Tag: Police

The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said it has raided some criminal hideouts in various locations in the territory and arrested over 300 suspects.

FCT Commissioner of Police (CP), Benneth Igweh, said this during a briefing on Thursday in Abuja.

He said the suspects, who claimed to be scavengers, were arrested when he led the tactical team of the command to raid the hideouts on Wednesday.

“We have arrested some of them; some are here while about 300 of them are already in the prison, since yesterday.

“We want to clean the city because we have seen that some of them, in the disguise that they are scavengers, end up engaging in robbery,” he said.

Igweh said generators, cutlasses, guns and other valuables suspected to have been stolen from innocent residents were recovered.

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Apparently stunned at the scavengers’ method of operation, Igweh said: “These people are not ordinary human beings. But we will get rid of them and peace will be restored in the FCT for residents to enjoy normal life.

“During our operation last night, two sophisticated guns and weapons were recovered from some of these scavengers and I don’t know the type of war they were going to fight, but we will defeat them and cleanse the FCT of these dangerous elements. Our duty is to keep them off the City; it’s no longer business as usual.

“Other items recovered from the scavengers include generators and household valuables.

He said a good number of the scavengers arrested were not Nigerians.”

While responding to questions about the inclusion of minors among their arrest, Igweh said: ‘I’m not a medical doctor nor their parents to ascertain their ages.”

The CP said the suspects would be charged to court upon completion of screening and investigation.

A human rights group, Save the Poor and Needy Charity Initiative (SPANCI), has appealed to the commissioner of police in Oyo state, Adebola Hamzat, to ensure release of a woman, Mrs. Aderoju Folake Fatoba who was detained by men of Apata police division in Ibadan. 

The group described the detention of Mrs. Fatoba as unlawful, dehumanizing and degrading treatment, denial of fair hearing, right to personal liberty and right to freedom of movement.

SPANCI made the plea via a letter addressed to the CP and signed by its president, Comrade Yemi Ezekiel Bello. 

The statement was made available to journalists on Thursday, May 23.

Bello in the letter said that the group has the consent of Mrs Fatoba to write the letter so that her rights would be protected. 

Bello stated that Mrs. Fatoba legally married Mr. Tope Fatoba before his death. Their marriage did not produce any children, which led Mr. Gbenga Fatoba and other members of the Fatoba family to resent her. 

She alleged that the family had instructed Mr. Fatoba to end the marriage, but he refused.

He said that the husband was found dead inside their apartment when Mrs. Fatoba came back where she went on Monday, 6th May 2024 and the police took the corpse to State Hospital Ring Road mortuary in Ibadan. 

He added that the police invited Fatoba and was detained on Wednesday, 22nd of May, 2024 on the instructions of one Mr. Gbenga Fatoba who is a brother to the deceased’s father. 

Bello in the letter said that it is wrong for the police to detain Mrs. Fatoba and prosecute her for murder on the order of the family. 

He used the opportunity to demand immediate release of the detainee. 

“Urgent petition against an act of wrongful allegation, unlawful detention, dehumanizing and degrading treatment, denial of fair hearing, denial of right to personal liberty, denial of right to freedom of movement, mental torture, Falsehood, defamation, conspiracy and threat to maliciously prosecute for murder violation of section 34 (1) (a) 35, 36 and 41 of the Nigeria 1999 constitution as amended perpetrated by Mr Gbenga Fatoba, other Fatoba’s family members and the men of Moore Plantation Police Division, Apata, Ibadan against Mrs Fatoba Aderoju Folake. 

Read Also: 17 months after, Police rescue 2 abducted daughters of Zamfara lawmaker

“We have the consent of Mrs Fatoba Aderoju Folake herein after referred to as our clients to write this letter so that her rights might be protected. Our client told us that she got married legally to Mr Tope Fatoba before he died and that their marriage produced no children and as a result of this  Mr Gbenga Fatoba and other members of Fatoba’s family hated her and had instructed their son to end the marriage but their son did not agree because he loved her so much.

“Our client said unfortunately on Monday 6th of May 2024 she left him at home before 8:00 for work and came back home at around 5:00 p m, unable to open the entrance door which was locked at the back,  contrary to their normal   practice. The wife called him on phone repeatedly only to discover that his phone was ringing inside and at this point she informed her neighbors and Moore plantation, Apata, Ibadan Police too. The entrance door was broken.  The husband was found inside dead and the police took the corpse to State Hospital Ring Road mortuary in Ibadan. 

“Our client said the police did their investigation thoroughly and found out that she’s not culpable at all but Mr Gbenga Fatoba who is a brother to the deceased’s father insisted the it was our client that killed her husband but the DPO replied him that their investigation did not implicate the wife. Our client said to her surprise she was invited yesterday 22nd of may, 2024 but was detained at the instructions of her uncle in-law.

“That the husband locked the door on himself after he came home with park of food and died inside but they forced open door had a key inside at the back of the door so how could his wife kill him? That Mr Tope Fatoba may have died of food poison or natural death but Mr Gbenga Fatoba and other family members who hated our client because she has no child for their son maliciously lied and insisted she killed him so that they can take over the wealth and money which government may want to pay the wife has benefits and entitlement of her husband.

“That it is wrong for police to detain our client and maliciously prosecute her for murder to satisfy Mr Gbenga Fatoba and his family. We hereby demand immediate release of our client and justice against this act of wickedness and injustice because our client is already plaque with the death of her husband as this is already giving her mental and psychological torture”. 

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has rescued the two daughters of Hon. Aminu Ardo, a member of the Zamfara state House of Assembly, after they were held captive for 17 months.

Maryam, 10, and Nana Asma’u, eight, were handed over to their father at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

The Deputy Force Public Relations Officer (PRO), CSP Isuku Victor, stated that the rescue was made possible through the collaborative efforts of various security agencies, coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

According to the police, the children were initially abducted by their mother and other siblings, but fortunately, the mother managed to escape with the other children, leaving Maryam and Nana behind.

Victor said: “In November 2022, the quiet village of Jangebe in Talata Mafara local government area of Zamfara State, was shattered by an act of violence that would forever change the lives of one family. Armed bandits, riding over 60 motorcycles, invaded the residence of Honourable Aminu Ardo, a member of the Zamfara State House of Assembly. In a brutal display of terror, they abducted his wife, Hauwa’u, and their four young children: Maryam, Nana Asma’u, Ummul Khairi, and Abdulrazaq.

“The abductees were taken to an unknown forest in Katsina State, enduring a harrowing journey by foot and motorcycle; throughout their captivity, these children were sustained on meagre rations of maize and salt, drinking water from a nearby stream.

“While in captivity, Hauwa’u gave birth under extremely harsh conditions, but tragically, the newborn did not survive. Despite the unbearable circumstances, Hauwa’u’s strength and resolve remained unbroken. One night, during the rainy season of 2023, she managed to unchain herself and escape with two of her children, Ummul Khairi and Abdulrazaq. However, Maryam and Nana Asma’u were left behind, still in the grip of their captors.”

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Speaking further, the police said under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, there has been a robust focus on security reforms aimed at enhancing the effectiveness and responsiveness of the country’s security architecture.

He said: “Today’s briefing on the successful rescue operation is a direct result of these strategic initiatives stemming from leveraging advanced intelligence from our Force Intelligence Department and operational tactics from the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, Katsina Command as well as tactical support from the Nigerian Airforce 215 FOB, Funtua, which led to locating and safe rescue of these minors.

“While we celebrate this successful rescue, we remain acutely aware of the ongoing challenges in our fight against kidnapping and other forms of violent crimes. Let me emphasize that the Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of IGP Kayode Egbetokun, is more determined than ever, to tackle kidnapping and other violent crimes head-on. Our zeal is evident in our relentless pursuit of criminals, our strategic deployment of resources, and our commitment to adopting the latest technologies and intelligence-gathering methods.

“We are resolute in our quest to dismantle criminal networks and ensure that justice is served leveraging on the dedication of our officers and intelligence sharing and synergy between the Nigeria Police Force and other law enforcement agencies as well as timely support from the community

“To the families affected by these crimes, we express our deepest sympathies and assurances that your pain is our pain. Your resilience in the face of such adversity inspires us to intensify our efforts. We stand with you, and we will continue to fight tirelessly to ensure that no child, no mother, no father, no family has to endure such horrors again.”

Some retired police officers under the contributory pension scheme on Tuesday, May 21, protested at the National Assembly over alleged several months of unpaid pensions with a call on President Bola Tinubu to remove them from the scheme.

The protesters decried the extreme challenges they endure, saying that the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) has failed to pay their entitlements for several months causing them and their families untold hardship.

The aggrieved retired police officers also wrote a Save Our Soul (SOS) letter to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, calling for an urgent intervention.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Chairman of the retirees, Christopher Effiong said many of their members have developed terminal illnesses and heart attacks as a result of the frustration associated with the scheme.

In a letter dated May 21 and addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the retirees said many of their colleagues have lost their lives due to the prevailing economic hardship.

The letter reads in part: “For over a decade now, Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), have painstakingly, lawfully and peacefully been agitating to be given the rightful placement in the Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS), the premises under which most of us enlisted in the NPF which guarantees the of pension and gratuity to an officer upon retirement.

“We believe that our peaceful and legal approach to this agitation would not be taken for granted by you.

“We must also appreciate both the members of the Upper and the Lower Chambers who have also painstakingly taken the matter through several sessions of legislative actions spanning investigative and public hearings.

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“And the passage of the Police Exit Bill from CPS (Contributory Pension Scheme) and Police Pension Board Bill in our favour – privately initiated bills by Senator Elisha Abbo and Hon. Francis Waive of the Senate and House of Representative respectively, in the 9th NASS.

“Sir, permit us to intimate our dear Senate President that the Bill for an Act to establish the Nigeria Police Pension Board to handle Pension matters for personnel of the Force and for connected purposes was passed by the 9th Assembly Senate on Tuesday 5th June, 2023.

“Whereas the sister bill to exempt the Police Force from the application of the Contributory Pensions Scheme under the CPS 2014 and for related matters which public hearing was conducted since 22/02/22 by the House Committee on Pensions of the 9th Assembly, came up in the floor of the 10th Assembly on 23rd November, 2023 for harmonization process but is still pending till date.

“The speedy harmonisation and transmission of these bills to the President for assent become absolutely necessary due to very obvious reasons.

“A few of such reasons is the rate at which Retired Police Officers die because of hardship caused by the present economic situation in Nigeria.”

Addressing the protesters, the Deputy Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Yunus Akintunde (APC – Oyo Central), said that the bills the protesters referred to are no longer in existence because they were never assented to.

He urged the protesters to create a committee that would join in the joint meeting to create a link between the National Assembly and the retirees so they would be abreast of the actions being taken to resolve the issue.

He however noted that the National Assembly is working to resolve the issues.

The Niger State Police Command has arrested two individuals, identified as 46-year-old Philip Adefemi and 42-year-old Joseph Michael, for swapping ATM cards with unsuspecting victims.

The police recovered 42 ATM cards from the suspects.

According to a press statement by the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, the suspects were apprehended by police operatives from A Division in Bida when they swapped an ATM card with a victim.

The victim had been at a commercial bank in Bida to withdraw money, but the ATM did not dispense cash when he inserted his card.

One of the suspects who was watching his attempts volunteered to assist him which he did but the machine did not dispense. The suspect gave the victim back his card but had swapped it.

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After the victim left the ATM, he received a debit alert of N400,000 and went to the police to report the incident.

The two suspects were arrested while one other identified as Bala escaped. The suspects confessed that they do not operate in Bida but had to stop over in Bida on their way to Offa in Kwara state for burial.

42 ATM cards were recovered from the suspects including that of the victim and a Mercedes-Benz C230 with Reg. No Abuja KUJ 44 NT.

The suspects confessed that most of the cards were expired cards used for swapping stating that they watched the victims very closely to get their password which they used after swapping the ATM cards.

The Police PPRO said that the suspects are under investigation in the Div

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Commissioner of Police (CP), Benneth Igweh, alongside other officers have rescued some kidnapped victims in Abuja.

The police said the operation followed a distress call on the attack by unknown gunmen in Dawaki on May 19, at about 11:30 am.

The rescue operation was carried out in synergy with local hunters: “Advanced on the assailants, tactically ambushing them at Ushafa Hill via Bwari and Shishipe Hills via Mpape”.

The police did not put a number to those rescued.

One of the rescued victims is presently at an undisclosed hospital receiving treatment.

A statement issued on Monday by the FCT Police Public Relations Officers, SP Josephine Adeh said: “The operatives of the FCT police command led by the Commissioner of Police, CP Benneth C. Igweh, psc, mni, himself, swiftly mobilised to the scene.

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“This led to a fierce gun duel as the hoodlums were overwhelmed by the firepower of the operatives, forcing them to scamper to safety with various degrees of bullet injuries, and the victims were rescued.

“While one of the rescued victims is still in the hospital receiving medical attention, the commissioner of police, FCT, CP Benneth C. Igweh, psc, mni, reaffirms the command’s steadfast dedication to maintaining peace and security in the Territory, as search operations are ongoing to rescue other hostages who fled the scene during the shootout.”

She said the command will provide more information in due course