The Nation Newspaper

Tag: police officer

  • Six arraigned for beating traffic officials

    Six arraigned for beating traffic officials

    The Police on Monday arraigned six persons before a magistrate court sitting in Enugu North for allegedly beating up two officials of the State’s Ministry of Transport.

    The suspects, Ndubuisi Izukamma, Onyebuchi Aniamalu, Peter Chibuzo, Eke Chukwuebuka, Chukwujekwu Aniozo and Uka Chibuike were docked on a 4-count charge in a  suit No MEN/360TC.

    According to the prosecuting police officer, C. O Ugwu, the accused persons had on 15th July, 2015, alongside Chime Avenue, New Haven, Enugu, conspired among themselves to attack two enforcement officials of the State’s Ministry of Transport, Eze Michael and Eze Sunday, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 495 (a) of the Criminal Code Cap 30 Vol. 11 Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria.

    They were equally accused of assaulting the officials by giving them blows and throwing stones on them while they were on uniform performing their official duties and thereby committed offence under 259(a) of the Criminal Code Cap 30, Vol 11 Law of Enugu State of Nigeria.

    In the third count, they were accused of damaging one official motorcycle, valued at N500,000‎, property of the State Ministry of Transport.

    They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The defence counsel, Chijioke Eze  urged the court presided over by  Linda Okaibe to grant them bail in liberal terms.

    He told the court that “the offence for which they are being tried are bailable; I assure the court that they will provide a reasonable surety; they will always be available for their trial.”

    Ruling on the application, the magistrate admitted them to bail at the cost of N50,000, with one surety each.

    The case was adjourned to 10th and 15th August for hearing.

  • Tension in Bayelsa as squad kills senior police officer  

    Tension in Bayelsa as squad kills senior police officer  

    There was tension in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, Wednesday, following the brutal murder of a senior police officer identified as Mathew Akpos by gunmen described as “special police squad”.

    Akpos said to be an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) was reportedly gunned down by gunmen close to the OMPADEC school field in Amarata suburb of the state capital.

    The victim, who was said to have once worked at Ologbobiri, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state, was killed at about 5pm on Monday by his assailants.

    But a source who spoke in confidence from the police said Akpos until his death was working at the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) in the state command in Yenagoa.

    He said the command was expecting the arrival of his remains but failed to disclose where the gunmen dumped the corpse.

    It was also gathered that stray bullets from the gunshots fired at the scene of the incident hit an elderly woman, who is a trader in the area, on the leg and stomach.

    The woman was reportedly rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) where doctors were said to be battling to save her life.

    Residents in the area identified the gunmen as a “special police squad” from unknown division.

    “The gunmen dressed like a special police squad. They wore the outfits of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and police bulletproof vests”, a resident who spoke in confidence said.

    He said the gunmen drove into the community on a black Hilux vehicle and accosted their target.

    “There were gunshots all over the place. I was at a supermarket directly opposite the scene of the incident. The way they drive into the community was suspicious and sent panic waves all over the place.

    “But the gunshots caused commotion in the area as people even youths who were playing football abandoned the game and scampered for safety,” he said.

    Another source from the community said the gunmen trailed the victim to the area and wanted to force him into their vehicle.

    He said while Akpos was being dragged into the car, he resisted his assailants and in the process pulled out his pistol from its casing.

    He said the deceased police officer shot at the gunmen left him temporarily and staggered to safety.

    “One of the gunmen who was standing close to the Hilux van immediately pulled out his gun and shot the victim who fell to the ground.

    “They later packed his body into their vehicle and zoomed off. Bullets also hit an elderly woman in her 60s. She was taken to the hospital where doctors operated on her.

    “We are still living in shock because we don’t know the motive behind the operation that led to the killing of a police officer by persons who looked like his colleagues”, he said.

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Butswat Asinim, said information at the disposal of the police was still sketchy.

    He, however, said investigations were ongoing to solve the mysteries surrounding the incident especially following claims that the gunmen went away with the victim’s body.

  • Gunmen kill Police officer in Ebonyi

    Gunmen kill Police officer in Ebonyi

    Unidentified gunmen Friday shot and killed a policeman and wounded a Civil Defense personnel and other citizens of Ebonyi state who were going about their normal businesses in the early hours of the fateful day.

    The Nation learnt that the gunmen who were returning from a robbery operation along Abakaliki-Enugu expressway started shooting sporadically and as a result killed a policeman and wounded several others.

    Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, Ebonyi state Command, Jibril Shyabu who explained that his wounded staff, a driver was already at the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, (FETHA) receiving treatment described the incident as unfortunate and ugly.

    According to him, the incident has brought about the need for effective synergy among security agencies in the state and assured the members of the public of adequate protection by the security agencies in the state.

    He said his staff sustained both hand and leg injuries resulting from gunshot wounds as he is about to be taken into the theatre for emergency operation to remove the bullets inside his body.

    A source who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said that the hoodlums operated on motorcycles and killed the officer at the Mobil Filling Station of the express road.

    The situation affected vehicular movements across the capital city as heavily armed police officers cordoned the roads especially the Abakaliki end of the federal highway.

    They thoroughly searched vehicles and motorcycles which they impounded and stuffed them into big operational vans.

    The State Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Peace Ibekwe-Abdallah, confirmed the incident noting that the investigation into the matter has commenced.

    She said: “The command is preparing a release on the matter and would make it available to the press soon.”

  • Man in court for impersonating as police officer

    A 40-year-old man, Taiwo Akinbode, who allegedly impersonated as a police sergeant, was on Wednesday docked before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    The accused of no fixed address is facing a two-count charge of impersonation and unlawful possession of police items.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Feddy Asu, told the court that the accused committed the offences on March 4, at Mile 2, Badagry Expressway.

    Asu also alleged that the accused impersonated a police officer by wearing the Nigerian Police uniform with the rank of a sergeant with a name tag of Taiwo Akinbode.

    “Another complete set of uniform for anti- riot police officer, one police identify card and one certificate of voluntary retirement from the Nigerian Police Force was also found on him,’’ he said.

    Asu said the offences contravened Sections 77, 79 and 328 (d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
    The accused denied committing the offences, while the Magistrate, Mrs A. O. Sholadoye, granted him bail in the sum of N250, 000, with two sureties in like sum.

    Sholadoye ordered that one of the sureties must be a civil servant, and the other a serving police officer.

    She adjourned the case till April 1 for mention.

     

  • Retired police officer’s son needs N6m for kidney transplant

    Retired police officer’s son needs N6m for kidney transplant

    Ishola Taofeeq, 18, is writhing in pains from a kidney disease. He was first diagnosed of it in August 2014. He is  on twice weekly haemodialysis at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH). To stay alive, doctors said he would need N6 million for kidney transplant.

    In his medical report from UITH  signed by Dr Ibiyemi M. Ibiyemi, the hospital said: “The above-named patient is being managed for kidney disease. He was diagnosed in August 2014 and will require an urgent kidney transplantation which will cost him about N6 million only.’’

    The son of a retired police officer is, therefore, appealing to public-spirited individuals and philanthropic organisations to come to his rescue.

    He said donations could be channelled through these account numbers: 3060318294

    Name: Ishola Alade, Firstbank, 0020742966; or Abdulkareem A Imama:Access Bank.

    The parent can be reached via this number: 08132150428.

    The report added: “He is on twice weekly haemodialysis. He has requested that a letter be written for him to source for fund for his care. We recommend him for your kind financial assistance.”

    Also, in a Save our Soul (SOS) letter to the state government, Taofeeq’s father and mother, Yunus Ishola and Ajarat urged Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to save the life of their son.

    The letter reads: “We write to request for your financial assistance towards saving the life of our son. He has been diagnosed of kidney disease and requires urgent kidney transplantation. We cannot raise the said amount and we desire to save the life of our son.

    “We have sourced for fund from various means ranging from the sale of our property to begging for alms in the mosques, markets and other public places not minding the psychological trauma involved to no avail.

    “We are now compelled to approach your office as the last hope. As a God-fearing leader and defender of humanity, we appeal to you to come to our aid financially to enable us carry out the operation so that the life of our son shall not be wasted.

    “We hope you will consider our request with dispatch as you have done to others in the past.”

    Taofeeq, who resides with his parents in Kankatu area of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital is also urging members of the public to bail him out of health challenge by donating generously to effect his kidney transplantation.

    He added that so far, he had done more than 11 haemodialyses without getting over the predicament.

    He added: “I am using this medium to appeal to the general public to help out of this ailment by assisting me financially for the operation to be carried out.’’

  • Gunmen kill police officer in Ebonyi

    Corporal Aliah Yusuf of the Ebonyi Police Command was on Monday shot dead by unidentified gunmen on his way home.

    An eyewitness, Simon Ogbu, said the gunmen trailed Yusuf to his house, snatched his gun, shot him and told him to report the matter.

    Residents, he said, fled the area for fear of being arrested. It was learnt that mobile policemen have flooded the area.

    “When I heard the gunshot, I thought it was behind me. What I heard next was ‘let us see how you will go and report us’. The killers wore police uniform; they collected his gun and sped off on their motorcycle”, Ogbu said.

    Deputy police spokesman Ejike Emmanuel confirmed Yusuf’s death. He said the investigation department was handling the matter.

    “It was an ugly incident; the Commissioner of Police was sober on hearing the news. For now, no arrest has been made but I think the investigation department is trying to get the hoodlum.

    “When he was killed, his gun was taken. He was supposed to go to his beat in Izzi. Officially, we have a modus opradi of conveying our officers to their various beats but he probably went to get personal things when he was trailed to an isolated area and killed.

    “When the incident was reported, a team of mobile policemen and a divisional patrol team went to the area; they saw his body lying down and rushed him to the hospital where he was confirmed dead. The gunmen were wearing a mask,” Emmanuel said.

  • ‘Police officer’, others held for robbery

    A fake 34-year-old riot police officer, Julius George a.k.a Mopol, has been arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos State Police Command.

    He allegedly recruited idle men and women into his gang and led them in armed robbery operations in and outside Lagos State. His accomplices arrested with him are: Samuel Ogah, 33; Lucky Olise, 44, and Lucky Friday, 32.

    Police source revealed that on June 22, at about 10 pm, the officer in charge of SARS, Superintendent of Police (SP) Abba Kyari, got a tip-off that a group of dangerous armed robbers led by George, who just returned from prison, were planning to carry out a robbery operation between 10am to 11am on June 23 at Sango and Alakuko area of Lagos suburb. They planned to rob a factory of between N8 million and N10 million from its safe, The Nation learnt.

    Following the information, Kyari, it was said, drafted an intelligence team to monitor the activities of the gang.

    The following morning at their meeting point very close to the popular Ile Zik, bus stop along the Ikeja-Mangoro-Abeokuta Expressway, the suspects were rounded off while the remaining member of the gang was picked up at Abule Egba, where he was waiting for his cohorts to embark on the planned operation. The police seized their operational vehicle in the process.

    In his confession, George said: “I am their leader. I gave them the police uniform they are wearing. I bought the uniform from hawkers in Lagos. I went to prison remand three times and I found my way out through charge-and-bail touts hanging around courts. I have participated in over five armed robbery operations and remanded severally.

    “My first prison experience was in Ikoyi prison when the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, charged me to court for armed robbery in 2012, leading to my dismissal. I contacted charge-and-bail people and regained my freedom. The second was in 2013 when I was arrested along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway with four others; yet, I found my way out of prison.

    The third was the same route, where we hijacked a trailer load of iron rods valued N18 million.”

    The “police officer” added: “The fourth operation was at Alakuko and Sango, but I was later arrested at Ile Zik when we wanted to go and rob a factory of N8 million.”

    Ogah a.k.a Don Simon, who hails from Otupo in Benue State and resides at 13, Baale Street, Ikorodu on the outskirts of Lagos, said his role was to provide the gang with money whenever they wanted to go on a robbery.

    He said after surviving a robbery case in 2011, he was introduced to car snatching for which he was sentenced to jail, adding that he returned in 2014 and began searching for job.

    Olise, a native of Amai Village in Okwuani Local Government Area of Delta State, said: “I am a robber by accident. I was into commercial driving until I met George at Sango. He later gave my phone number to Ogah to call and give me job. I did not know that the job was to drive armed robbers. They gave me N6, 000 after the operation.”

    Friday, who claimed that he worked at a shipping company at Wharf, Apapa, said: “My predicament started when I lost my job and met George to help me. I did not know that the assistance he wanted to render was to recruit me into his armed robbery gang.”

  • Driver arraigned for allegedly abducting a police officer

    The police on Wednesday arraigned a 25-year-old driver, Dauda Salisu, in a Gwagwalada Upper Area Court in the FCT for allegedly abducting a police officer.

    The police prosecutor, Cpl. Iliya Maji, alleged that Salisu, of Sabon Toto in Nasarawa State, committed the offence on April 7.

    He said the matter was reported at the Area Command Police Station in Gwagwalada by one Akor Monday.

    Maji said the accused abducted the complainant in a green Golf car with Reg. No. AE 697 NSW and drove off to an unknown destination.

    “The incident happened when the accused contravened traffic rules on the Abaji-Toto road and he was arrested by the officer,’’ he said.

    The prosecutor said Salisu intentionally refused to follow the officer into the police station and sped off to an unknown destination.

    He said the accused was later pursued and apprehended, and that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 273 of the Penal Code.

    Section 273 stipulates that whoever kidnaps or abduct any person will be punished with imprisonment for a term which extends to 10 years and will also be liable to fine.

     

    Salisu, however, pleaded not guilty to the offence, and his counsel, Mr Ibrahim Husseini, urged the court to grant him bail.

    Husseini said the matter before the court was “a mere allegation and the accused remains innocent until the contrary was proven’’.

    He said the accused would not jump bail or tamper with police investigation, adding that he was prepared to produce a reasonable surety.

    “Salisu has no previous criminal record and I urge the court to grant him bail in liberal terms,’’ the counsel said.

    The presiding judge, Alhaji Babangida Hassan, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 and a surety in like sum.

    Hassan said the surety must be resident within the FCT and must be a civil servant or own a landed property.

    He said the surety’s passport should be attached to the bail bond and that the prosecutor should verify the address of the surety.

    Hassan added that if the accused failed to keep to the terms of the court, he should be remanded in prison.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Hassan later adjourned the case to May 27 for further hearing.

  • Fashola arrests police officer riding Okada

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday arrested a police officer who rode a 100CC engine motorcycle popularly called Okada on the Agege Motor Road, Ikeja.

    The officer, Mr. Ebahan Johnson was accosted on the ever busy express road by the Governor during an inspection of projects in the Lagos-West senatorial district.

    Johnson, who had earlier resisted arrest, surrendered on realising it was the Governor. Fashola had warned that Okada should not ply the express road with a motorcycle with such capacity and without helmet.

    Fashola said: “There is no one that is above the law. If anyone cannot submit itself to the law of the state, then that person should please leave.”

    He warned that the state government will not condone any act by anyone violating the state’s road traffic law which was signed to bring sanity into road transportation.

    “There is no society where laws are not broken but the state government will increase its enforcement in order for residents to comply with the law. And as we move on the road and we see any one violating the law, we will stop and arrest them”, Fashola said.

    On the officer, the governor stated that the officer would be handed to the Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko for proper prosecution.

    “I am sure he would be prosecuted,” he said.