The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Police Force

  • Offa robbery: I’m to respond in writing to the allegations within 48 hours – Saraki

    As a follow up to the allegation leveled against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, concerning his alleged involvement with the criminals who wrought mayhem on the people of Offa, Kwara state, the Nigerian Police Force in a letter to Saraki said he is no longer required to appear at any station, but to respond to the sundry allegations in writing within 48 hours.

    It can be recalled that the Police through its spokesman – Jimoh Moshood, yesterday said that Saraki was to report to the Force Intelligence Response Team office in Guzape, Abuja, to clear the air on the allegations against him.

    However, in a recent development, Saraki has informed the Nigerian public that he is no longer required to appear in person at the police station, but to respond to the allegations in writing within 48 hours.

    He made this known via his twitter handle a few hours ago:

    Following my earlier tweet, I have received the letter from @PoliceNG. They are no longer asking me to appear at any station, but to respond in writing to the allegations within 48 hours — which I plan to do.

    Whether his response will vindicate him and clear the air or become part of the undulating saga, is one that Nigerians, especially the people of Kwara state earnestly anticipate.

  • Robbers attack warehouse, make away with over N4million cash

    … Man battling for survival after gunshot injury

    Armed men numbering four have reportedly attacked a warehouse located on Azikiwe road in Aba the commercial nerve of Abia State and allegedly made away with cash worth over four million naira.

    The Nation learnt that the gunmen who operated kin a commercial tricycle had pretended to have come to the textile warehouse to make inquiry before taking advantage of the situation to execute their evil agenda.

    Warehouses in Aba have in the last months been under attack by gunmen who disguised as passengers of commercial tricycles to beat security checks and to have the leeway to carry out their operations at ease.

    Sources around the location of the robbery incident who pleaded anonymity said that the gunmen armed to the teeth made away with cash belonging to the warehouse owner and some of the customers who were there to lift new materials and others who came to pay for previous supplies.

    It was learnt that the gunmen after carrying out their nefarious act stopped another commercial tricycle operator.

    According to the sources, the gunmen robbed the warehouse swiftly that even neighbours and passersby were surprised when customers and the warehouse owner were narrating their ordeals.

    “The man is selling clothes in bell. People were surprised when they (victims) were narrating the incident. The shop owner could not say exactly how much that was stolen from him, but from what we gathered, they (gunmen) made away with cash of over N4miilion.”

    Read Also: Robbers snatch N9m LG workers’ salary in Kebbi

    Another source however called on warehouse owners to install Close Circuit TV (CCTV) in their shops, stressing that it could assist the police and other sister agencies to either identify or track down the hoodlums as was the case in Offa (Kwara State) robbery.

    In another development, a resident of Boudex Lane off 28 Umuola Road, Aba is battling for survival in an undisclosed hospital in the commercial city after he was reportedly shot by an armed robber that invaded his apartment with his group members.

    The middle aged man who operates a provision store was said to have been taken unawares by robbers who came on a tricycle.

    Our reporter gathered that the man who could not watch the robbers cart away the cash he realized from the day’s sales, resisted the armed men from making away with the money, but one of the gunmen angrily shot the man in the head, leaving him in the pool of his blood.

    The neighbours and police patrol team was said to have been alerted by the sound of the gun and screaming of the victim.

    Unconfirmed report has it that the robbers noticing they were been chased by police, abandoned their tricycle at in front of a popular Secondary School along Aba/Ikot Ekpene Highway before dashing into a nearby bush for safety.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO of Abia State Command of the Nigerian Police Force, DSP Geoffery Ogbonna could not be contacted during the filing of this report as efforts to reach him failed.

  • Kano approves amendment of 1999 constitution

    Kano approves amendment of 1999 constitution

    Kano State House of Assembly has approved the amendment of some laws in the 1999 Constitution which include financial autonomy to States’ Houses Assembly among others.

    The approval followed series of deliberations by the lawmakers following the adoption of the National Assembly bill on the amendment.

    The Speaker, Alhaji Abdullahi Ata said at the plenary on Tuesday in Kano that the house had approved eight out of the 15 alterations as requested by the National Assembly.

    Ata said the alterations included financial autonomy for States’ House of Assembly, the removal of force from the Nigerian Police Force ( NPF ) and the provision of an independent candidate during the general elections in the country.

    According to the speaker, the house will deliberate on the remaining seven areas as requested by the National Assembly which included the autonomy for Local Government among others.

    Read also: Kano spends N9b monthly on salary payment, says Gov

    NAN

  • Breaking: Badoo strikes again, kills pastor

    Breaking: Badoo strikes again, kills pastor

    A Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Pastor was killed at the hours of Sunday by suspected members of the Badoo ritual gang.

    His wife and 10-month-old baby were said to have been found unconscious and rushed to Ikorodu General Hospital by policemen from Igbogbo Division.

    The attack occurred few hours after acting Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal met with all stakeholders at the palace of the Ikorodu monarch, Oba Abdulrasheed Shotobi on the menace of ritual killings.

    It was gathered that the assailants smashed the head of the pastor identified as Victor Kanayo with two big stones, which were said to have been found beside him.

    The Nation gathered that the murderers cut the iron bars on the window of the bungalow the family lived in before entering the house.

    This is coming on the heels of several efforts by the police to contain the resurgence of the badoo killings which died down after massive raids of several shrines in Agbowa and Imota axis suspected to be the base of the cultists.

    According to sources, the pastor and his family were the only ones living in the building because the landlord moved out some months ago as a result of increased insecurity.

    The source said: “The pastor was an easy going person. His wife and child are unconscious as I speak to you. They were rushed the general hospital. The police took them them.

    More details later………

  • Edo Police Command arrests 207 suspects in three months

    Edo Police Command arrests 207 suspects in three months

    The Edo Command of the Nigerian Police Force says it arrested no fewer than 207 suspects for various criminal activities between July and September.

    The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Haliru Gwandu made this known on Wednesday in Benin in an interview.

    Gwandu said that 12 vehicles, 35 assorted arms with 143 live cartridges were recovered from the suspects within the period under review.

    The police commissioner explained that the command had received 38 reports on armed robbery and arrested 90 suspects.

    He said that so far, 22 of the armed robbery cases were in court while nine were under investigation.

    The police chief also said 31 suspected kidnappers allegedly involved in 17 abductions were arrested during the period.

    Gwandu further said that 57 suspected cultists were nabbed during the period, out of which 31 were charged to court and 26 cases still under investigation.

    “In the case of murder, we have 26 reported cases, 16 suspects arrested, nine charged to court, 22 victims and 26 cases under investigation”, he said.

    The police commissioner said the command had also arrested three suspects in a case of human trafficking involving a victim.

    He stressed that the command was committed to fighting crime and bringing it to the barest minimum in the state.

    Gwandu attributed the achievements recorded by the command in the last three months to the determination of the personnel to tackle all forms of criminal activities in the state.

    Meanwhile, two prominent people in the state, Mr Andy Ehanire, a brother to the Minister of state for Health, and Chief Osayomore Joseph, a social crusader and musician, are still being held by kidnappers.

    Ehanire was kidnapped a fortnight ago, while Joseph was abducted this Wednesday from his residence in Benin.

  • Robbers kill four policemen in Osun

    Robbers kill four policemen in Osun

    Armed robbers on Tuesday killed four policemen in  multiple bank robbery attacks in Iwo, Osun, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    The  attacks,  which were targeted at  three  banks on  Bowen University road, Iwo, were  said to have been carried out at about  4.p.m.

    Confirming the robbery to the News Agency​ of Nigeria (NAN), the police spokesperson,  DSP Folashade Odoro, said the incident claimed four policemen.

    Odoro said the  Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Fimihan Adeoye,  as well as top officials of the police and  DSS were presently in Iwo to deliberate on how to apprehend the hoodlums.

    NAN reports  that the  incident led to pandemonium  in the community as  students and other residents  were reported to have been injured as they scampered for safety.

  • Police arrest four suspects with 4,555 National Identity cards

    Police arrest four suspects with 4,555 National Identity cards

    The police in Cross River on Monday arrested four suspected thieves for unlawful possession of 4,555 National Identity cards and 21 others who committed various offences, the Commissioner of Police,  Mr Hafiz Inuwa, said.

    Inuwa, who made the development known when he addressed  newsmen in Calabar on Tuesday, said the suspects were arrested by personnel of the Police Command in Cross on May 19.

    He said the suspected identity card thieves were arrested at a location on Eyo-Edem Street in Calabar following a tip-off.

    The commissioner explained that after a thorough search on the suspects, 4,555 National Identity cards bearing different names were found on them.

    “Upon interrogation, the four suspects confessed that one Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff gave the cards to them.

    “All the four suspects confessed to the crime and investigation is on-going in order to arrest the alleged INEC staff,” he said.

    The commissioner said that the command also arrested three suspected armed robbers on May 2, shortly after they allegedly robbed Solomon Alfred of his N380,000 and three mobile phones.

    “On May 2, our men arrested three suspected armed robbers who had robbed Solomon Alfred of his N380,000 and his three mobile phones.

    “Also on May 13, our men arrested a student of the University of Calabar for being in possession of fake currencies.

    “During interrogation, the suspect claimed that a friend of his that resides at Uyo gave him the fake currencies.

    “Investigation is on-going to unravel the truth of the matter and arrest his accomplices to ascertain the source/distributor of these fake currencies,” he said.

    The police also arrested three suspected manufacturers of firearms on May 19, the commissioner said.

    He also said  the police recovered five locally made pistols; six locally made single barrel guns, one locally made single barrel long gun, among others.

    “During the period under review, the state police command has arrested 25 suspects for various offences.

    “We recovered five AK 47 riffles, seven magazines and 200 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, one battle axe, eight live cartridges, among others,” he said.

  • Customs destroy N1b worth of imported poultry

    Customs destroy N1b worth of imported poultry

    The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone C Owerri, covering the Southeast and South-South states, Saturday destroyed impounded frozen poultry products with Duty Paid Value of N1, 275,712,500.

    The 102, 099 cartons of frozen poultry products which were intercepted at various point within the Zone, were said to be illegally imported.

    The Customs Area Controller in charge of FOU Zone ‘C’, Comptroller Mohammed Uba, said the figure was the total of seizures of poultry products made by the Zone since he assumed duty in October 2016, adding that the impounded products have been destroyed in accordance with government policy.

    Mohammed restated that poultry products are still under import prohibition, warning that “any of such found will be seized and destroyed in compliance with the relevant laws and government policies”.

    Given a graphic detail of how one of the seizures was made, the Controller, revealed that “operatives of the FOU Zone ‘C’ Owerri on Thursday 19th April 2017 intercepted 24,032 cartons of imported frozen poultry products with Duty Paid Value of N259, 545,600, conveyed in a Mack Truck with registration number AJL 861 XA along Benin Ekiadolor axis by Lagos Expressway, Edo State. The poultry items include turkey parts, chicken parts, poultry gizzard amongst others”.

    Speaking during the destruction of the seized poultry in Benin, Mohammed, noted that the seizures were achieved through the diligence of his officers and men, who he said have recently been encouraged to put in their best with the recent promotion of Officers and men of the Service by the Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hameed Ali (Rtd).

    He reiterated the commitment of his officers to ensure that smuggling is brought to a minimal level.

    According to him, “as trained officers in the course of our duty when we intercept any suspected goods and confirm it to be brought in contrary to the laws it will be seized and disposed of. We will continue to make sure that the public is adequately informed so that importation will be done in conformity with the laws and we will stem the menace of smuggling”.

    He further advised Nigerians against the importation of frozen poultry products, stressing that, “it adversely affect the nation’s poultry industry and have been adjudged by health authorities to be injurious to health”.

    Mohammed continued that, “we have to encourage farmers and those in the agriculture sector to be productive, self-reliant, provide employment and boost the economy instead of sending out our foreign exchange and encouraging capital flight”.

    He disclosed that three suspects were arrested in connection with the recent seizures made in Benin, adding that they will soon be charged to court, while enjoining smugglers to shun the illicit business and engage in legitimate trade to boost the nation’s economy.

    On hand to witness the destruction of the poultry products were representatives of other security agencies including the Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Security (DSS), National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)

     

  • Judge directs AGF to warn police against treating court with levity

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday directed the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Abubakar Malami, to warn the police on the consequences of treating courts with levity.

    Justice Gabriel Kolawale who issued the directive said that police as an institution established by law must subject itself to constituted rules.

    Kolawole’s reaction followed the failure of the police to appear in a case of enforcement of fundamental human rights instituted against it and four others by the Incorporated Trustees of the Peace Corps of Nigeria.

    At the resumed hearing of the suit, the Inspector General of Police and the Nigerian Police Force, who are the major defendants in the court action, were not in court and gave no cogent reason.

    The AGF, the National Security Adviser, Department of State Services and its Director-General, who are the other defendants in the suit, were represented by Mr Terhemba Agbe.

    Mr Kanu Agabi, (SAN), Counsel to the Peace Corps and its National Commandant, had urged the court for an order restraining the police from further taking steps against the plaintiffs in the pending court action.

    Agabi had specifically pleaded with the judge to order the police to vacate the corporate headquarters of the Peace Corps in Abuja, which had been sealed off since Feb. 28.

    He also asked for an order of court to facilitate the release of the vehicles and other properties of the corps carted away by the police when the office was invaded.

    Agabi urged the court to allow hearing of the parties in the matter before giving any order.

    Justice Kolawale expressed displeasure over the absence of the police in court without justifiable reason.

    The judge said that the police who were the antagonist in the matter ought to have realised that a case for the enforcement of fundamental human rights ought to be treated with deserved urgency.

    “It is an affront to the court for a party in a pending court action to take any further step in such a manner that may affect the foundation of the case.

    “To take a further step in a pending court matter outside the court is nothing but self help and the consequence of such action is contempt of proceedings,’’ Kolawole said.

    According to him, it would not be in the interest of justice for any of the parties in the matter to resort to self help or impose a “fate accompli” on the court.

    Specifically, the judge said that his ruling should be served on the police through the office of the AGF to enable the police realise the consequences of treating the court with levity.

    He therefore, ordered the AGF and three other defendants to file processes within five days in response to the originating summons of the Peace Corps.

    The court adjourned hearing in the matter until May 15.

  • Edo: Police arrest driver for flouting movement restriction

    Edo: Police arrest driver for flouting movement restriction

    Operatives of the Nigerian Police Force, Edo state have arrested a commercial motorist at Sakponba Road for flaunting “no movement” order.

    The driver of the vehicle, Goody Motors, pleaded with the Police for forgiveness even as passengers were seen acting unconcerned.

    Earlier on Wednesday, just as the elections commenced, travelers lamented being held back on the Benin Express road as movement into the Benin city and environs was restricted.

    While some of the travelers claimed ignorance of the no movement announcement, some said it was uncalled for to hold a major election during working house on a weekday.

    Meanwhile, the curfew is expected to last from 6A.M. till 6P.M. on Wednesday to avoid any unexpected situation during the gubernatorial elections.