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Tag: Police

  • Police arrest 16 kidnap suspects in Akwa Ibom

    Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested 16 suspected members of a kidnap syndicate said to be responsible for killings and kidnapping in Ukanafun Local Government, Commissioner Zubairu Muazu has said.

    Speaking at the weekend, he said the arrest of the criminals was made possible through a “well planned and coordinated operation.”

    Muazu said: “To build a peace process where crisis had occurred in the past, you need to pass through a lot of stages. Fears were already in the minds of the people and they felt unsafe. To erase this fear, we have to launch an undercover operation.

    “It went as far as people dropping threat messages to individuals in Ukanafun; ‘bring a certain amount of money or else we will kill you’. We got quite a number of such letters and threat messages. We analysed them and identified the syndicate and then launched an attack.”

    The commissioner, who spoke through Bala Elkaner, spokesman, said weapons and other items were recovered from the suspects, who were helping the command with information.

    Elkaner, who reviewed security situation in the restive local governments, said the reactive approach adopted by the command in the past helped the situation.

    This, he said, necessitated not only the introduction of “Operation Purge” by the commissioner, but also going in there to talk to the people.

    “There has been this reactive approach where police move in there, investigate and make arrests. This has not actually helped, so the police commissioner took this proactive measures, not just deploying troops but also meeting the people.

    “He was with the two communities where he held two meetings, discussed, identified and agreed on the solution with the people.”

    The spokesman said part of such solution was to identify buffers zones where the operation could be carried out, to reassure the people of police presence.

    He said the only approach that would bring solution was community policing, where the people would be involved in identifying their problems and proffering solution.

  • Police confirm 6 dead, 5 injured in Plateau village attack

    Police confirm 6 dead, 5 injured in Plateau village attack

    The Plateau Police Command on Sunday confirmed six persons dead and five others injured in a Saturday night attack on Taagbe, a village in Bassa Local Government Area.

    Its Public Relations Officer, Terna Tyopev, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos that the attackers, who invaded the village at 12 midnight, also burnt down 10 houses.

    He said that those injured had been taken to various hospitals in Jos.

    NAN reports that the killings took place a day after Gov. Simon Lalong imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the local government, as part of measures to curtail the attacks on the villagers.

    Lalong had said that the action became necessary “in view of recurring incidences of attacks in the area”

    Mr Udie Adie, the Commissioner of Police in Plateau, on Sunday visited Taegbe, a village in Bassa Local Government, which was invaded by gunmen Saturday night.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the attackers, who invaded the village at midnight, killed six persons and injured scores of others.

    The attackers also burnt down many houses. NAN counted 10 houses totally destroyed.

    Among those killed were five adults and a teenager.

    An eye witness, Mr Sunday Yari, told newsmen, who visited the scene, that the attack took place in the early hours of Sunday.

    “The attackers came with sophisticated weapons and moved from one house to another, unleashing mayhem on the locals.

    “They razed down a lot of houses and destroyed properties worth millions of naira,” he said.

    Yari wondered why the attacks were being casually carried out in spite of the dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed 0n the local government by the Plateau government.

    “It took the grace of God for me to escape. From my hideout, I watched them killing my aged father and two younger ones. I couldn’t act because I was not armed,” he said.

    Adie, who spoke with newsmen at the scene of the attack, described it “very unfortunate”.

    “We shall deploy officers and men to fish out the perpetrators and bring them to book.

    “We shall also identify critical stakeholders within the area and work with them toward ending these attacks. We must find a way to end these incessant attacks on the locals.

    “For now, we shall keep our officers and men on ground to protect the area; we shall try to ensure that no one takes the law into his hands,” he said.

    NAN reports that those killed had been buried while the injured were taken to Inos Hospital, Miango in Bassa Local Government. (NAN)

  • Evans: Police took my N55m, $10,000, 29 vehicles, others

    Evans: Police took my N55m, $10,000, 29 vehicles, others

    Accused kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, a.k.a. Evans, has accused seven senior police officers and others on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team of extortion and sexual assault.

    He alleged that the investigators forcibly obtained his cash in local and foreign currency, phones, wrist watches, jewellery, television, cars and trucks.

    Evans also claimed that his girlfriend, Amaka Offor, “was roundly sexually molested and abused by the above policemen of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team.”

    In an October 13, 2017 petition written on his behalf by his counsel, Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje, he called for “appropriate sanctions and dismissal of the culpable police officers and policemen.”

    The officers, according to him, include an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Abba Kyari, three Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASP) Phillip Rieninwa, Sunny Ubua and Emmanuel Ali and two police inspectors, Idowu Haruna and Egunjobi Segun.

    He claimed that the policemen “forcefully and corruptly extorted” N50m from Evans, while his wife was also forced to part with another N5m.

    A sum of $10,000 was also allegedly forcibly taken from him.

    He listed other items to include a Brigade wrist watch, valued at $117; a $70,000 pendant cross; a necklace of  $25,000; a Virtu phone, worth $30,000; a Virtu Signature phone, valued at $17,000; and five pieces of Saphono Ruccu diamond rings worth $100,000.

    Evans also accused the police of taking away from his apartment, his 85-inch Samsung television set, worth N6.5m

    Other items were 25 Mack trucks; a Lexus 470 jeep; a Grand Cherokee jeep; a L400 Mitsubishi Bus and a gold-colour Toyota Highlander jeep.

    Apart from Kyari, the other police officers mentioned in the petition are Rieninwa, who was specifically accused of obtaining $10,000 from the kidnap suspect; Ubua; Ali; Haruna; Segun and “other policemen attached to the IGP Intelligence Response Team.”

    The lawyer also alleged that Evans’ girlfriend, one Amaka Offor, “was roundly sexually molested and abused by the above policemen of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team.”

    However, in a swift response, the police confirmed that certain items were taken from Evans but that they were all exhibits.

    Kyari told The Nation that the police were unable to comment on each of the allegations because the matter is sub judice.

    Nevertheless, he clarified that all items recovered from Evans had been included in the exhibit list filed in the court case.  It was, he added, at the court’s discretion to make the exhibit list public.

    The petition, captioned, “The Evans case and saga: Brazen extortion, corruption, gross misconduct, sexual molestation, and human rights violation against the IGP Intelligence Response Team police officer and policemen,” demanded the probe, sanction and possible dismissal of the concerned policemen.

    The petition was addressed to the Chairman of the Police Service Commission and copied to the National Assembly, the Inspector General of Police, the National Human Rights Commission, and Amnesty International.

    Ogungbeje, who signed the petition, said: “It is very unfortunate that the above-named police officers and policemen could be involved in such gross misconduct and indiscipline in taking advantage of a criminal suspect in their custody to perpetrate high-level extortion, corruption, gross misconduct, indiscipline and sexual molestation.

    “Sir, you would agree with us that these allegations are too weighty to be ignored by any right-thinking Nigerian. There is no gainsaying the fact that it calls for prompt investigation, inquiry and appropriate sanctions. We are using this medium as our own way of galvanising institutional sanity, cleansing and reform in the Nigeria Police Force as an institution.

    “At this juncture, we do not intend to jump the gun or draw conclusions on these high-wire allegations against the above-mentioned police officers and policemen by our client. We are only calling for prompt investigation or inquiry on all the police officers and policemen involved in this whole saga.

    READ ALSO: IGP’s team arrests two robbery suspects

     “As we speak, the brother in law and other relations of our Client are still being detained and tortured by the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) without being arraigned before a Court of law.

    “From the foregoing, we urge you, sir, to constitute a special investigation and enquiry panel to investigate this monumental extortion, corruption, gross misconduct, indiscipline, sexual abuse and Human rights violation against all the police officers and policemen of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team.

    “We also demand that you use the auspices of the Police Service Commission as an oversight agency of the Nigeria Police Force to invoke appropriate sanctions including dismissal against the culpable police officers and policemen.

    “We have great confidence in your ability to deal with this matter no matter whose ox is gored.”

    Last August, Evans pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy and kidnapping , and is currently at the Kirikiri Maximum Prison awaiting sentencing by an Ikeja High Court, Lagos.

  • Two killed, others injured in police, kidnappers’ gun battle

    Two killed, others injured in police, kidnappers’ gun battle

    Two kidnap suspects were killed yesterday in Anambra State during a gun battle with members of the Anambra State Anti-robbery Squad (SARS).

    The other suspects escaped with bullet wounds.

    The police also recovered items including one locally made barrel pistol with two live cartridges, one- cut- to- size single barrel gun, one XQ 1000 GSM handset belonging to the victim and one Q-link motorcycle were recovered.

    Briefing reporters yesterday in Awka, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Nkeiruka Nwode, said the 32-year-old victim, Nnamdi Ibru, was rescued.

    She said the suspects had demanded a ransom of N20 millioN from the victim’s family before the police got the information through intelligence report.

    Nwode said the victim was kidnapped on October 11 in a filling station in Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area by a gang of four men.

    She further stated the shoot-out ensued when the policemen noticed being trailed by the hoodlums who opened fire on them.

    During the gun duel, two of the suspects were killed while others escaped with bullet wounds, adding the state command was still on their trail.

    According to Nwode: “The police command wishes to advise all parents and guardians to take care of the children and watch their activities and report any suspicious movement concerning their wards.

    “We assure members of the public of our relentless efforts in making sure that lives and properties of Ndi Anambra are secured.”

  • Police planted arms recovered from our home, says Nnamdi Kanu’s family

    Police planted arms recovered from our home, says Nnamdi Kanu’s family

    The family of leader of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu has faulted claims by the police of recovering lethal weapons during a raid on its compound at Afara Ukwu on October 8.

    Abia State Commissioner of Police Anthony Ogbizi claimed at a press briefing in Umuahia last Thursday that lethal weapons including petrol bombs and one double-barrel gun were recovered during the raid carried out with soldiers from 14 Brigade, Ohafia.

    Read:Where is Nnamdi Kanu?

    But the spokesman of the IPOB’s leader’s family, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, in a telephone chat with journalists denied the family had any gun in the house.

    He said if the police found any gun, it was planted by them during the first raid.

    The family said: “This new CP was the same man who came to our house two days after the September 14 invasion with two Hilux vans and his Prado SUV and pulled down the car porch and destroyed the vehicles parked outside.

    “This same CP hurriedly after the invasion on the October 8 issued a press release telling the whole world that they discovered bombs in my house.

    “The army, on the other hand, denied that there was no invasion and that they never went to my house, what a contradiction.”

    Kanu added: “A house that does not have any person inside except our guard who we asked to look after the house, all of a sudden they invaded the house and came back to say they found a den gun, double barrel gun and petrol bomb. Who manufactured them? Who kept them there? That is the question to ask.”

    He accused the police of fabricating the story to justify what he described as illegal raiding of the compound.

    The younger Kanu said what the police came to do in the home was to remove the CCTV which he claimed had been recording what the military and police had been doing in the premises.

    “The policemen came to our house and ransacked the entire compound including my mum and my father’s rooms, removing my mum’s boxes, our TV and generator sets, bags of rice and many personal belongings without knowing that we had a CCTV recording their activities in the house.

    “But when they got clue about the CCTV and to concoct whatever that they would present to the public to label our family bad, they came back and removed the CCTV from where they were hung.”

    He rejected the terrorist tag on IPOB, stating ”Nobody can tag IPOB a terrorist organisation. We don’t carry arms and arms never solved any dispute. They should engage IPOB leadership genuinely.

    “We are not violent. We don’t give life and we can’t take one. They have rubbished the name of the country called Nigeria, that’s why we are called Biafrans.”

  • Lagos CP to incorporate 6,000 spy police into traffic management

    Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Edgal Imohimi, says that 6,000 spy police will be incorporated into traffic management in the state.

    Imohimi said this while addressing the spy police at the Police Training School, Ikeja, on Saturday.

    He noted that he wanted a state where members of the public would spend less time in traffic.

    He said that the spy police had not been optimally utilized as he intended to incorporate them into the integrated traffic management of the state to take care of the shortfall of manpower in the police.

    “The importance of the supernumerary police called ‘spy police’ is to take care of the shortfall of manpower in the police and also assist in security at private organisations.

    “ I felt we are not using the spy police optimally. Yes they are doing well at their various organisations but at this trying time, they will be integrated into the traffic management structure of the state.

    “First of all, I intend to partner with you for integrated traffic control in the state.

    “Though, we have the police traffic officers and the state controlled traffic officers but you will agree with me that Lagos is expanding so there is need for more hands.

    “I want a state where we hardly have traffic issues and cases of people disobeying traffic laws.

    “I will rather use the spy trained by the police than allow quasi agents take over traffic management in the state, especially on weekends when there are activities.

    “I have directed that the 6,000 spy policemen be integrated into the traffic architecture because they cover the length and breadth of the state.” he said.

    The CP further enjoined members of the public to give the spy police the needed support in carrying out their duties. (NAN)

  • Police kill two robbers, arrest one in Ogun

    Police kill two robbers, arrest one in Ogun

    Two members of a robbery gang were gunned down while another was arrested on Friday by men of the Ogun State Police Command along the Sagamu-Benin/Ore road.

    The State Commissioner of Police Ahmed Iliyasu, who paraded the suspects before journalists at Igbeba Area Command in Ijebu-Ode, said the police acting on a tip-off, arrested the suspects at along the J4, Ogun Waterside stretch of the Sagamu – Ore express way.

    Iliyasu added that the Anti-robbery team of the Ogbere Police Division led by John Okoh, engaged the suspects in hours – long gun duel before they were attested.

    He said other members of the syndicate escaped from the scene with bullet wounds.

    “In the early hours of today, our men at Ogbere Division received a distress call about a group of armed bandit who blocked Sagamu/Ore expressway at J4 area to rub commuters plying the road.

    “Upon the distress call, the DPO of the station, SP John Okoh led his antirobbey and other tactical and combat team to the scene where they met the robbers dispossessing commuters of their valuables.

    “In sighting the policemen, the bandits engaged them in a gun duel which lasted for hours. At the end of the encounter, two members of the dreaded syndicate were gunned down and one was arrested alive while others escaped with various degrees of gunshot injuries.

    “The victims were rescued unhurt and we’ve launch serious manhunt for the escaped members of the gang.

    “Recovered from them are single barrel gun, one phone, a carton of car sound protector and other instruments used in their heinous activities.”

    While assuring of safety of life and property in the Command, the Police boss appealed to members of the public, especially health workers to report any incident of gunshot wound to the police.

    “I hereby appeal to members of the public, especially hospitals and other health workers to report to the police if anybody with gunshot wound is seen around this area.

    “The Command is determined and resolute against crime and criminality and any criminal who dares any part of the state will definitely have himself to blame,” Iliyasu said.

  • Tagbo’s death: Danger of mixing drugs with drinks

    Tagbo’s death: Danger of mixing drugs with drinks

    Tagbo Umeike, the late 35-year-old friend of Davido, hiphop musician  died on his birthday after reportedly consuming 10 shot of tequila and  engaging in a competition with friends at a shisha room in Lagos Island.

    The details of the Medical Examiner’s office autopsy made public revealed that alcohol was a substantial factor that led to Tagbo’s death.

    The medical examiner result, which was released on the 9th of October, showed that Tagbo had alcohol and drugs in his system capable of easing a person into the early stages of hypothermia and eventual death.

                         Related: Davido’s friend Tagbo died from suffocation, autopsy reveals

    The toxicology tests detected alcohol (Bacardi 151, 75.5% Alcohol) and Topiramate, a medication for epilepsy and/or migraines in a man’s system, in Tagbo.

    Tagbo’s blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) by the report of the examiner was said to be at 0.112, higher than the 0.08 legal limit for normal human being, the coroner’s office stated.

    Topiramate and Alcohol

    Topiramate (also known as Topamax) is an anticonvulsant (antiepilepsy) drug. It is used for epilepsy in children and adults, originally used as an anticonvulsant. It also used in reducing the number of migraines.

                        Also Read: Tagbo: Police quizzes Davido for lying

    Mixing Topomax with Alcohol mostly beverages with ethanol, leads to excessive somnolence (drowsiness or sleepiness) and other forms of nervous system depression. Both when combined are synergistic. It enhances the effect of either or both.

    Topiramate, like alcohol, can cause dizziness, impaired memory, impaired concentration, poor coordination, confusion and impaired judgment. The central nervous system depression, or impairment, combined with cold exposure can hasten the onset of hypothermia and death.”

    Effect of ethanol in Tequila and other alcohols

    An alcoholic beverage is a drink that contains ethyl alcohol (ethanol). Ethanol is a psychoactive drug and is one of the oldest recreational drugs known to man. It is responsible for the state of alcohol intoxication in humans when consumed.

    Tequila, Whisky, Rums, Vodka, Brandy, Scotch or scotch, all are produced with ethanol, so mixing it with an-depressants, painkillers, sedatives and antipsychotics will have detrimental side effects on the body, by reducing the effectiveness of medications, and increase the risk of overdose and death.

    If a prescription drug is taken, the drug half-life is always unknown or the rate at which it is eliminated from the body. For this reason, it is always believed that the drug is out of body system when it really isn’t.

    If alcohol is then taken while the prescription drug is still in body, there is a high rate of it being detrimental to the body system.

     

  • Police arrest three ‘armed robbers’, recover riffle

    Police arrest three ‘armed robbers’, recover riffle

    Three men alleged to be armed robbers and political thugs terrorising Mushin, Onipanu areas of Lagos State have been arrested by the police.

    The suspects, Habeed Afuwape alias Mabbo, Hammed Sanni (Omolondon) and Ismaila Idris (Balance) were arrested by operatives of the Inspector General of Police’ (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT) on September 13.

    According to the police, the suspects who were paraded on Wednesday by acting Commissioner Imohimi Edgal specialised in robbing, attacking and killing innocent residents of the area.

    The police said they were busted through the sanitation and crime free environment crusade of IGP Ibrahim Idris in partnership with the state government.

    “Areas like Onipanu, Fadeyi and Mushin were mapped out as crime areas. Men of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) Ikeja and IRT were drafted to these areas for surveillance and they discovered that the gang had a pump action riffle.

    “A member of the gang was tracked to Oluwakemi Street, Onipanu, where they were picked and the gun recovered. During investigation, the suspects confessed to the crime and gave the nicknames of their members at large as Kobi, SARS, Mababije, Shawonpa, Sobo, Spider, Abdul, Illupeju, Tinny, Essy, 50Cent, Magnet, among others.

    “Effort is on to apprehend the fleeing members, their sppnsors and recover remaining arms ammunition,” said the police.

    Similarly, Kayode Olanrewaju and Aremu Olanrewaju were arrested for allegedly robbing a woman, Oluremi Jimoh of her Lexus Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) marked ADK332EV, N1.55million, phones and laptop.

    The police said the woman was attacked at Oke Ila in Ado-Ekiti on July 14, around 2:30am, adding that the suspects were tracked and arrested through one of the woman’s phones they stole.

  • Police, PCN saga: Groups to protest in Abuja

    The Coalition of the Civil Society Organizations for Justice and Equity, (CCSOJE) yesterday vowed to occupy the Nigeria Police Force headquarters, Abuja if the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris does not order his officers to vacate the Headquarters of the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), within five days.

    CCSOJE said PCN is known nationally and within the United Nations (UN), system to be one of the most peaceful, purposeful and impactful organization working towards youth development and national building, having consultative status with the UN.

    Convener and leader of CCSOJE, Comrade Amade Edime told newsmen at a briefing on the issue that the IGP should be called to order.

    Edime also said CCSOJE will mobilize youths, students and concerned Nigerians to lay siege at the PCN headquarters until the office is opened.

    His words: “The PCN with its National Commandant Amb. Dickson Akoh has contributed immensely in the re-orientation of thousands of hitherto disillusioned Youths, redirecting their energies from negative preoccupations to productive activities.