    It stated that Chairman of the commission, Mr. Mike Okiro, said the commission would deal decisively with anybody who decides to extort money from applicants to get the forms or secure employment.

    The statement called on the public to report to the commission any body found undermining the exercise through the illegal sale of the recruitment forms.

    It noted that the commission was committed to discharging this constitutional obligation of recruiting 10,000 policemen as directed by President Buhari to the satisfaction of Nigerians.

    The statement insisted that the hands of the commission are not tied by anybody and that it would be rigidly guided by the established criteria and qualifications.

    It warned staff of the commission to resist the temptation of receiving money from applicants or their sponsors.

    It said that the commission would not disappoint Nigerians in the conduct of the exercise which was at the heart of the survival of the nation.

    The statement said that as at 9:35a.m., April 27, a total of 806,646 applicants had submitted their applications.

    It said a break down shows that 232,857 are seeking for recruitment as ASPs, 190,415 as Inspectors and 383,374 as Constables.

    NAN reports that the deadline for the submission of forms ends on May 13.

  • FG urged to increase funding of police force

    FG urged to increase funding of police force

    The Federal Government has been advised to increase the budgetary allocation of the Nigeria Police Force in order to enhance the effectiveness of its officers and men.

    This is contained in a communique issued at the end of a human rights training the trainers’ workshop held in Kaduna on Saturday.

    The communiqué was signed by Dr Uju Agomoh and ACP Ambrose Onah on behalf of the organisers and participants of the workshop.

    It said authorities concerned should improve the funding of the Nigeria Police Force, particularly the provision of adequate and effective working materials and other logistics.

    It also called for the training and retraining of officers and men of the force and all other agencies involved in the administration of justice and maintenance of law.

    It urged authorities and other relevant agencies to protect the rights of officers and men with improved conditions of service, pension and insurance.

    It also called on police officers to conduct themselves, whether on or off duty in line with the Nigerian Constitution, the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials and all applicable laws.

    According to the law, Police Officers shall not compromise their integrity nor that of the Force by accepting, giving or soliciting any gratuity, which could be interpreted as capable of influencing their official acts or judgments.

    “That the Police Force should encourage and promote child friendly policing practices while enhancing the protective role of police officers and improving access to justice for children.

    “Police officers shall mainstream gender into their duties particularly in protecting the rights of women and other vulnerable groups,” it stated.

    The meeting, according to the communique, also reiterated the need for officers to treat all members of the public courteously and with respect.

    The capacity building training was aimed at enlightening men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force on the need to promote and protect human rights in the discharge of their duties.

    It was coordinated by Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action and supported by the German Corporation for International Cooperation.

    The workshop was also supported by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Government, and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.

    Participants at the workshop include instructors from all the nine Police Training Institutions in Northern Nigeria and officers from the Department of Training and Development of the Police Headquarters.

    Members of the Civil Society Organisations and representatives of the media were also in attendance.

  • Policemen to undergo drug abuse test -Arase

    Policemen to undergo drug abuse test -Arase

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, has said that henceforth, all Policemen will undergo snap urine tests to ascertain signs of drug abuse before they could be issued firearms.

    Arase disclosed this at the launch of drug testing kits and campaign against sudden death of police officers in Abuja on Wednesday.

    The programme was organised by the Nigeria Police Force in collaboration with the Hypertension and Diabetes Awareness Foundation.

    He said that apart from denying officers who failed the test access to firearms, the force would wean them from drugs or other psychological problems.

    Arase noted that the killing of Nigerians from misapplication of firearms by policemen had made the public to cast aspersions on the police.

    “After an in-depth study, my team and I have found out that some of these fatal cases could be due to mishandling of firearms by police officers who are psychologically unfit to handle firearms at that time.

    “We have therefore decided that the medical assessment of persons we recruit into the police Force will include a psychological assessment, “he said.

    He said that some of these psychological problems could also have resulted from drug abuse by few of the officers.

    Arase said that the police had also initiated a policing strategy that would witness the transition of the police from relying on firearms to manage social disorders.

    “Orders have been placed for this weaponry and adequate training framework is being put in place.

    “My long term vision is to effectively address issues that engender misuse of firearms and give true meaning to our mandate of safeguarding the lives of our citizens,” he said.

    He said that the Force had also decided to address the issue of frequent sudden death of police officers from preventable or avoidable health challenges.

    Arase said that medical personnel had attributed such deaths to chronic non-communicable diseases like diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

    He said that following this discovery, the medical department had been directed to screen all officers for the diseases.

    “I encourage all men to come forward for health screening.

    “Our medical section is well positioned to manage any health problems our officers and men may have,“he said.

    Earlier, the Force Medical Officer, AIG Adenike Abuwa, said that the initiative was aimed at further protecting the lives of Nigerians from accidental discharge by police officers.

    Abuwa said that a three-day capacity building workshop for medical officers would hold at all police health facilities nationwide to improve mental care delivery services in the police.

    She said that the sudden death programme was part of the police collective response to the growing prevalence of sudden death in the police community and Nigeria at large.

    “In line with global best practices, this programme has been organised to educate police officers on healthy lifestyle and regular medical checkup.

    “This initiative will ensure prompt identification and management of conditions that lead to non-communicable diseases among the police community,“she said.

    She said also that the programme would be held at zonal and state commands to ensure that no police personnel were left out.

    The high point of the occasion was the launch of the drug testing kits by Arase.

     

  • Police orderly assaults gateman

    Police orderly assaults gateman

    A policeman on Wednesday assaulted a gateman for asking him to remove a car parked in front of a house.

    The incident occurred close to a Visa Application Centre in Lekki, Lagos.

    Virgilus Odueze, the gateman, was said to have approached the driver of the VolksWagen Touareg marked AKD630BD to tell him that he was blocking his master’s gate.

    Angered by the guard’s directive, the policeman believed to have escorted the car owner to the Visa Centre, stormed out of the car and started insulting the gateman.

    According to Odueze’s employer, Chijioke Uwandu, the policeman cocked his gun and pointed it at the gateman.

    “He cocked the rifle and pointed it at my security man. And then, he smashed his feet with it, resulting in severe injuries. This is a man that is very hypertensive. The policeman is attached as security detail to a VIP.

    “It happened around 11:45am. Due to the fact that we live in close proximity to a visa application centre in Lekki, several visitors to the centre often park haphazardly in front of our compound.

    “So, this vehicle parked in front of our residence and my security man came out and asked the driver of the vehicle to please move the car. But the policeman jumped out and insulted him.

    “When he insisted that they move the vehicle, the policeman cocked his rifle and pointed it at him, then smashed his feet with the rifle, resulting in severe injuries.

    “Once the policeman attacked him, people around tried to restrain him, but he was brandishing his gun. The people told my security man to run and out of fear, he retreated into the compound and locked himself in. In the commotion, the policeman zoomed off, leaving him in a pool of blood.

    “This is a man in his 50s and is hypertensive. I have taken him to the Naval Dockyard Medical Centre on Ahmadu Bello Way,Victoria Island for treatment,” he said.

  • Police confirm arrest of Boko Haram commanders

    Police confirm arrest of Boko Haram commanders

    The Taraba Police Command has confirmed the arrest of two wanted Boko Haram commanders in the state.

    One of the commanders, Ali Audu was arrested in Tella, Gassol LGA while the other Abdulmumini Abdullahi was nabbed in Bali LGA.

    The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Shaba Alkali, made the announcement on Wednesday in Jalingo at a press conference.

    He said that the two men had been handed over to the military in Yobe.

    “We have arrested two confirmed Boko Haram commanders in Gassol and Bali local government areas of the state.

    “The command have since handed over the two kingpins, Ali Audu, alias Dungu and Abdulmumini Abdullahi from Yadi Burni in Yobe to the military base in Yobe,” he said.

    Alkali said that Audu was arrested on Feb. 22 in Tella and transferred to Yobe on the 23, while Abdullahi was arrested in Bali on March 5 and transferred to Yobe military base on March 7.

    The CP also confirmed the death of seven persons in the ongoing communal crisis in Ibi Local government area of the state.

    He vowed to deal with the perpetrators including their sponsors no matter how highly placed they might be.

    He said the command had already deployed enough men to contain the situation and restore normalcy to the area.

    Alkali appealed to the public to feel free to provide the command with timely information to enable it tackle crime in the state.

     

  • Police begin recruitment of 10000 personnel

    Police begin recruitment of 10000 personnel

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) has unveiled a portal for the recruitment of the 10,000 Police officers as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
     
    At the National Security Summit last year, President Buhari ordered that the Nigeria Police Force recruit more men to boost the internal security of the country.
    The Chairman of the Commission, Mike Okiro who unveiled the portal noted that the portal will be opened to the public on the 1st of April.
    This was contained in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday by the Head of Press and Public Relations Unit o, Ikechukwu Ani.
    The Commission also noted that the process which will be online will be free for all intending officers.
    Dr. Okiro who noted that there has not been recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force for more than five years due to financial constraint added that thousands of policemen who died in the course of service, dismissed or retired had not been replaced since the last five years leaving the Force under manned and over stretched.
    According to the statement: “the recruitment would strengthen and re-energize the Force to face more squarely, the myriad of security challenges posed by insurgency, kidnapping, cattle rustling and other criminalities that impede the socio-economic and political development of the country”.
    Interested Nigerians have been asked to access the portal through the Commission’s website or that of the Nigeria Police Force, here.
    On whether a fee would be paid for the forms, Okiro said: “We are not charging money, it is free, absolutely free and the portal has been structured in a way that there will be no short cut, so everybody must go through due process.”
    The statement adds: “The Commission will be recruiting candidates into the three entry points of the Nigeria Police Force which are Constable, Cadet Inspector and Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP). There will also be recruitment into the Specialist cadre.
    “For Police Constables, applicants are expected to posses five credit level passes including Mathematics and English Language at Senior School Certificate Examination in not more than two sittings and for Cadet Inspectors, in addition to having the requirements of Police Constables, candidates would be expected to have either an Ordinary National Diploma (OND), Advanced Level (A level), National Certificate of Education (NCE) or their equivalents.
    “Candidates for Cadet ASPs must possess a University degree or a Higher National Diploma (HND).”
  • Police officer arrested for defiling seven-year-old girl

    Police officer arrested for defiling seven-year-old girl

    Ebonyi State Police Command Monday arrested one of its officers Ndubuisi Ewerem for allegedly defiling a 7 year old girl, Chiamaka Nwankwo.

    The Police officer who has been detained at the Central Police Station, (CPS) Abaakaliki allegedly defiled the little girl and daughter of his neighbour at his residence at No. 29 off Nibo street.

    The Nation learnt that the suspect lured the victim by telling her to buy Onion for him and as soon as the girl came into his apartment to deliver the said item, he used the opportunity to defile her.

    While residents within the neighborhood alleged that the victim was raped by the policeman others accused the suspect of being in the practice of sexually abusing teenagers.

    The Commissioner of Police, CP Peace Ibekwe Abdallah confirmed the ugly episode but said investigation is still ongoing.

    She insisted that whether the victim was raped or fingered, the act allegedly perpetuated by the policeman was a crime punishable under the law.

    She stressed that the suspect would be punished if found guilty of the crime.

    The command, she maintained, was committed to sanitizing the force and promised that acts contrary to the laws guiding the constitution of the Nigerian police were decisively dealt with.

    She said: “The case was reported to the Central Police Station, CPS Monday by the parent of the victim and going by the statement of the victim, she was fingered by the policeman. We don’t tolerate such act in the Nigerian police force. Whether rape or not, any act of defilement is a very serious crime which must be dealt with. The suspect is under detention.”

    According to the Commissioner of Police, the result of the medical test conducted on the victim would ascertain whether she was raped or not as investigation into the case was still on.