The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NIGERIAN POLICE

  • Arms smuggling in Nnewi untrue – Anambra CP

    Arms smuggling in Nnewi untrue – Anambra CP

    The Anambra Police Command has described as ‘untrue’ media reports stating the discovery of arms and ammunition in an articulated vehicle that conveyed yam tubers into Nnewi on June 12.

    The Commissioner of Police in Anambra, Mr Sam Okaula told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview on Sunday in Awka that nothing of the sort occurred.

    “What actually happened was that on June 12, a member of vigilance operative went to a pit somewhere in Uruagu, Nnewi, and dug out two rusted old magazines and few ammunition.

    “The vigilante operative drew the attention of the President-General of the community, Mr Charles Nwonye, who ultimately informed the police and I directed the officer in charge of SARS, Awkuzu to recover the items.

    “We are surprised that a senseless story is making the round that large cache of ammunition was discovered in a lorry that conveyed yam tubers into the community to cause mayhem.

    “There is nothing of the sort that happened in this command.

    “it is falsehood at its height and we begin to wonder who is peddling this type of senseless rumour,” the police boss said.

    Okaula also said no one was apprehended as speculated in the rumoured story of arms smuggling, describing it as “false in its entirety.”

    He urged the public, especially those residing in Nnewi, to go about their lawful duty and report information that may lead to the arrest of criminals rather than create tension with false reports.

    Corroborating Okaula, Mr Charles Nwonye, the President-General of Uruagu, said the local security operatives reported that two magazines and ammunition were recovered from where they were buried in the community.

    According to him, the items were recovered near a cave after a scavenger brought the information to the security operative and we contacted the police to investigate the matter.

    Nwonye, who was present when Okaula spoke with NAN, also wondered why people would escalate the discovery into saying it was arms smuggle to destabilise the community.

    “I don’t know where they got the story because there was no scene of a truck where yam was off-loaded and arms were discovered,” the community leader added.

    Mr Chibueze Okonkwo, the Vigilante Commander at Uruagu, said the media reports were false and that the discovery was nothing to cause tension in the community and the state at large.

  • Police announce reward for officers killed in Imo Bank robbery

    Police announce reward for officers killed in Imo Bank robbery

    Two policemen who were killed by robbers during an attack on a branch of Zenith Bank in Imo State have been recommended for posthumous promotion, according to Police Commissioner Chris Ezike.

    Ezike told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Owerri that another policeman, Otu Attang, who survived the February 22, 2017 attack, would also be promoted with the deceased officers, Messrs Chukwudi Iboko and Sunday Agbo.

    Four armed men on that day, trailed a man to the bank in Owerri, and in the process, attacked police officers attached to the place.

    In the gun battle, the policemen killed one of the robbers identified as Ikechukwu Okpara, but lost Messrs Iboko and Agbo.

    Ezike said the recommendation followed the huge sacrifice the three officers made to save the bank and its customers.

    “The officers were gallant and showed serious commitment during the robbery attack. Nigeria Police Force cannot abandon them,” he said.

    The commissioner also said the management of the bank had undertaken to offer scholarship to the children of the deceased officers.

    He said three of the suspected armed robbers, Justice Ogbonna, Abiye Charles and Okechukwu Nwanegbo, who attacked the bank, had been arrested, adding that different types of arms were recovered from them.

     

  • Police deploy 600 special intervention force on Abuja-Kaduna express way

    Police deploy 600 special intervention force on Abuja-Kaduna express way

    The Nigerian Police on Tuesday deployed 600 special squad to Abuja-Kaduna Expressway to check crimes along the road.

    The Deputy Inspector General of Police,Operation, (DIG) Habila Joshak, made the disclosure while inaugurating members of the special squad in Rijana village, Kachia Local Government of Kaduna State.

    Joshak said 500 mobile police were deployed, while 100 were from the intelligence unit of the force.

    The DIG said the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, ordered the deployment of the special squad to ensure maximum security along Abuja-Kaduna expressway.

    He added that the 600 special  squad were drawn from tactical, counter terrorism and intelligent units of the force.

    He explained that the operation was to make sure that every road user was protected and safe.

    He noted that “it is the responsibility of the Nigerian Police to protect lives and property of every citizen and we are committed to doing that.”

    The DIG urged the personal to be professional in discharging their constitutional responsibilities, stressing that “you are here to protect lives and to give maximum security on Abuja-Kaduna expressway and everywhere around it.

    “We will collaborate with other security operatives to see that the menace of kidnaping is addressed.

    “I urge you to make sure you apprehend all the criminals terrorising innocent citizens on this highway and bring them to book.”

    The DIG appealed to the communities to give police maximum support in fighting crime and criminality in Kaduna State and the country at large.

    The Nigerian Police launched operation maximum safety in Katari, in Kachia Local Government in August 2016 to address the menace of kidnaping on Abuja-Kaduna expressway where it deployed 600 personnel.

  • Man bags four months imprisonment for stealing phone

    Man bags four months imprisonment for stealing phone

    A Grade 1 Area Court in Karu, Abuja, on Tuesday, sentenced Shefiu Samaila, 21, of Karu Village, Abuja, to four months in prison for stealing a mobile phone.

    The Judge, Mr Hassan Ishaq, sentenced Samaila but gave him an option to pay N10,000 fine and urged him to always be faithful, especially during this holy month of Ramadan.

    Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr Mahmud Ismai’la, had told the court that Insp. Aliyu Shangbong of Nigeria Police arrested the defendant and took him to Maitama Police Station on June 12.

    He said the defendant was caught in the act while removing a mobile phone from the pocket of a man who had come for prayers at Annur Mosque, Wuse 2, Abuja.

    Ismai’la added that the defendant was caught on two occasions in the past stealing phones from the pockets of some persons who came to the Mosque to pray.

    He noted that the offence was punishable under Section 287 of the Penal code.

    The defendant had pleaded guilty and begged the court to temper justice with mercy.

  • Kano police commissioner assures Igbo residents of adequate protection

    Kano police commissioner assures Igbo residents of adequate protection

    The Police Commissioner in Kano State, Mr Rabi’u Yusuf, has assured Igbo residents in the state of adequate protection of their lives and property.

    This is contained in a statement released in Kano on Tuesday by DSP Magaji Majiya, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state.

    Yusuf gave the assurance on Monday at a meeting with the leadership of the Igbo community in the state.

    The commissioner also assured the Igbos of the commitment of the command to ensuring the safety of their lives and property like every other Nigerian living in the state.

    “The meeting is to assure you of the commitment of the command toward ensuring safety of your lives and properties as every other Nigerian living in the State,’’ Yusuf said.

    He called on Igbos living in the state to remain calm, continue to carry out their businesses lawfully and live peacefully with other ethnic groups.

    In his remark, Eze Igbo Kano, Dr Boniface Ibekwe expressed gratitude to the commissioner for summoning the meeting “at this crucial time’’.

    Ibekwe also extolled the virtues of the people of Kano State, saying they are tolerant and well-mannered toward other ethnic groups living in their midst.

    He called on all Igbos and other ethnic groups in the state to remain calm “as Kano remains our state of origin where most of our children were born and brought up’’.

    He also urged them to continue to pursue their legitimate businesses without fear of harassment.

  • Man jailed for attempt to defraud with counterfeit dollars

    Man jailed for attempt to defraud with counterfeit dollars

    A Karmo Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Friday sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, a 31-year-old man, Mohammed Masur, who attempted to defraud another man with  counterfeit dollars.

    The judge, Mr Abubakar Sadiq, sentenced Masur following his guilty plea to a count charge.

    Sadiq urged Masur, a resident of Tunga Kwaso Deidei, to be of good behaviour.

    Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr Dalhatu Zannah, said that Masur attempted to defraud Mr Uche Okeke of Wuye, Abuja, with fake dollars on May 19 at the ABM plaza, but was arrested after Okeke raised an alarm.

    He told the court that Okeke reported the case to the Utako Police Station on the same day.

    Zannah said that 214 pieces of counterfeit dollars were recovered from Masur after his arrest.

    The prosecutor noted that the offence contravened Section 434 of the Penal Code.

  • 13 killed in Borno attacks

    13 killed in Borno attacks

    The Borno State Police Command has confirmed the killing of 13 persons in Wednesdays attacks in Maiduguri, the state capital.

    The state Police Commissioner,  Mr. Damian Chukwu, disclosed this at a news conference on Thursday.

    He said: “Suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked Alidawari Village near Jiddari Polo area in Maiduguri on Wednesday.

    “The terrorists entered the village through Molai general area, an outskirt of Maiduguri.

    “They fired anti- aircraft guns to Jiddari Polo near the Federal High Court.”

    Chukwu said the attackers razed few houses in the village.

    “They set fire on some houses and makeshift tents in the neighborhood.

    “However, the police, comprising the Special Anti Robbery Squad (FSARS) and others were swiftly deployed to the scene to engage the attackers,” he added.

    The police commissioner told journalists that the military also mobilised and repelled the attack.

    “The military massively mobilised and repelled the attack in a gun duel that lasted about an hour.

    “The command also invited the fire service who promptly put out the fire on the affected houses,” Chukwu said.

     

     

  • Police drag six teenagers to court for public disturbance

    Police drag six teenagers to court for public disturbance

    The police on Monday, dragged six teenagers to an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for rioting and disturbing the peace of residents of Idioro, Mushin area of Lagos State.

    The accused, who are also residents of the same area, are facing charges of conspiracy, rioting and unlawfully assembly.

    According to the Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Emmanuel Ajayi, the accused committed the offences on April 29 at Idioro, Mushin Lagos.

    He said that the accused unlawfully assembled at 2. 00 a.m. and acted in a disorderly manner by disturbing the peace of the area to the extent of causing panic to the residents.

    “The accused conspired at an ungodly hour to riot and disturb the peace of residents.

    “They were arrested in connection with the Mushin mayhem,” he said.

    Ajayi said that the offences contravened Sections 44, 45, and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 45 prescribes three years imprisonment as penalty for rioting.

    All the accused pleaded innocence of the offences and the court granted them bail in the sum of N20,000 with one surety each in like sum.

    The Magistrate, Mrs F. A. Azeez, said that each surety must be a blood relative of the accused.

    The case was adjourned till June 7 for mention.

  • Police seals off PDP secretariat in Jos

    Police seals off PDP secretariat in Jos

    The Nigerian Police on Friday morning sealed off the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) secretariat in Jos over clash of factions.

    Details soon…

    PDP Secretariat in Jos

  • IGP pledges partnership with SWAN to enhance sports development

    The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has promised to support the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in all its activities and all efforts to enhance sports development in the country.

    Idris, while receiving a delegation of the SWAN National Executive Committee (NEC) who was on a courtesy visit, also canvassed the sports media’s support for ongoing Police reforms.

    He however pointed out that the Police Force would also be looking forward to an effective the partnership with the Association as it prepares for the annual Nigerian Police Games.

    “We are ready to partner with your Association in your activities, and we will support you in all your programmes towards enhancing sports development in this country.

    “But we also seek your partnership as we prepare for this year’s Police Games which is coming up in July. We seek your support so that you can be fully engaged in the Games,’’ Idris said.

    He further said it was heart-warming that ongoing Police reforms were being appreciated, saying the reforms’ success was crucial to the Police Force.

    “We are aware that the public’s perception of the Police is very important, and that is why we have been doig a lot in terms of reforms. We therefore need your support in this area in view of your own roles,’’ the Inspector-General of Police said.

    While speaking earlier, the SWAN National President, Honour Sirawoo, had lauded Idris for ensuring laudable changes in the Police Force since he took charge.

    “We are seeing noteworthy changes in the security architecture of this country. Things are getting better, and this is all due to your laudable efforts since taking charge of the Police Force.

    “We urge you to continue with this in order to totally rid the country of all security challenges which hinder smooth social-political development,’’ he said.

    Sirawoo listed the Association’s programmes and efforts towards ensuring the sports writing profession was not seen as a threat to the society but a major ingredient in enhancing the country’s development.

    “We have been doing a major sanitisation of our Association, to avoid a situation that quacks and fraudsters would give us a bad name, and this is why there is an ongoing membership revalidation exercise, which is almost concluded,’’ he said.

    The SWAN President added that the Association was appreciative of Police contributions to the country’s sports development through the production of athletes who have gone on to win international honours.

    “We are aware of what the Police have been doing through the Police Games and the production of outstanding athletes in the past six or seven decades, and we appreciate this.

    “We urge you not to relent, and pledge that we will continue to support your efforts in this regard and also let the public know that you are an important factor in the country’s sports development,’’ he said.