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Tag: NSCDC

  • Ibadan ‘forest of horror’: Police, UCH forensic experts begin probe

    Ibadan ‘forest of horror’: Police, UCH forensic experts begin probe

    •To exhume bones for analysis

    •50 ‘mentally-ill’ persons arrested

    Forensic experts from the Police and the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State, yesterday began examining the Soka “forest of horror”, where dying men and women were rescued and decomposing bodies and human parts were found.

    The police team of pathologists was led by Dr. Eze Nwom and the UCH team Prof. Olawoyin. They moved to the site with another police team, led by the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (ACCID), Dasuki Galadachi.

    They arrived at the site about 11am yesterday.

    Police spokesperson Olabisi Ilobanafor, who was with them, said they were there to exhume the bones of victims buried at the site for forensic analysis to help investigation into the activities in the forest.

    She said the analysis would spur those whose relations are missing to go for DNA tests to enable investigators match results and determine if the missing persons were killed in the “forest of horror”.

    Men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) were at the site.

    Ilobanafor said: “Three teams are here, led by Galadachi from the State CID. One of the forensic teams from the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja, is led by Babale Aminu. Aminu was sent by the Inspector-General of Police with four others, including a forensic pathologist, Dr. Eze Nwom, who led the team of pathologists. A professor, Dr. Olawoyin from UCH, is also with them. He deals with anything from the throat to the head.

    “They are here to pick up evidence and exhume bones that were buried for forensic analysis. Another reason is futuristic, so that anybody whose relatives might have been declared missing could go for forensic test to determine whether they are related to any of the bones.

    “People whose family members or relatives have been declared missing are free to go for DNA test or forensic test to establish if they are related to the bones found there.

    “The reason for the investigation is to get to the root of the matter, to assist the police in ensuring that evidence are not lost and that the investigation is done scientifically and diligently.”

    She said the site would be handed over to the government after the investigation.

    Ilobanafor dispelled rumours that a dungeon exists in the forest, adding that none has been found.

    She said: “There is no dungeon here. It is not true. Nobody is trapped.”

    Over 50 suspected mentally-ill persons have been arrested by the police, following the attack on mentally-ill people by Ibadan residents on the suspicion that they were ritualists.

    The mentally-ill persons were apprehended by mobs on the allegation that human parts and incriminating items were found on them.

    Ilobanafor said: “The suspects have been handed over to the government for psychiatric test to determine their health status. For those on whom we found incriminating objects or suspected human parts, they will be sent back to us for prosecution after the psychiatric test.”

     

     

  • Suspects arrested with three wellheads

    Suspects arrested with three wellheads

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested four men for allegedly dismantling three wellheads.

    Derateide Brutu (43), the leader of the gang, said he removed the wellheads to protest government’s inability to create jobs.

    NSCDC State Commandant Desmond Agu said the suspects were arrested at 3:30am by the anti-vandal unit of the command.

    He said they were nabbed at Korokorosei and Ondewari communities, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

    Other suspects are Tam Emiakpo, Epumokumo Timidise and Jeremiah Isong.

    Brutu, who hails from Sagbama, Sagbama Local Government Area, said politicians only remembered them during elections.

    The suspect caused a stir when he was asked what he intended to do with the wellheads.

    He said: “I want to use them for my own personal oil drilling. I was taking them to my destination when I was arrested.”

    The suspect maintained that there was nothing wrong in what he did and asked the government to judge him.

    Claiming that it was the first time, he begged the state Commandant to free the other suspects.

    “What I did was right. If it is against the Federal Government, then judge me.

    “If l may plead, leave these young men and then face me. I have not been doing this before. This is my first time,” he said.

    Timidise said he joined the gang to raise money for his school fees.

    Claiming to be a student of Agriculture and Environmental Administration at the Niger Delta University (NDU), he said he thought the gang was only involved in illegal refining of oil.

    He said the security operatives arrested them on their way back.

  • NSCDC apprehends illegal refinery ‘operators’

    The Abia State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said it had apprehended three suspected operators of illegal refineries.

    It also said it nabbed three fraudsters.

    The command said the suspected illegal refinery operators were arrested at Amavo Nkwo-Ogu in Osisioma Local Government, on March 21.

    They are Ugochukwu Ubani, 32, Nchetachi Ubani, 22 and John Kalu, 20. The suspects are being detained, pending the completion of investigation.

    He said they were nabbed during a routine patrol by NSCDC operatives along a petroleum pipeline route at Amavo Nkwo-Ogu.

    Items recovered include drums containing substances suspected to be adulterated diesel, gas cylinders, welding equipment and a Mercedes Benz 190E.

    NSCDC gave the names of the suspected fraudsters as Sunday Maduabuchi, 33, Christian David Ogbu, 30 and Chinemere Uche Alozie, 25.

    The command’s spokesman Victor Ogbonnaya said in Umuahia they were rescued from angry youths, who attempted to lynch them at Amakama in Umuahia South Local Government, on March 16.

    He said the bandits were operating in Lagos and Abuja before relocating to Abia, adding that they hypnotised their victims before robbing them.

    The command said it arrested David Nwachukwu from Osisiokpo in Aba North for operating an illegal orphanage, where illegal sale of babies was carried out.

    Ogbonnaya said expectant women were caught, among them Favour Egida, Joy Ibeziemako and Onyinyechi Ogbonna.

  • Osun pensioners protest non-payment of arrears

    Pensioners in Osun State protested yesterday the non-payment of pension arrears by the state government.

    Around 10am, the pensioners converged on the popular Olaiya Junction in Osogbo, blocking the Osogbo-Gbongan road.

    While the protest lasted, the police, men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) were on ground to ensure order.

    The protest caused a traffic gridlock for over two hours.

    Some of the protesters slept on the road, while others carried placards with various inscriptions.

    An executive of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Osun chapter, Mrs. Ronke Aderibigbe, said the retirees resolved to protest after several attempts made to dialogue with the state government failed.

    She said many retirees have died because they had no money to take care of themselves and the children of some have dropped out of school.

    Mrs. Aderibigbe said: “Many of our colleagues are diabetic and they find it difficult to buy drugs. Many of them have died. A good number of our colleagues are hospitalised and efforts to see the governor failed. He kept promising through his aides that he would pay our pension arrears but nothing has been done.”

    She said they were protesting the non-payment of their gratuities since 2008; non payment of pension arrears, late payment of monthly pension and the non-inclusion of some pensioners, who retired in 2012, in the payroll.

    Commissioner for Information and Strategy Sunday Akere blamed the delay in the payment of pension on the dwindling allocation to states from the Federation Account.

    He said: “Several states of the federation and the Federal Government owe salary and pension running into several months without any hope of quick settlement. Osun has been successfully paying salary and pension with only a few days delay.”

    Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon reiterated the government’s commitment to the welfare of workers and pensioners.

    He said the government will continue to open its financial books to stakeholders, so that they can confirm what caused the delay in the payment.

  • NSCDC arrests man for ‘sodomy’

    NSCDC arrests man for ‘sodomy’

    Officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Jigawa State have arrested Sule Dauda of Jigawa Tsada, Dutse Local Government Area for allegedly raping little boys.

    A statement by the Commandant, Muhammed Gidado Fari, said the suspect was arrested after he allegedly raped an eight-year -old boy.

    The statement said: “The suspect committed the crime several times. He usually gives his victims N20.

    “An interim medical report from Rashid Shekoni Specialist Hospital, Dutse, confirmed penetration of the little boy.”

    Fari said the suspect confessed after a preliminary investigation on the matter.

    “The accused claimed that he was introduced to the act by his colleagues, who used him and gave him N100.”

    The commandant maintained that the suspect will be charged to court immediately investigations are completed.

     

  • Three burnt to death in Ibadan church fire

    Three burnt to death in Ibadan church fire

    Three worshippers were burnt to death yesterday at a church in Ibadan, Oyo State. The incident occurred at Mercyland Prayers Ministry at Okoro. It was learnt that the fire started about 1:45am and raged on for almost three hours. Sources said the fire started at the entrance of the church and was fuelled by a nearby generating set containing petrol. They said the church was covered with smoke and worshippers struggled to get out. Many made it out alive, but two men and a woman were burnt to death. The church’s roof and chairs were burnt. A survivor, simply identified as Akin, said some worshippers were asleep when the fire began. The fire was put out at 4:05am by men of the State Fire Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Police.

  • ‘Fed Govt won’t merge civil defence with police’

    The Federal Government will not merge the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) with the Nigeria Police, as there is no such plan in government’s agenda, Minister of Interior, Patrick Moro, said yesterday.

    He said the two security agencies have separate mandates, with the former performing its statutory roles well, adding that it does not have to be merged with the Police or any other sister organisation.

    The minister spoke with reporters in Abeokuta, Ogun State, after the inauguration of the administrative block and 36 unit staff quarters of the Civil Defence College of Security Management, by Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

    Moro said: “It is a desire by a group of people or by one person (to have NSCDC merge with the police). I can tell you that the mandate of the NSCDC is different from the mandate of the police and as long as the NSCDC is conducting itself and delivering on its mandate, the Federal Government has no intention of merging the outfit with another organisation.”

     

    He said the inaugurated project would assist NSCDC perform its role of protecting and securing key national infrastructure, among others, stressing that upon assumption of office, some of the security agencies lacked the required facilities to perform their duties effectively.

    The minister said Boko Haram had resorted to adopting guerrilla tactics in attacking villages and communities because the security agencies had not secured the localities across the country.

     

  • CBN chief hails Aregbesola on security

    CBN chief hails Aregbesola on security

    THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Osun State branch, has hailed Governor Rauf Aregbesola for tightening security in the state.

    Branch Controller Mr. Macduff Okorode Effetabore said businesses thrive in a secure environment.

    Effetabore spoke at the weekend at the 2013 Dinner/Awards night for efficient banks at the Leisure Spring Hotel in Osogbo.

    He said: “There is a causal relationship between business and the environment. Conducive environment allows businesses to thrive. With the peace in the state, the required ennoblement for businesses to flourish has been given a boost. At this juncture, join me to appreciate the Chief Security Officer of the state, Governor Aregbesola.

    “Since he assumed office, he has created enabling environment for every citizen to go about his /her lawful business. Equally, appreciation goes to security agents –the Military, Police, State Security Service (SSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and others who have contributed to the peace enjoyed in the state.”

    On the cashless policy, Effetabore said the implementation of the third phase would begin on July 1, adding that the CBN would hold sensitisation workshops in Osun State from February 25 to 27.

     

  • Navy nabs 25 oil theft suspects

    Navy nabs 25 oil theft suspects

    •Hand them over to NSCDC

    Central Naval Command (CNC) of the Nigerian Navy has arrested 25 suspects for allegedly stealing petroleum products at various points in the Niger Delta region.

    The suspects were rounded up by the troops of the Forward Operating Base, FORMOSO, Brass Local Government Area, in Bayelsa State.

    They were, however, handed over to the State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr. Desmond Agu, for prosecution.

    In a brief ceremony to hand over the suspects to NSCDC yesterday, the Flag Officer, Commanding, CNC, Rear Admiral Sidi-Ali Usman said 12 of the suspects were arrested onboard a vessel christened, MT Eil Tank 123.

    Usman, who was represented in the event by Commodore Vincent Okeke, said the suspect included a cadet of the Nigerian Maritime Academy, Oron, who was on internship but had been released.

    He explained that the suspected vessel was arrested offshore Agbami oil field by the Nigerian Navy Ship ZARIA.

    He added that the ship was laden with 1, 241,000 litres of stolen crude oil without “necessary clearance or permit for movement of petroleum products particularly crude oil.”

    Usman said five of the suspects were apprehended onboard a large dug-out wooden boat offshore Brass River.

    “At the time of the arrest, the boat was loaded with about 60,000 litres of product suspected to be crude oil. She neither had documents to show proof of purchase nor permit from relevant regulatory agencies for crude oil lifting,” he said.

    He added that nine suspects were nabbed onboard another vessel which was loaded with 870,000 litres of crude oil.

    He said: “This handing over re-emphasises the determination of the Chief of the Naval Staff to completely eradicate crude oil theft from the nation’s maritime domain.”

     

  • Four suspected vandals paraded in Cross River

    Four suspected vandals paraded in Cross River

    The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Cross River State yesterday paraded four suspects for allegedly vandalising the transformers of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC), in Calabar.

    The corps commandant, Dr. Benito Eze, said the suspects were arrested at locations in Obudu Local Government while vandalising transformers.

    He told reporters that the suspects were arrested, following a tip-off by youths in Obudu community.

    “We gathered that these vandals operate in a cartel. They have people, who sponsor them and come back later to receive the stolen materials.

    “They have vandalised many transformers and power lines in the local government and have caused power outage for six months,” Eze said.

    The commandant said investigation was on, adding that as soon as it was concluded, the suspects would be charged.