The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Police

  • Police confirm kidnap of three around Port Harcourt Airport

    Police confirm kidnap of three around Port Harcourt Airport

    The Police Command in Rivers on Thursday confirmed the abduction of three persons along a road leading to Port Harcourt International Airport in Rivers.

    The victims were abducted on the Obiri Ikwerre Road stretch leading to the airport late on Tuesday.

    SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the spokesperson of the command, informed the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that police were already in pursuit of the abductors.

    “The Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, has tasked our tactical team commanders and the Divisional Police Officers within the jurisdiction to implement adequate security measures.

    “These measures have been put in place to ensure that the criminals are apprehended,” she stated.

    NAN learned that the victims were traveling from the airport area to the Obiri Ikwerre Road when they were attacked by suspected bandits positioned on the road.

    One of the escapees, Emmanuel Biira, however, told NAN that more than three persons were taken from the taxi he boarded.

    He said of the 10 vehicles ambushed by the criminals, a few of the passengers were whisked away while some managed to escape into the nearby bushes along the highway.

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    “The incident began when our vehicle ran into an ambush near the airport junction roundabout as we were heading to Obi Ikwerre flyover.

    “We encountered an ambush with eight to 10 cars. As we approached the scene, the kidnappers began shooting randomly into the air.

    “As soon as the shooting began, we turned back towards the airport junction, but the kidnappers double-crossed us,” he explained.

    Biira reported that occupants of other vehicles who tried to escape from the abductors were shot at and forcibly taken away.

    “After the hoodlums crossed us, I jumped out of the car to run but there was nowhere to go. But at that moment, the Lord showed me a car to hide behind.

    “So, I quickly hid under the car, and as I did, three kidnappers walked by – dragging a man, while one of them got into the car I was under to turn off the engine.

    “I am alive today because of God’s mercy and covenant of protection over His children, ” he added.

    The ecstatic escapee said that his wife would have been a young widow and his children fatherless if one of the stray bullets had hit him.

    “I am immensely grateful to God alone. Thank you, Jesus Christ,” Biira expressed. (NAN)

  • Police arrest 11 suspected animal rustlers, thieves in Jigawa

    Police arrest 11 suspected animal rustlers, thieves in Jigawa

    The Police Command in Jigawa says it has arrested 11 persons, including a Nigerien, for alleged theft of animals, car, motorcycle and other items in three LGAs of the state.

     The Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Lawan Shiisu, confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Wednessday.

     Shiisu said the suspects were arrested in separate operations between Dec. 22 and Dec. 29, 2023 in Babura, Kiyawa and Suletankarkar LGAs.

     He explained that one of the suspects, identified as Abdulhadi saidu, 25, and resident of Gujungu town, was arrested with two cows suspected to be stolen along Kiyawa-Balago road, in Kiyawa.

     The PPRO added that when questioned, the suspect could not give satisfactory account of the cows.

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     According to him, another suspect, identified as Ibrahim Rabiu, 22, and resident of Bakin Kasuwa also in Kiyawa, was arrested in possession of 15 pieces of roofing zincs.

     Shiisu said when interrogated, the suspect confessed to have stolen the zincs from one of the houses in the area.

     He stated that two of the suspects, Sagiru Ibrahim, 27, of Makale Insharuwa village and zayyanu Umar, 27, of Dugujabe village, in Babura town, were arrested in Babura LGA for alleged theft of motorcycle.

    The PPRO said the suspect confessed to have criminally conspired and stolen the motorcycle.

     According to him, six of the suspects were arrested in Kazaure LGA for alleged theft of two sheep, goats and a generator in Kazaure LGA.

     Shiisu said the suspects, including Ibrahim Haruna, 25, of Tinkim village in Niger Republic, had confessed to the crime.

     He added that the cases were still under investigation after which the suspects would be charged to court. (NAN)

  • Police nab man with 13 stolen ATM cards in Adamawa

    Police nab man with 13 stolen ATM cards in Adamawa

    Adamawa State Police Command has nabbed a man with 13 Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards allegedly stolen from a market.

    It said in a statement yesterday that 31-year-old Abubakar Tanimu was arrested on December 29, 2023 by police operatives attached to the Department of State Intelligence, who went on surveillance patrol around Jambutu Motor Park in Jimeta, Yola.

    The statement, signed by police spokesman SP Suleiman Nguroje said the suspect is a resident of Tsoho Kasuwa, a market neigbourhood, in Mayo Belwa Local Government

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    It said the suspect stole the ATM cards issued to owners by different banks, in the neighbourhood.

    “Investigation shows that the suspect stole the items from Tsohon Kasuwa, Mayo Belwa Local Government,” the police said.

    They said the suspect would be arraigned after completion of investigation.

  • Police to investigate abduction of Akwanga LG chairman

    Police to investigate abduction of Akwanga LG chairman

    The Police Command in Nasarawa State says it is investigating the abduction of Safiyanu Isa-Andaha, Chairman, Akwanga Local Government Area (LGA) of the state by gunmen.

    DSP Ramhan Nansel, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, stated this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lafia.

    The PPRO said Umar Nadada, Commissioner of Police in the state, had mobilised personnel to go after the hoodlums and rescue the chairman and one other person who were kidnapped unhurt.

    The police spokesperson said they got information that the chairman and one other were abducted around 8:30 p.m. in Ningo village of Akwanga LGA.

    Read Also: Police confirm passengers abduction in Cross River

    “The police in collaboration with other security agencies are currently on the trail of the kidnappers to ensure the release of the council chairman and the other victim.

    Nansel therefore urged members of the public, especially people from villages in the area to provide the police with useful information that would lead to the rescue of those abducted and arrest of the perpetrators.

    Also, Mr Haruna Kassimu, Special Adviser (SA) to Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and close associates of the LG boss confirmed the incident.

    The SA said the LG boss and one Adamu Custom were kidnapped at Ningo village of Akwanga around 8:30 p.m. on Monday.

    (NAN). 

  • Police kill three Uba’s convoy attackers in Anambra

    Police kill three Uba’s convoy attackers in Anambra

    Anambra state police command has killed three of the armed gang that attacked the convoy of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP chieftain, Chris Uba.

    During the attack by the gunmen, two police personnel of Enugu State Command were killed at Uga, in Aguata Local government area of Anambra State, on 28th December, 2023.

    During the gunmen attack, two police officers from the Enugu State Command lost their lives in Uga, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    Commissioner of police, Aderemi Adeoye who confirmed this in an interview with reporters, said a 51-year old kidnap victim was rescued during the operation.

    He assured the public that intensive manhunt for the remnants of the gang was ongoing, reiterating that there would be no hiding place for criminals in the State.

    Read Also: Police begin demolition of Lagos POWA complex

    He said: “Since the attack at Uga, the gang had been under close surveillance. But what held the police back was to avoid unintended casualties of the season’s merry makers. 

    “The police struck immediately the gang was isolated from the innocent public somewhere around Ogboji, in Orumba South local government area.

    “Three members of the gang were killed, four improvised explosive devices (IEDs)

    were recovered and defused.

    “In addition to that, two pump action guns and 16 live catridges were recovered as well as one Lexus SUV.

    “A 51-year old kidnap victim was rescued.”

  • Police hypocrisy

    Police hypocrisy

    Seriously, it looks like a case of the pot calling the kettle black. The Police Service Commission (PSC), headed by Solomon Arase, painted the Special Police Constabulary black, and said there was a “need to overhaul the organisation and operations of the outfit.” The commission’s position was publicised in a recent statement by its spokesperson, Ikechukwu Ani.

    According to the commission, “There have been several reports of unprofessional conduct by officers of the outfit, a quasi-police formation created to assist in community policing.

    “Reports of their unprofessional conduct range from highhandedness in dealing with citizens and bare-faced extortion on our roads and communities.”

    This is bad for the image of the regular police, the commission observed. That is true. But interestingly, the same can be said regarding the regular police officers. The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) introduced the Special Police Constabulary in 2019. There were plans for the unit to recruit 20,000 personnel within five years. The first set of constables in the outfit were deployed to local governments in 2020, after training.

    There is no doubt that the NPF had an image problem, which has not disappeared, well before it introduced the Special Police Constabulary. Indeed, the negatives highlighted by the PSC in its demand for an “overhaul” of the outfit sounded like the long-term public criticism of the regular police.  

    Read Also: JUST IN: Police begin demolition of Lagos POWA complex 

    The commission proposed a solution to the image problem allegedly caused by the special constables, and called for “an entirely different set of uniforms for officers of the outfit that should be easily differentiated from that of the regular police officers.”  It argued that this “will help to track appropriately the conduct of men of the outfit and that of the regular police officers and free the Nigeria Police Force from blame associated with the misconduct of men of the outfit.”

    The PSC is hypocritical. The regular police also have been accused of such misconduct allegedly associated with the special constabulary, and need not only self-redemption but also reinvention.

    The PSC’s position is possibly connected with the recent dismissal of two police constables in Oyo State following a viral video that showed their involvement in extortion of a foreign tourist. The Police Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the men were not regular police officers but special constabulary personnel.

    It’s easy and convenient to accuse the special constabulary of “unprofessional conduct” and “misconduct,” which is a narrow approach to the image problem of the police. A holistic approach demands that the regular police first “take the log” out of their own eye.

  • Police begin demolition of Lagos POWA complex

    Police begin demolition of Lagos POWA complex

    • ’Lagos has no hand in demolition’

    The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) early yesterday began the planned demolition of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) Shopping Complex, situated in Ikeja, Lagos.

    The Nation learnt that four excavators arrived at the shopping complex by midnight with heavily armed police officers.

    Police authorities had said the planned demolition was in good faith and in the interest of all concerned.

    The Force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Saturday said it had become imperative to properly establish that the complex, a property of POWA, which was officially allocated to wives of police officers and their relatives, had been scheduled for demolition.

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    According to him, the demolition is to enable the police begin immediate construction of a modern shopping complex on the same land.

    Lagos State Government has nothing to do with the demolition at Computer Village in Ikeja, Commissioner for Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso has said.

    In a statement issued last night, he said the structure is owned by the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA), which ordered its demolition. 

    “Those circulating the fake news that Lagos State Government is demolishing Computer Village are opportunistic ethnic chauvinists who will always relish in vacuous propaganda that can fuel their fiendish mission; they will always fail in dividing Lagosians,” the statement said.

  • Police nab three suspected cable vandals in Kaduna

    Police nab three suspected cable vandals in Kaduna

    The Police Command in Kaduna State said its operatives have arrested three suspected vandals with electricity aluminium cables in Saminaka town in Lere Local Government.

    The command’s spokesperson, ASP Mansir Hassan, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Kaduna.

    He said on Sunday, at about 0400hrs, the command received information concerning the theft from a low-cost housing area on Kafanchan Road, Saminaka town that some unknown persons were seen with some electricity cables.

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    “Our patrol team was drafted to the area and the three suspects who hailed from Ungwan Bawa area of the town were promptly arrested,” he said.

    Hassan said the suspects were found to be in possession of some aluminium cables and cutlasses as at the time of their arrest.

  • Command arrests man for allegedly printing, distributing fake Police ID Cards

    Command arrests man for allegedly printing, distributing fake Police ID Cards

    The police in Lagos State have arrested a man, who allegedly paraded himself as a police officer before commercial motorcyclists, whom he allegedly defrauded N670,000.

    The command’s spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday.

    He said the suspect was arrested after information about his activities was received for allegedly printing fake Police ID Card and issuing same to some motorcyclists, who paid him between N50,000 and N70,000.

    He said the purpose of issuing them the card was to serve as ‘Police errand boys’, should they be stopped at any security check point, particularly police check point.

    Read Also: Police arrest 562 suspects in A’Ibom in three months

    “It is a case of conspiracy, impersonation, obtaining money under false pretence and stealing.

    “We got information on December 12 against Michael Utsu and others now at large.

    “The suspect, in October 25, presented himself to be a police officer attached to Zone 2 Headquarters, Onikan Lagos and was collecting passport photographs from commercial motorcyclists.

    “He promised to print them a police plastic identity card meant for errand boys to police, using different police formations for the ID card issued to the motorcyclists, collecting between N50,000 and N70,000 on each ID card issued,” he said.

    The image maker further said the suspect confessed to the crime, stressing that the cards printed were given to motorcyclists at Ojo, Okokomaiko and Ajangbadi axis of Lagos and collected the amount from the victims.

    Hundeyin said the suspect would be charged to court on completion of the investigation.

  • Kidnapping: Police rescue couple in Kaduna

    Kidnapping: Police rescue couple in Kaduna

    The Police Command in Kaduna says it has foiled a kidnap attempt of a man and his wife in Rigasa area of Igabi Local Government Area of the state.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan confirmed the development to the media on Saturday in Kaduna.

    He said operatives of the command on patrol foiled the kidnap attempt between Train Station to Mando Junction and Mahuta village of Igabi and rescued the couple at about 2:05 a.m. on Saturday.

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     “The rescued husband sustained injuries on his shoulder and head but was rushed to Yusuf Danstsho Memorial Hospital for medical attention.

    “The wife has since been reunited with her family,” Hassan said, adding that police had intensified patrol to arrest the culprits.