Tag: Police

…visits family of deceased

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has directed the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) to immediately take over the investigation into the death of Jimoh Abdulqaudri, who died in police custody in Kwara State on Friday, December 20, 2024.

Demonstrating his commitment to justice and accountability, the IGP visited Kwara State on Sunday to personally condole with the bereaved family. 

During his visit, he met with the family, represented by the Balogun Fulani of Ilorin, Alhaji Sadiq Atiku Fulani, who spoke on their behalf.

The IGP expressed his heartfelt condolences, assuring the family that the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident would be thoroughly investigated.

Read Also: Police knocks Amnesty International’s report on endbadgovernance protest

In a statement released on Sunday, Force Public Relations Officer ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi emphasised the IGP’s directives: “The IGP has ordered the FCID to handle the case with utmost diligence and ensure a conclusive and impartial investigation.”

“He further reassured the family and the general public that the Nigeria Police Force remains committed to upholding the highest standards of accountability, professionalism, and respect for human rights.

“While reiterating the Force’s zero-tolerance stance on unprofessional conduct among its personnel, the IGP called on all stakeholders to remain calm and allow the due process of law to prevail.”

The Bauchi state police command has arrested 15 suspects after violent clashes erupted between youth groups in the Kandahar area of Bauchi metropolis.

The Nation reports that the violence began when a group of youths attacked residents, setting fire to the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) office and part of the Kandahar Primary School. 

The incident resulted in the burning of the state-owned primary school and left 22-year-old Saidu Musa with a gunshot wound to the chest from a locally-made firearm.

Police forces quickly intervened to restore order in the area. 

In a statement released on Sunday, the Command’s Spokesman, SP Ahmed Wakili, confirmed that investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the clash.

Preliminary findings suggest that the attack was sparked by an earlier altercation between the youths and the Civilian JTF.

Read Also: Police knocks Amnesty International’s report on endbadgovernance protest

The statement reads: “On 18 December 2024, at about 08:30 hours, Detectives from ‘A’ Division Police Headquarters received a distress call from a good Samaritan regarding a group of youths engaging in violent behavior in the Kandahar area of Bauchi metropolis.

“This group attacked innocent civilians and targeted the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) office near Kandahar Primary School. The assailants set fire to the JTF office and a part of the State Government Primary School.”

The statement further noted that during the unrest, members of the Civilian JTF confronted the attackers.

“In response, a team of Police operatives was promptly deployed to the scene, successfully de-escalating the conflict and evacuating the injured individual to the Specialist Hospital for treatment,” Wakili added.

“With the swift intervention of Police operatives, the situation was brought under control. Fifteen suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident, and investigations are ongoing,” the statement concluded.

Police Force headquarters on Sunday faulted a report by Amnesty International which accused the security agency of using maximum force against endbadgovernance protesters in August, killing 24 persons and detaining more than 100 persons including minors. 

Amnesty International had made the allegations in a report it released on November 28 2024, titled “Bloody August: Nigeria Government’s Violent Crackdown on #EndBadGovernance Protests.”

However, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, told reporters in Abuja that the claims in the report were at variance with the records available to the Nigeria Police.

Adejobi said all recorded incidents of violence during the protests were documented by the police in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), adding that the records are available at both the Department of Operations and the Department of Research and Planning of the Nigeria Police Force.

He said: “It is, therefore, surprising to see in Amnesty International’s report such unfounded claims that contradicted what was actually recorded during the protests”.

The force spokesman said the Inspector-General of Police, (IGP) kayode Egbetokun in response to the report, directed a comprehensive and independent investigation into these allegations made therein.

He said: “To this end, a special investigation panel was immediately constituted and given a deadline to submit its findings. The IGP also mandated Commissioners of Police in the states mentioned in the report to verify the allegations as they pertain to their states and to submit additional reports on the incidents.

“Following these directives, the Commissioners of Police in the affected states conducted extensive inquiries in their localities and submitted their findings to the Inspector-General of Police. Copies of these findings were sent to the special investigation panel. Furthermore, members of the panel visited the affected states and areas mentioned in the report, compiling their findings in a comprehensive document submitted to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, FSSP, NEAPS”.

Read Also: Anambra stampede: Death toll rises to 22, say police command

Adejobi, who said the findings proved the Amnesty International’s report to be false, also denied the allegations of excessive use of force as claimed by the organization.

“While the NPF respects and recognizes the constitutional right of citizens to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, it is equally charged with the responsibility of maintaining law and order. During the #EndBadGovernance protests, police officers were deployed to safeguard protesters, protect lives and property, and prevent disruptions caused by infiltrators seeking to hijack the demonstrations.

“Contrary to Amnesty International’s claims, there is no credible evidence to support allegations of killings or excessive use of force by the police. Reports of officers firing live rounds at protesters or targeting unarmed civilians are baseless and were not corroborated by independent investigations.

“Evidence available to the NPF indicates that certain elements infiltrated the protests with the intention of inciting violence, destroying public property, and endangering public safety. The police responded with minimum force without the use of firearms to disperse such disruptive elements in accordance with legal guidelines. Detentions and prosecutions were conducted within legal frameworks, and allegations of arbitrary arrests, maltreatment, or denial of legal access are unsubstantiated,” he stated.

Adejobi noted that the Nigeria Police Force would soon write to Amnesty International to demand a retraction of this report from the public space and with a public apology.

He said: “The Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in protecting the rights of all citizens while ensuring the security and stability of the nation. We therefore urge the public to be wary of sensational reports designed to incite mistrust and weaken confidence in law enforcement institutions”.

Three police officers and a female suspect have been confirmed dead in a road accident that occurred in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The police officers were deployed from the state police headquarters to arrest the female suspect in Ore.

It was on their way to Akure that a trailer coming from the Ijebu-Ode axis lost control and rammed into the police van conveying the late officers and the suspect.

Read Also: BUA chairman Rabiu endorses Tinubu’s economic reforms, urges patience

All of them died on the spot while a policeman who sustained serious injuries was rushed to the hospital

Police spokesperson, SP Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, confirmed the incident.

The Ondo Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC),  Samuel Ibitoye, who confirmed the incident, said the accident occurred as a result of overspending.

He said the remains of the victims were deposited in the morgue of state the state hospital in Ore.

The Police Command in Rivers has announced the arrest of Nwile Bete, 30, a suspected kidnap kingpin during an operation in Port Harcourt.

The operation also led to the rescue of a 10-year-old boy allegedly abducted by the suspect.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed the development in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Friday.

She said that Bete allegedly kidnapped the boy on Nov. 25 and demanded a ransom of N5m for his release.

“After the minor was abducted, his mother reported the incident to the police, prompting the Anti-Kidnapping Unit to take swift action,” Iringe-Koko said.

She explained that officers, acting on credible intelligence, tracked Bete to Rumuekeni School Road in Rumuekeni Town, Port Harcourt, where he was apprehended.

Read Also: Police arrest three suspects for motorcycle theft in Bauchi

“While in custody, Bete confessed to the crime and subsequently led operatives to Sogho village in Khana area, where the boy was rescued unharmed.

“The victim has since been debriefed and reunited with his family, while the suspect remains in custody,” she added.

Iringe-Koko confirmed that investigations are ongoing to apprehend the other members of Bete’s gang who are currently at large.

She assured that the suspect would face charges in court upon conclusion of the investigation.

“This arrest is a significant breakthrough and part of the police command’s broader strategy to tackle crime and criminal activities in Rivers state,” she said.

(NAN) 

The Police Command in Yobe says it has detained a 29-year-old man (name withheld) who allegedly posed as a Navy officer and defrauded several traders in the state.

This is contained in a statement by the command’s spokesman, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, in Damaturu on Friday.

Abdulkarim said the suspect was arrested on Dec 18 with fake Nigerian Navy Identity Card (ID), initiating fake online money transfer to unsuspecting traders in exchange for goods.

“His modus operandi involved generating fake receipts on his bank app, making it seem like transactions were successful, even when they weren’t.

Read Also: EFCC seeks collaboration with youths against cybercrime, graft

“To gain his victim’s trust, he would initially make a small, successful transaction. He would then use the app to edit the receipt, delaying the alert to the recipient.

“This clever tactic allowed him to deceive his victims and get away with their money or goods,” Abdulkarim said.

The spokesman said the state Commissioner of Police, Garba Ahmed, had advised members of the public to beware of emerging trends in cybercrime.

“Remember to verify transactions and receipts, and never trust someone who claims to be from a reputable organization without proper identification,” he quoted the commissioner as saying. (www.nannews.ng) 

The Oyo State Police Command has reportedly detained the principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, Mr. Abdullahi Fasasi, in connection with the stampede that occurred at the school during a children’s carnival.

Read Also: Ibadan funfair tragedy: Agidigbo FM denies organising event

The tragic incident, which led to the loss of several children’s lives, took place during an event organized by Naomi Silekunola, the estranged wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.

Sources revealed that Fasasi was invited by the police on Wednesday around 4 PM and has been held at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Iyaganku, Ibadan, since his arrival.

As of the time of filing this report, the principal remains in custody, with investigations ongoing.

The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has disclosed that Vincent Makinde, a former officer seen in a viral video, was dismissed from service as an Inspector in 2022 due to extortion and other serious offences.

This clarification was issued on Wednesday by the Force spokesperson, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, via a statement on his official X account. Adejobi refuted the claims made by Makinde in the video, describing them as misleading.

According to Adejobi, Makinde was dismissed after a thorough investigation and an orderly room trial for offences including abuse of office, extortion, gross misconduct, dereliction of duty, and insubordination.

The police also addressed the viral video showing Makinde in leg restraints, where he claimed to be an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and alleged unlawful detention. 

The situation has attracted attention, including calls for his release by renowned legal luminary and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN.

The NPF emphasized that Makinde’s dismissal followed due process, countering the narrative he is pushing online. 

The police urged the public to disregard the misleading claims and reaffirmed their commitment to upholding discipline and accountability within the force.

“While awaiting the validation of orderly room proceedings and subsequent prosecution, Vincent Makinde assaulted a senior police officer on duty and subsequently escaped from lawful custody,” he said.

“Around June 2024, he resurfaced, parading himself as a bona fide member of the Nigeria Police Force, adorning the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police without being previously absolved of his offences or promoted. Being made aware of this, the Police authority issued a directive for his immediate re-arrest.

“The suspect was apprehended while personating himself as an active sworn senior police officer, and armed with a rifle. When approached by police operatives, Vincent Makinde exhibited violent and aggressive behaviour while resisting lawful arrest and detention.

“Upon his arrest, the suspect was restrained using feet restraining devices due to his continuous violent nature coupled with the fact that he had previously escaped from lawful custody in a violent manner.

“The officers deemed it necessary to employ the use of these restraints as a precaution to ensure the safety of the officers on duty, prevent another escape, and secure against any potential harm to him and others around him, that might arise from his aggressive demeanour.

Read Also: JUST IN: Police nab bandit, 3 car snatchers, weapons in Kaduna

“It is pertinent to note that the use of restraining devices is a global practice for individuals actively, aggressively, or aggravatedly resisting lawful detention”.

Adejobi said Makinde remains a dismissed police officer, serial criminal, and is currently in custody awaiting conclusion of investigations and prosecution.

The police spokesman added that further investigations have revealed his involvement in several other nefarious acts in addition to those which led to his earlier dismissal.

As such, Adejobi said intensive investigation into the circumstances of his current impersonation offence is also ongoing.

He added that the Nigeria Police Force remains dedicated to fostering transparency and accountability within its operations, striving to maintain the public’s trust and confidence.

“Through thorough investigations and strict protocols, the Force is steadfast in the pursuit of truth and justice, while ensuring that its personnel who violate the law are held accountable for their actions. This commitment is evident as the Nigeria Police Force continues to work tirelessly to uphold the rule of law and reinforce the integrity of policing.”