The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Police

  • Police arrest burglar of senator’s home

    Police arrest burglar of senator’s home

    The police in Delta State have arrested Mr. Emeka Ezeonyi, who allegedly broke into the home of Senator Peter Nwaoboshi in Asaba and stole money and valuables, spokesman Andrew Aniamaka said yesterday in Asaba.

    He alleged that the suspect stole phones, laptops and cash.

    Aniamaka said the suspect, who hailed from Umuchu village in Aguata Local Government of Anambra State, confessed to have burgled the lawmaker’s residence.

    He added that the suspect also confessed to partaking in other robberies and burglaries in Asaba, Owerri, Makurdi and Enugu.

    “The Delta Police Command, with effective collaboration of the IGP’s Intelligence Response Team, on October 24, arrested Emeka Ezeonyi for his involvement in burglaries and stealing.

    “Upon his arrest, the suspect confessed to have burgled the homes of personalities in Asaba, Owerri, Makurdi and Enugu,” the spokesman said.

    He said Police Commissioner Mr. Zanna Ibrahim hailed the officers who arrested the suspect.

  • Police arrest suspected Chinese ‘kidnapper’

    Police arrest suspected Chinese ‘kidnapper’

    The police in Ogun yesterday said a Chinese, Lee Qiang, kidnapped on Monday along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, has been rescued.

    Qiang was kidnapped by six armed men around 5pm at Ogere while on his way to Abeokuta, the state capital.

    It was gathered that he was rescued Tuesday morning by operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) in Ogun, who engaged the kidnappers in a gun duel.

    According to the spokesman for the command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), the police overpowered the kidnappers, who fled with gunshot wounds.

    However, Oyeyemi said one of them was arrested by the FSARS team led by Uba Adam, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).

    He said: “The man was going to Abeokuta from Kogi when they kidnapped him. He was in his vehicle with his driver. They kidnapped him for ransom but they were unable to get it because they were immediately hunted.

    “The Commissioner of Police Ahmed Iliyasu dispatched operatives of the FSARS to the scene with a clear instruction that the victim must be rescued unhurt and the hoodlums apprehended.

    “The team swung into action, combed the entire area and later located the hideout of the kidnappers. On sighting policemen, the hoodlums engaged them in a gun battle at the end of which one of the suspects was arrested while others escaped with gunshot injuries.

    “The victim was rescued unhurt.

    The arrested suspect is currently helping the police in their investigation, while the victim has been reunited with his people. The Commissioner is appealing to the public, especially hospitals and health workers to report anybody with bullet injuries if seen in their area.”

  • Bayelsa Police arrest 66 teenagers, 16 suspected robbers, cultists

    Bayelsa Police arrest 66 teenagers, 16 suspected robbers, cultists

    The Bayelsa State Police Command has raided criminal hideouts and arrested 66 teenagers and 16 suspected armed robbers, five kidnappers and cult members across the state.

    Parading the suspects at the headquarters of the state police command in Yenagoa, the state capital, on Tuesday, the police also displayed assorted arms and ammunition recovered from the suspects.

    The arms and ammunition recovered from the suspects were four locally-made revolver pistols, two pump actions guns, one 7.62mm live ammunition, 20 .9mm live ammunition and 30 rounds of AAA cartridges.

    Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Amba Asuquo, said the 66 teenagers, who were between 14 to 17 were nabbed with weeds suspected to be Indian Hemp.

    He said the minors consisting of 36 males and 30 females were arrested when the State Anti-Robbery Squad raided a community in Ekeki area of Yenagoa metropolis.

    He, however, said the teenagers would not be charged but would be counselled in the presence of their parents, warned and discharged.

    The police boss said on September 28, one Yoko Nathan, 31, and others at large, came from Azegbene community in Ekeremor Local Government Area to Yenagoa to buy three AK47 rifles but were trailed by detectives.

    He said Nathan was arrested on Tombia Road, Yenagoa while trying to exchange money for the guns, while others fled.

    He said the suspect confessed that the guns were meant for kidnapping, sea robbery and armed robbery.

    Asuquo said: ”On October 4, 2017, about 7pm, policemen on patrol intercepted a tricycle with three occupants, armed with a locally-made revolver pistol with five rounds of live ammunition on Melford Okilo Road.

    ”On sighting the police team, the hoodlums fled. They were chased by the police and one of them was arrested, other gang members were traced to Tana Suite on Custom Road, Biogbolo, Yenagoa.

    ”The suspects were searched and one locally made revolver pistol with five rounds of .9mm live ammunition was recovered from one of the suspects, James Oweifa, 21. The other suspect is Peter Enang, 22. The investigation is ongoing.”

    Asuquo said on October 5, one Godbless Miller, 28, Agala Lawrence, 26 and Longlife Edwin, 23, all of Opolo-Epie community were rounded up in connection with cult activities at a hideout in Opolo

    He said one of the suspects, Miller, admitted being a trafficker of Indian hemp and the member of Greenlander cult.

    The police boss also confirmed the arrest and release of Mr. Oguanisi Akpusu, a nephew of former President Goodluck Jonathan over the alleged shooting of two persons during a masquerade festival at Emeyal 1 community of Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.

    Asuquo said though investigations showed that the shooting was “accidental”, the victims of the accident sustained gunshots injuries on their legs and thighs.

    He said, Akpusu, who was part of the ongoing masquerade festival in Ogbia kingdom shot two persons at Omeyal 1 and was arrested by policemen attached to the Kolo Police Division.

    Asuquo said, “Preliminary investigations‎ showed that it was a case of accidental discharge at a masquerade ceremony in Otuoke and Emeyal area of Ogbia LGA. The victims are being taken care of by the suspect and the Ogbia people. It may have been a mistake.”

  • Police nab eight kidnap suspects in Adamawa

    Police nab eight kidnap suspects in Adamawa

    The police in Adamawa have arrested eight persons, suspected to be behind kidnapping cases in the state.

    The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Moses Jitoboh, told newsmen on Tuesday in Yola, that the suspects were arrested on Sept. 23 , in Mubi South Local Government Area of the state.

    Jitoboh explained that their arrest was as a result of intensive security patrol by men of his command.

    “Exhibits recovered from the suspected kidnappers include one locally made pistol, two live 7.62 millimeter ammunition, 58 live cartridges and seven empty cartridges.

    “Others are one double-barreled gun, two masks, one ear protector, two military helmets and  SIM cards, among others,” Jitoboh said.

    He said the police had also arrested three suspects for criminal conspiracy, store-breaking and stealing of property belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ).

    According to the police commissioner, the suspects were arrested for stealing 120 laptops belonging to the Adamawa INEC office on June 19, 2017.

    He gave assurance that the command would continue to collaborate with the other security agencies in the state to protect lives and property of the citizens.

    NAN

  • Police nab undergraduate for fraud

    Police nab undergraduate for fraud

    Enugu State Police Command has arrested a suspect involved in impersonation of bank customers and beneficiaries of transfers from abroad, spokesman Ebere Amaraizu said in a statement.

    He added that the 23-year-old suspect was an undergraduate from Amaigbo in Nwangele Local Government of Imo State.

    Amaraizu said the suspect went to a new generation bank on Okpara Avenue in Enugu metropolis to cash 800 U.S. dollars purported to have been sent to him by someone abroad.

    “When he was asked by bank workers to provide proof of identification, he presented an identity card bearing the name of Eleng Okpara Peter, likely to be the authorised beneficiary.

    “He smartly superimposed his passport photograph on that of the likely beneficiary and presented himself to be Eleng Okpara Peter.

    “When he could no longer establish his innocence, it was obvious he was trying to withdraw money sent to another person by impersonating the beneficiary,” he said.

    According to him, the suspect earlier claimed the money was sent to him as a gift by a female Facebook friend.

    The spokesman said investigation showed the account number he presented as his belonged to someone else.

    The command advised the public to be security conscious and not disclose their bank details and vital personal information to anybody.

  • Why we invited Omisore, by Police

    Why we invited Omisore, by Police

    •Ex deputy governor yet to show up

    Senator Iyiola Omisore was invited in connection with a 2014 assault case against the late senator Isiaka Adeleke because of the request by the Director of Public prosecution (DPP), Osun State Police Commissioner Femi Fimihan said yesterday.

    The one-time deputy governor who was asked to report to the police on Friday but who said in a statement he issued at the weekend that he would report yesterday did not show up at the state police command headquarters.

    The police chief said yesterday: “The action of the police is within the ambit of the law. The Directorate of Public Prosecution in the Ministry of Justice requested for the case file and we gave them. They realised that the statement by Senator Omisore was not there and the DPP requested that we should provide the statement.

    “That was why he was invited. He was not the only one invited. People should not read politics into the activities of the police. We are only investigating a criminal case and we are doing our job as demanded by the law.

    “The actions and activities of the police are not regulated by politics and sentiment. We don’t act on sentiment.

    “The case of assault on the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke was kept in view and when the DPP asked for the case file, it had to be provided.”

     

     

     

     

  • Police arrest man, 29, for raping woman, 85, to coma

    Police arrest man, 29, for raping woman, 85, to coma

    The Osun State Police Command yesterday arrested a 29-year-old man, Kehinde Ariyo, from Ilesha in Ilesa West Local Government Area, for allegedly raping an 85-year-old woman to coma.

    The suspect was said to be on the second round with the old woman when she collapsed.

    He was said to have scaled the offence of the victim’s house and broken the door to commit the offence.

    Addressing reporters last night in Osogbo, the state capital, Police Commissioner Fimihan Adeoye said: “The suspect, Kehinde Ariyo, gained access to the woman’s house at the Ogudu area of Ilesa, before forcing her to bed around 11 p.m.”

    Adeoye, who said the incident happened last Friday, added that the victim sustained injuries in her genitals and other parts of her body.

    He said: “The aged victim lost consciousness during the alleged rape and was resuscitated at a hospital, where she was rushed to by neighbours.

    “The woman passed out during the rape, but came back to life after some hours. The suspect was arrested the next day. This is the height of wickedness in our society. The man injured the woman in the process, but she has been treated.”

    Also, the suspect told reporters that he committed the offence.

    He said: “I only had two rounds with her and she did not faint. I was arrested the next day when I was woken up. Some people poured water on me when I was asleep, and I saw some policemen.

    “What happened was that I stayed late at a party. On my way home, I decided to sleep over at Mama Kehinde’s place. I knocked and she opened the door for me. I explained to her that I couldn’t get home that night since it was around 11 p.m.

    “Mama asked me to sleep on a couch in the passage. I was already drunk and did not know what happened afterwards.”

     

  • Police to quiz Omisore over 2014 assault on Adeleke

    Police to quiz Omisore over 2014 assault on Adeleke

    Osun State Police Command has invited  Senator Iyiola Omisore, over an alleged assault reported to the command by the late Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke in 2014.

    In a letter titled “Invitation to Police station” dated October 20, Omisore is expected to meet with Deputy Commissioner of Police (State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence department.)

    The letter signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Umege Uzochukwu read: “You are invited to meet with the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department in connection with a case of assault occasioning harm reported by the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke against you.

    Looking forward to seeing you on the 27th day of October, 2017 at about 1200hrs please” But it was learnt that Omisore did not honour the invitation on Friday.

    In a statement yesterday, Omisore said he received “the very curious but interesting invitation”

    He added:  “We all know that as Nigerians we are living in a very interesting time. The culture now is to source for scapegoats in members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for every inaction of government. The tragic instance in which the late former Osun State governor, a distinguished senator of the Federal Republic, died is still fresh in our memories, particularly the controversy that his death generated across the nation.

    “Therefore, I want the public to know about the plot and keep them informed about this sinister plan, which I believe is just unfolding, against myself, some other members of the opposition and even the good memory Osun people cherish about Senator Adeleke.”

  • Pension for ex-Biafran police officers

    SIR: The commencement of payment of pension benefits by Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) to Nigeria Police officers who fought on the side of Biafra during the Nigerian Civil War from 1966-1970 is a commendable initiative by the present administration.

    At the end of the Civil War in 1970, officers of the Nigeria Police, military and paramilitary who fought on the side of Biafra were dismissed from service. This was contrary to the spirit of no victor, no vanquished and reconciliation espoused by the then General Yakubu Gowon administration.

    Since their unfortunate dismissal from service, the affected officers and their families have had to live with the unpleasant agony of being denied their benefits. The various administrations in the country, both military and civilian, were unable to resolve this intractable problem which had remained a sad chapter of the Biafra saga.

    However, their hope was restored in 2000 when President Olusegun Obasanjo granted them presidential amnesty, which commuted their dismissal to retirement. But the process of getting their pension benefits had been quite tortuous and frustrating.

    For 17 years, these aged and frail former police officers had to undergo series of verification exercises conducted by the now defunct Police Pension Office, which not only lacked the capacity but unnecessarily over-bureaucratic in handling pension matters.

    What makes their matter very interesting and unique is that 47 years after the civil war ended and 17 years after the amnesty was granted, they now have every reason to celebrate. This is because the Pension Trust Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has embarked on payment. The exercise which was flagged off in Enugu on Friday, October 20, involved a total of 162 officers who are still living and 57 next-of-kin of their dead colleagues who were paid their pension benefits. Though this was coming 47 years after the civil war, it was better than never.

    One must acknowledge the magnanimity of President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the payment to the ex-Biafra Police officers. This is a clear demonstration that the president has a listening ear and also willing to accommodate the interest of all Nigerians irrespective of tribal or ethnic background.

    Equally deserving commendation is the Executive Secretary of PTAD, Barrister Sharon Ikeazor, for the prompt and efficient resolution of the pension palaver. The executive secretary, who is barely one year in office, has shown that she is capable of providing the required leadership that will redefine pension administration is Nigeria.

    To a large extent, those who are clamouring for restructuring or crying of marginalization are doing so because they feel that the country has not given them a sense of belonging. But the commitment of PTAD and the Buhari administration in the payment of pension benefits to ex-Biafran police officers and those who fought on the side of Biafra in the ill-fated 30 months civil war would certainly go a long way to build bonds of unity and accelerate genuine reconciliation among the people.

     

    • Ogechukwu Ajuzie,

    Abuja.

  • 2 suicide bombers killed in Maiduguri

    2 suicide bombers killed in Maiduguri

    The Police in Borno on Sunday said two female suicide bombers were killed while trying to sneak into Maiduguri metropolis.

    Mr Victor Isuku, the Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview in Maiduguri.
    Isuku said that the incident occurred on Sunday evening along Maiduguri-Gamboru highway.

    He said that one of the suicide bombers detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs) strapped to her body and killed herself, while the other bomber was gunned down by security operatives before she detonated the bomb concealed to her body.

    Isuku explained that the incident occurred at the outskirt of Maiduguri, adding that there were no casualties recorded in the incident.

    “Preliminary information available to me indicates that two female suicide bombers tried to sneak into Maiduguri, one of them detonated the IED on her body and killed herself while the other one was gunned down.

    “Police EOD teams have been deployed to the scene to sanitize the area,” he added. (NAN)