The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Police

  • Lawyers to IG:  probe ‘land grabbing’ against police orderlies

    Lawyers to IG:  probe ‘land grabbing’ against police orderlies

    Lawyers for Reform Group (LRG) has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to order investigation into alleged use of Police orderlies for land grabbing, brutality, and others in Lagos State.

    According to LRG, over 30 Police Orderlies were illicitly used to perpetrate monumental evils and wanton criminalities in the state.”

    LRG’s Executive Project Director,  Oladotun Hassan, noting that the group of lawyers are committed to ensuring protection of fundamental rights, equitable justice, disclosed that the body was ready to offer succour to Samusideen Oluwo an alleged victim of an attempted murder case but regretted that he was arrested and converted as suspect alongside his co-workers.

    He said it was on behalf and instruction of Oluwo that LRG was calling on the Inspector General of Police to match his word with immediate actions for onward sanitisation of the Nigeria Police Force.

    He said: ”Regrettably, according to reliable sources and evidently seen to the blind that this dreaded Gangs are working closely with police officers at various highest echelons in the Nigeria Police Force to wreck havocs unimpeded, they ridiculously transfer case files, convert petitioners to accused, then illicitly arrest and charge indiscriminately, consequently subverting justice.

    ”Precipitating our urgent request for the immediate discontinuance of prosecution of Mr Samusideen Oluwo and other victims who were grievously and brutally attacked, and deliberately beaten to stupor with 16 mm iron rods and thrown naked on a live video, which was posted on all social media intentionally aimed at criminally defaming and to cause them monumental embarrassments and ridicules before the right thinking members of the society.

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    “We call on the IGP to direct the CP provost marshal to immediately commence action to sanction all erring police officers found culpable in this heinous criminal act.

    ”We further demand for the harmonisation under the IGP direct watch and good office to recall all pending related cases in all police formations in general for proper unbiased investigation, harmonisation, consolidation and prosecution at a court of competent jurisdiction accordingly.

    ”We are aghast and disturbed to see the unending absurdity, unprofessional conducts, biased investigation and gross insubordination to disobey IGP’s earlier ordered instructions on same matters at various points in time, wherein an unfortunate reckless investigation and prosecution of the aforementioned cases.

    ”This premeditated criminal action was compounded by the several professional gross insubordination and misconducts perpetrated by the aforementioned police officers in active connivance of cultists and thugs working day and night with Ibile, wherein they have perfected the acts of frustrating anyone that has cases with the principal suspect Ibile.”

  • BREAKING: Police teargas, disperse protesting UNILAG students

    BREAKING: Police teargas, disperse protesting UNILAG students

    A detachment of officers from Lagos State Police Command has dispersed students who converged on the University of Lagos axis over fee hike protest. 

    The operatives fired teargas to disperse the students. 

    A student solidarity group against fee hike was leading the protest in collaboration with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). 

    They are protesting the astronomical fee hike at UNILAG. 

    UNILAG management in July 2023, increased fees citing “prevailing economic realities” as a reason for the hike.

    Read Also: One killed, another injured as police, youths clash in Lagos

    The Nation observed police had stationed their patrol vehicles with their operatives along strategic routes leading to the varsity. 

    With placards carrying different inscriptions, the protesters also chanted anti-government songs. 

    The Nation learnt four protesters including Femi Adeyeye and Philip Olatinwo — were whisked away in the police van. 

    The Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 election Omoyele Sowore in a terse tweet said: The Management of @UnilagNigeria and the @policeng must ensure immediate release of @activistfemi and others illegally arrested during #FeesMustFall protests that commenced at the university today. 

    “The VC must know that these cowardly acts cannot stop the resistance against the newly introduced school fees.”

    Details shortly…

  • Police arrest security guards for rupturing man’s eye in Ogun

    Police arrest security guards for rupturing man’s eye in Ogun

    In a distressing incident in the Sango Ota area of Ogun state, a man named Ramon Rasaq tragically lost his right eye as a result of an altercation with two security guards, identified as Michael Adelayo and Ganiyu Saka, who inflicted serious injuries on him.

    It was reported that a dispute erupted between Ramon and the security guards after he independently opened the neighbourhood security gate while the two guards were absent from their duty post.

    He consequently proceeded into the street, which incited the ire of the guards.

    In the ensuing altercation, one of the two guards, Ganiyu Saka, resorted to violence and shot Ramon Rasaq in the face, resulting in a severe injury that led to the rupture of his right eye.

    The victim was rushed to a traditional healer who successfully removed seven pellets from his right eye.

    Read Also: Police arrest three suspected cultists in Ogun

    However, the victim’s brother, Abiodun Fatai reported the case as an attempted murder on September 2 at Sango Ota Divisional Police Headquarters where CSP Saleh Dahiru, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), provided the necessary medical forms and facilitated a process for Ramon to be transferred to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.

    Police spokesperson in the state, SP Omolola Odutola, who confirmed the incident on Tuesday, September 5, said that doctors have stabilised Ramon’s condition but added that he has unfortunately lost his right eye.

    Meanwhile, the commissioner of police, CP Abiodun Alamutu, has directed that the suspects be transferred to State Criminal Investigation Departments for further investigation and possible prosecution.

  • Police arrest three suspected cultists in Ogun

    Police arrest three suspected cultists in Ogun

    The Police Command in Ogun on Tuesday said it had arrested three notorious suspected cultists belonging to ”Eiye Confraternity” at Joju area in Sango-Ota.

    The Police spokesperson in the State,SP Omolola Odutola,made this known in a statement issued to newsmen in Sango-Ota.Ogun.

    According to him,the police command was able to apprehend the suspects as a result of credible information provided by an anonymous citizen.

    Odutola said that the suspected cultists were arrested when the Divisional Police Officer(DPO) Sango Ota, CSP Saleh Dahiru, led his anti-robbery team to School 3 in Joju, Sango.

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     She added that it was at this location where the suspects,  Micheal Jackson, Joel Obieva  and Oluwaseun Bamideke, were caught planning their illegal activities.

    Odutola said: “During investigation, the suspects confessed that they were part of a larger gang of “Eiye confraternity”, comprising five members, with their leader still at large.

    “Their intention was to meet at the school before carrying out their planned operation.

    “However, thanks to the swift action of the Sango Division police, they were apprehended before they could execute their nefarious plans.”

    She said that the police were currently making efforts to track down the remaining suspects who managed to escape arrest.

    Odutola further said that the suspects in their custody would be charged to Court once the investigation being conducted by the State Criminal Investigation Department was completed.

    (NAN)

  • Police nab 32 suspected kidnappers, recover N1.6m in Adamawa

    Police nab 32 suspected kidnappers, recover N1.6m in Adamawa

    The Adamawa State Police Command has paraded 32 armed robbery and kidnap suspects.

    The police, while speaking with newsmen at the command state headquarters in Yola on Monday, September 4, also presented N1,689,000 cash recovered from the suspects.

    Among the paraded suspects was one Mustapha Mohammed who is linked with the abduction of Zainab Abbas, the wife of an Adamawa State high court judge.

    Zainab Abbas was abducted from her residence in Nyibango, along the Barracks Road section of Jimeta, Yola, in the early hours of June 7, 2023, by gunmen said at the time to be unknown.

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    The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Nguroje, who addressed newsmen while parading the suspects and the items recovered from them, listed the other items as 13 AK-47 rifles, five locally made pistols, four pump action guns, four motor vehicles, among others.

    The PPRO, after addressing the press on the arrests, led the newsmen to the office of the state commissioner of police, Afolabi Babatola who presented merit plaques to 11 police officers and four hunters who the CP said were behind recent crime-fighting successes.

    Among the Police operatives recognized were mostly leaders of the state Crack Squad.

  • Police arrest suspects who robbed Lagos nightclub, killed Inspector

    Police arrest suspects who robbed Lagos nightclub, killed Inspector

    Operatives of the Lagos Police Command have arrested robbery suspects who allegedly attacked a popurlar nightclub at Ikeja GRA and also killed an Inspector at Alausa.

    Both incidents occurred on the night of July 19.

    The suspects, Salami Ahmed, 30, Ismaila Adio, 22, Toheeb Muri, 23, Seyi Olajide, 24, Nelson Sunday, 34 and James Nnamani, 24, were arrested at their hideouts in Alagbado and Amikanle areas on August 3, and the AK-47 service rifle of the murdered Inspector recovered from them.

    They were among 66 other suspects paraded at the weekend by the Commissioner of Police, CP Idowu Owohunwa at the Officers’ Mess in Ikeja.

    According to the police, the suspects had attacked the nightclub and dispossessed all the clubbers at the venue of their valuable possessions.

    While they were trying to escape with their loot, a lone police officer said to be passing by got information about what transpired and was able to shoot one of them on the leg but his accomplices successfully carried him with them.

    While on their way to their hideout, the suspects, it was gathered, sighted a lone Police Inspector around Airport Hotel, Ikeja, shot him dead and carted away his service rifle.

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    The murdered Inspector was alleged to be on illegal duty at the time the armed robbers killed him.

    Based on the incidents, the police commenced discreet investigations that led to the arrest of the suspects around 10pm on August 3. The AK-47 rifle loaded with 21 rounds of live ammunition was also recovered from them.

    Police sources told The Nation that the suspects were not first time armed robbers, adding that they had been arrested on several occasions in the past and charged to court.

    The suspects, it was learnt, allegedly confessed to several murders including those of security personnel.

    Parading the suspects, CP Owohunwa urged individuals and companies seeking police services to follow the right channel to avoid falling into the wrong hands.

    “To this end, I have set up a taskforce headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, to checkmate illegal duty by officers by identifying such officers and promptly arresting them for further disciplinary action. The taskforce has since commenced work,” he said.

    The police boss said the command recovered 14 firearms including two AK-47 rifles with one of them being locally fabricated; two locally fabricated toy guns, 15 live cartridges, four expended cartridges, 25 live ammunition and five machetes.

    He said 34 bags of weed suspected to be cannabis sativa, six vehicles, two bags containing fake US Dollars, fake Pound Sterling notes, two award plaques from Buccaneer fraternity, one Buccaneer banner, a pair of police camouflage uniform, a jack knife, police identity card, two hoods, black pipes and 66 kegs of fake Total engine oil were also recovered within the period.

    Among those arrested, Owohunwa said were two alleged police impersonators, Solomon Ochohepor, 40, and Abu Ibrahim, 47, apprehended around 1pm on August 10.

    The suspects, he said, presented themselves as Mobile Policemen guarding an estate, adding that they were arrested while trying to effect an arrest on a case reported by a lady who thought them to be genuine officers.

    “One fabricated AK47 rifle with three live ammunition, a pair of police camouflage uniforms, a jack knife and police identity card were recovered from the suspects,” said the CP.

  • NSCDC, police, DSS, others clamp down on illegal sand miners in Rivers, arrest 34

    NSCDC, police, DSS, others clamp down on illegal sand miners in Rivers, arrest 34

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the police, the Department of State Security Service (DSS), and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) have commenced a joint security operation to rid Rivers State of the activities of illegal sand miners.

    In one of the operations led by the patrol team of NSCDC Sold Minerals Unit, the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel and Ministerial Task Force on illegal mining  34 suspects were apprehended at Rumuokarali/ Rumualogu community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State.

    The Rivers State Commandant of the corps, Basil Igwebueze, who confirmed the development in a statement signed by the Rivers NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Olufemi Ayodele, paraded the suspects in Port Harcourt.

    He said while conducting the operation, the NSCDC operatives also nabbed one Daniel Mathew for luring a 15-year-old girl to a Hotel in China, near Port Harcourt and tried to defile her.

    Igwebueze said during the raid, a Chinese notorious for illegal sand dredging escaped the scene through the back gate of a hotel adding that the arrest was made possible through credible intelligence.

    Igwebueze said that the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Department of State Services (DSS), the police and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) were part of the operation.

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    He said: “With the collaborative efforts of our men, the Federal Ministry of mines and steel and the Ministerial Task Force on illegal Mining comprising the EFCC, NSCDC, DSS, Nigeria Police, Immigration Service, and Nigerian, the 34 suspects were caught in the act of dredging sharp sands illegally thereby causing environmental degradation in the area and three dredging machines were retrieved at the crime scene.

    “In addition, a Chinese man was sighted at the scene of the crime as information revealed that he is notorious for engaging in illegal mining activities.

    “He, however, escaped through the back gate of a nearby Hotel in Choba, Obio/Akpo Local Government Area.

    “While tracing the suspect our personnel heard the cry of a young lady who said her sister aged 15 had been lured into one of the hotel rooms.

    “After a thorough search, our men were able to rescue the 15-year-old girl from the hand of one Mr. Daniel Mathew who is now in custody and currently under interrogation”.

    The State Commandant said thorough investigations would be carried out to ascertain the level of involvement of each suspect, after which they would be charged to Court.

    Igwebueze advised members of the public to report all acts of criminality or suspicious movement in their neighborhood to the NSCDC and other security agencies for prompt action.

    The commandant assured residents that any information volunteered would be treated with utmost confidentiality, saying, “If you see something please say something.”

  • Police advisory

    Police advisory

    The Nigerian Railway Police Command, Ebutta Metta has advised  the public  especially those who lost their motorcycles to theft or left abandoned  around the city to report at Bodija Railway Police Station , Ibadan  for identification and claim within two weeks

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    The motorcycles are two unregistered Bajaj and Bajaj with registered no AKW 774 WU, a statement by Bukola Ojueromi, Superintendent of Police said. 

  • Police sack two for alleged involvement in double murder

    Police sack two for alleged involvement in double murder

    The Adamawa State Police Command has dismissed two of its men.

    The Command said in a statement yesterday that the duo, an inspector and a corporal, were tried and found guilty of various offences.

    It did not specify the offences, but our correspondent gathered that they concerned the murder of two women in June this year for alleged witchcraft.

    Three policemen, who were accused at the time of helping a mob to beat the women to death, were arrested alongside 10 other suspects.

    The police command had promised that the suspects would be investigated and subjected to the law.

    Giving an update via a statement yesterday, the Police said: “On 30/8/2023, Adamawa State Police Command tried Insp Ahmed Suleiman and PC Mahmood Muhammed formerly attached to Dumne Divisional Police Headquarters, in an orderly room trial.

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    “The men were tried on three-count charges, discreditable conduct to wit: defamation of character, culpable homicide and unlawful exercise of authority contrary to paragraph ‘E’(I)(iii) and ‘Q’(I) (iii) of First Schedule of Police Act and Regulations, Section 370, 2020 as Amended.

    “The Command found them guilty as charged and recommended the punishment of dismissal for both defaulters. They are to be charged to court alongside other co-suspects.”

    The statement, signed by Police Public Relations Officer Suleiman Nguroje, explained that the constable had been de-kitted while the inspector would be de-kitted after fulfilling some administrative procedures.

  • Police arrest six for alleged defilement in Kebbi

    Police arrest six for alleged defilement in Kebbi

    The police command in Kebbi State has arrested six persons for allegedly defiling minors.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Samuel Musa, stated this when he briefed newsmen in Birnin Kebbi.

    ‘’On August 17 at about 1pm, one Ahmed Muhammed of Koko town in Koko-Besse Local Government Area (LGA) reported that his 16-year-old daughter left home to an unknown destination.

    ‘’During investigation, she was traced to somewhere in Koko town and she revealed that five persons had had carnal knowledge of her.

    “She disclosed that one Suleiman Abubakar, Yunusa Garba, Suleiman Hamza, Yahaya Abubakar and Shamsudeen Muhammed of the same address lured her to their houses on different occasions and had sexual intercourse with her

    “The suspects have been apprehended and will be charged to court on conclusion of investigation,” Musa said.

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    He said that one Yusha’u Adamu also reported that his niece was defiled by the same suspects.

    ‘’On August 21 at about 9pm, one Yusha’u Adamu of Aleiro town reported that on August 18 at about 6pm, his 10-year-old niece was defiled by one Saidu Sani of the same address.

    “After having carnal knowledge of the victim, he threatened to kill her if she dared reveal the secret.

    ‘’Also, on July 24 at about 10am, acting on intelligence, one Hauwa Suleiman of Babbar Dogo village in Maru LGA of Zamfara was arrested in possession of 566 rounds of 7.62x39mm live ammunition,’’ Musa said.