The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Police Public Relations officer (PPRO)

  • Police arrests 13 suspects over death of Policeman, three others

    Police arrests 13 suspects over death of Policeman, three others

    The Anambra State Police Command has arrested 13 persons, following the disturbances by over 100 hoodlums in Onitsha that claimed the lives of a policeman, a pregnant woman and her two children on Thursday.

    The command Friday warned that police will not take it lightly with any person or group that tries to take laws into their hands in the state.

    Also, the command said it recovered Ak-47 riffle of the deceased policeman from the house of one of the suspects.

    In a statement released Friday in Awka by the command after the incident on Thursday and made available to reporters, which was signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Princess Nkeiruka Nwode, said “enough is enough”.

    It was gathered that what sparked off the rampage of the youths was when a tipper lost control when it was being flagged down by the police men on check point, where it lost control and killed a pregnant woman and her two children.

    Angered the action of the policemen, the youths numbering over 100 besieged the check point and pursued the policemen who ran away immediately after the incident and killed two of them.

    Also in the process, some property at Amazu motor company were destroyed by the irate youth, but the intervention of the state police commissioner, Mr. Garba Baba Umar through the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Okpoko restored normalcy.

    According to Nwode, the bodies of the four persons who lost their lives during the fracas had been deposited at the mortuary for post mortem examination.

    She equally said that the commissioner of police Umar, had ordered for full scale investigation to ascertain the actual cause of the incident with a view to fishing out the perpetrators of such dastardly act.

    The incident, according to Nwode happened between 12 and 1 pm on Thursday, along Onitsha – Owerri expressway, adding that preliminary investigation revealed that it was caused by a lorry.

    Nwode, said the registration number of the lorry was Anambra 859 GDD, which lost control at the police check point and knocked down a yet to be identified woman and three other children.

    The release said, “Anambra state police command received a distress call that misguided elements numbering over 100 went on rampage and attacked a police check point at Km 4/6 along Onitsha-Owerri road manned by visiting police mobile unit attached to 3 PMF Enugu”

    “And in the process killing on the spot one SGT. Uchenna Ezike while on duty, took away his Ak-47 riffle, set ablaze four vehicles and destroyed Bontus group”

    “Meanwhile, following the distress call, police patrol teams led by DPO Okpoko rushed to the scene, restored normalcy in the area and arrested 13 suspects including one Paul Igwe whose custody the deceased police riffle was recovered,” the command said.

     

  • Mob set suspected robber ablaze in Onitsha

    Mob set suspected robber ablaze in Onitsha

    A suspected robber was on Wednesday set ablaze by irate youths in Nkpor, near Onitsha, following alleged robbery attack on a businessman along Owerri-Awka road in the area.

    An eyewitness told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the victim had just finished withdrawing money from a nearby bank at about 3pm, when he was attacked by the suspect and two others operating on motorcycle.

    According to the source, the suspected robbers dispossessed the victim of an undisclosed amount of money, after trailing him from a distance.

    “The victim quickly raised alarm which attracted passersby, who gave them a hot chase and apprehended one suspect, while his accomplices escaped.

    “The suspect was immediately set ablaze by the angry youths before the arrival of the local security operatives in the area,” the source said.

    Efforts to get the reaction of the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mrs Nkeiru Nwode were not successful.

    When contacted, the Coordinator, Nkpor Central Vigilante Services, Mr Raphael Anonye, who confirmed the incident, told NAN that efforts are on to arrest the escapees.

    He however cautioned residents not to take laws into their hands, adding that they should allow security agencies carry out their responsibility.

     

  • Kogi: Police arrests nine suspected kidnappers

    Kogi: Police arrests nine suspected kidnappers

    The Kogi State Police Command said on Monday that it had arrested nine suspected kidnappers and rescued a victim, Pastor Oliver Clement.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP William Aya who disclosed this in a statement in Lokoja said that the suspects were rounded up in their various hideouts in Okene, Ankpa, Lokoja and other parts of the state.

    He said that the cleric was kidnaped on July 9 and rescued from his abductors on July 13, at their Inye hideouts in Ankpa Local Government, adding that he has since been reunited with his family.

    According to him, one of the suspects, Uche Michael was arrested with bullet wounds at the General Hospital, Okpo, in Olamaboro Local Government Area of the state.

    The police spokesman described Michael as a notorious armed robber/kidnapper who recently escaped arrest in Ondo State, saying that the suspect had gone to the hospital for treatment when luck ran out on him.

    He further stated that an old time criminal who had been on the police wanted list for years, Habeeb Abdulkareem was among those arrested. The suspect he said was arrested in Okene.

    Other suspects arrested for kidnapping and armed robbery include Muazu Salem, Mutari Suleiman, Mohammed Abubakar, Ibrahim Ali, Abdulahi Idris, Amodu Isah and Gade Garba.

    He said that others escaped arrest but that intelligence officers had been detailed to track and arrest them.

    Aya said that all the suspects were arrested between May 25 and July 13, saying that nine assorted rifles, including AK47, pump action, double barrel guns and pistols were recovered from them.

    Also recovered from them are live cartridges, cutlasses, knives, hammers and charms.

    Aya said that some of the suspects had made confessional statement and were cooperating with the police.

    All the suspects, he said, will be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.

  • Police arrest two robbery suspects, cultist in Ebonyi

    Police arrest two robbery suspects, cultist in Ebonyi

    The Ebonyi Police Command has arrested two suspected armed robbers and a cult kingpin in Ezzamgbo, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state.

    DSP Jude Madu, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) announced the arrest in a statement on Sunday in Abakaliki.

    According to Madu, the suspected armed robbers hail from Amike village in Ezzamgbo.

    “The notorious armed robbery suspects, who have been terrorising residents of the area, were arrested by officers from the Ohaukwu Police division.

    “The arrest was made possible through the collaboration of the youths and vigilante personnel of the village with the Police,” Madu stated.

    According to him, two locally made double-barrel pistols, army uniform with blood stains, two iron cutters, one saw blade and two machetes among others were recovered from the suspects.

    He said the police also arrested a suspected cultist, whose gang had allegedly been terrorising residents of the area.

    The PPRO stated that the suspect was arrested, allegedly with an axe while members of his gang fled on sighting the Police.

    “We are making efforts to arrest the fleeing members of the gang,” he stated.

     

  • Gunmen kill police sergeant in front of Bayelsa police station

    Gunmen kill police sergeant in front of Bayelsa police station

    There was confusion in Sagbama Police Station, Sagbama, Bayelsa State, at the weekend, following the killing of a policeman in front of the station by unidentified gunmen operating in the area.

    The policeman, a sergeant, whose name could not be determined, was reportedly shot dead at about 8:30pm by the gunmen, who were said to be riding across the station on a gateway motorcycle.

    The hoodlums said to be two in number, however, escaped before the policemen at the station could recover from the commotion caused by the incident.

    Sources said the fleeing gunmen shot at a group of policemen in front of the station but that the bullet hit the sergeant killing him at the spot.

    One of the sources, who spoke in confidence, said the incident created panic and tension in the area and wondered why the colleagues of the deceased policeman could not go after the killer hoodlums.

    “We heard gunshots from the direction of the police station. It was not certain what was going on but residents took cover for safety.

    “It was late we were told that hoodlums riding on a motorcycle killed a policeman and escaped. How could they escape after killing the policeman in front of a police station?” He said.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Butswat Asinim, confirmed the incident saying the police were looking for the hoodlums.

    He said: “The policeman was killed in Sunday at about 8:30pm in front of the Sagabma Police Station by two unknown gunmen on unregistered motorcycle.

    “We are working to establish the motive behind the dastardly act because they didn’t stop. We recovered the rifle of the dead policeman. They shot at the policemen and zoomed off but we have swung into action and some people have volunteered useful information”.

  • Bayelsa ritual killing: Tension mounts as youths attack shops, traders 

    Bayelsa ritual killing: Tension mounts as youths attack shops, traders 

     

    …Army deploys Armoured tank

     

    Aggrieved youths from Biogbolo, Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, continued their attack on shops and other business premises belonging to non-indigenes to protest the ritual killing of one of their kinswomen identified as Faith.

    Faith died on Monday two days after a man invited her to his room at De New Wapo Hotel located in the area, drugged her and harvested some sensitive parts of her body including her breasts.

    When news of her death filtered into the community, angry youths, who identified the killer as a non-indigene took to the streets attacking shops and persons suspected to be non-indigenes.

    The activities of the mob created tension and forced business owners to close shop.

    The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Amba Asuquo, deployed a detachment of policemen to the scene but despite their presence, the youths caused more damage on shops and stopped resumption of business yesterday.

    Investigations revealed that business owners deserted their premises and persons who tried to reopen their shops hurriedly closed them on sighting the youths.

    But some of the non-indigenes were said to have engaged the aggrieved indigenes in a free-for-all, with the youths from both sides sustaining injuries.

    Most of the stalls from Yeni-zuegene to Opolo, a significant stretch of the Mbiama-Yenagoa road were torched by the protesters.

    Shops with glass windows and doors were shattered while others were looted by the youths, who carried machetes, sticks and other weapons.

    Part of the upholstery and timber market was set ablaze by the youths, who also destroyed some furniture including chairs.

    The busy Mbiama-Yenagoa road was devoid of traffic as motorists and other road users plied alternative routes.

    The Nigerian Army deployed an Armed Personnel Carrier (APC) and a van of armed soldiers to constantly patrol the troubled spots.

    But the police through the Area Commander was said to have held a meeting with the chiefs and community leaders in Biogbolo emphasizing on the need to maintain the peace.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Asinim Butswat, said the police had reinforced security in the area.

     

  • Man dies after falling from a pole in Osun

    A 48-year-old man, Kabiru Salami, has lost his life in Ile-Ife, Osun, after he fell from NITEL pole while trying to disconnect cable wires.

    Mrs Folashade Odoro, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), for the Police Command in the state said this in a statement she issued in Osogbo on Tuesday.

    She further said that the incident happened on Sunday at about 4.48p.m.

    “The deceased, working with Ismoly Multipurpose Company, Osogbo, was disconnecting NITEL cable wires when he fell from the pole.

    “The police in Ile-Ife were alerted about the incident and the deceased was rushed to OAU Teaching Hospital where he was confirmed dead,” she said.

    The police image maker also said the corpse had been deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.

     

  • Abia Police smashes armed robbery gang

    Abia Police smashes armed robbery gang

    …Recovers vehicles, arms and ammunition

     

    The Abia state police command said that its men has smashed an armed robbery gang that has been terrorizing the commercial city of Aba while vehicles, arms and ammunition were also recovered.

    In statement issued by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Geoffrey Ogbonna said that his men in Aba received a distress call that Dan Dollars filling station at Ogbor hill area was being robbed by armed robbers.

    Ogbonna said that the information revealed to them that the armed robbers were escaping through Eziukwu road by the railway line, our men moved into action to confront them.

    He said, “When the call came we alerted our men at both Ndiegoro and the Central police station led by the DPO of Ndiegoro and the commander of the newly formed Tactical Response Squad (TRS) and they moved in to intercept them.

    “On sighting our men the armed robbers opened fire on them and during the gun battle two of the armed robbers were gunned down and one of them who was identified as Ugochukwu Emeka Uche was arrested.

    The Abia PPRO said that two Toyota vehicles a 4Runner SUV with registration number DR 413 ENU and a Corolla saloon car with registration number EPE 568 EM which was snatched from David Gobble of Ogbor hill area were recovered.

    He said that other items recovered include three locally made short guns, live and expended cartridges, nine GSM phones, one wrist watch, one national ID card bearing the name Uzoefuna Ifechi Kingsley, two wedding rings and a cash sum of N65, 020.

    Ogbonna said that the command is after the fleeing members of the armed robbery gang who has been terrorizing the people of Ogbor hill area of Aba, adding that they will be caught and brought to book.

     

  • Cultists shoot Bayelsa varsity student

    Gunmen suspected to be cultists have shot a 300level student of the Niger Delta University (NDU) identified as Ugorji Ikechukwu.

    Ikechukwu, a student in Teacher Education Department, was reportedly shot at his off-campus residence in Amassoma, the university’s host community early on Wednesday.

    The victim was said to have returned to the community on Sunday to prepare for academic activities and examination following the suspension of four-month industrial action by the staff of the university.

    He was quoted as saying that the gunmen shot him and fled when he came out to know the person knocking on his door.

    He was reported to have said: “My gate was locked and when I stepped outside my door, the strange persons numbering two asked me to open the door which I refused knowing that I don’t know them.

    “So I wanted to run inside immediately to grab my phone when they shot at me. Luckily, it hit my left arm and I cried out for help. My neighbors came out meeting me in the pool of my blood and rushed me to the hospital.”

    It was gathered that the parents of the victim relocated him to Port Harcourt, Rivers State for proper medical examination and treatment.

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Butswat Asinim, said the matter had not been reported to the police.

    But a friend of the victim who spoke in confidence said Ikechukwu called him and said some gunmen shot him.

  • Police shielding killers of my son- deceased father

    Police shielding killers of my son- deceased father

    Daniel Kokorifa, the father of Innocent, the 17-year-old boy allegedly killed by policemen in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Monday, accused the police of trying to shield the police team that killed his son.

    He cried that since his son was gunned down by the police on August 18, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi, had yet to visit his family and commiserate with them.

    The aggrieved father said in an era of change under President Muhammadu Buhari, the police had demonstrated the same impunity which the current administration said it had come to change, in the case of his son’s alleged extra-judicial killing.

    Kokorifa was shot dead in mysterious circumstances by the Anti-Vice/Anti-Kidnapping team of the Bayelsa police command along the Air force Road.

    The son was said to be running an errand for his mother, Pere, when he was killed in mysterious circumstances by the policemen who deposited his remains at the mortuary  of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa.

    The father of the deceased, an officer of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) insisted that his first child out of five children was murdered in cold blood.

    He said the victim who was to turn 18 on 9th of September was a peacemaker, a non-smoker who had no records of criminality.

    “We are talking about my first son that I invested so much on and was preparing him to live his dream of becoming a lawyer. The police snatched him away from me in an unprofessional manner. Yet, there is no sympathy from the police. They are not handling the matter very well. It seems they want to deny me and my dead son justice.

    “I heard that the particular persons who shot my son was arrested and taken to Zone 5 in Benin. I have not confirmed because there is no official channel communicating to me. The police must show transparency in the handling of this case so that the law will take its full course”, the father said.

    He said in the spirits of transparency, the identities of members of the police team that shot and killed his son should be made public.

    “We have been mourning since this incident happened. We can’t stop mourning Innocent because we love him so much. My wife has been a shadow of herself and my other children are still thinking that one day their big brother will come home. What we demand is justice”, he said.

    The murder of Kokorifa has attracted deluge of criticisms against the police from members of the public.

    Hundreds of youths, women and activists at the weekend trooped to the streets of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, to protest the alleged extra-judicial killing of a 17-year-old Ijaw youth, Master Innocent Kokorifa.

    But the police in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Butswat Asinim, said the victim died in a gun battle between a three-man notorious armed robbery gang and the police squad.

    Aggrieved youths and activists took off from the NUJ Secretariat, Azikoro Road and marched towards police command headquarters but were stopped by the police at the Onopa axis of the Mbiama-Yenagoa road.

    They displayed placards and banners with inscriptions, “police are to protect lives and properties, not to kill innocent citizens”, not every Bayelsa youth is a criminal”, police, please stop the killings”, “we say no to police brutality and many others.