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Tag: Police

  • Police confirm assassination of Benue governor’s aide

    Police confirm assassination of Benue governor’s aide

    The Benue Police Command has confirmed the assassination of Mr Tavershima Adyorough, Principal Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Samuel Ortom on Knowledge Economy and Investment.

    Adyorough was also a member of the Benue Economic Team.

    Mr Bashir Makama, Police Commissioner in Benue, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Makurdi, that Adyorough was assassinated in the early hours of Sunday.

    “He was killed in his house by bandits, who also shot his wife. The woman is currently responding to treatment at a government hospital in Makurdi,” he said.

    The commissioner said that the motive of the killing was yet to be established, but expressed optimism that the culprits would be apprehended and brought to book.

    “We shall fish out the perpetrators of this heinous crime and bring them to justice,” he vowed.

    He appealed to members of the public with any clue to volunteer same to the police to assist the search for the murderers.

    NAN reports that Adyorough’s is the fourth assassination case involving one elder statesman and top government officials in Benue, since Ortom became governor in 2015.

    Among those murdered are Mr Denen Igbanan, Ortom’s Special Assistant on Special Security, Mr Joseph Tondo, Buruku Local Government Chairmanship aspirant, and Chief Atoza Hindan, an elder statesman.

    Meanwhile, Ortom has challenged the police to immediately arrest and prosecute the killers of his aide.

    The governor, who spoke though his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Terver Akase, said that the killing was “unacceptable” and ordered security agencies to swing into action so as to arrest those responsible.

    He described Adyorough as a “competent and dependable aide, who delivered on assignments with dedication and honesty”.

    Ortom sympathised with the immediate family of the deceased, the government and people of Benue on the loss, and pledged to support security agencies in apprehending the culprits. (NAN)

  • Police finger ex-militant leader, others for attack on APC secretariat 

    Police finger ex-militant leader, others for attack on APC secretariat 

    The police in Bayelsa State are on the trail of six suspects in connection with the bloody attack on the secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that killed two persons and injured many others during the inauguration of the acting state chairman of the party, Joseph Fafi.

    The thugs, said to be hired, wielding weapons and guns, stormed the secretariat along the Melford Okilo Road, Yenagoa, yesterday and attempted to stop the inauguration.

    They were, however, confronted by security operatives, who engaged them in a shoot out, causing pandemonium, leading to the death of two persons and injuries to many others, including journalists.

    Commissioner of Police, Amba Asuquo, who was jolted by the incident, ordered full-scale investigations to unmask the identities of the thugs and their sponsors.

    Already, the police investigative team was said to have identified six persons behind the dastardly act.

    It was gathered the team in its preliminary examination discovered and impounded the vehicle that conveyed the invaders.

    The police were said to have found the vehicle bore the plate number of the Bayelsa State Government House.

    On closer inquiry, the police team further discovered the particulars of the vehicle bore the name of a famous ex-militant leader from Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

    When contacted, the command’s Spokesman, Asinim Butswat, said when policemen searched the vehicle, they discovered some arms and ammunition.

    Butswat confirmed that the police identified names of six persons in connection with the attack, adding that efforts were ongoing to arrest the suspects

    He said: ‘’After the incident, the hoodlums abandoned a Hiace bus with number-plate BYGH 335.

    “The hoodlums on sighting policemen at Bay Bridge area, about 200 metres from the APC secretariat on Melford Okilo Road, Kpansia, abandoned the vehicle and took to their heels.

    ‘’The vehicle was searched and one live ammunition 9MT Shell of 7.62mm ammunition was recovered.

    “We have also identified about six names (which I would not want to mention for security reasons). Efforts are ongoing to arrest those six persons.”

    Though Asinim declined knowledge of the owner of the bus, a police source, who spoke in confidence, confirmed the team during a search recovered the particulars of the vehicle’s owner.

    He said the particulars belonged to an ex-militant leader from Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

    ‘’We have yet to establish the nexus between the number plate and the particulars of the owners. Our investigation showed that the hoodlums might have used the number-plate for the attack,” he said.

    But the Bayelsa State Government expressed serious concerns over regular violence and insecurity during activities of the APC.

    Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Jonathan Obuebite, in a statement, described the incident as a serious breach of the existing peace in the state, barbaric and against all democratic and acceptable norms.

    The statement said: “The APC has failed to conduct its affairs peacefully since its inception in the state.

    “It is a very sad commentary the APC in Bayelsa State has turned itself to a lawless and violent organisation where its leaders and supporters resort to violence at every slight provocation, even for internal matters of the party that ought to have been handled with maturity and reasonable level of understanding.”

    In his reaction, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha condemned the incident.

    Okorocha, who is also chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, cautioned members of the party against following bad examples of other political parties in the country, especially those known for thuggery.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, Okorocha said: “Going by the name and philosophies of the party, it is believed that the members should be progressive-minded fellows who should not in any way see the desire for political position as a do or die affair.

    “The ugly culture of political thuggery should remain totally divorced from APC”.

    He also maintained: “The APC as a party and the members must do things differently to show the political light and exemplary political character by not engaging in actions and inaction that would run counter with the ideals of the party”.

  • Police declare Biafra Security Service illegal

    THE Police in Abia State have declared the recently formed Biafra Security Service of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as illegal.

    The State Police Commissioner, Mr. Adeleye Oyebade warned the brains behind the formation of the security network to retrace their steps.

    He stressed that the Nigerian constitution recognizes only the Police, the Army and the Department of States service, adding that any other group claiming to be providing security was stepping out of line.

    He said that the full weight of the law would be brought upon the organizers of the said BSS who he noted were displaying videos of an illegal security service on the social media network.

    Oyebade who stated that the police and other security operatives in the state would not fold their hands and watch unscrupulous elements disrupt the relative peace in the state reiterated that the police in synergy with other sister agencies to make the state safe for business and economic activities to thrive.

    He paraded suspected armed robbers, kidnappers, cultists amongst others who he said were still being investigated and would soon be arraigned in court for trial for commencement of prosecution.

    Amongst the paraded suspects was an alleged car snatcher identified as Onyekachi Nwaogu of No. 7 Nwankwo Street off Obohia, Aba South Local Government Area of the state.

    Oyebade also disclosed that detectives attached to the D7 SCIID, Umuahia, but operating in Aba also recovered a Red coloured Toyota Camry with reg number SSM 521 TP with engine number 5X3249568 and chassis no. 4018G12K4TU74221 suspected to have been stolen from its owner.

    He appealed to Abians to always provide necessary information about the activities of hoodlums in their areas to the police and other security agencies in the state who he stated were ready to make the state unsafe for criminals to thrive.

  • Police reject NBS’ most corrupt institution tag

    Police reject NBS’ most corrupt institution tag

    The Police are angry with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) over their recent report  that portrayed the force as the most corrupt institution in the country.

    The police labelled the report as a clear demonstration of mischief and calculated attempt to promote campaign of calumny against police officers.

    “Nowhere in the report were references made to either the improved transparency in the Nigeria Police Force or the sustained daily sacrifice being made by gallant officers and men of the force in confronting criminalities in the society,” the Force Public Relations Officer, Moshood Jimoh, declared in  a statement in Abuja.

    Jimoh, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), said that contrary to the corruption  tag, Police Inspector General Ibrahim Idris is on course to fight corruption, promote the rule of law and protect citizens in conformity with global policing standards.

    He said: “The deliberately ill-timed release of the findings from a survey carried out two years ago this week is coming at a time when the Nigeria Police Force has fully keyed into the change mantra of the Federal Government of Nigeria ‘Change Begins with Me’ and total war against corruption.

     “The force has also established and repositioned the mechanisms of the force responsible for fighting corruption, bribery and other corrupt tendencies within and outside the force.

    “The Nigeria Police Force, after a careful study of the report, wishes to state categorically that the report is entirely misleading, a clear misrepresentation of facts, essentially based on hearsays which made it unempirical, and the survey instrument absolutely inadequate and therefore a plain distortion of the improved situation in the force as a result of the renewed commitment and determination to fight corruption, bribery and corrupt tendencies in the ranks of the personnel of the force.”

    He emphasized that citizens should note that reforms being instituted since July 2016 when the new police leadership came into office include a mass reorientation for abiding by the rule of law and international core values of policing with integrity, adding that a special X-Squad Unit of the force now deals decisively with corruption allegations made against officers across the federation.

    He pointed out that  the establishment of an invigorated Public Complaints Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) by the IGP across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, formation of an Eminent Persons Forum, along with ongoing synergy with  critical stakeholders in the Nigeria’s Criminal Justice System, local and International Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), including International Human Rights Organizations, have ensured further training and attitudinal changes.

  • Police nab notorious armed robber, kidnapper in Aba

    Police nab notorious armed robber, kidnapper in Aba

    Police Patrol team attached to the Central Police Station (CPS), Aba Area Command has reportedly arrested a member of a four man notorious armed robbery gang operating in and within Aba identified as Ejiagba Michael.

    This is even as a kidnap suspect, Prince Agorom was also arrested by another team of police patrol team from the CPS.

    While Michael in company of his gang members was alleged to have stolen N300, 000:00, one Gionee Mobile Phone amongst other valuables and has since admitted to the crime.

    Sources told our reporter that Agorom, the leader of a four man kidnap gang was similarly arrested after the police team led by the DPO of CPS acted swiftly to a distress call.

    The Nation gathered that One Anumba Ozoemelam of Ugorji Street, off Okigwe road, Aba reported to the Aba Central Police Station about how he was robbed by a man identified as one Johnson whom he (Ozoemelam) met on the social media.

    According to a source “Ozoemelam said that he met the said Johnson on Social media and few days after chatting with him, the said Johanson invited him to a birthday party on August 10 at No. 24 ibegbulam Street Omuma road Aba.

    “The said Johnson sent a keke to pick Ozoemelam up at a junction to his house and on arrival, he was forced to surrender all his belongings. He was thoroughly beaten after which they called his elder brother demanding the sum of N5m before they will release him.

    “The hoodlums also took Ozoemelam to his house where they ransacked his room and made away with N10, 000 which they found in his wardrobe. At midnight, Ozoemelam managed to escape from their den while they were all sleeping.

    “When the matter was reported to the police, the DPO Central Police Station, Aba swung into action and later arrested Prince Agorom, leader of the syndicate two days later and he confessed to the crime.”

    The source stated that efforts were ongoing to arrest other members of the gang who were at large at the time of filing the report.

    When contacted, the Abia State Police Commissioner, Adeleye Oyebade confirmed the arrest of the suspects and urged members of the public to be security conscious and report suspicious movement of people in their neighbourhood to the police and other security agencies for proper action to be taken. This is even as he assured that the safety of the informants was guaranteed.

  • Police uncover human parts in church, arrest pastor in Ogun

    Police uncover human parts in church, arrest pastor in Ogun

    The Police in Ogun on Wednesday arrested a 77-year-old pastor, Samuel Babatunde and two other suspects in connection with the discovery of suspected human parts buried inside a church.

    Babatunde is the founder of Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Itedo Isinmi Ayo Parish, Egan Road in Iyana-Iyesi area of Ota in Ado-Odo Ota LGA of Ogun.

    The state Police Commissioner, Ahmed Iliyasu, who paraded the pastor in Ota, told reporters that the discovery followed the arrest on Saturday of a suspected serial kidnapper, Jeremiah Adeola.

    He said that Adeola, 32, who specialised in kidnapping children, confessed that the pastor of the white garment church was the receiver of the abducted children.

    The CP added that a 43-year-old herbalist, Haruna Afolabi, was among the suspects, who allegedly buried the human parts at the entrance of the church.

    According to the police boss, operatives attached to the police Area Command in Ota on Sunday received intelligence about Adeola and arrested him.

    Iliyasu said: “On the strength of the intelligence, detectives from Ota Area Command were detailed to effect the arrest of the suspect.

    “At about 10.20 a.m. of the date, their efforts paid off when the said Jeremiah Adeola was arrested.

    “On interrogation, Adeola confessed being a serial kidnapper and mentioned a prophet of a white garment church as the receiver of the kidnapped children.

    “Upon interrogation, Adeola was taken to the house/church the said prophet at Iyana-Iyesi Ota, where one Prophet Samuel Babatunde, 77 years, the pastor in charge of the church and one Haruna Afolabi, 42 years, a traditional worshiper, were arrested.

    “The floor of the church was dug as described by the first suspect and parts suspected strongly to be human parts were dug out,” Iliyasu said.

    The commissioner said the police command would conduct forensic investigation into the case.

    He assured that all those found guilty of the crime would be brought to justice, adding that Ogun State would never be a safe haven for criminals.

    Speaking in an interview with newsmen, the pastor denied the allegation levelled against him.

    Babatunde explained that a pig was buried alive inside the church contrary to claims that human parts were buried there.

    He said that he carried out the act in order to bring good fortune, prosperity and comfort to his congregation.

    Babatunde said though he met Adeola at a prayer mountain in Ibadan, he never had any dealing with the alleged serial kidnapper, whom he accused of being mentally unstable.

    However, Adeola insisted that the pastor was the receiver of some kidnapped children.

    He said the cleric paid him N50, 000 each for the two children he supplied to him.

     

  • We’re not corrupt, say Police

    The police yesterday denied being on top of the corruption index.

     Police spokesman Jimoh Moshood described the report of the UNIOC and NBS as false.

     He also urged Nigerians to disregard the report, noting that there was no way the Police could be corrupt.

     He said: “I don’t think the UNODC is for such purpose. We have not seen such report and we cannot react to what we have not seen but what I know is that the Nigerian Police Force is not corrupt.

     “Corruption is a personal thing and Nigeria Police Force is not a corrupt institution and it is not for anybody to have made such allegation.

     ”The allegations are mischievous because it is not empirical and we distance ourselves from such and we want all Nigerians to condemn such.

     ”In fact a lot of changes have been introduced into the Force to ensure that we are accountable to the people.

     ”Such a report is unacceptable by the Force and we want everybody to disregard such because the Nigeria Police is not corrupt. The allegation is not empirical and it cannot stand any test or proof.  It is misleading.”

  • Police detention: Evans knows fate August 29

    Police detention: Evans knows fate August 29

    A Federal High Court in Lagos will on August 29 deliver judgment in a N300million fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by suspected kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike a.k.a. Evans, challenging his continued detention by the police.
    Justice Abdul-Azeez Anka fixed the date on Wednesday after taking arguments from Evans’ lawyer Olukoya Ogungbeje and lawyers for the police.
    The judge dismissed an argument by the police on Tuesday that the suit was not ripe for hearing, as well as the N300,000 punitive costs sought against Ogungbeje for alleged wrongful service, paving way for parties to state their case.
    The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Commissioner of Police (COP) Lagos State and Lagos State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) are the first to fourth respondents.
    Counsel for both the IGP and the NPF, Henry Obiazi, urged the court to dismiss the suit for want of merit.
    He said the case had to do with murder, armed robbery and kidnapping, which were all capital offences.
    Citing Section 35 (7) of Constitution, Obiazi argued that Evans’ fundamental rights were not absolute, adding that the ‘billionaire kidnapper’ would soon be arraigned by the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).
    “Though the Constitution guarantees the fundamental rights of every Nigerian citizen, these rights are not absolute, particularly, when they have to do with capital offences. I urge the court to hold that the application is unmeritorious and dismiss it”, Obiazi said.
    In his submissions, lawyer representing the COP and SARS, Emmanuel Eze, argued that Evans had not shown any cause of action against his clients.
    He claimed that Evans was arrested by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) set up by the IGP and not by any of his clients.
    Eze faulted claims that the applicant was subjected to media trial saying no material fact was placed before the court in that regard.
    According to him, the nature of the offences allegedly committed by Evans were conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping and murder.
    Besides, he alleged that prior to his arrest, Evans was involved in many robberies, including series of attacks on bullion vans where many policemen lost their lives.
    “My lord, it is not up to 90 days that the applicant was arrested. Besides, there is an order of the court for his remand. The applicant is an international kidnapper terrorizing states across the country.
    “I urge the court to dismiss this application with punitive costs so as to serve as a deterrent to others who may want to file such frivolous application in the future”, Eze said.
    But, opposing their arguments, Ogungbeje, urged the court to hold that the respondents had run foul of the law by detaining Evans since last June 10.
    He faulted the respondents’ arguments that a suspect suspected of committing a capital offence can be detained without a court’s order.
    According to him, the assertion may be applicable only at the point where the suspect is seeking bail after his arraignment.
    “The proper thing for the respondents to do is to have the applicant arraigned and then inform the court about the capital nature of the offence upon which he may then be remanded in their custody”, he said.
    After listening to parties’ submissions, Justice Anka adjourned till August 29 for judgment.

    In the suit, Evans, through Ogungbeje, is seeking an order directing the police to charge him to court immediately or release him on bail.

    He said his detention since last June 10 without charge was a violation of his fundamental rights enshrined in sections 35 (1) (c) (3) (4) (5) (a) (b) and 36 of the Constitution.

    For his alleged unlawful detention, Evans wants the court to award N300m damages against the police in his favour.

  • Police confirm 16 dead, 82 wounded in Borno suicide attack

    Police confirm 16 dead, 82 wounded in Borno suicide attack

    The Police in Borno said 16 persons were killed and 82 others wounded in a suicide bomb attack in Konduga Local Government Area of the state.

    The commissioner, Mr Damian Chukwu, confirmed the attack in a Short Message Service (SMS) sent to newsmen on Wednesday in Maiduguri.

    Chukwu said that the inicident occurred at a market at about 5: 30 p.m. when three suicide bombers hit the market.

    Dozens of people were killed in a separate suicide bomb attacks on Tuesday in Konduga local government area of Borno.

    He said the suicide bombers a male and two female detonated the explosives at The Busy Market blew up themselves and killed 16 people.

    Chukwu said that 82 other persons sustained various degrees of injuries in the attack, adding that the wounded were evacuated to Specialists Hospital, Maiduguri.

    According to him, the command has deployed EOD to sanitize the area.

  • Police suspend special promotion

    THE Police Service Commission (PSC) has suspended special promotion of officers following alleged case of fraud and payment for such promotions.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy Senator Isah Misau had alleged that some officers pay to get promoted in the police.

    This allegation led the commission to put on hold all special promotions forwarded to it.

    The commission has also set up a committee, which will be chaired by Justice Olufunlola Adekeye, to investigate the allegations.

    The committee has two weeks to submit its findings.

    Speaking yesterday in Abuja at a news conference to clarify issues relating to the allegations, the commission’s chairman, Mike Okiro, said guidelines for promotion has been sent to the Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris.

    Contrary to claims that some people pay about N2.5million for promotion, Okiro said the commission did not unilaterally award special promotion.

    He said: “When the list of special promotion came, we found out that some juniors were picked over seniors and that is why we put it on hold and sent it back to the IGP to explain.”

     

     

     

     

    “A typical example is Abba Kyari, who was promoted last year before his seniors and people clapped for him because he did well.

    “We are sending the list to the IGP to explain why some juniors were picked over seniors and if he gives us good reason, we would go ahead with it and if not, we will drop it.”

    He said: “The already processed promotions shall be reappraised and released at the appropriate time, or shall be referred back to the IGP to furnish the commission with details of each recommended individual officer’s superlative performance to qualify for speculation promotion.”

    The chairman said the major sources of recommendations for special promotion are the IG, Heads of MDAs, CSOs, NGOs, National Assembly members, governors, traditional rulers and other prominent Nigerians.

    Highlighting some of the criteria for special promotion, Okiro said: “Gallantry and bravery, high integrity, honesty, probity and uprightness, outstanding diligence, dedication to duty and loyalty to the service, prevention or detection of mammoth criminality.

    “Arrest or efforts leading to the arrest of high profile fraudsters,  armed robbers, kidnappers and other criminals, making substantial cost-savings to  Force or government, foiling, preventing or effective containment of violent riots and other civil disturbances with no or minimal loss of life or damage to property.”

    He, however, noted that performance of normal duty will not qualify an officer for special promotion.