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Tag: Nigerian Police Force (NPF)

  • 1,519 stolen vehicles recovered via e-CMR platform in 2024

    1,519 stolen vehicles recovered via e-CMR platform in 2024

    The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) recovered 1,519 stolen vehicles using the electronic central motor registry (e-CMR) platform last year.

    The e-CMR is an online platform of vehicle data designed to support police investigations and combat vehicle-related crimes.

    The police had requested vehicle owners across the country to register their vehicles on the digital platform.

    In a statement, the force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the police had recovered 52 vehicles by this month.

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    Adejobi said: “The efforts of the force in combating crime in various spheres cannot be overemphasised, specifically in the area of vehicle theft, as the Nigeria Police Force recorded the successful recovery of 1519 vehicles in the last year.

    “So far, January 2025, the force has recorded the recovery of 52 vehicles, while many stolen vehicles are being investigated for recovery.’’

    He continued: “This success was made easy due to the cooperation of the public using the e-CMR portal.”

  • Police arrest 652, rescue 302 kidnap victims

    Police arrest 652, rescue 302 kidnap victims

    The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) have arrested 652 persons for various criminal offences and rescued 302 victims from the dens of kidnappers, it was learnt.

    Force Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who made this known while parading some suspects in Abuja, added that the latest achievement reiterates the Police’s core principles of protecting lives and property.

    Adejobi said: “As testaments to the promise of the Force to adopt improved strategies in the fight against various forms of crimes and criminality across the country, the Nigeria Police Force has recorded significant achievements in its efforts to curb crime, recording the arrest of 179 armed robbery suspects, 100 kidnapping suspects, 152 Murder/homicide suspects, 34 suspects connected with the unlawful possession of prohibited firearms, 77 rape suspects, 110 suspected cultists and recovery of 73 various firearms, 310 ammunition of various calibre..

    Read Also: We’ll stand together to defend democracy, UK assures Nigeria

    He said the police were also able to recover 56 stolen vehicles and rescue 302 victims of kidnapping across the country.

    Adejobi highlighted several outstanding achievements, including the arrest of Muhammed Kabir ‘m’ 36 years, and other members of his gang, including Donald Okpere and Haruna Ibrahim.

    The gang operates by impersonating military personnel and defrauding victims of millions of naira, using fake alerts after purchasing gadgets and medical equipment.In addition, the operatives arrested Sunday Okwo Ade ‘m’, Monday Solomon ‘m’, David Emmanuel ‘m’, and Shakiru Badmus ‘m’, who are part of a well-known gang that specialises in stealing motorcycles from farmers in various communities in Lagos and Ogun states.

  • Armed robbers attack Bureau De Change Operator

    Cart away millions of cash

     

    Armed robbers operating on a motorcycle have reportedly attacked a yet-to-be identified female Bureau De Change operator in Aba, Abia State. This is even as the gunmen reportedly made away with millions of dollars.

    While information gathered by our reporter has it that the woman reportedly died after being hospitalized, but Abia State Police Commissioner, Chris Ezike told in a telephone interview that the woman was still alive.

    The incident, it was gathered occurred at the popular Market Road section housing Bureau De Change operators.

    The woman was said to have arrived Aba with huge sums of dollars and other foreign currencies which she had gone to source from one of the Southeastern Central Banks which is expected to be in high demand during the Christmas season.

    Information gathered by our correspondent has it that the woman was reportedly trailed to the area by the gunmen who apparently had knowledge of her return and purpose for which she had traveled outside the state.

    While some of the Bureau De Change operators refused commenting on the matter, a source in the area disclosed that their members are now doing business in fears.

    The source stated that the armed robbers carted away cash worth millions of naira in various foreign denominations including dollars, pound sterling and Euro respectively which the woman had gone outside the state to source for.

    “Usually, we go outside the state to source for money. The woman went to one of the Central Banks in the Southeast to source for money. You know that this is festive period where a lot of people come to black market to change dollars and other bills. People who are traveling outside the country do come here while people who came back for X-mass do come here to change money.

    “So, this time, our members do go to any state to look for what they will use to do business for the season. I was told that the woman was coming down from a car when she was accosted by men wielding gun. They shot her and left with all the monies that she came back with.”

    Read Also: Police arrest four suspected armed robbers in Calabar

    A source at the Aba Area Command of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) who craved anonymity told our reporter that investigation into the matter had begun.

    According to the source, they suspected that there could be an insider’s connection to the robbery incident.

    The source who could not confirm if there was any suspect in custody at the time of this report, stated that preliminary investigation has it that the gunmen shot at the woman after she allegedly refused to let go the bag containing the money that she came back with.

    The source said that the woman was rushed to a private hospital in Aba for treatment after the robbers had left the scene.

    In a related development, Police have reportedly started swooping on motorcycle operators in Aba and its environs.

    Investigation by our reporter has it that Policemen under the Aba Area Command decided to clampdown on the cyclists following the recent robbery along Aba-Owerri road and Market by men armed men on motorcycle.

    A senior police officer at the Aba Area Command in a chat with our reporter said that the action of the policemen were in compliance with the directives of the Governor of the State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu who had banned the use of motorcycles in Aba and its environs.

    According to the senior police officer, the enforcement of the Governor’s directive would this time be total, adding that the preference given to personnel of various military and para-military agencies in the past would no longer be tolerated.

  • Commission to address lopsided promotion in Police

    The Police Service Commission has promised to come up with an agenda to address alleged lopsidedness in the promotion of some personnel of the Force.

    Junior officers of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) have decried high level of injustice in the promotion exercise carried out by the force headquarters recently.

    The affected officers alleged that rather than following due processes, the promotion was lopsided and was based on “cash and carry”

    In a statement signed by leader of the affected police officer, Abdulmajeed Lukeman, the officer alleged they were denied the right to be promoted while those promoted were not qualified.

    They urged the new Chairman of the Police Service Commission and the board members to urgently look into the issue.

    Part of their statement reads: “We are writing on behalf of Inspectors, Rank and File of the Nigeria Police Force, to draw the attention of Police Council and the Police Service Commission on our ordeal and injustice that is ongoing within the Nigeria Police system.

    “In the year 2015, the Nigeria Police leaders at that time in their wisdom saw a need to upgrade inspectors, Rank and File with Higher Educational Qualifications. Based on that, they called for Aptitude Test (Examination) and screening of officers with University Degrees and HND certificates to be upgraded to the Rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), reference to POLICE WIRELESS MASSAGE (Signal) CB:7510/DTD/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.7/11, DTO151800/06/2015 PROMOTION GENERAL Dated 06/2015.

    “The examination and the screening were done by the Police authority in conjunction with Police Service Commission in various State and Zonal Commands respectively. After the examination and screening, fifty (50) successful candidates were shortlisted from each state of the federation including FCT Abuja according to their States of Origins and Local Government Areas, including supplementary which make up to 2,226 candidates.

    “Eventually, in December 2015, the Police authority called for the final screening   at   the   FHQ   Abuja   by   signal   No.  CB: 7510/DTD FHQ/ABJ/VOL.7/66 Dated 5th December 2015. This final screening was not even supposed to come up again because we have already been screened by representatives of Police Services Commission and FHQ in both Zonal and State Commands. However, to our utmost surprise, at the peak of the screening exercise at FHQ we were told by the Police authority that, we should go back to our various Commands/Formation for further directives.

    “Furthermore, January 22, 2016 on Friday, the Leadership Newspaper published that, the Senate Committee on Police Affairs said it is in custody of names of successful candidates to be upgraded to the Rank of Assistance Superintendent of Police (ASP) base on Educational Qualification from the former Inspector General of Police Mr. Solomon Arase, and the committee promised, it will make sure that there will be no lopsidedness in the promotion.

    “While we were still waiting hoping to be called, the Police authority differs the   laid   down   procedure   of   appointment   into   the   rank   of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) as seen in section 39 part IV of Police act and regulation.

     

    “They decided to call for recruitment of civilian graduates as cadet ASP, without any recourse to us! The serving members who were earlier screened, waiting to be promoted. The above provision of the police act and regulation Provides that vacancies in Assistant Superintendent of Police ASP cadre can only be filled up with   candidates   from   outside   the   Police,   by   the   reason   of unavailability of suitable candidates from   within   the force.

    “We kindly request the new Chairman of the Police Service Commission and its board members as a matter of urgency to get the names of all those who have benefited for the special promotion, and find out what have they done to deserve the special promotion.”

     

  • IGP Idris was invited by Senate because of Dino Melaye – Police

    The Nigeria Police Force has alleged  that the Inspector-General of Police ( IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris was invited by the Senate because of Sen. Dino Melaye and not the killings across the country as claimed.

    The senate at plenary recently, declared the IGP as enemy of democracy and unfit to hold any public office within and outside the country for failing to honour its invitation thrice.

    The senate had refused the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in-charge of operations and other senior police officers to represent the IGP when he was invited on April 26.

    “The recent claim by the Senate that the reason for inviting the IGP is to brief them on the recent killings in some part of the Country is an afterthought which can be seen from the headings of their invitation letters”, ACP Jimoh Moshood, police spokesman said in Abuja on Saturday.

    Moshood said that if the invitation was for him to brief the senate on strategies adopted in tackling killings in the country, it would not have been planned for a national television.

    “The Senate’s action to cover the appearance of the IGP on National Television is against National Security, unconventional and it negates global security practice,”he said.

    The spokesman said that the letter the senate wrote inviting the IGP clearly showed that the invitation was not about the killings but about Dino.

    “From the headings of the invitation letters, it is very clear that the IGP was invited on those occasions by the Senate purposely because of Senator Dino Melaye’s criminal indictment,”he said.

    Moshood said that the purported list of killings in Nigerian this year by the senate, was shocking, unfortunate and capable of worsening the security situation in the country.

    “It is mischievous and heinous to play politics with people’s lives; even if it is a soul.

    “The release is speculative and not supported by any fact. Office of the Senate President does not receive or process security report from State commands,”he said.
    He said that the Force as a law abiding entity would continue to uphold the rule of law in all its ramifications.

    “The Force insists on due process of the law and once again implores the Senate not to whip-up sentiments or resort to self-help but to allow the rule of law and justice to prevail on the whole matter, “he said.

  • A’Ibom police nab 56 suspected kidnappers’ cultists within two weeks

    A’Ibom police nab 56 suspected kidnappers’ cultists within two weeks

    The Akwa Ibom Police Command has arrested no fewer than 56 suspected kidnappers and cultists within the last two weeks of its operations aimed at ridding the state of violent crimes.

    Parading the suspects yesterday at the state police headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo, the State Police Commissioner (CP), Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi said the arrest of the suspects was part of his war against criminals in the state.

    CP Ogunjemilusi, who said some of suspects include armed robbers, cultists and kidnappers, disclosed that some of them have already been charged to court while others are still being investigated.

    He said seven locally made pistols and two cut-to-size guns with six cartridges recovered. Also two cut-to-size locally made pump action with four rounds of cartridges recovered.

    The Commissioner further said that two locally made single-barrel and two locally double barrel pistols with eleven cartridges have also been recovered.

    “Six vehicles including Toyota 4 runner jeep, Toyota Matrix, three Toyota Camry, Hyundai Kia, Highlander (2003) model and assorted items used by cultists have also been recovered”, he said.

    Ogunjemilusi said since assumption of office on January 3, 2018, he studied the security architecture of the state and reposition it for effective service delivery.

    He disclosed that the State Police Command has commenced a full implementation of community based policing in the state.

    This, he said, aimed at strengthening the confidence in the Police for a better working relationship with members of the public “in a more friendly and accountable manner”.

    With the number of suspected criminals arrested so far, the Police boss noted that “strategies put in place in ensuring that crime rates in the State are brought to the barest minimum are yielding results.

    He lauded the government and people of the State for the support to the Police and security agencies towards reducing crime to barest minimum.

  • ICRC lauds police over action on gunshot victims

    ICRC lauds police over action on gunshot victims

    The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Wednesday lauded the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) for ensuring victims of gun shots are offered treatments in health facilities across the country.

    The committee said there has been misconceptions on the constitutional provision, which until recently has led to casualties.

    ICRC Health Care in Danger Focal Person, Felix Onwudegu, during a training in Abuja explained that the advocacy has fortunately scaled through the National Assembly but yet to get the President’s approval.

    He said management of hospitals are gradually changing their perceptions and accepting the new development due to more awareness creation.

    “The police IGP made a declarative statement on this in Lagos sometime last year. Police are disseminating information along their information channels to sensitise their officers so that victims with gun wounds would be treated and later reported to the police station,” Onwudegu added.

    Section 4 (2) of the Robbery and Firearm, Special Provisions Act 1984 says, “It shall be the duty of any person, hospital or clinic that admits, treats or administers any drug to any person suspected of having bullet wounds to immediately report the matter to the police.”

    However in a public notice, circular issued by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, last year October, he stated that, “The NPF must not prevent prompt access to, or delivery of health care for accident victims or gunshot wounded patients.”

    “The accident victims or gunshot wounded patients do not require police clearance to receive medical treatment. However, it should be reported to the Police,” he added.

    He appealed to the media to further increase the awareness and support the advocacy.

    Speaking on protection of health facilities, Onwudegu said health workers have right to seek protection from the security operatives.

    He emphasised need for media involvement in reporting humanitarian issues, especially as it relates to attack on children, women and vulnerable members of the society.

  • Edo to unveil new security architecture by December 1

    Edo to unveil new security architecture by December 1

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has said that a new security arrangement that will enhance the operation of the police and other security agencies in the state will be launched by December 1.

    Obaseki disclosed this on Thursday while briefing the press shortly after an inspection of facilities at the State Command of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), in Benin City.

    He said the state government was already putting finishing touches to the new security arrangement and the tour of the facilities at the state command was part of the process.

    The governor noted that consultations were ongoing with various security agencies and relevant stakeholders in the state ahead of the official unveiling of the framework by December 1.

    He equally revealed that the new arrangement will factor in the creation of a Security Trust Fund and create a neighbourhood watch to be backed by law.

    According to the governor, the state is currently receiving and reviewing proposals from security experts on appropriate technologies that will enhance the efficiency of intelligence gathering and policing.

    The Edo Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo described the synergy between the Police and the Edo State government as perfect. Kokumo assured that the smooth working relationship will lead to drastic reduction of the crime rate in the state and engender effective police service delivery.

  • Nigerians advised to see the police as change agent

    Nigerians advised to see the police as change agent

    Nigerians have been urged to see the Nigerian Police as a vehicle of law-enforcement and positive change, rather than just a platform for corruption. This advice was given in a statement made available to our correspondent.
    Stating that Nigerians had found it much easier to say the Police Force was corrupt and, that they have also compromised crime fighting.
    “Until we unveil our caged senses to see beyond our peculiar fogginess, we shall continue to unfairly belittle the Police and by the break of dawn, we shall only discover to our national shame that we  have security agents garbed in official uniforms, but very unwilling to protect us, because of our expressed ingratitude to their sacrifices, having deliberately failed to appreciate them and preferring to cast aspersions and dark shadows on the Police, as good only as agents of Lucifer”.
    Talking about the recent reports publicized by two institutions- United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)  and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), that claimed NPF as the most corrupt public institution in Nigeria, it said none mentioned the statistics of high profile crimes that had been combated under the incumbent IGP.

    The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, had enforced penetrative reforms in the NPF, initiating an insidious spy squad to trail and expose erring and corrupt police officers for appropriate sanctions. And for the first time, the NPF is not shielding its corrupt or erring officers who act as cogs in its determination to battle crimes of all dimensions.

    Not totally absolving the NPF of blame,it was stated that rather than see the Police in a totally bad light, we were also to see the reforms in the NPF that have worked to change the police force and making it become alive to its responsibilities; having disciplined and courageous personnel, with eyes fixated on integrity in consonance with the “change mantra” of the President Muhammadu Buhari regime.
    “It created its own internal disciplinary and punitive mechanisms against any officer who traduces the new creed of conduct as proclaimed by IGP Idris. Just recently, a Police officer in the famed case of the University of Port Harcourt suspected ritualist in Police custody, who escaped was arrested by the police itself and arraigned in court for official negligence”.
    It also stated that worthy of commendation,was the arrest of suspected billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, (aka Evans) who had an amazing network and terrorized Nigerians for years and also the case of the brave cops, who confronted some armed robbers during a robbery operation at Zenith Bank in Owerri, Imo State, and paid the supreme price. They had the option of abandoning their arms and ammunitions and scurrying for safety, but they patriotically executed the duty of defending Nigerians unto their graves.
    “We cannot have the Police of our desire if we continue to ridicule the reformatory efforts of a crack Police Officer, like IGP Ibrahim Idris who has devoted time and energy to rebrand the Police in combating crime in our country”.
  • Osinbajo urged to extend anti-corruption searchlight to Police

    Osinbajo urged to extend anti-corruption searchlight to Police

     

    A lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi has called on the Acting President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to intercede in alleged one-sided promotion exercise about to commence in the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).

    Olajengbesi, who spoke during a media briefing, Friday in Abuja disclosed that about 72 aggrieved security officers had lodged complaints over denial of their promotions.

    He raised accusations that officers of the force were often elevated based on ethnicity and relationships rather than merit.

    The lawyer, who is a member of United Global Resolve for Peace, a civil society organization criticized the development describing it as such capable of discouraging the officers from diligently performing their responsibilities.

    He appealed to Osinbanjo to direct the Chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC), Sir Mike Okiro to probe several concerns and ensure equity and fairness in the forthcoming promotional exercise.

    “There is currently a development in the Police. For over six years, the police have been exposed to reckless promotion scandal. You are also aware that there is currently promotion process going on and we are surprised that this process is also enmeshed in a lot of dirtiness, reckless abuse of opportunities, favoritism and some of those acts that doesn’t glorify any nation that practices democracy.

    “So we decided to call you to give caution to the Nigerian state and call on the acting president to ensure that the anti-corruption searchlight should be extended quickly to the police,” Olajengbesi said.

    He warned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris and PSC chairman to desist from wrong acts capable of demeaning the force.

    “Now that the police are becoming determined in their duties, then people in authority must also treat all police force members with all forms of respect and dignity. Our demand is that everyone who is due for promotion should be promoted.

    “When people diligently work in a particular organization and they are entitled to certain promotions, when they are denied of these promotions, it amount to great discouragement. It will affect their psyche and this is becoming today’s value system,” he added.

    In his remark, Executive Director of the organization, Olaseni Shalom said the organization has decided to open an electronic mail to enable every aggrieved police officer suffering from the same segregation express their concerns.

    He disclosed plans to engage in advocacy visits to the PSC and subsequently write a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to demand for list of those who had been promoted, in order to ascertain if the Service was biased or otherwise.

    Olaseni restated commitment of the group to take up the fight on behalf of the marginalized police officers across the nation.