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Tag: Police chief

  • Rescue our candidate, Obaseki tells police chief

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has ordered the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosun, to rescue Mr. Michael Ohio- Ezomon, who was kidnapped yesterday.

    Ohio-Ezomo is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Owan West Constituency for the House of Assembly.

    A statement by Obaseki’s media aide, Crusoe Osagie, said a rescue operation was initiated immediately security agencies were notified.

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    He said: “Governor Godwin Obaseki is on top of the incident, and urges the people to remain calm. He has ordered the police to rescue the victim. The commissioner of Police has arrived Owan West. He is leading the investigation.

    “The governor is calling for calm, and has assured the people that the perpetrators will be prosecuted.”

     

  • Police chief to Dickson: I’m here to fight crimes

    The Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan, has assured the state Governor, Seriake Dickson, that he only came to the state to fight crimes.

    Police spokesperson Butswat Asinim in a statement said the police boss gave the assurance when he visited the governor in Yenagoa.

    Following frequent change of police commissioners in the state, Dickson and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) raised suspicions on the posting of Mukan linking it to 2019 elections.

    But the commissioner, who visited Dickson amidst the controversies, restated that the only motive that brought him to the state was to fight crimes.

    The commissioner told the governor that the police remained apolitical and that his command was more than ready to tackle the security challenges in the state.

    Mukan said the police would always collaborate with the governor.

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    He said: “The police is apolitical and our duty is to provide level-playing ground for any political party, that will be part of the electioneering campaigns. I will like to assure your Excellency, our position is very clear, you are the Chief Security Officer of Bayelsa State, I enforce the law, so definitely our partnership will always be with the Chief Security Officer, any other insinuations will not be part of our policing Bayelsa State”.

    Dickson told Mukanto do the right things.

    Dickson said he would discharge his duties of supporting the police as long as Mukan upheld the integrity of the service.

    He said: “My duty under the constitution is to give you support, but I will also insist that you do what is right. So, I expect you to uphold, protect and defend the integrity and honour of the service, that you are here to lead, and in doing so, you will have my full support”.

     

  • Akwa Ibom protest transfer of police chief

    AKWA Ibom State government, yesterday, decried the removal of the Commissioner of Police, Mr John Abang.

    Commissioner for Information Charles Udoh said some members of the opposition party posted the transfer on the social media.

    In a statement in Uyo, the state capital, he said the Police commissioner was withdrawn from Akwa Ibom for doing his job.

    Udoh said: ‘’Apart from the fact that the outgoing commissioner of Police barely spent a month in the state, the circumstances surrounding his removal is a mockery to the nation and a contrast to the insecurity battle of the Federal Government.

    ‘’Why should an officer who successfully resisted the invasion of hoodlums, and professionally protected an institution of  government be rewarded with unceremonial removal from office? Ordinarily, such feat in other climes would have attracted promotion and commendation.

    ‘’This is a sharp pointer to the sad narrative that the force is tilting its political pendulum to favour a particular political divide.

    ‘’The danger this portends to our democracy is better imagined than seen. We are shocked to see this action from the Police that should unbiasedly serve the interest of all.

    ‘’Sadly, the precedent the force has set now encourages anyone to take laws into his hand, ostensibly because the power from ”above” is strong enough to shield the culpritS.

    ‘’We are aware of the APC’s plans to simulate insecurity in Akwa Ibom State…

    The commissioner  said  the inspector general of Police and other security agencies should not be drawn into gimmicks and pranks by APC to instigate crises in the state to disrupt the elections.

    Udoh added: ‘’We demand a fullscale investigation on what transpired in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly on Monday, November, 19, 2019. This is the only way to discourage further impunity by few individuals and squeeze the fragile peace caused by the rampaging opposition elements in the state.’’

    The state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to create insecurity so the governorship election will be postponed.

    Publicity Secretary Ini Emembong said the postponement would allow the concentration of security forces leading to intimidation of PDP supporters in the state.

  • Police chief parades 13 armed robbery suspects

    The police yesterday paraded 13 persons for alleged robberies in some parts of Lagos.

    Among the suspects was a father of four, Abiodun Oluwa, 34, who allegedly attacked his victims at Atiporomeh in Badagry.

    According to Commissioner of Police (CP) Imohimi Edgal, Oluwa was arrested on August 10, in the roof of his mother’s house, where he took refuge after allegedly robbing a woman.

    Edgal said one locally made pistol with one cartridge was found on him.

    The suspect he had so far stolen four phones.

    He said: “I bought the gun for N20,000. But it is not working. I discovered it was not working. So, I kept it in my house.

    “I robbed a woman but I never knew that she knew me. She went to my mother and reported. Police then came and searched the house, they found the gun and then I was arrested.”

    Edgal said four others – Ezeja Oluchukwu, 29, Tochukwu Samson, 21, Ifeanyi Oshomi, 30, and Tochukwu Matthias, 27 – were arrested for vandalising some parked vehicles at Abesan Estate.

    He said a Toyota Camry EKY361FC, 20 pieces of auto glass winding engine, three pieces of vehicle brain boxes, a car trampoline, two pieces of side mirrors, one black knife and a school bag were recovered from them.

    “Four armed robbers were arrested on August 26, around Olayinka/Cele axis, Itire. They are Toheeb Ogunjimi, 24, Matthew Olumosu, 19, Qudus Akala, 18 and Akintoye Faruq, 18.

    “They were found with one black toy gun, seven phones, a locally made double barrel pistol and one live cartridge.

    “On June 20, at about 6am while Kingsley Ochoma was attending to customers, four armed men forced their way into his warehouse, at Graceland Estate, Isheri-Oshun and held them hostage. In the process, they carted away cartons of phones and accessories worth over N9,000,000.

    “Based on complaint received about the incident, I directed the Officer-In-Charge of Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) to commence investigation. The detectives visited the warehouse and recovered some items left behind by the robbers.

    “These items or specimen were critically examined and the observations made were used to unravel the authors of the crime. The chain of events leading to the arrest of the suspects, started on August 14, when Kareem Badmus and his mother Bola Badmus were arrested using two of the stolen phones.

    “During interrogation, they confessed that the phones were given to them by a relation Yusuf Badmus and they led detectives to apprehend him. Search was immediately conducted in the house of Yusuf Badmus and seven of the robbed phones were recovered. Also recovered were two locally made cut to size double barrel guns with three live cartridges, which he hid inside his operational vehicle, a Nissan Quest (BDG339CA).

    “The said Yusuf Badmus later led detectives to arrest his gang members Chimere Njenobi, 26, Dominic Anawo, 36, and Abimbola Austine, 30. Investigation into the case is ongoing and suspects will definitely be charged to court,” he said.

  • Police chief: we maintained peace at Benue Assembly

    Benue State Commissioner of Police Besan Dapiya has debunked a statement credited to him that the presence of security agents in the Assembly complex was in compliance with orders from above.

    Governor Samuel Ortom’s Special Adviser on Security, Col. Paul Hemba, who addressed reporters on the security situation, quoted Dapiya as saying the directive to shut the House of Assembly complex was from “above”.

    Dapiya denied saying such. He described the report as a “figment of Hemba’s imagination”.

    He said: “The duty of the police is to maintain law and order, as well as prevent breach of public peace. But already, there was breach of peace at the Assembly complex and there is need to protect life and property.

    “The House of Assembly is currently under the protection of police and other security agencies because the threat to peace is yet to abate.”

    He warned politicians against dragging the police into politicking.

  • Police chief warns SFU officers against corruption

    A Commissioner of Police, Nkem Okoro, at the weekend warned officers at the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) in Ikoyi, Lagos, to shun corruption or be sacked.

    Okoro spoke while decorating 27 officers who were recently promoted by the Police Service Commission (PSC).

    The police chief, who was earlier decorated with his new rank by the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris, said he would not tolerate lukewarm attitude and laziness.

    Until his promotion, he was the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) at the SFU in Ikoyi, a unit headed by Ibrahim Lamorde.

    With his new rank, Okoro was appointed as the police commissioner in charge of Anti-Fraud at Alagbon.

    He reminded the decorated officers that SFU was known for its transparency and professionalism, adding: “No senior officer wants to work with a lukewarm personnel. You all must make good names for yourselves in the force.

    “You have to be known as fearless, incorruptible officers. Be strict, decent and professional. Do not disappoint your families or bring the force to disrepute. Be counted among the good eggs.”

     

  • Police chief orders investigation into Makoko killings

    Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP) Imohimi Edgal yesterday ordered investigation into the alleged killing of three men during last week’s raid by the Task Force on Land Grabbers in Makoko, Yaba, Lagos Mainland.

    Imohimi said an unknown land grabber attacked the policemen and the task force officials who were forced to defend themselves.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that three people were killed in the fracas following arguments among the residents, Ministry of Justice officials and the task force operatives.

    Imohimi said he ordered investigation based on new evidence from a petition written by a lawyer from the church where the fracas started.

    “As a first step, the head of the policemen who ordered the police to the assignment and who incidentally is the head of the anti-kidnapping unit has been relieved of his appointment to give way for impartial investigation.

    “All the policemen in the unit that went on the assignment have been brought to the state headquarters for proper investigation.

    “Also, a letter of investigation has been sent to the head of land grabbers unit at the Ministry of Justice and he has given his statement as to the assignment and what transpired.

    “We are also in the process of obtaining statement from the leadership of the church and other witnesses.” he said.

    Imohimi assured the public that the investigation would be thorough, adding that anyone found guilty of abuse of power would be penalised.

  • Police chief parades suspected ritualist with human heads

    Kwara State Police Command has paraded a suspected ritualist arrested with three human skulls in Ilorin.

    Police Commissioner Mr. Lawan Ado said the suspect, Suleiman Adenifuja, was caught with three human skulls in Eiyekorin, Ilorin, on March 26.

    He said when the suspect was interrogated; he claimed that he brought the skulls from Lagos to Ilorin for rituals.

    Ado said Wahab Ramoni was arrested with a stolen Toyota Camry car, registered as AKD 287 EE.

    “The vehicle will be released to the owner after investigation, while the suspects will be arraigned.”

    He warned residents against illegal use of siren, covering of number plates and use of spy numbers by banks and other organisations.

    Ado advised those using such to apply and get the approval of the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

    He said the application should be routed through the Force Transport Officer, Abuja, adding that offenders would be arrested and prosecuted.

    “We wish to inform the public of the extension of the date of withdrawal of police personnel attached to VIPs, government officials and political office holders to April 20.

    “This is to enable the affected officials re-apply for revalidation of the authority for IGP’s approval,” he said.

    He urged people who had not surrendered illegal and prohibited firearms to do so, saying anybody arrested would be prosecuted.

     

  • Why police alone can’t fight crime, by Police chief

    The Commissioner of Police in Kaduna State, Austin Iwar, has said for the police to effectively and efficiently protect life and property of citizens, it must work with stakeholders.

    According to him, the police cannot tackle crime alone because they cannot be everywhere.

    He noted that communities exist everywhere and it is helpful to engage them to detect, prevent and reduce crime.

    Iwar spoke yesterday at a Community Policing Training for area commanders and divisional police officers in Kaduna.

    According to him, it has been shown that strong, self-sufficient communities working with, and trusting the police, do not suffer a high level of crime and public disorder.

    He said: “In communities where this form of policing now exists, people routinely talk about their concerns with policemen who they have come to know.

    “Police continue in its traditional efforts to eliminate or reduce crime, but now also work with community members to solve other kinds of neighbourhood-level quality-of-life issues and concerns.

    “Community policing moves away from the incident-driven style of policing, by investing in a problem-oriented approach. Gone are the days where the police assume it is not part of the community they police and turn a blind eye to its social problems.

    “The problem-solving component is centred on identifying problems, understanding their cause and origin, and applying best solution in agreement with stakeholders.

    “The joint identification and analysis of the actual and potential causes of crime and disorder with communities underpins this approach. This analysis guides the development of measures to address such problems over the short, medium and long-term.”

    Iwar added that the Kaduna State Police Command is using the training to reinvigorate the Police Community Partnership Approach to policing, in compliance with the policy direction of the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

    “The essence of this workshop is to refresh officers’ competency in basic policing skills, predicated on practical Police Community Partnership Approach to Policing ideals, for improved service delivery in line with the Community Safety and Crime Prevention Strategy of the Command.

    “With the workshop content and array of facilitators, I am sure participants, at the end of the workshop, will return to their duty posts more energised and competent to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently,” he added.

  • We’re battle-ready for criminals, says police chief

    Disturbed by increasing rate of insecurity, the Ondo State Police Commissioner, Olugbenga Adeyanju has warned criminal-minded individuals to relocate from the state.

    He particularly urged youths in Igbotako, Okitipupa Local Government Area to desist from their criminal acts or face prosecution.

    Adeyanju gave these warnings at a one-day security summit held at Igbotako, Okitipupa Local Government Area; where he solicited the support of residents in tackling security issues in the communities.

    The summit was convened by the Igbotako Community Development Council (ICDC) to proffer solutions to the increasing security threats in the community.

    Recall that there had been series of kidnapping, robbery and cultism in the town in the last few years which has generated anxiety in the minds of residents.

    The CP, who described the series of criminal activities being perpetrated by youths in the area as disturbing, added that the command was battle-ready to fortify the community in particular and the state in general.

    Adeyanju, however, urged youths in the community with criminal tendencies to have a rethink as the command has mapped out strategies to deal with anyone caught in criminal activities.

    He said: “I was so touched and moved when some people of the community led by Chief Paddy Arikawe and four others came to my office about two weeks ago and reeled off the criminal activities in Igbotako and I told them I will be at the summit to address the community.

    “I want to warn our youths in Igbotako and other neighbouring towns that our command is battle-ready to deal with anyone found to be involved in all these criminal acts.

    “The Kabiyesi has given me names of some groups in the community such as Ojota Boys, Idi Aba Boys, Lions Junction and other tips that I will not mention. I want to assure everyone that you will begin to see results of our intervention in Igbotako any moment from now.”

    The Convener of the Summit and leader of the community, Chief Arikawe, who commended the CP for attending the event, said all cases of kidnapping, robbery and cultism in the community were disturbing.

    Arikawe advised parents to caution their children, saying police are coming to the town for a serious business.

    He said: “We can’t hide our problems in this community any longer because we have miscreants and irresponsible elements among our youths. We want the command to save us. The community will join hands with the CP to get rid of criminals in our town.”

    A youth leader, Omotoye Olusola, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, noted that the summit was a huge success, stressing that the youth would co-operate with the police for peace to reign in the community.

    While decrying the rate of unemployment in the area, he urged leaders in the community to devise a means of empowering the youth to enable them to be gainfully employed.

    Prominent sons and daughters of the town who attended the summit were Maj-Gen. Olu Bajowa (rtd), Chief S.O Akinnurun, Dr Falolu Adeyekun, Mr Ola Iwaeni, Mr Tunde Olamoju and Dr Segun Ayodele, among others.

    The traditional rulers at the summit were the Rebuja of Osooro, Oba Gbadebo Bajowa; Oniju of Iju-Odo, Oba Festus Olumoyegun and other traditional rulers in neighbouring towns and villages.

    The Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in Charge of Operations, Ajani Musbau, the Police Spokesman, Femi Joseph and the Divisional Police Office (DPO) Igbotako, Abayomi Fidelis were also in attendance.