The police have stepped into the invasion of the residence of Alhaji Bashir Adoke, younger brother of the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) by masked men.
The police want to identify the brains behind the illegal operation at the younger Adoke’s three-bedroom bungalow at Nagazi Area of Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The men reportedly wore black shirts over black trousers and claimed to be searching for cash.
They presented no search warrant.
But when they found no money, they resorted to beating one AbdulGaniyu, who is the caretaker of the house.
The gunmen, it was gathered, used a primary school, which is about 500m from the house as their operational base.
A source familiar with the development told The Nation yesterday that the police had commenced investigation following a formal report to them.
“The police have launched a manhunt for the masked gunmen. They put on black shirts over black trousers. It is difficult to say whether they were assassins or armed robbers,” the source said,
“They are following all the clues we have provided. We want them to get to the roots of this invasion.”
Responding to a question, the source added: “They stormed the bungalow at about 12.30am.They broke doors and started shouting where is the money kept in this house? They were desperate, they upturned the furniture and ransacked every part of the building.
“Getting frustrated, they vandalised everything in the house because they could not get any cash. They later pounced on AbdulGaniyu, they took him to a part of the compound and asked him to start digging the ground for hidden money.
“When the search for cash was fruitless, they beat him to a pulp and injured him.”
A senior police officer said: “It is too early to make a categorical statement.”
Tag: Police
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Police begin probe as masked gunmen invade Adoke’s brother’s house
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LUTH security officers, police manhandle The Nation reporter
A reporter with The Nation Newspapers, Medinat Kanabe, was last Wednesday detained and manhandled by police posted to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
The police were aided by the hospital’s security men.
They alleged the reporter was arrested because she didn’t take ‘proper permission’ before entering the hospital premises.
Narrating her ordeal after her release, Kanabe said: “I went there to meet with some LUTH pensioners who hold their meetings in the hospital every month.
“It was an opportunity to interact with them on their challenges especially as these crops of pensioners have many things in common.
“I was discussing with them when one Akin Victor also known as Supo barged in to the venue and demanded to know what was happening there.
“He was with the Chief Security Officer, a male and one female police officer called Faith and also known as Mama Precious.”
She said Victor looked at her angrily and demanded to see the contents of her bag.
But as she started to bring the items out, Victor ordered Faith to take possession of the bag and search it.
“I explained to him that I was already bringing out the items but he got angry, walked up to me, grabbed my hands and pulled me out of the venue.
“He then pushed me until I got to where their vehicle was parked and ordered Faith to see that I entered the vehicle.
“I didn’t say anything. I didn’t even tell them that I am a Journalist. I just wanted to see how they would handle the situation,” Kanabe recalled.
The reporter said when they got to security/police office in the hospital premises, Faith told her to write a statement dictated by a police officer to which she objected.
“Faith kept pestering me to write the statement and she was doing it in a very calm manner.
“She expected that to convince me to write what she wanted me to write but I insisted I was not writing anything so she called Victor and told him that I refused to write anything.
Faith then told the reporter to bring out everything in her back which she did except for her ID card.
When Victor came again, he asked the security officers to empty her bag again, which she did with her ID card discovered.
“When they saw my ID card, Victor got angry again held my hand, squeezed it, collected my phone and demanded that I write a statement but I refused saying I will not write anything until I got permission from my office since they are aware that I was in LUTH.”
“He then said Faith and another official- Fatima should make sure I don’t speak with anyone, not even the people in the office until I write a statement and he kept threatening to beat me up if I say anything to anyone.
“He said he would shut my mouth for me. He and Faith called me suspect, accused, and even added that I was planning with the pensioners to bomb the hospital. At a point they said I was planning with the pensioners to carry placards against the management of the hospital.
“I was at their office from 11.15am until 3.05pm when the PRO came to release me.
“He said they were doing their job and that it was the practice in all federal hospitals.”
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Update on Ibadan accident: Police confirm 26 dead, 11 injured
The Oyo State Police Command said that 26 people died in the early Saturday morning ghastly motor accident, which occurred at the Ibadan end of the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Kunle Ajisebutu confirmed the accident and said that11 others including three children sustained severe injuries.
Ajisebutu said that eyewitnesses reported that two commercial buses had a head-on-collision with the vehicles immediately bursting into flames claiming 26 lives.
“Corpses of the dead have been deposited at Adeoyo General Hospital, Yemetu, while the injured were taken to the Ibadan Central Hospital, and the University College Hospital, (UCH) Ibadan for medical attention.
“Police investigation has begun.
“The victims were evacuated by a combined team of police men from the Toll Gate Police Division and men of the FRSC.
“The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude visited the scene immediately,” he said.
Mr Deji Bobade, the Public Relations Officer of the UCH, confirmed that a male accident victim was admitted at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the hospital at about 7. 30 am. (NAN)
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Police parade pastor caught with human head
The Oyo State Police Command on Friday paraded a 55-year-old pastor over unlawful possession of a human head, buffalo horn as well as gun powder and charms.
The police also paraded 18 suspects arrested for alleged armed robbery, stealing and cultism.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Abiodun Odude, told newsmen in Ibadan that the pastor said to be the founder of Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Idapomimo Zion, Alagbado, Lagos, was arrested by operatives of the Federal Highway Patrol during a “ stop and search” operation.
Odude said that the pastor was arrested at about 10:30 pm on May 4 on his way to another branch of the church at Imini in Afijo Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The suspect, on his part, told newsmen that he got the human head during a demolition exercise in Alagbado, Lagos.
Isaiah, who claimed to be the son of a herbalist, said that he was taking the human head to the branch of the church at Imini to offer sacrifice in order to chase away thieves terrorising the area.
He, however, said that such an attitude was not expected from a pastor.
Items recovered from other robbery suspects were eight vehicles, 14 cell phones and 106 rounds of ammunition.
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Police arrest 993, prosecute 135 robbery suspects in Edo
The Police in Edo said they arrested and prosecuted no fewer than 135 armed robbery suspects in the last six months, adding that the state was no longer a safe haven for criminals.
The Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr Haliru Gwandu, made the disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Benin on Friday.
He said the command arrested 993 suspected criminals between Sept. 22, 2016 and April 6, including 162 armed robbery suspects.
Gwandu disclosed that within the period under review, the command prosecuted 135 of the arrested robbery suspects.
He said while 52 of the arrested 57 kidnapping suspects were prosecuted, the command also prosecuted 436 suspected cultists out of the 482 arrested suspects.
The commissioner told NAN that operatives of the command made additional arrest of 123 suspects over murder and prosecuted 103 of them, adding that 169 suspects were also arrested for heinous crimes like unlawful possession of fire arms.
He added that the command recovered 56 stolen vehicles, stressing the men and officers of the command had been mobilised to rid the state of criminal elements.
He opined that the stoppage by government of revenue collection by unauthorised persons and idleness were some of the factors responsible for the increase in crime in the state.
Gwandu said the recent state government’s ban on the activities of Community Development Associations and the influx of repatriated Edo indigenes from Libya were also contributory factors to the high crime rate in the state.
He, however, advised youths to gainfully engage themselves in profitable legal ventures and stay out of trouble.
The commissioner appealed to the government to sustain its current drive at creating jobs for youths in the state.
Gwandu said there was need to continually recruit personnel to effectively fight crime in the country, while tactical teams of the SARS and highway patrol vehicles were deployed to ensure safety on the roads.
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Aba landlords petition Enugu Disco over crazy bills
The landlords in the commercial city of Aba have petitioned against the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, (EEDC), over what they described as crazy bills including forcing consumers to repair damaged electric transformers.
They accused the EEDC of enslaving Aba residents with estimated and spurious bills, alleging also that the company uses security personnel, including Army, Police and members of Civil Defence Corp “to compel the residents to pay for blackout”.
In a petition submitted to the Abia State House of Assembly, which recently passed a vote of no confidence of the EEDC, the Landlords said the company was frustrating the business community of Aba.
In the petition which they have earlier submitted to the National Assembly, Aba Landlords also accused the company of deliberately refusing to install prepaid meters for Aba consumers.
The landlords said, “So we want to create avenue to stop them from charging us with estimated bills to meet up with their monthly target, hence the people pay more for electricity consumption than we pay for house rents”.
The petition said, “Enugu has prepaid meters, Anambra has standard meters which are read and bills given accordingly, Abia must be so”.
“We want the Abia House of Assembly to compel EEDC to stop the use of force, high handedness and intimidation of the poor, innocent and civil citizens of Aba”.
The landlords also urged the House to ask the company “to refund the entire excess bill to the respective consumers and to refund 12 months payment to all consumers and return all cables they cut and carted away from Consumers.
Receiving the petition, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Chikwendu Kalu commended the landlords for speaking out on what they are passing through in the hands of the company, saying that the matter of the activities of the company is before the House.
The Speaker said, “EEDC has failed; there is no doubt about it. They have failed woefully; there is no way we can move forward without power and organizations like EEDC cannot provide this. We have not gotten it right”.
Kanu said that the House is planning to have an interface with the regulatory body, NERC, to mount pressure on them to find out if EEDC has met its mandate and if they have not, the regulatory body should think of revoking the license.
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Police probe female student’s death
Oyo State Police Command has begun investigation into the death of Miss Deborah Effiong, a 100-level Law student at the University of Ibadan.
Police Commissioner Mr. Abiodun Odude, in a phone interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Ibadan, said the investigation followed a report by the university authority.
He said the outcome of the investigation would be made public.
The university, on Wednesday, issued a statement through its Director of Public Communication, Mr. Olatunji Oladejo, announcing the death of Effiong.
Oladejo regretted the sudden death of the student at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.
He said: “Her death remains a mystery. It is in the light of this that the university management wishes to state that the cause(s) of her death are still being investigated.
”Her parents have been contacted.
”By the tradition of the Queen Elizabeth II Hall where she was a resident, an event tagged: “Freshers’/Finalists’ Week’’ was organised by the hall’s Executive Committee.
”The first day being May 1 featured ‘’Health Day’’ in the morning and ‘’Movie Show’’ at 7p.m.
”Her colleagues reported that the deceased was seen at the hall’s cafeteria, venue of the movie. It was reported that she was seen about 8:40 p.m. in a normal condition.
”Later, she received a call from a fellow. She left the venue of the movie to meet the caller.
”The fellow was identified after her death by the Campus Security Service.’’
Oladejo said on returning to the venue of the movie, the deceased’s colleagues said she suddenly became hyperactive and developed a strange attitude.
He added that her colleagues said Effiong danced abnormally and excessively in the cafeteria after the meeting.
”It was revealed that she left the venue of the movie and thereafter she jumped from a dangerous position in the hall.
”She was later found in a helpless condition and taken to the health centre by her colleagues and porters.
”She was referred to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, for further medical attention where she died,’’ Oladejo said.
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Police team up with Abia against crime
‘To identified cross-border criminals and local gangs as being responsible for the new wave of armed robbery and kidnapping in the city, vowed that all criminal elements will be chased out of Aba and Abia state within a very short time’
The police in Abia State have scaled up their onslaught against crime in Aba, teaming up with the state government to relieve the besieged commercial nerve of the state. Abia State has been under siege by hoodlums for months, leaving residents in fear.
Not too long ago, a lawmaker representing Aba North and South Federal constituency, Hon. Ossy Prestige called on the federal government, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris and Chief of Army Staff General Tukur Buratai to send troops to Aba to contain the insecurity in the city.
Prestige said the entire security structure in Aba has collapsed leaving it at the mercy of daredevil criminals armed with sophisticated weapons. He noted that if nothing urgent was done to arrest the situation, the city which is yet to recover from the impact of armed men invasion in 2010, may witness yet another mass exodus of its residents and relocation businesses to neighbouring states.
In two weeks, two medical doctors, a lawyer, a man said to be a staff of Nigeria Breweries, Aba and another resident of the city have been kidnapped.
The Nation checks revealed that most of the security agents need more men and adequate logistics to fight the hoodlums.
A member of the family of a recent kidnap victim told our reporter that they had to negotiate with the kidnappers after reporting the matter and waiting for three days without any positive response, adding that that within two days of their interaction and subsequent payment of ransom, they got back their loved one.
To arrest the ugly situation, the Abia State Police Command has launched the Tactical Response Squad (TRS). Speaking at the launch of the TRS the state Commissioner of Police Adeleye Oyebade said that the TRS was set up by the command to further tackle crime and criminality in Aba and other parts of the state, even as he warned that his administration would not tolerate any form of extortion by men of the TRS and other teams in Aba and any other parts of the state.
The Police Chief further stated that the state government had agreed to pay some of the personnel’s allowances.
He disclosed that the state government was going to provide the command with about 20 vehicles and patrol teams with walkie-talkies for effective communication.
Oyebade thanked the Inspector-General of Police for agreeing to send more personnel and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to the state.
He also appealed to Aba residents to provide police with useful information on the activities of hoodlums within the vicinity as he maintained that the police was ready to confront the hoodlums.
The state governor Okezie Ikpeazu has placed a cash reward of N1million for information on the whereabouts of kidnappers and armed robbers in their domain. Ikpeazu also announced a reward of N1 million to security agents who are able to arrest or smash any kidnap or armed robbery gang in the state as his government’s further support to ensure the sustenance of peace and tranquility in the state.
In a release issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Enyinnaya Appolos the governor was said to identified cross-border criminals and local gangs as being responsible for the new wave of armed robbery and kidnapping in the city, vowed that “all criminal elements will be chased out of Aba and Abia state within a very short time”.
The Governor recalled that the last Yuletide season was the most peaceful in the history of the state as a result of the vigilance and hard work of the security agencies.
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Enugu police sensitise tricycle operator on security
‘He advised the group to close ranks with the police for a safe and secure environment and state by cooperating with them and reporting promptly any threat to security of their environment as well as their smooth operations to the police and other relevant
security agencies’The Enugu State Police command has interacted with commercial tricycle operators, sensitising them on the need to be law abiding, and safety and security conscious as well as partnering with the police in fighting crime.
The one-day sensitisation on security for the operators was held at the IMT Campus II Park. Attending were no fewer than 600 tricycle operators.
The police spokesman in Enugu, Ebere Amaraizu, a Superintendent who represented the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Dan-Mallam Mohammed told them that there was need for them to be law abiding in order to run away from issues that will put them in conflict with the law.
He advised the group to close ranks with the police for a safe and secure environment and state by cooperating with them and reporting promptly any threat to security of their environment as well as their smooth operations to the police and other relevant security agencies.
He also informed participants that the state command under the close watch of CP Dan-Mallam Mohammed has intensified action against any form of extortion of cyclists by police personnel at stop and search as the command has promptly mobilised its x-squad and monitoring unit to that effect and with a view to fishing out any erring personnel for necessary disciplinary action
He released the commands distress call numbers and social media contacts for easy partnership with the group and advised operators to report through the appropriate authority about any perceived case of extortion.
The state chairman of the Association Comrade Benjamin Ikah had thanked Amaraizu for the sensitisation which he described was a right step from a right direction and also thanked Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his support for the cyclists in the state.
He advised his members to be law abiding and not to engage or encourage criminal activities and above all not to take laws into their hands.
There was also road traffic sensitisation by the officials of Federal Road safety Corp Enugu state command where relevant traffic guide were released to operators.
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Police nab two in Akwa Ibom over kidnap of polytechnic founder
The Police in Akwa Ibom have arrested two persons linked to the kidnapping of Sure Foundation Polytechnic founder, Dr Idongesit Udom.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Donald Awunah, disclosed this to newsmen in Uyo on Wednesday.
Awunah stated that the suspects were helping the police in their investigation.
He explained that the police were doing their best to ensure that the victim was rescued alive.
“This type of matter does not require force since the life of a person is involved. We are not relenting in our efforts to get the man freed from the kidnappers.
“The Anti-Kidnapping Squad and the Operation Impact Strategy team have spread their intelligence; very soon, the man will be rescued,” he said.
The commissioner appealed to the civil society to cooperate with security agencies by always giving information on crimes and criminal elements in their neighbourhood for prompt action.
Udom was abducted by suspected kidnappers outside his country home in Ukanafun while walking to Qua Iboe Church on Sunday, April 9.