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Tag: Nigeria Police

  • Stray bullets hit two persons as police, residents clash in Ikorodu

    Stray bullets hit two persons as police, residents clash in Ikorodu

     A clash has erupted between policemen and residents of Aga, Ikorodu, after two persons were hit by stray bullet from the police this morning.
    It was gathered that the residents on Sunday night, caught a man suspected to be a member of ritual gang Badoo around Olomomeje Mosque at Oni-Ogunsanya Street.
    The residents were said to have attempted to lych the suspect but werw stopped by policemen who tried to whis him away to safety.
    However, attempts by the police to take the aspect away was aborted by the mob, including youths in the area.
    To have their way, the policemen were said to have released gunshots in order to disperse the crowd which hit two persons on the head and hand.
    Angered by the development, the youths are said you have engaged the policemen in a fight and there is an ongoing crisis at the area.
    Details later.
  • Police arrest two suspected kidnappers in Kogi

    Police arrest two suspected kidnappers in Kogi

    The Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), has arrested two suspected kidnappers, whose gang have been allegedly terrorising Kogi and its environs, the Commander, ACP Abba Kyari, has said.

    Kyari, confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday.

    Kyari said that following the Kidnapping of Alhaji Jibrin Idris, an Islamic Scholar in Enabo, Ankpa Local Government  Area of Kogi, on Feb. 2, police launched a manhunt for the kidnappers.

    He said that the effort was in response to the Inspector- General of Police, Ibrahim Idris’s, directive to the IRT.

    Kyari said that the Islamic scholar was subsequently released by his abductors after the payment of ransom.

    “After about three months of unrelenting follow-up, the kidnappers escaped to Enugu State after collecting the ransom in February and realised that IRT was trailing them.

    “They were arrested on May 29 in Ayingba, Kogi, and 9th Mile, Enugu State.’’

    He said the suspects were a 24-year-old man and a 31-year-old man from Ankpa in Kogi, who had confessed their involvement  in the kidnapping of the chief imam at Enabo in Ankpa District.

    “They mentioned two other gang members now at large. We are on their trail.

    “We recovered the phone used for the ransom negotiation by the kidnappers,” Kyari said.

  • Police arrest two robbery suspects, cultist in Ebonyi

    Police arrest two robbery suspects, cultist in Ebonyi

    The Ebonyi Police Command has arrested two suspected armed robbers and a cult kingpin in Ezzamgbo, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state.

    DSP Jude Madu, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) announced the arrest in a statement on Sunday in Abakaliki.

    According to Madu, the suspected armed robbers hail from Amike village in Ezzamgbo.

    “The notorious armed robbery suspects, who have been terrorising residents of the area, were arrested by officers from the Ohaukwu Police division.

    “The arrest was made possible through the collaboration of the youths and vigilante personnel of the village with the Police,” Madu stated.

    According to him, two locally made double-barrel pistols, army uniform with blood stains, two iron cutters, one saw blade and two machetes among others were recovered from the suspects.

    He said the police also arrested a suspected cultist, whose gang had allegedly been terrorising residents of the area.

    The PPRO stated that the suspect was arrested, allegedly with an axe while members of his gang fled on sighting the Police.

    “We are making efforts to arrest the fleeing members of the gang,” he stated.

  • Five suspects arrested over planned attack on banks in Lagos

    Five suspects arrested over planned attack on banks in Lagos

    The Inspector-General of Police (IGP’s) Intelligence Response Team (IRT) on Friday announced the arrest of five suspected armed robbers who had planned to attack some banks in Lagos.

    The IRT Commander, ACP Abba Kyari, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    Kyari said the arrested suspects also participated in the killing of four policemen and an Army Captain in Ikorodu in April, this year.

    The commander said that the suspects were arrested at Ikorodu and Ajah areas of Lagos State, as they perfected the planned attacks on the banks.

    He said their arrest was part of the IGP Ibrahim Idris’ effort to neutralise the threat posed on Lagos by the notorious new militant leader called America.

    According to him, America was also responsible for last week’s kidnap of school children in Epe.

    “Five key members of the notorious militant group led by America, who have perfected plans to attack and rob five banks in Lagos have been arrested in Ikorodu and Ajah areas of Lagos state.

    “They were all arrested after several days of unrelenting follow-ups by the IRT.

    “Four of the arrested suspects are militants, who were sent by their gang leader, America, to survey the banks.

    “The team was also to hire two operational buses that will be used to convey the militants to and from the river banks, to the commercial banks.

    The fifth suspect is a security man in one of the banks targeted to be robbed,” Kyari alleged.

    The commander, however, noted that the banks targeted were located in Lekki and Ajah areas of Lagos state.

    He said that the suspects confessed to have chosen the targeted banks because of their proximity to the river banks.

    “All suspects arrested have confessed to the planned robberies and confirmed that they were sent by America, their boss in the creeks, to survey the banks, together with the bank security man who allegedly brought the job to the militants.

    “Also, America had fixed Thursday, June 1, as the date for the attack on the banks, before his boys were arrested by the IRT.

    “The suspects are cooperating with detectives in the investigations,’’ Kyari added.

  • Police set to deploy 60 anti-bomb experts trained by US

    The Nigeria Police are set to deploy the 60 Explosives Ordinance Disposal (EOD) operatives trained by the United States on new techniques in mines, IED detection.

    Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris indicated this when he said there would be no vacuum in recovered states and communities the military were leaving.
    The Nation reports that the operatives on Friday, concluded the four weeks training held at the EOD Command, Bank Anthony Way, Lagos.
    The training was facilitated by the US Mission, Nigeria through Anti-Terrorism Assistant (ATA) programme in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Force.
    Participants were drawn from various commands across the country and trained in four sessions of 15 participants each as EOD mentors.
    IGP Idris, who was represented by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations, Joshak Habila said the trained officers would go back and train their colleagues and subordinates.
    He said: “The training was designed to expose participants to current trends in rendering safe/disposal of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) and Unexploded Ordinance (UXOs) through the application of EOD standard practice and technique.
    “Participants were taken on overview of recent threat particularly in Nigeria and by extension Africa.
    Bomb threat assessment/tactical operations, IED electronic review,  post blast investigation overview.
    “They were also trained in chemical biological radiological nuclear awareness, team organization radiation concepts/decontamination remote operations review and rope knotting.
    “Bomb squad response equipment and maintenance. The beneficiaries are expected to impart the knowledge acquired to other bomb technicians across the country in order to enhance EOD service delivery.”
    Idris expressed gratitude to the U.S. Consul General in Nigeria, the Region Security Officer (RSO) and the facilitators for the training.
    In his remark, US Embassy’s RSO Scottie Blancett said he was optmisitic the effects of the training would be safety for people in the country.
    One of the facilitators, JonDe Martino advised the participants to observe all they were instructed, particularly, their own safety before that of others.
    Commissioner in charge of EOD, Chika Maidama described the training as precise and rich in outline, noting that it has refreshed and updated the technicians with new skills.
    He said: “I assure you all that the knowledge and skills acquired by the participants during this course, would be disseminated in our future local training as well as day-to-day activities/operations. To the trainees/EOD operatives, remember that you must be alive and safe to help.”
  • Police promote seven senior officers

    Police promote seven senior officers

    The Nigeria Police Force on Friday promoted and decorated seven senior officers with their new ranks at the Zone 2 Police Command in Lagos.

    Mr Ibrahim Adamu, the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) in charge of Zone 2, urged the officers to live up to expectation and discharged their duties according to the ethics of the Nigeria police.

    According to the AIG, promotion of senior officer is based on recommendation on officers’ capabilities and competence presented before the Inspector General Police (IGP) for approval.

    “I am happy about the promotion of senior officers; it is indeed something worthy of being proud of.

    “You are all aware that the promotion normally comes when the IG feels comfortable that officers who are fit, capable and competent are recommended for his approval.

    “It is a rating that everybody in the force is satisfied with their performance.

    “Therefore, it is a challenge that you maintain the standard and improve on what you have been doing,’’ AIG Adamu said.

    He advised other officers to emulate their good character, adding that more responsibilities were on shoulders of the promoted officers and urged them to be ready to face the challenges ahead.

    Mr Imohimi Egdal, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DSP), one of the newly promoted officers, urged the management to improve on their work, adding that the promotion was for the officers to work harder.

    “To whom much is giving, much is expected.

    “Promotion comes neither from the east, south or west, we are grateful to the IGP, who promoted us to this exalted rank.

    “It is also an invitation since this is coming under your watch, your period at this zone will be peaceful and filled with promotion for your officers and men, thank you and God bless you,’’ Edgal said.

    The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni also assisted in the decoration of the officers.

    Six officers promoted to Assistant Commissioner of Police are Adebowale Lawal, Muyideen Obe, Hope Okafor, Yemi Oyeniyi, Ogedengbe Olubunmi and Sanni Paiko.

    Edgal was promoted from Assistant Commissioner of Police to Deputy Commissioner of Police.

  • Mines buried by Boko Haram exceeds civil war, says police

    Mines buried by Boko Haram exceeds civil war, says police

    …As US trains 60 cops on anti-bomb, others

     

    The Nigeria Police have disclosed that mines and explosives buried in the Northeast by terrorist group, Boko Haram exceeded those buried by forces during the Nigerian Civil War.

    Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris stated this Monday in Lagos, during the training of 60 policemen on anti-bomb and mines detection, detonation.

    Idris, who was represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police  (DIG) Operations, Joshak Habila stated that plans were on to deploy trained policemen to Borno, Yobe and Adamawa to sweep the communities before the returned of displaced persons.

    He said the four-week training was part of efforts to equip the police to finally take over from the military, areas reclaimed from the terrorists, adding that some of the personnel would also be deployed to the Niger Delta and other troubled areas where criminals use IEDs.

    The IGP said the trained personnel are to ensure the communities are cleared of all explosives for the safe return of displaced persons to their lands.

    He said: “It is on record that mines buried by Boko Haram in the Northeast is far above the one buried during the Nigerian Civil War. So, we are fortunate to have US anti-bomb experts train us on how to detect buried mines.

    “We are about going into another phase in the operation in the northeast. Our responsibility is to assure displaced persons of their safe return to their communities. It is incumbent on the police to restore peace within reclaimed communities.

    “Our duty is to identify remnants of these explosives and take them for safe keeping for analysis, with a view to detect where they were manufactured and who manufactured them.

    “We would also enlighten and train the civil populace on bomb detection so that whenever they see unfamiliar items, they would not touch.

    “Nigeria Police have given a good account of itself in the past, particularly in detecting and detonating IEDs. So, we must take advantage of this training because we would soon deploy those trained to affected areas on post-blast investigation.

    “For the trainees, they should also bother about chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, which are the new threats globally. Before now, people didn’t believe we could have suicide bombers in Nigeria. So, the trainees should not take any information for granted.”

    The facilitators, Jon Demarthino and Rick Hahn both from the US Anti-Terrorism Assistance Group, commended the trainees for their gallantry.

    Demarthino, who said the training would be hard and tasking, urged the participants to give it their all in order to achieve desired results.

    Expressing optimism that the training would positively impact the force and the country, Demarthino urged the participants to extend the knowledge gained to their colleagues.

    “There’s no way we would train all Nigeria Police personnel at a time. But with this 60 we have, we believe it would spread round to a greater percentage of the force.”

    Earlier, the Commissioner of Police Explosives Ordinance Department (EOD) Chika Maidama praised the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris and the Americans for the project, adding that it would increase his personnel’s knowledge.

    Noting that the participants were officers between Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and Superintendent of Police (SP) ranks, Maidama said the idea was to train unit leaders who would go back and train their subordinates.

    Also the event was the Lagos Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni.

     

  • 58 students renounce cultism in Kogi

    Fifty-eight (58) students from different tertiary institutions in Kogi state on Tuesday renounced their membership of different cult groups at the state headquarters of the Nigeria Police, Lokoja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 58 students, under the aegis of Campus Cult Eradication Foundation (CCEF), declared their new status.

    They also pledged to partner with the police to fight crime and criminality in the state.

    According to the former cult members, they were misled into joining the fraternities.

    Mr Wilson Inalegwu, the Commissioner of Police in the state, while addressing the repentant cult members, said that the police would partner with them in the fight to reduce crime and criminality in the state.

    ”We will be very glad to see more members renounce their membership and join us to enable us operate on the same page.

    “Cultism does not make you great; it makes you less; it also brings you down.

    ”Just have confidence in yourself; I can see police commissioners, governors and great men among you.

    “I commend your boldness and initiative to renounce your membership,” Inalegwu said.

    Earlier, Mr Samuel Ejembi, National Coordinator CCEF, said the body in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force had the task of receiving renounced cult members with a view to rehabilitating and integrating them back into society.

    Ejembi said that cultism was a threat to peace and security, adding that its members had often resorted to robbery, kidnapping, drug dealing and thuggery among others.

    ”Our tertiary institutions have become recruitment grounds and barracks for different cult groups to run their deadly activities. Hundreds die every year as a result of cult-related clashes.

    “A lasting solution is what we want; whereby these youths will come out on their own and say ‘No to Cultism’ just as these ones have done,’’ the National Coordinator said.

    One of the students, Maxwell Onimisi of Kogi State Polytechnic, expressed his gratitude to God and the CCEF, saying, “I have decided to be useful to myself, my state and my country.”

    Dr Vincent Georgewill, Dean, Student Affairs and Deputy Registrar of Salem University, Lokoja, commended the students for the step they took.

    ”God is interested in repentance. Here we have 58 children, who have decided to turn a new leaf. God will accept you back in Jesus’ name”, he said.

  • I don’t need Police, DSS protection again – Fayose

    I don’t need Police, DSS protection again – Fayose

     

     

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose on Wednesday declared that he does not need the officers of the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to give him protection again.

    He called on the Federal Government to withdraw the police and DSS men accusing the two security agencies of working for the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government

    Fayose made the outbursts during this year’s International Women’s Day celebration held at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

    He boasted that the APC-led Federal Government cannot capture power from him in the 2018 governorship election.

    Addressing a mammoth crowd that thronged Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado Ekiti, venue of the rally, Fayose declared that he has the support of the people to defeat the APC and its federal might in the 2018 polls.

    He also reiterated his support for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Caretaker Committee Chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, saying he does not recognize the National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

    The governor dared the Federal Government to remove officers of the Nigeria Police and Department of State Services (DSS) protecting him saying “I have local people behind me giving me protection.”

    Commending Ekiti women for their support for his administration, Fayose announced an empowerment of N500 million to empower them in farming, petty trading and grassroots economy.

    Fayose also promised to elevate a female Executive Secretary who has few days to retire to the post of Permanent Secretary. He also announced a N2 million donation to a local female musician, Bukky to purchase state-of-the-art musical instruments.

    He also promised to appoint a Special Assistant to coordinate activities of women in his administration.

    Fayose said: “In the next local government election, we must produce one-third of women as councilors, one-third of women as chairmen, one-third of women as supervisors. The era of imposition has gone; our men must stop intimidating women.”

    But the governor used the forum to make some political statements in what seemed to be a campaign rally before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lifts ban on public campaign.

    In a bid to prove his popularity, Fayose urged the crowd to bring out their voter cards and show them to the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Aso Rock Presidential Villa and INEC.

    Fayose said: “Nobody can take Ekiti away from me; the power of the people is greater than the power of federal. We gave them 16-0 at the last election; we are going to give them 16-0 again.

    “Now Ekiti women, show them your voter’s cards, show INEC in Abuja your voter’s cards that we are going to vote them out. APC professional riggers, look at their voter’s cards. Let them see your cards at the Villa, I hope you are seeing their cards.

    “Ekiti is a no-go area; we are prepared even if you call for election tomorrow. APC exists on pages of newspapers, they exist on propaganda but we have now matched them propaganda-for-propaganda.

    “Show the performing Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, your voter’s cards. Show Senate President Bukola Saraki, your voter’s cards. In Ekiti, we are behind Makarfi, we don’t know Sheriff.

    “Anybody moving against my government will be removed; anybody that wants to topple me will not finish their government.

    “Tell them, I don’t need their policemen, I don’t need their SSS. Let them come and remove their policemen and SSS. I don’t want APC police, I don’t want APC SSS, these people are my police.”

    Speaking on PDP factional crisis, Fayose said: “On what is going on in PDP, fear not he who laughs last, laughs best. We are not for Sheriff, we don’t believe in Sheriff. Don’t be worried at all.”

    Others who addressed the rally include Fayose’s wife, Feyisetan; Deputy Senate Minority Whip, Senator Biodun Olujimi and Niger Delta female activist, Annkio Briggs.

  • Kidnapping is beyond Police says, IGP

    Kidnapping is beyond Police says, IGP

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris has said the fight against kidnapping in the country is beyond the Nigeria Police.

    He said the fight would only be won if emphasis is placed on community policing.

    The Police chief also noted that security challenges presently confronting the country can be tackled if funding of the Force, and recruitment of officers into the Nigeria Police Force is properly addressed.

    The IGP also disclosed that the Force would soon organize a Security Summit that will help address the issue of kidnapping in the country.

    It was also revealed that beyond arrest of suspects, the police would intensify efforts in the prosecution of suspects in court.

    The Police chief said this in Abuja Wednesday during a meeting with Deputy Inspector General (DIGs), Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGs), Commissioners of Police and other senior officers.

    On the spate of kidnapping in the country with the latest victim being a Retired Director of State Security Service, Mike Ejiofor, the IG said: “Security is everybody’s business, both the police and the citizens. The kidnappers live amongst the people and that is why I said we are going to conduct a security summit to address most of the security challenges we are witnessing in this country.

    “With the issue of kidnapping, what is obvious is that we cannot have policemen in every soil and that is why we always say that security is everybody’s business. Those communities around where kidnapping take place, if you suspect anybody, report to police because we have our presence in every Local Government of this country and they are ready to do their work.

    The IG who also admitted that the rate of kidnapping was worrisome said: “it is becoming a worrisome situation and that is why we are trying to mobilize all sectors of the society to sit and address the issue of kidnapping.

    “It goes beyond the role of police, it has gone beyond the role of community leaders, it has gone to the role of religious leaders, roles of people in schools and the kind of schools we enroll our children. I think these are things we need to address and I believe that with concerted efforts, we are going to see an end to kidnapping in this country.

    on other security measures put in place to tackle security threats in the country, the IG said: “From our own end, we are trying to widen the scope of providing the security structures in various Commands to be able to effectively tackle security challenges in this country and we have gotten a lot of offers in the areas of establishment of Mobile Police Squadrons.

    “We established two Mobile Police Qquadrons; in Kafanchan and Minna and these measures are geared towards having structures on ground that can assist in addressing some of the security challenges we are having especially in the area of herdsmen, cattle rustling, ethnic and religious clashes we are experiencing in various parts of the country”.

    On the essence of the oncoming summit, Idris said: “We are coming up with the summit because we want to discuss on a general platform how we are going to address some of the security issues. The reality is that you must have seen most of our presentation; when I went to Defence College, I told them that we can succeed with the issue of community policing when we address the ratio of one policeman to 400 citizens of this country.

    ‘The summit will cover traditional rulers, religious leaders, and every sector of the Nigerian community and that is an indication that security is everybody’s business; we all have a say in the security of this country because it requires joint effort”.

    On the need to recruit more workforce, the police chief said: “Recruitment of Rank and File in this country stopped since 2010 and there is no way we can have an effective policing if we don’t have enough policemen to police the population and that is one of the areas  we are addressing now.

    “This administration has come up with the recruitment of 10,000 police officers and we are going to ensure that every year, we address the issue of recruitment and these are strategic issues that should be addressed in order to tackle effectively the efficiency of the Nigeria Police Force.

    The IG who lamented on the funding of the Force, said: “the police need more funding for it to perform more effectively and we believe that the Security Trust Fund which is before the National Assembly should be given speedy attention because I believe that should be the concern of every Nigerian now.

    “In this country, they have created virtually new security outfits, I think the latest is in the pipeline which is Peace Corp instead of creating additional outfit, people still refer to the police to take care of every security challenge in this country and I believe it is time for us to address the requirement of the Nigeria Police Force so that we can effectively tackle security challenges in this country”.

    On prosecution of suspects arrested and paraded, the IG said: “We will be focusing on prosecution of suspects arrested because in the past, when we make arrest, we go on air and talk but we don’t follow up on prosecution and I have directed that henceforth, we are going to give a lot of publicity to prosecution so that people can follow the trend of how some of these people have been dealt with in the Law court which will serve as deterrent to others that would want to take similar step and that will send a signal that being involved in kidnapping does not pay.”