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Tag: Police

  • Police kill nine kidnap suspects

    The police have killed nine suspected kidnappers, who operated on Abuja-Kaduna expressway.

    They said the suspects were killed during an exchange of gunshots with criminals at a forest.

    It was learnt that two suspects escaped with gunshot injuries, while one operative of the Force was wounded.

    Recovered from the suspects are: six Ak47 rifles, one pump action gun, 1,206 rounds of Ak47 ammunition, seven magazines, 28 cartridges and 158 expended shells.

    This is contained in a statement in Abuja yesterday by Force spokesman Frank Mba.

    The statement reads: “The unrelenting efforts to root-out criminals terrorising commuters along Abuja–kaduna expressway recorded additional successes on April 10, with the recovery of six Ak47 rifles, one pump action gun, 1,206 rounds of Ak47 ammunition, seven magazines, 28 cartridges and 158 expended shells by the police attached to ‘Operation Puff Adder’ deployed in the area.

    “The recovery followed exchange of gunshots between the police and a heavily- armed notorious criminal gang at Akilbu forest, off Abuja-Kaduna expressway, which resulted in the death of nine members of the gang. Two escaped with gunshot injuries.

    “One of the police operatives, however, sustained gunshot wound. He is in hospital. Efforts are being intensified to arrest the fleeing members of the gang.”

    Expressing satisfaction about the successes recorded so far in the fight against kidnapping and other crimes across the country, the Inspector-General Police, Ag. IGP Mohammed Adamu, reiterated his call for support by the public to the police and other sister agencies.

    He said the war against bandits would soon be won.

  • Monarch to Police: Don’t be quick to release arrested bandits

    The Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulminu kabir Usman has warned the Nigerian Police Force against quick release of arrested bandits and kidnappers, without proper integration to ascertain the degree of their culpability.

    The monarch also urged the police to remain impartial and ensure that justice is done without discriminating or respecting the caliber of the suspect, as the force embarks on war against bandits and kidnappers in the North West.

    The Emir who made the call while receiving Acting Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar in his palace, also decried a situation where a criminal is arrested and handed over to the Police only to be found walking freely on the streets the next day probably because of his connection or position in the society.

    READ ALSO: Buhari to security chiefs: be ruthless with bandits

    He said: “I am happy that you are facing this challenge following your appointment at this time, while praying for the success of you and your men in the war against banditry and kidnapping in the zone I am urging you to ensure justice and punish the culprit. do not spare any one no matter how highly placed .You are asking for our cooperation in providing you with information, please act promptly on any report made and  ensure justice, such will encourage the people and build confidence between you and them’’

    “I spoke to President Buhari and asked him to increase the salary of the police and I am happy he heeded nu request, now I am appealing to him to equip the Police so that they can do a good Job in ensuring security in the North West.”

    Responding, the IGP said the deployment of a special security squad in parts of the state especially the 8 Local government bordering Zamfara state was in compliance with a Presidential directive, and assured of the determination of the force to succeed in the task ahead while appreciating the anticipated cooperation of the traditional ruler and the host communities.

    He assured the emir that the force will remain firm and just in the discharge of the assignment.

  • Police deploy 3,066 personnel for Rivers’ supplementary election

    RIVERS Police Command has deployed over 3,066 personnel to strategic areas for supplementary election in some parts of the state on Saturday. The Command’s Spokesman, DSP Nmandi Omoni, made this known in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Friday.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on March 21, announced plans to conduct supplementary elections in Abua/Odua, Ahoada West, Gokana and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas of the state. According to Omoni, the police and sister security agencies are ready to provide adequate security to ensure hitch-free polls. “The Command has deployed a total of 3,066 personnel to be complemented by other sister security agencies to provide security and maintenance of law and order in the affected LGAs.

    “This was done to realise the full objectives of the supplementary election as well as engender a seamless exercise,” he said. Omoni said that restriction of movement in the affected local government areas would begin 11:59 a.m. on Friday and end 2 p.m. on Saturday.

    “Politicians are barred from going to the polling units with security details. This will not be tolerated. “The police and other security agencies will be on patrol to ensure strict compliance to this order and possibly make arrest of election violators,” he warned. The police spokesperson warned that any individual or group seen undermining the electoral process would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the Electoral Act. (NAN)

  • Police deploy 3,066 personnel for Rivers’ supplementary election

    Rivers Police Command has deployed over 3,066 personnel to strategic areas for supplementary election in some parts of the state on Saturday.

    The Command’s Spokesman, DSP Nmandi Omoni, made this known in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Friday.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on March 21, announced plans to conduct supplementary elections in Abua/Odua, Ahoada West, Gokana and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas of the state.

    According to Omoni, the police and sister security agencies are ready to provide adequate security to ensure hitch-free polls.

    “The Command has deployed a total of 3,066 personnel to be complemented by other sister security agencies to provide security and maintenance of law and order in the affected LGAs.

    “This was done to realise the full objectives of the supplementary election as well as engender a seamless exercise,” he said.

    Omoni said that restriction of movement in the affected local government areas would begin 11:59 a.m. on Friday and end 2 p.m. on Saturday.

    “Politicians are barred from going to the polling units with security details. This will not be tolerated.

    “The police and other security agencies will be on patrol to ensure strict compliance to this order and possibly make arrest of election violators,” he warned.

    The police spokesperson warned that any individual or group seen undermining the electoral process would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the Electoral Act. (NAN)

  • IG orders downsizing of Police headquarters, others for efficiency

    To inject fresh ideas for administrative efficiency, policemen who have spent four years and above at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, Zonal or state commands are to be posted out, The Nation learnt on Thursday.

    This is just as the acting Inspector General of Police (IG) Mohammed Adamu has directed a downsize of personnel strength in the aforementioned places for operational exigencies.

    Our Correspondent gathered that this may not be unconnected with the desire to contain the practice whereby officers and order ranks perpetuate themselves at the various command headquarters to escape deployment to crisis zones.

    It was gathered that the IG was also concerned by the spate of violent crimes across the country and the seeming inability of the police to take charge.

    Read Also: Police bust suspected child theft syndicate

    Our correspondent gathered that IG was unsatisfied with the level of manpower redundancy and was going all out to enhance the personnel base of state commands for improved crime control capacity.

    A source who hinted on the development disclosed that it was contained in a signal signed by the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to the IG Idowu Owohunwa, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).

    The source said: ” The IG has approved the downsizing of the personnel profile of the Force Headquarters, Zonal Headquarters and State Command Headquarters with immediate effect.
    The downsizing will affect officers at the Force Headquarters Abuja and Lagos Annex. Some officers have served so many years at these places and they keep working their postings to stay there.

    “The directive mandated all departments within the Force Headquarters Abuja and Zonal and State headquarters to start reducing their personnel strength by at least 30 percent. It is for both officers and rank and file. It gave one-week deadline for the list (comprehensive nominal roll of personnel by department) to reach the IG secretariat.

    “That those who have stayed more than four years must be redeployed from the headquarters as well as those adjudged to be lacking in capacity to contribute meaningfully to the mandates of the departments.

    “All those to be deployed from the Force Headquarters will be posted to state commands across the country to boost manpower.”

  • BREAKING: Police arrest WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange

    Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange has been arrested at the Ecuadorian embassy in London.

    Assange has been living at the embassy in London’s plush Knightsbridge district since 2012 when he sought refuge there after being accused of sexual assault in Sweden.

    Assange was initially detained for “failing to surrender to the court” over a warrant issued in 2012 and was in custody at a central London police station, Metropolitan Police said.
    He will appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London as soon as is possible, police added.
    Mr Assange set up Wikileaks in 2006 with the aim of obtaining and publishing confidential documents and images. The organisation hit the headlines four years later when it released footage of US soldiers killing civilians from a helicopter in Iraq.

  • Suspected ritualists kill 50-yr-old woman in Ondo

    A 50-year old woman and indigene of Ikaram-Akoko in Akoko Northwest local government area of Ondo state simply called ‘Iya Dunsi’ who was a palm oil seller has been reportedly killed near her house at Odiolowo, Arigidi-Akoko by suspected ritualists.

    Sources said her two breasts were clinically removed.

    Her body was said to have been dropped about 100 metres to his house.

    Scores of passers-by and sympathisers were catching a glimpse of her naked corpse, while rope was tied in one of her legs.

    The Divisional Police Officer (DPO)for Okeagbe-Akoko, Ibitayo Adetanranmi, a Superintendent of Police(SP) confirmed the incident.

    Read Also: Woman faces N4.5m gold investment fraud charge

    He assured that the perpetrators of the heinous crime would be fished out.

    The Ikare Area Commander, Razak Rauf, an Assistant Commissioner of Police(ACP) said criminals like ritualists would not be spared under his command.

    It would be recalled that three similar cases happened late last year at Ikare-Akoko involving women with their private parts and breasts removed.

    Another eight-year-old pupils of St. George’s Anglican Primary School Oke-agbe, headquarters of Akoko Northwest was also killed in similar circumstances.

  • Police bust suspected child theft syndicate

    The police in Ogun have arrested members of a suspected child theft syndicate and rescued three of their victims.

    Kate Njoku, Joy Okorie and Onyeka Joseph were alleged to have stolen eight children from various parts of the state, who they sold to buyers in Anambra State.

    A statement by command spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the suspects usually pretended to be accommodation seekers and in the process, would kidnap their victims.

    “The syndicate’s mode of operation is to use two of their members to disguise as a couple looking for an apartment to rent, most especially in a place where children of their interest live.

    Read also: Is state police not the answer?

    “They have succeeded in stealing eight children from locations across Ogun State and sold them to buyers in Anambra State, consequent upon which the command launched a manhunt for members of the syndicate.

    “The Anti-kidnapping/Cultism Unit, which was given a mandate to bust the syndicate, embarked on an investigation, which paid off when the principal suspect, Mary Paul, was trailed to Ondo State, where she is on trial. She has been remanded in prison custody.

    “Through synergy with the Ondo Command, information was extracted and that led to the arrest of three other members of the gang. Three of the abducted eight children were subsequently recovered from them.

    “One of the children, Temidayo Ajayi, who was kidnapped with his brother in Sagamu last July, has been reunited with his parents. Efforts are on to rescue his brother from the gang.

    “The suspects have made useful statements to the police on how they stole the children and sold them to their accomplices in Anambra State,” Oyeyemi said.

    He said Police Commissioner Bashir Makama has ordered investigation into the case to nab other members of the syndicate.

     

  • How 19-yr-old robbed, stabbed Assemblies of God Pastor

    The FCT Police Command has arrested one Isaac Agbo, 19-year old for allegedly robbing and stabbing a pastor of Assemblies of God church.

    The suspect who was in company of his friend allegedly went to the residence of the Pastor John Jonathan in Karmajiji area of Abuja and robbed him.

    The suspect who met resistance when they got to the pastor’s house stabbed the pastor with a knife and fled his house.

    According to Police, the pastor was stabbed at his back and is currently recovering at an undisclosed hospital.

    Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, the Commissioner of Police in charge of FCT, CP Bala Ciroma said recent measures put in place by the Command has led to smashing of notorious criminal syndicates, arrest of hardened criminals, recovery of dangerous weapons and other exhibits.

    The CP who was represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Criminal Investigation Department, DCP Salisu Gyadi said 84 other suspects were arrested for various crimes.

    The Command also recovered 25 vehicles of different make from a gang of nine, various phones, locally fabricated rifle, knives, cutlasses, daggers, hammers, axe and other dangerous weapons.

    23 packs of solution used as intoxicant, 43 bottles of different cough syrups containing codeine, hundreds of Exol tablet, hundreds of Dizapam tablets were also recovered.

    Speaking on how Agbo was arrested, the CP said: “On the 8th February 2019, at about 2030 hours, a report was received of a robbery in progress at the residence of one Pastor John in Karmajiji, Abuja. Police operatives moved to the scene and met the pastor in a pool of his blood while a locally made pistol and dagger was left behind by the robbers while they were escaping.

    “In the course of trailing the robbers, One Isaac Agbo aged 19 of Games Village, Abuja was arrested and he confessed to the crime. In his confession, he said that when they got to the house of the Pastor, they were able to enter but met resistance. In the process, they stabbed him at his back and ran when alarm was raised.”

    The CP said Agbo’s accomplice, one Ibrahim is currently at large but effort is being intensified to arrest him.

    The Command also arrested a gang of four suspected armed robbers who specialise in snatching cars and receiving stolen cars.

    The suspects; Ibrahim Abubakar, Usman Bala, Abubakar Sani, and Murtala Mohammed specialize in stealing and snatching cars from shopping malls.

    On how they were arrested, the CP said: “They had an accident around Federal Secretariat in Abuja after snatching a car and tried to escape Police who were on hot pursuit. Upon the arrest of the suspects, they confessed having previously stolen a Honda Accord EOD at shopping mall in central area, a Mercedes Benz at Jinifa Plaza also at Central Area, a Mercedes Benz ML at Next Cash and Carry and three Toyota Camry pencil light models.

    Read Also: NAF strikes bandits in Zamfara, destroys 8 camps, kills scores

    “According to the suspects, they use a knife or gun to dispossess their victims of their cars and search their victims collecting all valuables before leaving. The suspects also disclosed their receivers as Murtala Mohammed and one Danjuma who is at large. The receivers sell the cars somewhere in Kebbi State and usually forge new papers for the vehicles.”

    The Police said efforts are being intensified to arrest Danjuma and recover all the stolen vehicles.

    Ciroma also noted that it has keyed into the Operation Puff Adder recently launched by the Inspector-Gnerel of Police, Ag. IGP Mohammed Adamu, adding that extra personnel have been deployed to Abaji, Kwali, Gwagwalada, Bwari, and Kuje areas with to check the activities of criminals within the FCT.

  • Insecurity:Police arrest five suspected kidnappers in Ondo

    Five suspected kidnappers terrorizing Ondo state citizenry were on Wednesday arrested by men of the Nigeria Police.

    They were apprehended following the abduction of one Omoghae Igbegbon along Akunnu – Akoko/Auga – Akoko road.

    They allegedly disposed him of N185,000 and demanded for N30m ransom for his release.

    Addressing reporters at state police command headquarters, Akure, Police Commissioner, Undie Adie said it took the spirited efforts of his men to track the kidnappers to their hideout in Ibilo, Edo State.

    He said”On April 2 one Prince Omoghae Igbegbon of Senior Staff Quarters, NIFOR, Benin City Edo State was attacked by unknown gunmen numbering six along Akunnu Akoko/Auga Akoko Road in Ondo State.

    “The hoodlums robbed him of N185,000 and dragged him into the bush. The abductors demanded N30m as ransom for his release.

    “On April 3, a team of Policemen with members of vigilante group trailed the kidnappers to their den at Ibilo, Edo State and after exchange of gunfire, the kidnappers fled to unknown destination.

    “They left behind one pump action, one double barrel and two single barrel guns. The victim escaped to a community in Ibilo where he explained his ordeal in the hands of the kidnappers.

    Read Also: Insecurity: Police deepen strategy, launch new operation against bandits – IGP

    “The Police placed the community on red alert to watch out for any strange faces. Thereafter, one Ismaila Wakili,19 years, from Niger State whom the victim later recognized as one of the kidnappers was arrested and handed over to the Police.

    “Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed committing the crime and mentioned other members of his gang.

    “The suspect later led a team of detectives to the hideouts of the hoodlums at Aduwawa in Benin City, Edo state.

    The CP said Abdullahi Sanni, 33, from Kogi State, Mohammed Abdullahi, 36, from Sokoto State, Umoru Usman,25years, from Kebbi state and Sheu Usman, 25, from Niger State were arrested.

    He said the suspect identified them as members of the gangsters terrorizing Akoko axis of the state.

    Adie said efforts were on to arrest other fleeing members of the gang, while those already apprehended would be charged to court after conclusion of the ongoing investigation.

    However, Wakili who had earlier admitted to have participated in the crime denied knowing the other four suspects, stressing that the operation was his first outing.

    On last Monday bank robbery in Idoani, where seven persons were killed, the Police Commissioner said investigation was on to unveil the perpetrators.

    Adie added that security measures have been scaled up around bank premises across the 18 local government areas of the state.