The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Police

  • We did not remove any 2017 budget document from Goje’s residence -Police

    We did not remove any 2017 budget document from Goje’s residence -Police

    Contrary to claims by Senator Danjuma Goje that document relating to the 2017 budget were removed during a search on his house by the men of the Nigeria Police, the police have maintained that there was no single document relating to budget sighted or removed by the Police team that executed the search warrant.
    The police also said a search warrant was duly obtained from court of competent jurisdiction and was professionally executed in the house of Senator Danujma Goje on 20th April, 2017 at No. 10 Haile Salasie Street, Asokoro District Abuja.

    The Force leadership also said Goje’s house was searched after it got intelligence that large sum of money suspected to be stolen public funds and other incriminating items are about to be moved out of the said house.
    The police also explained that its actions are in line with the provisions of Sec. 4 & 28 of Police Act and Regulations as mentioned in paragraph 2 above and consistent with Sec. 9 & 144 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

    This is contained in a statement in Abuja by the

    The full statement by Force Spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood.he reads: “The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to reports in the media credited to Senator Da jump Abdullahi Goje captioned “Blame the Police if 2017 Budget is not Ready Senator Goje” “REPS gives Police 24 hours to return budget documents allegedly carted from Goje’s residence”
    “The report in its entirety is false, misleading and capable of misinforming Nigerians about the statutory roles and duties of the Nigeria Police Force as provided under Sections 4 & 28 of Police Act and Regulations, which includes prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of offenders, the preservation of law and order, the protection of life and property and the due enforcement of all laws and regulations, and authority to enter any house or premises to execute search warrant.
    “It is pertinent to set the record straight and inform Nigerians of the facts of the matter.

    “A search warrant duly obtained from court of competent jurisdiction was professionally executed in the house of Senator Danujma Goje on 20th April, 2017 at No. 10 Haile Salasie Street, Asokoro District Abuja which was subsequent upon intelligence report at the disposal of the Force that large sum of money suspected to be stolen public funds and other incriminating items are about to be moved out of the said house.”
    On how the search was carried out, the Police said: “It is worthy of note that on arrival of the Police team to Senator Danujma Goje’s house, the house keeper Ango Usman informed the Senator of the presence and mission of the team and he promised coming but later switched off his phone.
    “The search warrant was successfully executed in the presence of three close relatives of Senator Danjuma Goje who are residing in the house and the recoveries were made in their presence.

    “The three relatives opened the house and took the Police team round the building, and endorsed their signatures after the completion of the search as required by the procedure of law on search warrant which contained the money, documents and Laptop recovered, and none of the items include 2017 budget document.

    “This is available for inspection by any interested members of the public”.
    The three relatives that were present during the search according to the police are; Danjuma Mohammed, a master Degree holder from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and a Chartered Quantity Surveyor is a nephew to Senator Danjuma Goje, Ango Usman, House keeper to Senator Danjuma Goje and Aisha Umar, Alias Iklima a step daughter to the Senator Danjuma Goje.

    Highlighting the items taken from the house, the police said: “For avoidance of doubt, the followings are the sum of money both in local and foreign currencies, vital documents and a Laptop recovered for investigation when the search warrant was executed in the house of Senator Danjuma Goje

    “Cash sum of Eighteen Million and Fifty Six Thousand Naira (₦18,056,000) only, Cash sum of Nineteen Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty (19,850 US Dollars), and Cash sum of Nine Thousand Four Hundred (SR9, 400) Saudi Riyal”

    38 Files and six envelopes containing documents were also recovered from his home.

    Some of the files include: “file on funds spent on security administration and information gathering– a-g – 2009, file on release of funds for Special operations a- f – 2009, file on Gombe State Government of Nigeria Cash inflow 2005, file on Project 2007 – Executive Briefs on how to fight opposition in Gombe State – Strategies and Tactics

    Others are: “Envelopes containing permit to operate as an Oil Industry Service Company (special categories) 2011, a file containing write-ups on how Governor Shekarau plotted the assassination of Sheikh Jafaru

    “Letters from Alhaji Mohammed Danjuma Goje (Sarkin Yakin Gombe) to the MD LUBELL Nigeria Ltd of proposed residential Devt at Kashere Phase II dated 16/01/2007 and 19/11/2010.”
    On whether the police went away with documents relating to 2017 budget, it said: “The Nigeria Police Force wishes to state categorically that there was no single document relating to 2017 budget sighted or removed by the Police team that executed the search warrant.

    “There is video recording of the execution of the search warrant,” it added.

    The IG was said to have honoured the invitation of the National Assembly on 26th April, 2017 to explain the legality of the search warrant that was executed in the house of Senator Danjuma Goje on the 20th of April, 2017.

    The police while noting that further investigation is currently ongoing into the matter added that it’s actions are in line with the provisions of Sec. 4 & 28 of Police Act and Regulations as mentioned in paragraph 2 above and consistent with Sec. 9 & 144 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.
    The Force leadership also described the report credited to Senator Danjuma Goje as a deliberate distraction to cast aspersion on Police investigation to pervert the end of justice.

    Members of the public were urged to disregard the report as the search warrant which was professionally executed in the house of Senator Danjuma Goje has nothing to do with 2017 budget.

  • Extortion is killing the police

    Extortion is killing the police

    It is rather sad that Nigerians consider some vices to be great, while classifying some others as minor. Whereas it is these “minor vices” that are most despicable. Our society is one that witnesses misdemeanour daily so much so that we have got tired to say anything.

    This article is informed by a recent encounter with some corrupt policemen in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. I was riding on a motorcycle on a sunny day. The heat from the sun was unbearable and this prodded the driver to accelerate faster as he could. As we got closer to my destination, I noticed a police checkpoint, which caused slow vehicular movement.

    Since they were policemen, I had no qualms since they were doing their job. We moved slowly and patiently till it got to our turn for stop-and-search. But, I was wrong. After being ordered to come down from the bike, then a policeman asked for “my” money. I never responded, since I didn’t owe anyone any money.

    The motorcyclist then went on his knees and started to beg the policeman to allow him go, because he had just started working. Unconvinced by the motorcyclist’s plea, the policeman went for the key and removed it, telling the motorcyclist: “You are not serious…when you are ready, come and meet me over there.”

    The disgraceful act ended on the despicable note. The policeman released the bike after the motorcyclist bribed him. Bribery is not a new phenomenon in our society, but what got me surprised was the fact that the motorcyclist did not commit any offence. The policeman just felt the rifle he was holding was the ticket to extort motorists and force them to part with their hard-earned money. What a country!

    I was annoyed to say the least, and I wanted to challenge the policeman. But, something stopped me from doing so. The policeman received the bribe as though it was their right. I put myself in the motorcyclist’s shoes and I felt a sense of loss afterwards. Why should I drive around in a scorching sun in search of daily bread, then a policeman whose income is more than my monthly earning asks me to part with my hard-earned money? Don’t policemen get paid?

    This embarrassing act needs to stop. How do we expect our country to develop when the aim of its security agencies is to make money and not to think of how they can be better in keeping our communities safe? The Nigeria Police need to purge itself of bad eggs and retrain its personnel in accordance with modern policing mechanism.

    This is also a clarion call to all stakeholders in transport sector. It has been observed that commercial drivers are aiding and abetting bribery, because many of them don’t have up-to-date vehicle documents. Why would a driver not have the necessary documents to drive? Policemen who should arrest road offenders are collecting bribes. Do we still ask why there is insecurity in the land?

    If, in case, the current crop of policemen don’t understand their roles and responsibilities, the police authorities have duty to re-orientate them and let them face the duty of strengthening the nation’s internal security. When policemen derive joy in taking bribe, they have wittingly compromise the security of the nation and endangered the citizens.

  • Nigeria Police endangered

    The Nigeria Police Force is no doubt endangered species. And there is also no doubt that policing in Nigeria is the most dangerous job in the world. It is almost like if you enlist with the police you are signing your death sentence. It is not an exaggeration that the force’s personnel are the most uncared for in the country if not in the world. Their living conditions are appalling while their self-esteem arising from the shabby treatment meted to them is at its lowest ebb.

    I must have written about the Nigeria Police more than 20 times dating as far back as 1974, but more pointedly in 1976 when the then Ogun State Commissioner of Police Mr Chris Omeben lamented that the police personnel were abandoning the force in droves. Regrettably nothing seems to have changed since that era. The only difference is that due to mass unemployment, those in the force cannot afford to leave.

    The Nigeria Police cuts a sorry sight. Their pay is very poor. Their condition of service is nothing to write home about while their barracks and offices are derelict and suitable only for pigs. Some of the windows in their offices have fallen off while many of such offices have no toilet facilities. You can hardly get drinking water in most of the offices and even in the barracks.

    And yet these are officers and men whose quality of training and service is comparable with the best anywhere in the world. Many of the police personnel have more than one university degree while a good number have received professional training locally and abroad. I dare say that they work hard and come rain come sunshine they are usually found at their duty posts.

    Unfortunately because of the few bad eggs amongst them the Nigeria Police do not enjoy the appreciation that is due to them from the public. The Nigerian elite are amongst the most corrupt in the world, coming perhaps second to the political elite in the US, yet they expect the Nigeria Police to be angels in the midst of devils. The roguish politician who brings home tons of Ghana Must Go bags expects his Police aide to be amused.

    The thrust of this article is the serious danger the Nigeria Police are exposed to on daily basis. In neighbourhoods, on the streets, on the highways as well as at establishments and institutions they are assigned to guard, the police are always at serious risk. They are sometimes ambushed and murdered in cold blood.

    Any time I pass by the Nigeria Police on the highway, my heart is full of pity for them. I see them as sacrificial lambs tied to the post for gods to devour.  Sometimes ferocious armed bandits numbering about 30 in say two or three vehicles would simply overrun the police. This is more precarious at night when the police patrol the highways. And in this era of kidnapping and ritual murders the plight of the police has become more dangerous and life threatening.

    Even though the federal and state governments try to provide crime fighting equipment and gadgets, such provisions are not as sophisticated as the weapons and armoury of the criminals. To make matters worse, stiff necks in successive governments have turned deaf ears to the cry and clamour for police decentralisation. The Nigeria Police establishment is the only one of its type in the whole world. There is no other police force that is under single control. But for terrible political selfish considerations, those who have found themselves in the commanding heights of the country’s political leadership have refused to institutionalise community policing which has been the norm in all sane countries.

    Given the abnormally high level of mass unemployment, the unprecedented level of general poverty, and the high degree of restive and restless youths denied admission to higher institutions, and the reckless looting by the political elite it is strange, very strange that crime rate in Nigeria is this low. Credit for this low rate of crime must go to the efficiency and self-sacrifice of the Nigeria Police. If the injustice and deprivation currently enveloping Nigeria were to exist in some other countries, say UK or the US, crime rate would have been uncontrollable.

    There are two things that require immediate action if the serious predicament of the Nigeria Police is to be resolved. The first is the immediate decentralisation of the force. Every local government must have its police while the states also have the state police while retaining the federal police, in a truly federal setting. Living conditions of the force at all levels must be improved including provision of modern barracks and decent office accommodation across board.

    With the establishment of local, state and additional numbers for the federal police, the police-civilian police ratio would tremendously improve. Right now the total police strength put at around 370,000 is not sufficient for Lagos State alone! Nigeria with a population of 192 million, making her the seventh most populated country in the world requires police strength of at least one million.

    Salaries and other personal emoluments must be revised upwards immediately. Paying Sergeants a paltry N50,000 a month is grossly unacceptable. With the serious hazards attached to their job, no police man or woman should earn less than N80000 per month.

    The Nigerian public must be sensitised to show more appreciation for the herculean task of the police. Government itself must treat the police more nicely than it is doing at the moment. Everything should be done to boost the morale of the police while desisting from assigning ‘boy-boy’ jobs to them. Political office holders should be prevented from treating the police as errand boys and girls. I hope the NGO –  Police Friends Foundation PFF would lend its weight to dignifying our police personnel and its institution.

  • Police to hold security summit

    Police to hold security summit

    The Inspector General  Ibrahim Idris yesterday indicated his readiness to host a national security summit.

    The summit, which will focus on Farmers-Pastoralists clashes, kidnapping and other forms of violent crimes, is scheduled to hold on May 8 and 9 in Abuja.

    The Force spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood, in a statement, said those that will attend the summit include the 36 state governors, ministers, Service Chiefs, government functionaries, traditional rulers, religious leaders and others.

  • Police honour slain men in Ishawo attack

    Police honour slain men in Ishawo attack

    The police yesterday honoured four of their men who were killed in Ishawo, Ikorodu, Lagos on April 9 by militants along with those injured.

    They got cash rewards and commendation letters from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Idris Ibrahim.

    Widows of the slain policemen collected their awards.

    At a ceremony held at the Lagos Command headquarters in Ikeja, Idris, represented by Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni, said the gesture was to demonstrate the police’s appreciation for their gallantry.

    He said it was also to encourage others to enable them realise that they were not alone in peace and trouble times.

    Owoseni named the slain policemen as Inspectors Godwin Iruagbalachi and Francis Pemi, as well as Sergeants Mammudu Dembo and Idor Ekoro. The policemen, he added, did not die in vain.

    He said: “The men were responding to distress call to save lives when they were shot dead. We should learn how to appreciate the sacrifice of our men. That is what we have done today, not that the token can bring them back again. We should pray that God will grant them eternal rest in paradise.”

    On militants’ activities, Owoseni said the police would continue the raiding of creeks for them.

    He said: “We are still raiding creeks, aside from Isawo, we are gathering intelligence report on other creeks. We would continue with the exercise until we get rid of the criminals in the creeks. We will sustain the tempo and nothing would make us not achieve our purpose.”

  • Police arrest seven cultists after fight over girl

    Police arrest seven cultists after fight over girl

    ….. CP Warns Youths to Shun Cultism 


    Police have arrested seven suspected cultists after a fight over a girl in Kuduru area of Abuja.

    Those arrested include; Ridwan Olaitan ‘m’ 22 years, Abdulganiyu Sodiqu ‘m’ 24, Hassan Ayo ‘m’ 28, Moses Dominic ‘m’ 20, Abdulhameedu Ali ‘m’ 21, Eze Chibuike ‘m’ 23, and Franklin Chiderah Ugorji ‘m’ 23.

    The suspects who are all from Kuduru Village in Bwari Area Council of Abuja have been transferred to the FCT Command Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for discreet investigation and possible prosecution.

    This is contained in a statement in Abuja Tuesday by the Command Spokesman, DSP Anjuguri Manzah.

    According to the statement: ” The suspects were arrested by police operatives attached to Bwari Division on 22/04/17 at about 3:00pm while responding to a distress call that two rival cult groups were involved in a violent clash over a girl. 

    “Upon the timely arrival of the police team, seven suspects were arrested. One locally made revolver pistol and one live ammunition belonging to one of the arrested suspects, Ridwan Olaitan, was recovered at the scene.”

    Reacting to the arrest after a security brief by operatives from Bwari Divisional Police, the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Musa Kimo noted that the involvement of the youths in cult activities constitutes a serious security threat to the society.

    He advised youths to focus more on their education and shun any act that could truncate their future dreams.   

    Kimo also urged parents, guardians and religious leaders to rise up to the occasion by providing sound moral and spiritual guidance for the youths whose future is seriously being threaten by the ugly menace of cultism.  

  • Police boss cautions against use of arms, extortion

    Police boss cautions against use of arms, extortion

    The Abia State Commissioner of Police, Adeleye Oyebade, has cautioned his officers and men to guard their arms jealously and avoid misusing them.
    Oyebade, who spoke at Abayi Police Station, Aba, when the Tactical Response Squad (TRS) was launched, said guarding their arms jealously would prevent accidental discharge.
    According to him, the TRS was set up to tackle crime and criminality in Aba and other parts of the state. He warned that his administration will not tolerate any form of extortion by policemen.
    The police boss hinted that the state agreed to pay some of the personnel allowances, stressing that the command will ensure welfare of its personnel.
    The state would provide about 20 vehicles and walkie-talkies for patrol teams for effective communication and to increase response time to distress calls, Oyebade added.
    He called for synergy between the police and sister agencies and thanked the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, for agreeing to send more men and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) to the state.

  • Suicide: Court orders mental test for Lagos textile trader

    An Ebute-Meta Magistrates Court, Lagos, on Monday ordered a textile dealer, Mrs. Titilayo Momoh, to undergo psychiatric evaluation following her arraignment by the police for attempted suicide.

    Momoh, 58, was also granted N500,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

    The woman was on March 24 rescued from jumping off the Third Mainland Bridge into the Lagoon by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad  (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command.

    The charge reads: “That you Titilayo Momoh ‘f’ on the 24th day of March, 2017 at about 10:00 hours at Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos, did attempt to commit suicide by jumping into the river and thereby committed an offence under Section 235 Cap C17, Volume 3 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Prosecuting police officer, Sergeant Kehinde Omisakin, had no objection to the oral bail application of defence counsel, Beauty Otigi.

    Chief Magistrate Elias granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must also show evidence of tax compliance.

    He ordered the defendant to submit herself to psychiatric evaluation before the adjourned date of June 1.

     

  • Armed men kill police inspector in Anambra

    Armed men kill police inspector in Anambra

    Two armed men operating on a motorcycle on Saturday shot dead a police inspector in Ogidi, near Onitsha in Anambra, police authorities have confirmed.

    The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ogidi Police Station, Mr Hassan Musa, who confirmed the incident, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the hoodlums collected the AK47 riffle the deceased was carrying.

    He said that the incident occurred at about 2.45 p.m. at a police road block near Ugwunwasike Roundabout in Ogidi, where a police team was conducting “stop and search”.

    An eyewitness had told NAN that the armed men took the policeman unawares as they rode straight and shot him at a close range while he was flagging down a vehicle for a search.

    “Other policemen who were with him took cover on hearing the gun shots while the armed men escaped,” the source said.

    NAN gathered that the incident, which happened within minutes, caused people in the vicinity, including motorists and commuters, to abandon their vehicle and scamper for safety.

    The DPO said that the remains of the late inspector had been deposited at Iyi-Enu Hospital’s mortuary.

    He said that the police had commenced investigation into the incident. (NAN)

  • Police rescue two kidnapped Turkish nationals in Akwa Ibom

    •Whereabouts of abducted polytechnic founder remain unknown

    Akwa Ibom State Police Command yesterday said it had rescued the two Turkish Nationals abducted by unknown gunmen in Eket, Akwa Ibom State.

    The two expatriates, who worked with a construction firm, VKS Nigeria Construction Limited, were abducted at their hotel in Eket on Sunday, April 9.

    The state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Don Awunah, confirmed the release of the expatriates to newsmen during a briefing at the police headquarters in Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo, the state capital. Awunah said five suspects were arrested in connection with the kidnap of the two Turkish nationals.

    The rescue of the expatriates, CP Awunah said, was through the deployment of technical platform and skillful professional negotiation. He said: “The two kidnapped Turkish Nationals were kidnapped and taken to the creeks of Calabar/Oron waterways. Undoubtedly, kidnap for ransom threatened Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Akwa Ibom state.

    “Following sustained Police activities in the waterways, deployment of technical platform, cultivation of actionable intelligence and skillful professional negotiation, the two Turkish gentlemen were released on April 19, 2017. “The victims of crime have been reunited with their colleagues after medical assessment. Five suspects have been arrested and further investigation is ongoing.”

    On the abduction of the proprietor of Sure Polytechnic, Dr Idongesit Udom, the police boss said the command was still on it. CP Awunah said: “On the kidnap of the Sure Polytechnic Proprietor in Ukanafun Local Government Area, we are on it. In any scenario of a case of kidnap for ransom, our primary objective is that we rescue or release the person before we now go after the criminals. “Of course, they (kidnappers) made all kinds of outrageous demand. We can assure you that soon or later he will be release like others.”

    On the murder of Ukanafun Local Government Secretary, Mr. Ime Atakpa, the police boss said the command would unravel those behind the dastardly act. His words: “I was at the scene of crime with the governor of the state. We have put in place special team on special assignment to unravel the circumstance surrounding the murder. Not only that, we are also working on community intelligence.