THE police on Monday averted what could have been a riot in Igboye in Epe, Lagos State.
They rejected the request of the town’s deposed monarch, Oba Michael Gbadebo Onakoya to celebrate the yearly Ojude Oba.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Epe, Nicheal Opete, a Chief Superintendent (CSP), was said to have declined the monarch’s request to visit the town to celebrate the festival during which lesser monarchs in the area pay homage to Oba Onakoya.
Oba Asummo Aderibigbe, the Alayandelu of Odo-Ayandelu in Agbowa Local Council Development Area, was also said to have prevailed on Oba Onakoya not to visit the town. Oba Aderibigbe, who got a call from Igboye, was also said to have advised Oba Onakoya’s children who were in town for the festival, against driving their father’s cars, which are marked “The Orijeru of Ogboye” round the town, in order not to stir the people’s anger.
It was gathered that the police intervention prevented the youths, who have armed themselves with sticks and other weapons in readiness for an attack from carrying out the threat.
The police were said to be acting on a tip-off that both two sides may have hired “mercenaries” to achieve their aim. There was also a December 29, 2016 petition by counsel to the Ewade Ruling House of Igboye, Mr T.A. Dairo informing the police of an alleged “threat to peace and order and plan to invade Igboye community”.
The petition reads: “Upon this threat of invasion, the youths have become restive and poised for a showdown and have decided to resist any form of invasion by the deposed and banished Michael Gbadebo Onakoya”.
The petition sought the quick intervention of the police which it also urged to invite three persons “for questioning before the matter in the town gets out of hand”.
Although, banners adorned several places in the town, there was no celebration of the Ojude Oba because of Onakoya’s absence.
Last May 17, the Lagos State Government, banished Oba Onakoya from Igboye, following two judgements by Justice Habib Abiru in October, 2008 and Justice Iyabo Kasali in April last year deposing Onakoya as the Orijeru of Igboyeland.
The deposition letter signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Sanuth J.A.B., ordered the monarch to stop parading himself “as the Orijeru of Igboye with immediate effect until another judgement setting the two aside is obtained.
“I am to also advise you to stay away from the community in order to prevent any breakdown of law and order until the situation is reversed.”
But, the deposed monarch was said to have visited the officer in-charge of chieftaincy titles in Eredo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) on Wednesday with a letter from his lawyer that he is entitled to enter the town and also intimate him of the planned Ojude Oba celebration on the strength of his pending appeal at the Court of Appeal.
Besides, the DPO despite pressure from friendly monarchs in the area, refused to grant Onakoya police protection, advising him to await the outcome of his case at the appeal court.
When news filtered in on Friday that he would be visiting the town, the youths were said to have advised heads of families and elders, including the Olisa of Igboye, Chief Fatai Adewale Mustapha, to leave, saying they would do everything to stop Onakoya.
A meeting of the aggrieved members of Ewade Ruling House and the kingmakers was also held in the town yesterday to find a way out of the crisis.
The Secretary of the Igboye community, Chief Anthony Oguntimehin, was not available for comments when The Nation visited his house.
But the Head of Ewade Ruling House, Otunba Abdulwasiu Musa-Adebamowo, said the community would not allow a deposed king to preside over the Ojude Oba.
Tag: Police
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Police avert riot in Epe
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Army, police vow to end Southern Kaduna violence
Killings in southern part of Kaduna have in the last four weeks dominated national discourse. The matter has now attracted the attention of the Federal Government more than ever before. The zone now awaits two military formations and a mobile police base. ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE reports that with these developments, there is hope of an end to a bloody Southern Kaduna.
The violence in Southern Kaduna has defied many applied solutions since after the 2011 post presidential election violence. Successive government made unsuccessful efforts to nip the crisis in the bud, but the Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai’s government seem to be succeeding in bringing the challenge to its new.
Burnt houses, and destroyed properties litter the landscape of the region with its people traumatised having been rendered homeless and losing their loved ones.
It would be recalled that Goska, a village of about five kilometres away from Kafanchan, headquarters of Jema’a local government area was attacked under a 24 hours curfew, by suspected Fulani herdsmen, leaving five people dead, many injured and houses razed.
The state government had imposed curfew on the three local government areas of Jema’a, Kaura and Zangon Kataf to forestall break down of law and order. The curfew came a day after the convoy of the Governor was attacked by rampaging youths in Kafanchan.
The good news is that, while the Fulani communities under the auspices of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, (MACBAN) have asked parties involved in the killings to forgive each other and stop reprisal attacks, Federal Government has concluded arrangements to establish two military formations and a mobile police base in Southern Kaduna.
Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai during a two-hour chat with local radio reporters recently disclosed that plans are underway to establish two military formations in Southern parts of the state. Saying, his government has gotten assurances of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Ministry of Defence and Chief of Army Staff on the request to site the military formations.
El-Rufai said, the proposed military formations will be sited in Fadan Karshi, in Sanga Local Government and Kauru Local Government Areas. “We are talking with the President, the Minister of defense and the Chief of Army Staff to site two military formations in Southern Kaduna; one in Fadan Karshi in Sanga and the second one in Kauru local government area. And I will meet the President on Thursday (yesterday) in continuation of the project.
“The presence of these two military formations will help in securing lives and property and provide rapid response to any act of criminality and the maintenance of law and order. Two other military formations will be established in Birnin Gwari and Kubau local government areas.”
“Security has been beefed up in the area as part of measures to stem the tide of violence in the region. Two squadrons of mobile police have been drafted to the area. In addition, more military personnel have also been deployed to tackle the rising insecurity in the region”, he said.
El-Rufai explained that the rising insecurity in the region is also having adverse economic effect as investors who expressed readiness to invest in the region were already pooling out.
Similarly, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris who was on tour of the troubled areas on Saturday announced that the Nigeria Police will establish a mobile police base in Kafanchan, saying; “from the discussion I had with Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, we have decided to station a mobile police base in Kafanchan. We are here to see things for ourselves so that we have a lasting peace in the whole area,” he said.
The IG said a panel had been set up to investigate the crisis in the area thoroughly, including the allegation that 800 people were killed in the crisis.
IGP Idris said some of the reports on Southern Kaduna were exaggerated, saying all the leaders of the villages have a lot to contribute to peace and unity of the area. “Some of the community leaders need to be cautioned. They are contributing to creating situation that does not exist,” he said.
He said the police were committed to restoring lasting peace and later met with community leaders in the area.
The Fulani communities on their part called on the warring parties to genuinely sheath their sword and sincerely embrace all the reconciliatory moves towards achieving peaceful and harmonious coexistence, saying without that, there may be no end to the killings and reprisal attacks.
The National Assistant Secretary of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi who stated this as part of the solutions to the recurring killings and destruction of properties in the area said natives of the area embark on indiscriminate killings.
”We call on the entire people of southern Kaduna to forgive what has happened. Both parties should learn to forgive. This crisis will never end if you think you would go and revenge what happened to you , so we’re appealing to all parties to sheath their swords and embrace peace.
“We want to also support the steps so far taken by the government of Kaduna State and all the security agencies in order to return normalcy to the area.
“We call on leaders in particular, political, religious and otherwise to desist from making inflammatory speeches that could escalate the situation. There should be no hate speech, those speeches that points towards religious sentiment or ethnic jingoism. Let us all work for peace. We inherited a peaceful southern Kaduna and I don’t think we are sensible if we bequeath to our children and grandchildren a southern Kaduna that is fighting itself.
“We want to assure that we will continue to work with people of goodwill. In southern Kaduna there are good people that are out for peace. And I want to make it clear that there are Chiefdoms where you never, ever experience any clash because the traditional rulers there are out to promote peace. Kagoro, Marwa is one of them even though some people mischievously leave from other places and come to Marwa and attack.
“We are going to work with people of like minds to ensure total reconciliation.”
Dr Abdullahi said grazing reserve is the main reason for the violence, adding that “at the inception of this administration everybody is aware that the government formed a committee which I was priviledged to be a member and we went on tour of the entire part of southern kaduna.
“We discussed with people from all shades of opinion, and wherever we go the issue of grazing reserves is tabled, the people on ground did not opposed the idea. There is a place the traditional ruler said if there is no designated grazing area, he wants to volunteer his farm.
“But no sooner than the report was handed over, we heard some political leaders from that area and elected representatives of that area called a press conference saying that the entire people of southern Kaduna, including myself has rejected the idea of grazing reserve.
“This committee went out to all nooks and crannies of the area, somebody decided because he has power called pressmen and tell them the southern Kaduna people are not willing to accept grazing reserve. I think that is mischief. None of them has ever even gone to his constituency to consult with the people. I don’t think somebody like Gen. Martin Luther Agwai will come and lie to the government that my people accepted grazing reserve when he did not discuss it with them. That is unacceptable”, he said.
While the security measures are being taken, there is need for the people of Southern Kaduna people, locals and the Fulani communities to come together and chart a new course for peace to reign in the region.
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‘Provide police with information’
A community leader and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Adesun security outfit, Sunday Adeyemo a.k.a Sunday Igboho, has appealed to Ibadan residents to provide the police with information on a notorious group, “One Million Boys”.
He said: “Members of this gang live among us and are sponsored by some influential people. The police cannot arrest them easily if we do not assist with necessary information.
“The Commissioner of Police, Damilola Adegbuyi, should be hailed for curtailing the activities of some groups that want to jeopardise the peace in the state since the inception of the Abiola Ajimobi-led administration. Adegbuyi has achieved a lot since he took over.” -
Serial rapists of nine women arrested in Lagos
Four members of a robbery gang who raped nine women in Lagos have been arrested by the Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police command.
A statement by the police on Monday said Sunday John, a 27 year old leader of the gang and serial rapist, arrested at Charity Bus Stop, Oshodi, confessed to have led three other members to rape the women in the last two weeks.
The suspect, a bus conductor in Oshodi from Akwa Ibom was reportedly arrested at Charity Bus Stop around 5:38 a.m. on Wednesday in company of his two gang members by the Decoy Team of the Rapid Response Squad.
The gang members are Saviour Daniel (23), Daniel Olayemi (18) and Abdulwahab Yusuph (17).
The statement said the operatives had on Tuesday evening arrested one of John’s colleagues while fighting with another group of boys over a Samsung tablet in Oshodi.
The suspect, Daniel Olayemi, a member of John’s gang, had disclosed to interrogators that he stole the tablet from a lady that was gang raped during one of their escapades in Charity Bus stop.
The revelation prompted early morning raid of Charity Bus Stop near Oshodi, where three other members of the gang were arrested according to the police.
Olayemi, in his disclosure to investigators revealed that they were four in John’s gang. He noted that in the last two weeks, the gang robbed 12 passers – by and raped no fewer than nine ladies in the bush at Charity Bus Stop.
Confirming the arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Dolapo Badmos, said that the suspects have made very useful suggestions to enable the police arrest other group members implicated in the crime.
The suspects have been transferred to SCID for further investigations.
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Abia govt donates N50m gadgets to police
The Abia State Government has donated security equipment estimated at over N50 million to the state police command.
The equipment comprised 200 handheld Walkie Talkie with batteries and chargers, two units of DMR with 1,000 Watts repeaters, 10 pieces of 45 Watts DMR for patrol vehicles and two pieces of 60 Watts DMR base stations.
The Chief Security Officer (CSO) to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Emeka Ubani, a Superintendent of Police (SP), spoke at the weekend in Umuahia when he presented the equipment to the commanmd on behalf of the governor.
Ubani hoped the gadgets would boost the reception and dissemination of information and logistics among policemen, especially in Aba, the state’s commercial hub and its environs.
The governor’s aide hoped the police would judiciously use the equipment to boost the security of life and property.
He restated the commitment of the Ikpeazu administration to a secure and crime-free Abia State.
Ubani said the government would not relent in supporting security agencies to provide tight security for the residents until they could sleep with their eyes closed.
The Aba Area Commander of the police, Peter Wagbara, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), thanked the government for supporting the command.
Wagbara said: “Aba serves a very important role in the economy of the state, the Southeast, country and even at the world. The gadgets will help us to cover Aba and its environs very well.
“The repeaters will be strategically located across various divisions under Aba Command among the divisional police officers (DPOs), Safer Highway officers and men, Patrol and Guard (P&G), Rapid Response Squad (Dragon), highway patrol teams, Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Counter-Terrorism Unit and among others.
“It will help us to respond swiftly to distress calls from the public and coordinate our activities effectively.”
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Police harass tricyclist, passerby
There was a mild drama around Ladipo auto parts market in Mushin last Thursday, when some policemen attempted to forcibly arrest a commercial tricyclist.
One of the policemen was said to have gone wild and threatened to shoot one of the passersby who sought to know the tricyclist’s offence.
It took the intervention of a soldier to stop Sergeant Segun Akingbemiro from carrying out his threat.
The Nation learnt that the policemen from Olosan Police Division were at the Ladipo intersection checking vehicles.
The aged trycyclist was said to have suddenly applied the brakes, because the officer, who stopped him, was not in uniform.
An eyewitness, Akin Olawale, told The Nation that there was an argument between the officer and the tricyclist before Akingbemiro joined and started harassing the old man.
Other officers drove their vehicle to block the man’s tricycle.
“Before we knew it, the officer (Akingbemiro) dragged the man to where their bus was parked and hit the man’s head on their bus. This was what caused people’s cries. We decided to move closer and confronted him for that wicked act. He started threatening us with arrest,” he said.
When The Nation got to the scene, Akingbemiro, who was called by his first name Segun by his colleagues, was seen dragging a passerby by his trousers.
“What is my offence? Because we say what you did was wrong. If you kill the man, will you be happy? You can’t arrest me for saying the truth,” the man told Akingbemiro.
The soldier freed the man.
As the officers were leaving, the people booed them.
Akingbemiro, who drove suddenly parked on the road and came out with a gun, corked it, saying: “I will kill you and nothing will happen here.”
When an Inspector in mufti challenged him, he told him off, saying: “I will kill them and you (the inspector) will carry them away.”
The soldier confronted him again, warning him against the repercussion of shooting.
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Police launch ‘change begins with me’ crusade in Ebonyi
In line with President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s change mantra, Ebonyi State Police Command has launched the “change begins with me” programme and its Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit.
At the occasion, Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi Police Command, Peace Ibekwe Abdallah said the change mantra would reposition the Nigeria Police Force to be more accountable, responsive, responsible and reliable.
She urged men and women of the force to carry out their functions based on international policing standards which are based on zero-tolerance to corruption and respect for fundamental human rights.
She added that the “change begins with me” philosophy has already taken place in Ebonyi State Police Command.
Ibekwe promised she would lead in the realisation of the change needed to crush any form of crime, stressing that the Crush Crime Walk strategy she introduced is yielding results.
She said apart from sensitising the public to the consequences of any form of involvement in criminality, the strategy also availed me the opportunity to personally lead in many operations. She noted that evidences of remarkable success of these operations are already open to the public.
She said: “My interpretation of “change begins with me” is leadership by example, doing the right thing that would ensure effective and efficient utilisation of our meager resources to police in Ebonyi State.
“My achievements in this regard are enormous and that is why I stand firm to announce that the ‘change begins with me’ is already working in Ebonyi State Police Command.
“I urge my management team, head of departments, divisional police officers and all other officers in the command and Ebonyi people to replicate my efforts.”
On Public Complaints Respond Unit, Ibekwe said it was the initiative of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris which was aimed at receiving from the public complaints about police unprofessional conducts, stressing that complaints from the public will be treated with urgency.
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Police seek land for new barracks
•AIG visits collapsed building site
The Police have appealed to Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for land to build barracks for policemen serving in the state.
Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni has been ordered to liaise with the governor on the matter.
Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 11 Onikan, Lagos, Kayode Aderanti said Inspector-General of Police (IG) Ibrahim Idris was concerned about the accommodation challenges facing policemen in the state.
Aderanti spoke when he visited the site of the December 25 collapsed building at the Police College in Ikeja. Two persons were killed and several others injured in the incident.
He said Owoseni would see to the relocation of occupants of the collapsed building.
The AIG sympathised with the victims and their families. -
Police, NSCDC deploy 3,700 for peaceful yuletide
Three thousand, seven hundred policemen and officials of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been deployed in Sokoto to ensure a hitch-free yuletide.
Commissioner of Police Mohammed Abdulkadir and NSCDC’s Commandant Babangida Abdullahi spoke in Sokoto at the weekend.
Abdulkadir said the command deployed over 3,000 officers and men in the 23 councils.
He said: “We have embarked on stop-and-search patrols by the safer highways unit and the special anti-robbery squads. We have intensified on mobile patrols, surveillance by the conventional and plain-clothes personnel.
“All officers and men in the command have been put on the red alert for yuletide. The command will not leave anything to chance to ensure that the festivities are peaceful.”
Abdullahi added that the NSCDC 700 officers and men, with a special focus on Sokoto city and its environs.
“We also appeal to residents to sustain their support to security agencies, as illegality will not do anybody any good,’’ Abdullahi, cautioned. -
Bloody Christmas: 10 killed in fresh attack in Kaduna
IN spite of 24 hours curfew imposed on three Kaduna State Local Government Areas of Jema’a, Kaura and Zango Kataf for security reasons, it was a bloody Christmas eve as Goska village in Kaninkon Chiefdom of Jema’a in Kaduna State was attacked on Saturday night , leaving 10 persons dead and several houses razed.
Police Public Relations Officer, Kaduna Police Command, ASP Aliyu Usman confirmed the attack, but said there was no casualty. He described it as ”attempted attack” on the community.
Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has however condemned the attack, describing it as inhumane and handiwork of forces of darkness.
El-Rufai in a strong-worded statement empathised with the families that lost their loved ones and charged security agencies to redouble their efforts.
He said the attackers will not know peace as they will be chased to their hideouts and brought to justice.
A local in Goska Bulus James told The Nation that, “the Fulani herdsmen had earlier informed the community that they will launch an attack on it. We didn’t take it seriously until when they came at about 5pm on Saturday. They encircled the village and started shooting anybody at sight.
According to him, “that shooting continued through the night. They killed one of the daughters of two term member of Kaduna State House of Assembly and a one time Chairman of Jema’a local government, Gideon Yakubu Morik and burnt his house and several other houses. Only a very few houses are left. As I speak with you, we can still hear the gunshot.
“It was very pathetic. It was a serious attack. While that was ongoing, they released their cattle to feed on beans yet to be harvested. We tried to call security people around who were outskirt of the village but we discovered that they don’t have bullets. So, we are only in the hand of God”, the source said.