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Tag: Police

  • Police Trust Fund

    President Muhammadu Buhari last week assented to the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Bill, about three months after the Senate of the 8th National Assembly passed it, sequel to a concurrence report by the then Leader of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, at plenary.

    A key objective of the bill is to improve on funding for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). The bill was one of the nine bills President Buhari assented to last week; he rejected 17 others. Then Senate President Bukola Saraki said in April when the bill was being passed by the Senate that “by passing this bill, we will be creating big strides towards providing and improving security and policing in our country.

    “One of the major concerns has always been the issue of funding. We believe that this bill will provide the funding needed for training and recruitment. I am confident that by the time we lay the report on the Police Reform Bill, we would have gone a long way in moving the police in the right direction”, Saraki said.

    It is an understatement that the Nigeria Police Force is underfunded. This inadequacy of funds explains so many other shortcomings of the police, which manifest in various forms: inadequate officers and men, corruption, lack of motivation, poor remuneration, frustration, extra-judicial killings, public perception of the force as predatory rather than protectors of the citizens, incompetence and inefficiency, all of which combine to give the police a negative image in the eyes of the average Nigerian.

    The inefficiency of the police has led to a situation where soldiers have taken over their role in many states of the federation. Saraki made the observation when the Senate passed the bill in April: “It is our view that once we have these police bills as laws, we will relieve the burden on the military, so that it can focus on its constitutional responsibility.”

    It is because the Federal Government alone cannot bear the cost of funding the police force that some states have devised ways of assisting the police with money, equipment and logistics. Lagos State, for instance, established a police trust fund into which the government, the private sector and others have keyed, and through it, the police force has been heavily supported and this has in turn led to a reduction in violent crimes in the state.

    While we support the idea of the police trust fund, at least for the police structure we have now, we can only hope that it would be run by trustworthy people so that the kind of experience we had with the former police equipment fund would not repeat itself. Since the police force is part of the Nigerian society, every effort must be made to ensure that its funds are well managed. Even when allocations are made, it must be ensured that the police authorities use the money judiciously.

    All said, however, while it is good to ensure better funding for the federal police such as we have on ground, the best way out of our security challenges is the establishment of state police. This is the practice all over the developed world, even where money is not so much an issue. The truth is that they have come to realise that the best policing can be done by people who understand the environment. This is not possible under a federal police arrangement where the men and officers can be transferred at will to far-flung places where they do not understand the terrain, not to talk of the language and culture of the people they are supposed to be policing.

  • Police shortlist over 1,600 candidates in Ebonyi

    The Nigeria Police Force, Ebonyi Command, said that no fewer than 1,679 applicants were shortlisted to take part in the ongoing screening/recruitment exercise into the Constable cadre of the Force.

    Mrs Loveth Odah, Police Public Relations Officer, Ebonyi Command, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki on Wednesday.

    Odah said that the exercise slated to hold in the state at the Police Officers’ Mess close to the Command’s Headquarters between July 1 and July 20 started as scheduled.

    She, however, decried the poor turnout of the shortlisted candidates for the recruitment, saying that the number of applicants who had so far reported for the exercise was abysmally low.

    Odah regretted that the poor turnout of candidates for the screening exercise was affecting the number expected to be screened daily.

    She advised candidates shortlisted for the screening /recruitment exercise to show up for the exercise to forestall the state losing its quota allocated to it.

    Read Also: Police recruitment: 1,113 begin screening in Lagos

    “We shortlisted 1,679 applicants from the 13 local government areas who applied for the 2018/2019 Police Recruitment exercise.

    “The exercise which is mainly for the lower cadre is for the recruitment of constables into the force but the challenges we are having in the screening is that those shortlisted are not coming forth for the screening.

    “It is actually affecting the number of candidates we are expected to screen per day and this development is not good for the state because it may affect Ebonyi quota for the final intakes.

    “The command has intensified announcements using radio and television stations in the state to urge the shortlisted applicants to come forward for the recruitment exercise,’’ Odah said.

    She said that candidates who were successful in the ongoing certificates and physical fitness screening would move over to the next stage of writing final examination.

    Odah said that the command recorded hitch-free screening /recruitment exercise since the exercise began on July 1.

    (NAN)

  • Cleric seeks special pay for military, police

    Blind cleric and General Overseer of the Hour of Mercy Prayer Ministry, Orioke Alaseyori, Ibadan, Oyo State, Prophet Moses Kasali, has advised the Federal Government to prepare special salaries for security agents to encourage them to end insecurity in Nigeria.

    The cleric said: “Adequate compensations should be given to security men fighting at the warfronts if the Federal Government cannot come up with special salary package for the security formations which Nigerians believe is the best option.”

    Kasali warned the Federal Government and Southwest governors against trivialising the alarm raised by Afenifere that the region was under the siege of herdsmen, but they should begin an aggressive mobilisation of all groups, including traditional rulers and security groups like the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) and vigilance groups, to be on the alert to ward off imminent breakdown of law and order.

    Read Also: Monarch to Army chief: call your men to order

    The cleric added: “The highway robbery in the Southeest, particularly along Aramoko-Efon-Iwaraja, Akure-Ado road, Owo-Ikare road, Ilesa-Akure road, Omuo-Abuja road should be stopped. Lagos-Ibadan axis too is not safe, so the Federal Government must do something about it.

    “Wherever you go in the Southeest, the fear now has been that people are no longer safe because of suspected herdsmen, who are daily killing the people or abduct them.”

  • ‘How I sold old woman’s pants for N2000’

    The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested a man who reportedly stole Madam Modupe Adekoya’s pants.

    Efoghae Friday, 21, confessed to have stolen the underwear belonging to Madam Adekoya, who resides in a three-bedroom flat on 15, Olorunsogo Street, Basiri, Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    According to the police, Friday said some people ordered him to get a pair of pants for them with a promise to give him N2,000.

    The suspect said one of the two pairs of pants belonging to Madam Adekoya was stolen and delivered to the men.

    Speaking with The Nation, the old woman said: “I know Friday very well as he usually comes to assist me in doing some domestic chores at my home. To show appreciation to him, I used to give him meals. I never thought he could do this.

    Read Also: ‘Your pant or your life?’

    “I had washed my pants and put two of them out to dry at 3 a.m on June 10 at the corridor of my house. But when I went to remove it the next morning, I found out that one was missing; then I raised the alarm.

    “After series of investigations, a relative who suspected Friday, called him and urged him to confess. The relative promised not to be angry with him. He did eventually confess to stealing the underwear and that was when we invited the police to arrest him.

    “When he was arrested, he took the police to the house of three boys, claiming that one of them asked him to fetch the underwear and promised to give him N2,000,” she said.

    The suspects were transferred from Irewolede Police Station to the New Iyin Police Station on Bank Road, Ado-Ekiti.

    A relative of the old woman, who did not want his name in print, urged the police to prosecute the suspect and make him provide the pant stolen.

    He also urged the police to charge the suspects to court since they had admitted of have committed the crime.

  • Police begin search for abducted Catholic priest in Edo

    The Edo State Police Command on Monday, said it had begun searching for the priest in charge of Holy Name Catholic Church at Ikpeshi in Akoko Edo Local Government Area, Father Isaac Agubi, who was abducted by gunmen suspected to be abductors.

    Its spokesman Chidi Nwabuzor, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said policemen had visited the scene of the abduction.

    The spokesman said policemen and vigilantes were combing the bush in search of the abducted Catholic priest.

    Also Read: Police arrest 4 currency traders with N780, 000 in Kaduna

    He said the abducted cleric’s vehicle had been recovered.

    It was gathered that Agubi was seized on Auchi-Igarra road at 5 p.m on his return from the parish.

    Also, a lecturer of the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, and four others were abducted at River Ose bridge on Ifoh-Uzeba-Kabo road near Owan West Local Government Area.

    They were released after their people reportedly paid over N600,000 ransom.

    Source said the victims spent four days in the bush before they were released by their abductors.

     

  • Breaking: Police officer kills man in Abia community

    A police officer attached to the Special Protection Unit (SPU) of the Nigeria Police Force Abia State Command whose name is yet-to-be-known has reportedly killed a young man in his middle twenties.

    The policeman was said to have shot the victim, identified as Christian Onuoha, after an argument ensued between them.

    The villagers, it was gathered are protesting the killing…

    Details shortly…

  • May 30 Sit-at-home order: Tension as Police, IPOB, MASSOB renew offensive

    Palpable tension is building in the South East region ahead of the May 30 sit- at home order declared by the pro Biafra agitators as the police and members of the groups yesterday engaged in hot exchange of words over the plan.  The  police have  in strong terms warned the agitators comprising the proscribed indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB  and the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) to rescind the decision to go ahead with the sit- at home order but the agitators, yesterday replied that nothing would make them go back on the directive.

    Following the renewed offensive between the police and the agitators, residents in different parts of the region  during he week engaged panic buying of food items. Some of them who spoke with The Nation said they were doing so to avoid starving to death if the faceoff between the police and the agitators escalates.

    The Anambra State Police Commissioner, Mustapha Dandaura, unequivocally warned the group to desist from its plan or face the wrath of the command and it’s allied forces. The state Police Public Relation’s Officer ,Mr Mohammed Haruna, who had continued to issue statements on-behalf of the command, said the police in collaboration with the Joint Task Force JTF, had made adequate arrangements in making sure that residents were not harassed or intimidated on the said date, warning that the command would deal decisively with any miscreants parading as agitators.

    REad also: Police, IPOB in fresh face -off over May 30 sit -at -home in Anambra

    Haruna said some unscrupulous elements had been secretly moving to some locations in the state trying to hoist unauthorized flags without permission, adding that the command would not fold it’s arms to allow hoodlums invade the state in the name of sit -at -home by faceless people. Police patrol teams ,had already been deployed and they had been patrolling the streets of Onitsha, Awka, Ekwulobia, Nnewi and other flash points in the State. The PPRO said some of the items recovered from the miscreants so far arrested included  many Biafran flags  and other things with Biafran inscriptions. According to the command, ”  recall that the so called (IPOB) is still a proscribed organisation and all its activities remain illegal” “Therefore the command will not relent in it’s efforts of enforcing law and order in the state.”

    Many  police commands in the region had earlier issued similar warnings. Despite the stern warning by the police,  IPOB, said it was not leaving any stone unturned in making sure that Biafrans would remain indoors on May 30 IPOB’s statement was issued in Awka by it’s Media and Publicity Secretary , Emma Powerful and made available to reporters The sit -at -home according to him, was to remember those killed during the war and others recently killed by security operatives and not to cause any trouble as being alleged by the police. In a statement by its leader, Uche Madu, MASSOB said: “A coalition of pro Biafran groups which agreed to speak with one voice in one accord with unity of purposes met and insisted on our earlier resolutions that the annual May 30th celebration of the Bi afran people will hold this year in a unique formula.

    Disturbed by the tension currently building up in the south east region, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide in a statement signed by the President General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said: “We are disturbed by the negative news on the killings of MASSOB and IPOB  members in Anambra State. Few days to the May 30 sit –at- home order, scores of young people have been recorded  dead with many injured innocent youths hospitalized. Over 33 youths were arrested in Nsukka and more casualties could be recorded on the remembrance day.

    “The Southeast governors should as a matter of urgency rise up to the occasion and ensure that their primary assignment which is to protect lives and property of the citizens is carried out. “Many of them (except Anambra governor) will be taking a new oath of office on May 29.  They should not pretend that all is well and allow bloodshed to occur in Igboland as armed herdsmen and bandits are currently doing in the north.

    We aware of the plot to unleash security agents against the agitators but as a precaution and preventive measure, the coalition of Biafra agitators should soft pedal as we can’t afford to expose our unemployed and productive youths to untimely deaths.  They should boycott protests, riots, display of Biafra flags and road procession under the guise of Jewish Community or religion. “We are fully aware of the plans of using road procession in Aba, Owerri,Asaba,Warri, Enugu,Onitsha, Afikpo, Abakiliki,Awka and Calabar to protest against the killings of Igbos by bandits in the North. We beg that there should be no reprisal attacks. Rather, they should be ready to dialogue with Southeast governors and the presidency, if there’s any room for that. The Biafra agitators should remember that ‘once beaten, twice shy’.

  • Police rescue Edo girl sold for N850,000

    •10 suspects in custody

    Men of the Edo State Police Command have rescued a girl, Christabel Omokpia, in Enugu State, who was sold for N850,000 by an orphanage in Rivers State.

    Christabel was two years old when she and her sister, Amanda, were stolen at Utesi village in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State by two female tenants of their father last June.

    Their mother, Faith, left them in care of the tenants, Mary and Rose, who disappeared with the children to an unknown destination.

    Christabel was first sold for N450,000 by the tenants and she was later sold for N500,000 to Ogechi Favour.

    She was thereafter sold for N850,000 to Anioke Augustine in Enugu State.

    A relation of Christabel, identified as Beauty, said the family was happy to have her back.

    She said the girl could not recognise her parents again.

    A police source said she was reunited with her family on Wednesday night.

    The source said Anioke adopted Christabel without due process.

    Command spokesman Chidi Nwabuzor said Police Commissioner Danmallam Abubakar ordered that the children should be rescued.

    He said the search for Christabel took operatives from Edo State to Delta, Anambra, Rivers, Imo and Enugu.

    Nwabuzor said four suspects earlier arrested in connection to the missing children were in prisons in Ondo and Edo states.

    On the whereabouts of Amanda, he said the police would do their best to rescue her.

  • Police arrest 27 suspects in Jigawa

    The police in Jigawa State have arrested 27 suspects for allegedly committing offences.

    Abdu Jinjiri, the police spokesman, made this known in a statement in Dutse yesterday.

    Jinjiri said the arrests were made after the Ag. Inspector-General of the Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, inaugurated `Operation Puff Adder’ in the state with a view to fighting high profile crimes.

    He said the IGP had directed all commissioners of police to launch same in their states.

    “In line with this, the Jigawa Command of the Nigeria Police Force launched the operation at the area commands and divisions across the state, in readiness to confront any security challenge.

    “The operation is promptly launched in order to checkmate any incursion of fleeing criminals from neighbouring states intending to live in Jigawa, which is relatively peaceful,” he said.

    The spokesman added the command took certain security steps such as surveillance, intelligence-led raids of black spot, robust and intensive patrols, and strategic engagement with other law enforcement agents and the public, as a result of which the command recorded some modest achievements.

    Jinjiri said two of the suspects were arrested for alleged criminal conspiracy and kidnapping.

    He added that suspected kidnappers were arrested after some armed bandits on March 18 kidnapped Mr Adre Palsin, an Indian working with Alren Construction Company in Jahun Local Government Area of the state.

    The spokesman further said that 21 of the suspects were arrested for alleged criminal activities and robbery in Dutse Local Government.

    According to him, four of the suspects were arrested in Dutse Local Government for allegedly receiving stolen items and for being in possession of items suspected to be stolen.

    “Three stolen motorcycles were recovered from the suspects,” he added

    Jinjiri, who said the operation in the state was yielding tangible results, added: “Criminals are being hunted with intelligence-led patrols and constant raids of black spots by well-motivated and tireless police officers.”

    He appealed to the public to furnish the police with vital information that would assist them in the discharge of their duties.

  • UPDATED: Police Council confirms Adamu as IG

    The Nigeria Police Council chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday confirmed the appointment of Mohammed Adamu as the substantive Inspector General of Police (IGP).

    The confirmation was carried out at the meeting that was held at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Adamu was appointed in January 15, 2019 in acting capacity at the expiration of the tenure of the former IGP Ibrahim Idris, who retired at the age of 60 years.

    Speaking to State House correspondents after his confirmation, IGP promised to re-organize the Police Force for efficiency and effectiveness in order to face squarely issues of banditry, kidnapping, insurgency and general insecurity across the country.

    According to him, he had briefed the council on the security situation in the country and the efforts the force was making in addressing the situation, adding that he was ready to confront the situation headlong.

    He said that after he made presentations on the strategies he had put in place to address the security challenges in the country to the council, he was confirmed as the IGP.

    He said, “I was ushered in and I briefed the council on the security situation in the country and the efforts we are putting in place or have put in place to address the security challenges.  After the presentation, I was confirmed as the IGP.”

    IGP Adamu said that his confirmation by the Police Council was a huge task to the entire force to put in more energy in helping to address the security situation in the country.

    According to him, “What it means for us is that we have been given a huge task to make sure that we provide security within the country and make the country crime-free, which means that we have to re-double our efforts.

    “Whatever strategy we have put in place, we have to look at it, and re-strategize day in, day out to make sure that the insecurity in the country goes down to the barest minimum.

    “We have to look at our strategy and re-strategize and also look at our personnel to re-organize the way our system is structured, identify the right personnel in the right places to have them do the job. So, it requires re-strategizing for us to be able to dig deep into what is happening in the North West so as to deal with the situation squarely.

    REad also: Police recover Edo girl sold for N850,000

    Adamu noted that he was sure that the security agencies within the country were capable of dealing with the situation.

    “What we need to do is just to re-strategize and then face the criminals squarely.”

    The Nigeria Police Council is made up of 40 members namely, the President, the state governors, the IGP and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission.

    The current Chairman of the Council, Musiliu Smith was also at the meeting with most of the Governors.

    The IGP was joined in the briefing by the new Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade, and the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina.

    Adesina said that all members in the council were unanimous that Adamu in acting capacity performed creditably.

    Section 27 of 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended states that the “Nigeria Police Council shall comprise the following members – (a) the President who shall be the Chairman; (b) the Governor of each State of the Federation; (c) the Chairman of the Police Service Commission; and (d) the Inspector-General of Police

    Section 28 of the same Constitution states the functions of the Council to include amongst others that “ the Nigeria Police Council shall include – (a) the organisation and administration of the Nigeria Police Force and all other matters relating thereto (not being matters relating to the use and operational control of the Force or the appointment, disciplinary control and dismissal of members of the Force); (b) the general supervision of the Nigeria Police Force; and (c) advising the President on the appointment of the Police.