The Nation Newspaper

Tag: OFFICER

  • Dismissed officer to face trial for ‘murder’

    Delta State Police Command is to arraign ex-Sergeant Habila Samaila for alleged professional misconduct and murder of a 32-year-old man, Ejovwoghene Igueride.

    On August 19, about 1910hrs, the deceased was allegedly shot by a mobile policeman at Emede and was taken to General Hospital, Olomoro, where he was confirmed dead.

    The suspect, attached to 33 PMF in Ado-Ekiti State, Ekiti State capital, was on escort duty with the director of Johnnesco (Nig) Enterprises Ltd when the shooting occurred at Emede in Isoko South Local Government.

    In a statement by the command, police spokesman Andrew Aniamaka said: “In line with its commitment to serve with integrity and be guided by best democratic principles and practices, no matter whose ox is gored, Delta State Police Command, on August 29, dismissed and is in the process of arraigning Sgt. Habila Samaila, male, 36, for misconduct and murder of Ejovwokoghene Igueride, 32, of Emede in Isoko South Council of Delta State.”

  • Woman gets one year for stealing officer’s N99, 000

    A 35-year-old woman, Micheal Modupe, is to spend the next 12 months in prison for stealing a police officer’s N99,000 in his office, an Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court in Ogun State ruled at the weekend.

    Modupe, whose address was not provided, was arraigned for stealing.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the light-fingered woman pleaded guilty.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Adeola Adelaja, said the court had no option but to sentence her since she had pleaded guilty.

    The sentence was without an option of fine.

    Police prosecutor Sunday Eigbejiale told the court that the woman committed the offence on April 7 at 4p.m. at Onipanu Police Station, Ota, Ogun State.

    He said the accused stole N99, 000, property of a police officer, Mr. Akinleye Akinwale.

    Eigbejiale said Akinwale, the complainant, is attached to the Divisional Crime Office at the station.

    According to him, the complainant kept the money in his bag in the office and discovered that the money was missing.

    “The woman was the only person with him in the office when the money was stolen.”

  • Police deny video of officer carrying POS

    A video of a policeman who allegedly used a Point of Sale (POS) machine to extort money from motorists went viral yesterday.

    The policeman, whose identity could not be ascertained, was seen at Olowora Street, Mafoluku in Oshodi, questioning a motorcyclist with a POS machine in his hands.

    But the command’s spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) defended the policeman, saying the POS belonged to the motorcyclist’s passenger.

    Famous-Cole said the POS was brought out of a bag carried by the passenger, adding that when the policeman was convinced by the explanation and documents presented by the owner, he handed it back to him.

    Famous-Cole said: “The policeman stopped a motorcyclist for routine check and the rider had a passenger carrying a bag. He then asked about the bag and its contents. The passenger said a POS machine and some documents were in it. The policeman asked how he got the machine and the passenger said it belonged to the company he works with and he had documents to back it. After that interaction, he returned the POS, the bag and the documents to the owner and they left.”

    In the 30 seconds video, the policeman was seen standing with two persons, identified as a bike rider and his passenger. The policeman held the POS machine.

    The passenger was in green and yellow traditional attire with a brown and white cap; the motorcyclist wore a yellow and white T-shirt.

    Bemused passersby, especially school children watched them.

  • Gunmen kidnap FRSC officer, wife

    Gunmen at the weekend abducted an officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ekiti State, Oluwafemi Ojo and his wife on the outskirts of Ogotun-Ekiti in Ekiti Southwest Local Government Area.

    A relation, who pleaded for anonymity, said the kidnappers contacted the family yesterday, demanding N20 million.

    The couple was travelling in a navy blue Honda Accord belonging to Oluwafemi’s elder brother, Oluwadare, who is also an FRSC officer in Ondo State.

    The kidnappers dragged Oluwafemi and his wife into the bush but spared Oluwadare.

    A motorcyclist, Ojo Olabisi, who ran into the kidnappers, died after his motorcycle crashed in a futile escape bid.

    A funeral service was held yesterday morning at St. David’s Anglican Church in Ogotun after which his remains were buried.

  • Gunmen shoot police officer in Ondo

    A policeman, Corporal Michael Olujimi,  was shot yesterday by unidentified gunmen.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Olujimi, who is battling for his life, was found in a pool of his blood, about 5:30 am.

    It was gathered that Olujimi was to resume at the Okitipupa Police Division in  Ondo State.

    A sympathiser, who pleaded for anonymity, told NAN the gunmen mistook the policeman for someone else.

    “He was going to the station when the incident happened. We met him in a pool of his blood and we called the station,” he said.

    The Divisional Police Officer, Oluwole Ojo, said he could not comment as he had not been briefed.

  • Nigerians mourn gallant officer

    this appellation was not bestowed on him for nothing, in the fight against Boko Haram, Lt.-Col. Abu-Ali’s name is written in gold. He participated in every battle, always at the head of his men.

    In early February 2015, the Army faced the arduous task to recapture Baga town from Boko Haram terrorists who had established a Caliphate of the most extreme form of Islam. Baga was a fortress for Boko Haram and any  battalion unsure of itself would merely be on suicide mission if  it tried to regain Baga.

    The Army found solace and courage in a “smallish guy” with the rank of a Major.

    Abu- Ali is an unconventional choice to lead the battle into Baga. If you met him, he would have a lot of explanations to do to convince you he is a soldier.

    Abu- Ali is smallish in stature, with a round and unassuming expression. One cannot but notice his pale skin, big eyeballs and sparse frame. No; Abu Ali cannot be a soldier, one would say.

    So, it was this unusual candidate that led the battle into Baga. It was according to Acting Director Army Public Relations Col. Sani Usman, one of the fiercest battles against Boko Haram.

    But Abu -Ali won the war despite all odds and took back the strategic town.

    Tactical, intelligent, Sophisticated.

    So how did Abu- Ali achieved the impossible? According to several colleagues, journalists, subordinates who spoke to The Nation, Abu- Ali was one of the finest tacticians in the Army.

    “Abu -Ali does not believe only in the quantity of the troops or the numerical strength he believes in tactics,” one said of him.

    Abu -Ali was a tank expert. His philosophy of war modelled the modern realities where emphasis is on equipment than men.

    This was Abu -Ali’s successful strategy in Baga. He used it again when he captured Monguno.

    “ He told us not to worry that we would only need to do five percent of the work, that the remaining 95 percent he would do with tanks,” the soldier told an online medium after the battle.

    Abu -Ali believed that there was no need for “unnecessary loss of lives” when machines could do the job. He was an expert tanker and was said to always lead his men in his own tank. In Baga, he led with the T-72 second generation tank.

    No formation could stand in the way of Abu -Ali and his furious tanks, town after town fell to his superior strategy, courage and determination.

    The fear of Abu -Ali was the beginning of Boko Haram’s wisdom, say many commentators. Referred to as the albatross of Boko Haram, he would drive his tanks against a column of insurgents, destroy their IEDs and save the lives of his soldiers.

    Abu -Ali also conducted many operations against the insurgents deep into Sambisa forest, clearing insurgents camps one after the other.

    Pray, stay alert, stay alive

    Abu- Ali had an uncommon relationship with his officers and men, many of whom hardly speak well of the establishment. In the Operation Lafiya Dole (peace by force) which is responsible for the fight against Boko Haram, Abu-Ali was loved, almost to a fault.

    He not only fought side by side with his men, he was prepared to lay down his life for them. “Pray, stay alert, Stay alive” were his usual charge to his men. He would tell them that if anyone should die, it would be him.

    That was exactly what happened last Friday when it all ended for Abu –Ali.  Abu- Ali and the men of 272 Tank Battalion had done extremely well in curtailing what the army called “remnants of Boko Haram”.

    Mallam Fatori had been a Boko Haram stronghold, but Abu-Ali dislodged the terrorists but intermittently, “remnants” of the insurgents would attack the army’s position.

    On Friday, they came again, this time in large numbers. Sources said Abu-Ali recognised the precarious position he was in and quickly called for reinforcement.

    No one has been able to tell how Abu -Ali died. He reportedly died fighting. Four soldiers died with him. Four were injured. Fourteen terrorists died.

    A source said Abu-Ali would have been alive if he had not been devoted to his men. He would not leave them, he would not accept any special treatment or right to live.

    His duty was his life, when colleagues recall his exploits he would assume a furlong look, unable to process why he would be singled out for special recognition.

    Many were stunned when the picture of Abu-Ali’s body arrived from the war front in a body bag, flown in an Air Force helicopter. A parade of soldiers saluting the body as it was wheeled past. It was a touching spectacle.

    A nation mourns

    On the day Abu-Ali died, Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello was one of the first to commiserate with the military and his family. Ali’s death was a big loss to th state (he was and indegene) and  the Etsu of Bassa-Nge Kingdom.

    Bello said: “He was a gallant officer who served the nation with his all and paid the supreme price by laying down his life for the peace of the country. He will be remembered for his sacrifice and  commitment to the cause of the Nigerian Army to rid the country of insurgency which has been a source of concern to every one.

    “Kogi State and indeed Nigerians will never forget your gallantry as you led a team of the Nigerian Army to recapture Baga from the control of terrorists and you died while in active service, gallant soldier.”

    The tributes poured in from those who knew him and those who did not. It is impossible to measure in words the outpouring of grief and anger which enveloped the nation at Abu-Ali’s death.

    Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-General Rabe Abubakar, told The Nation: “Ali served his country very well to the extent of sacrificing his life for his dear country. He said it is better for him to die than  lose his subordinates. Very courageous, quiet but focused  and highly professional and intelligent. The Nigerian military in general and Nigerian Army in particular  will miss him.”

    Defence Minister Mansur Muhammad Dan-Ali described  the death of  Abu-Ali as “tragic and unfortunate”.

    In a press release made available to The Nation, he prayed God to grant the war hero eternal rest.

    “Defence Minster describes Lt.-Col. Abu-Ali  as a major pillar in the war against terrorism and insurgency in the Northeast. He also expresses his condolences to the father of the deceased,  Etsu of Bassa- Nge Kingdom (Kogi State), Brig.-Gen. Abu-Ali (retd), his young family and the Nigerian Army,” the statement read.

    The late Lt.-Col. Abu -Ali would be given a hero’s burial today, but it will be a celebration of his short life, of his dedication, commitment and love for fellow human. He left behind his father, Brig. Gen. Abu-Ali (rtd), the Etsu of Bassa-Nge, a young wife and three children.

  • Community elects ex-police officer as king

    Community elects ex-police officer as king

    After a long spell without a leader, the people of Isingwu community in Umuahia North, Abia State, now have one, in the form of a former police officer.

    Chief Daniel Iheanyichukwu Ukaegbu has been chosen as the Ngwu IV.

    His first love was the police, in which he rose to the rank of inspector before he retired. His people have prayed for his reign to be peaceful and long.

    The community had elected Eze Charles Ezebuiro as the first Ngwu I but he died soon after and was replaced by Eze A. N. Ihuoma (Ngwu II) who also died during the reign of the former governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, and was replaced by Eze Sam Uzor Ebule (Ngwu III), who died four years ago.

    After the mourning of the death of their last traditional ruler, the people decided to elect another Eze, in the person of Chief Daniel Iheanyichukwu Ukaegbu as the Ngwu IV.

    The new Eze who hails from the Umuokoro clan in the Isingwu community, was the immediate past Palace Secretary to the last traditional ruler. He became the consensus candidate of the entire community and was presented to the Isingwu Welfare Union (IWU), which in turn presented him to the people with overwhelming acceptance.

    Presenting the new Eze-elect to the people of Isingwu, the president-general of IWU, Elder Onyeoforo Igwe thanked God for his mercies and protection for them to witness the day of the emergence of their new king and prayed God to continue to protect and guide their people both at home and in Diaspora.

    All the people who spoke at the presentation ceremony from the president of the women wing of the IWU, Mrs Nneona Ihuoma praised the people for the peaceful way they chose the new traditional ruler which has set them out as peaceful community.

    The youth wing president of the IWU, Sunny Chimaroke urged the people not to leave the new king alone as no one is an island of knowledge, stressing that he needs all the advice that would help him to lead the community.

    In his acceptance speech the new Eze-elect, HRM Eze Ukaegbu promised not to disappoint the people of Isingwu who have placed their destiny and kingdom in his hands, stressing that he will always strive to keep to the tenets of their custom, culture and tradition.

    Eze Ukaegbu also pledged to take the Isingwu community to the level where it will be the envy of other communities around, “I want to assure you the people of Isingwu community that I will not bring shame and disgrace to my people, rather I will ensure that we are at the position we deserve to be and remain there for the good of all”.

    The highlight of the presentation ceremony was the handing over the new traditional ruler to God by His Lordship. Rt Rev F. O. Ekeleme, who is also the chaplain of the Eze-in-council with prayers and asking God to keep him a life and give him a long reign for the benefit of the people of the community.

  • Community elects ex-police officer as king

    Community elects ex-police officer as king

    After a long spell without a leader, the people of Isingwu community in Umuahia North, Abia State, now have one, in the form of a former police officer. Chief Daniel Iheanyichukwu Ukaegbu has been chosen as the Ngwu IV.

    His first love was the police, in which he rose to the rank of inspector before he retired. His people have prayed for his reign to be peaceful and long.

    The community had elected Eze Charles Ezebuiro as the first Ngwu I but he died soon after and was replaced by Eze A. N. Ihuoma (Ngwu II) who also died during the reign of the former governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, and was replaced by Eze Sam Uzor Ebule (Ngwu III), who died four years ago.

    After the mourning of the death of their last traditional ruler, the people decided to elect another Eze, in the person of Chief Daniel Iheanyichukwu Ukaegbu as the Ngwu IV.

    The new Eze who hails from the Umuokoro clan in the Isingwu community, was the immediate past Palace Secretary to the last traditional ruler. He became the consensus candidate of the entire community and was presented to the Isingwu Welfare Union (IWU), which in turn presented him to the people with overwhelming acceptance.

    Presenting the new Eze-elect to the people of Isingwu, the president-general of IWU, Elder Onyeoforo Igwe thanked God for his mercies and protection for them to witness the day of the emergence of their new king and prayed God to continue to protect and guide their people both at home and in Diaspora.

    All the people who spoke at the presentation ceremony from the president of the women wing of the IWU, Mrs Nneona Ihuoma praised the people for the peaceful way they chose the new traditional ruler which has set them out as peaceful community.

    The youth wing president of the IWU, Sunny Chimaroke urged the people not to leave the new king alone as no one is an island of knowledge, stressing that he needs all the advice that would help him to lead the community.

    In his acceptance speech the new Eze-elect, HRM Eze Ukaegbu promised not to disappoint the people of Isingwu who have placed their destiny and kingdom in his hands, stressing that he will always strive to keep to the tenets of their custom, culture and tradition.

    Eze Ukaegbu also pledged to take the Isingwu community to the level where it will be the envy of other communities around, “I want to assure you the people of Isingwu community that I will not bring shame and disgrace to my people, rather I will ensure that we are at the position we deserve to be and remain there for the good of all”.

    The highlight of the presentation ceremony was the handing over the new traditional ruler to God by His Lordship. Rt Rev F. O. Ekeleme, who is also the chaplain of the Eze-in-council with prayers and asking God to keep him a life and give him a long reign for the benefit of the people of the community.

  • RRS arrests ‘Legion officer’ for ‘stealing’ four motorcycles

    RRS arrests ‘Legion officer’ for ‘stealing’ four motorcycles

    Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) have arrested a legionnaire for posing as an official of the Lagos State Taskforce on Special Offences to rob motorcycle riders in Agege and its environs.

    The suspect, Umam Hrmid, 48, from Borno, a Second Lieutenant of the Lagos State Command of the Nigerian Legion, was arrested on Friday evening around 10:30pm by RRS operatives in Agege after dispossessing one Amin Al–Hassan of his motorcycle.

    The suspect, who was working with his accomplice, Tijani Bashir, now at large, had accosted his victim, Al–Hassan, at Total Filling Station, Agege and introduced himself as a policeman attached to the Lagos State Taskforce on Special Offences.

    He allegedly told his victim that he was impounding his motorcycle for plying restricted area and for operating at prohibited hour.

    The Nation learnt that Al–Hassan pleaded for negotiation but Hrmid insisted his victim must bring N20, 000, but the motorcyclist offered N5, 000 which the suspect rejected.

    “When he refused to accept the N5, 000, he mounted the bike and rode it towards Iyana-Ipaja. I begged him but he told me to get down from the bike because I sat behind him while his partner rode the bike they brought,” Al–Hassan told RRS.

    “He rode through Agbotikuyo; At  Mulero, I forced the bike to a stop by removing its key from the ignition, and I got down.  We were arguing when two passers-by joined us and they requested for his identity card when he told them that he was a policeman with the task force. Reluctantly, he flashed his ID card before them but one of them was so swift to snatch it from him. Then, he began to chase the guy, who quickly ran towards a RRS patrol team nearby who arrested him and collected the dagger he was holding,” he added.

    At the RRS’s Headquarters, three other victims from whom Hrmid had collected bikes weeks before he was caught came with particulars of their bikes, alleging that Hamid, along with an accomplice, whom they described, took their bikes.

    The victims, Shuaib Abdullahi, Umaru Hassan and Salisu Umaru, stated that the suspect collected their motorcycles in a spate of three weeks, and that one of his victims was shot at a close range in the cheek at Shoretire Street, Agege.

    Abdullahi told RRS that the suspect around 9pm on Wednesday last week, took his bike marked FKJ 259 QA, Boxer model, from him, under the pretext that he was taking him to the task force office.

    “He drove me to Ile–Zik before threatening me to get down or he would kill him at the deserted place. I requested for his number and he gave me a fake number. I called the number immediately he left but the number didn’t go. I learnt he was arrested yesterday, that was why I came to RRS to collect my Okada from him,” he was quoted by RRS.

    The suspect, however, failed to deny the allegations of the three other victims when they confronted him.

    Police spokesperson Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP) said Hrmid’s arrest might help to shed more light on reported cases of motorcycles theft in Agege and its environs.

    The suspect, she said, has been transferred to Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for further investigations.

  • Officer, gentleman and mentor

    •That is the heart-warming story of the late Major-Gen. Timothy Babatunde Ogundeko (rtd)

    He lived and served when the venality of power robbed the Nigerian military of its integrity. Yet he had intact, his own integrity — both as a human being, and as officer and gentleman.

    That is the sweet story of Major-Gen. Timothy Babatunde Ogundeko, who died on July 8, in his native Ijebu-Mushin, Ogun State, at 84. As commandant of the Nigerian Military School, Zaria, Kaduna State, Gen. Ogundeko (then, a Lt-Colonel) mentored and shaped most of the ‘boys’ that went on to shape Nigeria’s destiny, for good or for ill, under military rule.

    Yet, until Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, former Chief of Army Staff, wrote a moving tribute to his memory in a newspaper advertisement on August 3, he was relatively unknown outside military circles.  Brig-Gen. David Mark (rtd), former senate president, also wrote a no less moving tribute, on behalf of “The Boys, Nigerian Military School, Zaria (NMS), Class of 1966”, in another newspaper advertisement, on August 10.

    “I remember very vividly that in January 1966, during the Major Chukwuma Nzegwu-led coup, there was a strong rumour that they were going to attack NMS,” Senator Mark wrote. “In his usual characteristic fatherly role, he gathered all of us in a classroom and said: ‘anybody who wants to attack the school has to kill me first.’  He remained with us for two days.”

    Mark also spoke glowingly of Mrs. Ogundeko, the general’s wife: “Mrs Otudeko was a mother to all the boys (as the students of NMS are referred to).  She cried when we cried and she laughed when we laughed.” This testimony humanises the rough and gruff side of soldiers.

    But it was the Danjuma tribute that put Gen. Ogundeko in professional perspective, in the context of the Nigerian Army Education Corps: his profound mentoring of his students at NMS; his expertise in birthing the Army Command Schools, numbering no less than 50 nationwide today; and his meritorious imprimatur, as founding Director-General of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, near Jos, Plateau State.

    He would appear the quintessential soldier as intellectual.

    Even risking the hyperbole in sweeping praise, Danjuma crowed: “Major-Gen. Ogundeko was easily the best direct commissioned officer that ever served in the Nigerian Army. We the professional soldiers who served with Timothy remember him as a mature and seasoned teacher who transformed the attitude of the officer corps towards continuous learning and the acquisition of knowledge.”

    On Ogundeko’s NIPSS assignment, Danjuma was no less ecstatic: “As expectedly, he fulfilled his mandate by quickly developing an excellent curriculum from a clean slate, which enabled NIPSS to become the foremost institution for policy research and reflection for a better Nigeria.”

    But what is the moral in all these? Simple. The era when Gen. Ogundeko served was about the military’s most treacherous: three coups and two of them extremely bloody. It was a period when noxious power destroyed the military, politics tragically weaned it from its core duty, and trust was as scarce as the so-called “essential commodities” in President Shehu Shagari’s Second Republic (1979-1983).

    Yet, it was from this nasty period that Gen. Ogundeko established lasting loyalty and friendship, based on honesty, focus, compassion, professionalism, integrity and fairness.

    That  both his “boys” (that he mentored) and colleagues (that he positively touched) remember and celebrate his laudable traits, even after his death, can only mean one thing: even in an ‘Army of anything goes’ (to roughly paraphrase a former chief of army staff), honour and integrity were still highly prized.

    So, as the general embarks on his final journey to his maker, Nigerians must take this away: Ogundeko is not toasted because he retired as a major-general.  Rather, his star still shines because his life radiated traits every Nigerian must ingrain, if Nigeria must be great: focus, honour, integrity, compassion and fairness.

    Despite the general rot in the army of his day, the late Ogundeko made his personal mark in honour. Nigerians still alive owe themselves no less legacy.