Four suspected members of a kidnapping gang that whisked away a medical doctor last week at St. François Hospital in Onikan, Lagos, have been killed.
They were gunned down inside the Ibeju-Lekki forest on Friday during an operation carried out by the police to rescue the man identified as Dr. Ajayi.
It was gathered that security forces stormed the forest Friday night and battled the kidnappers, killing four of them in the process.
The police, it was learnt, recovered a gun, the vehicle that was used to kidnap the doctor, as well as many clothes suspected to belong to other victims.
According to the Lagos Police Command spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP), Dr. Ajayi was successfully rescued around 9:10pm and has been reunited with his family.
She confirmed that the kidnappers kept him inside the thick forest, adding that the deceased died during a gun duel.
“The command would do everything within its means to rid Lagos of criminal elements,” said Badmos.
Tag: Police
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Four suspected kidnappers die as police rescue doctor
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” How I duped 33 men on Instagram pretending to be a lady”
A 22- year old suspect, Falope Oluwole, arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of Lagos State Police Command, has disclosed that he duped over 33 men while pretending to be a lady on Instagram.
Falope according to a statement by the Police was arrested when officials of the RRS decoy team, who had been monitoring him for some weeks, trailed him to a popular club in Ikeja City Mall on Thursday evening.
The officers were reported to have monitored him, and those he was interacting with at the club before arresting him and a colleague late in the night.
It was gathered that the suspect recently celebrated his birthday at Hard & Rock, Lekki, Lagos, week before his arrest, where he spent over half a million on foods and drinks.
The suspect, a 100 level part time student of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Lagos, who allegedly confessed committing the crime, said that he has been in the business for more than two years.
The Police revealed that Falope’s activities on Instagram was placed under investigations when it received a complaint about an Instagram handle @blackberbiedoll, used for criminal activities, which was later traced to him.
Apart from @blackberbiedoll, which he prominently used for fraudulent activities, he maintained @froshwhite007 and @froshwhite separately for same purpose.
The complainant, Bernard stated that he got a friend request from @blackberbiedoll. “Apparently, the picture on the account was that of a lady. The lady in question messaged me on BBM. Honestly, I thought I was chatting with a woman who claimed to be in Nigeria at the time.
“She lied to me that her father was a Nigerian and her mum, a Kenyan, and so we got talking. At a point, she lied that she was building a beauty outfit in Ikota Shopping Mall, VGC and that she was in need of some money to complete the mall”,Bernard added.
He explained further, “I had to transfer N1million to her. Weeks later, I grew suspicious of the account name Olawole Israel Oluwaseun Falope. I ran a search on Google, and then discovered it was all scam.
” Immediately, I reported the incident to Instagram and that account was blocked and later suspended to prevent others from falling victim”.
Another victim, who did not want his identity disclosed said he paid N100, 000 into her account to support her bogus fashion outfit.
Admitting the allegation, the suspect noted that since he started the fraudulent act about two years ago, he had duped no fewer than 33 men pretending to be a lady on Instagram and that the least amount he received from any of them was N80,000.
“When I started, much as I pretended to be a lady on phone, some men on the other side didn’t believe me. I then downloaded an app on Google which transformed my voice into that of a lady whenever I am having conversation.
I got several pictures of Shayla, a pretty United States based lady on my profile. Since then, men have been disturbing me and calling to request for a date”, he stated.
He said, “what I do is that I assess people based on their appearance on Instagram, add them and thereafter open up conversations with them before I start bringing up all manners of stories in order to dupe them.
” At a point, I lied to most of them that I had an accident and I lost my ATM. I told them that I need some money. Some of them were generous enough to drop money into my account”.
“I lied to them that I was putting up a boutique and saloon at Ikota, VGC and Lekki, and that I need money to finish setting up.
” I know I made a mistake downloading Shayla’s pictures and used them for fraudulent purposes. I am telling you the truth, those that I have collected money from cant be more than 33”, he explained.
Investigations revealed that the owner of the profile pictures the suspect used, @Shayla had complained to Instagram that some Nigerians were using her profile pictures to scam unsuspecting members of the public.
It was also disclosed that the suspect claimed to be a friend of Toke Makinwa, Tonto Dike, Don jazzy, Peter Okoye, Toyin Aihmaku, Tee Y Mix, Oristsefemi, Timaya, Sean Tizzle, Dami Adenuga, Femi Otedola, Mike Adenuga jnr, Ramsey Noah e.t.c.
“I know all of them. I attend a lot of shows, I meet them, take photographs with them, even exchange numbers. Like sister Toke Makinwa, Tonto Dike, Uncle Ramsey Noah, these are the kind of celebrities I look up to and I want to be like them”, he stated.
But RRS investigators confirmed that he was following a lot of Nigerian celebrities on Instagram but they could not confirm if any of them fell prey to Falope’s antics, as many his Instagram chats with them got no response.
They added that a Ghanian business man who Falope claimed to have met at a popular club in Nigeria rebuffed his request to engage him in a chat.
They noted that Falope claims of being a halfcast, Fashion designer, stylist, cosmetologist, model were all part his fraud to make people fall for him. He was never a trainee or a specialist in any of this.
Our source added that he is not an half cast as he claimed to be, rather he bleached his skin.
“He didn’t deny this claim. He admitted bleaching his skin to escape the taunting of girls that he was a very ugly guy”, the source stated.
Items recovered from the suspect included, an iphone 6, 1 Samsung Galaxy A5, an Apple tablet, hand and neck chains, some new notes and a handbag.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, Suprintendent Dolapo Badmos, warned Nigerains to be careful on the internet because scammers are on the prowl world wide.
The suspect has been transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigations. -
18 farmers hacked to death in Taraba
At least 18 farmers are believed to have been hacked to death by unknown assailants at Dan-anacha in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba in the early hours of Sunday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the killings are one of the series of bloody attacks in the state.
NAN reports that most of the farmers were killed on their farms.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr David Misal, who confirmed the incident, said that the police would soon release the casualty figure.
“Actually, I cannot lie to you there are casualties, but we will release the figures later after we might have finish combing the area.
“It was an undercover attack by some unidentified people in the area,” Misal said.
He said the police would soon conduct a thorough search for the perpetrators of the wicked act through intelligence gathering.
The acting Chairman of Concerned Taraba Tiv Youth Frontier, Mr Dooior Torkula, said a total of 18 persons were killed in separate attacks.
Torkula said the frontier recovered 12 corpses in Dan-Anacha shortly after the attacks.
According to him, four bodies were recovered from the Borno- Kruku road on the outskirts of Dan-Anacha, while two other corpses were recovered in their farms.
He alleged that the attackers broke into most of the victims’ houses while they slept and murdered them.
He further said that 18 other persons were left badly injured.
The acting chairman said the bodies were recovered at about 3am on Sunday.
Torkula said calm had returned to the area following the arrival of armed mobile policemen.
The policemen are currently patrolling the area to ensure law and order. (NAN)
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Police arrests suspected armed robbers, car snatchers in Abia
The Abia State police command has assured the people of the state and those who would be passing through the state now, during and after the Yuletide period of their safety, as it has mapped our strategies to ensure that the state is safe at all times.
Speaking in Umuahia while parading suspected armed robberies and car snatchers, the state Commisioner of Police (CP), Leye Oyebade, said that the period is when crime rate is on the high side and assured that the command is on top of the situation.
Oyebade said that the command is determined to make the state crime-free and safe for its inhabitants, stressing that they are pressing on with the implementation of its anti-crime strategies, “These measures are proactive and intended to nib crimes in the bud through being steps ahead of the criminals.”
He said that the police in Arochukwu division acting on information at Ndi Okpo Ihechiowa in Arochukwu council area of the state arrested one Chidiebere Nnanna aged 18 years and one Udo Okpo aged 28 years all males of Umuye Ihechiowa, who robbed one Ogbonna Uka of the same village and shot him at the forehead.
The Abia police boss said that the men of the High Way patrol stationed at Obehie junction along Aba-Port Harcourt expressway intercepted a Toyota Corolla car with registration number AAA 851BM with two male suspects.
The Abia CP also said that the command has recovered a Toyota RAV 4 SUV with registration number BDG 189 KE where it was parked at a mechanic workshop at Ekeapkara, Osisioma Ngwa near Aba, after the owner reported that his car has been snatched at Agbama housing estate Umuahia.
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Rivers: IGP set up panel to investigate ‘Wike’s audio’, 70 incidents
The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris has set up a team of detectives and experts to conduct a thorough investigation into the incidents of electoral malpractices during the recent election in Rivers State highlighted by the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission ( INEC).The team is expected to unravel those who are directly or indirectly responsible for the incidences and bring them to justice.The INEC chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmud had mentioned in a statement that there were 70 incidents that derailed the legislative election that took place in Rivers State last week.A statement in Abuja on Saturday by the Force Spokesman, Don Awunah, stated that the investigative team is also mandated to conduct forensic analysis on the audio report released by Sahara Reporters purportedly to be the voice of the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.According to the statement: “The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, in response to the statement credited to the INEC chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmud to the effect that there were 70 incidents that tended to derail the 10th December, 2016 re-run elections in Rivers State has set up a team of detectives and experts to conduct a thorough investigation into the incidents mentioned by the INEC chairman with a view to unraveling those who directly or indirectly are responsible for such incidences and bring them to justice.“The investigative team is also mandated to conduct forensic analysis on the audio report released by Sahara Reporters purportedly to be the voice of the Executive Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Chief (Barr.) Nyesom Wike (CON) pertaining to the concluded elections”.The police have also urged the government of Rivers State and INEC to avail the team available facts.“The Government of Rivers State and INEC are enjoined to avail the investigative team with facts at their disposal and grant them the desired cooperation and assistance to achieve a comprehensive and conclusive investigation.“The election observers, civil society groups, Human Rights watchers and other stakeholders are equally called upon to assist the team with valuable information they may have.The investigative team which will be headed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police has 30 days to complete the investigation and submit report.The police also promised that findings from the investigation will be made public.The Police Force also noted that it committed to enthroning the principles of democratic policing and ensuring that the IGPs master plan on election security takes hold in Nigeria in accordance with international best practices and core value of Policing with integrity. -
Rivers Rerun: Wike leads protest to police headquarters
Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers on Thursday led thousands of supporters to stage a protest over alleged police high handedness in the just concluded legislative re-run election.
The protesters also accused the police of killing PDP members and demanded the transfer of two policemen alleged to be masterminds of the police attacks.
The protest which was peaceful started from Government House to Azikiwe street and Bank Road before terminating at the Police command headquarters on Moscow road in the city centre.
Addressing the police, Wike told the state Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Cyril Okoro that people of the state were fed up with alleged killings by some policemen and other security operatives.
“On behalf of the Rivers Government and good people of the state, we have to let the police know that enough is enough.
“We demand that Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge of Operations, Mr Steven Hasso and the Commander of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Akin Fakorede be posted out of the state.
“We have come here peacefully to communicate this demand and urge that this request is communicated to Police headquarters in Abuja because I (Wike) have written repeatedly (to IGP).
“Please, I don’t want people to die anymore and definitely do not want corrupt senior police officers posted to Rivers state,” he said.
Wike said the police had refused to sanction the two policemen in spite alleged video footage which purported the duo and other security operatives attempting to snatch results of the Rivers East Senatorial District.
The governor described as unfortunate and worrisome a situation where policemen who are supposed to be non-partisan paraded themselves as politicians in uniform.
According to him, the bias security operatives must be posted out of the state.
“If they don’t leave the state, then we will do all we can to ensure that they leave this state because they have killed innocent people,” the governor claimed.
In his response, Mr Cyril Okoro, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Rivers assured Wike that the command will deliver the message to the Inspector General Police for possible action.
Some senior government officials who participated in the protest included Rivers Deputy Gov. Ipalibo Banigo; House Speaker, Dabo Adams, ex-Minister of Transport, Dr Abiye Sekibo and former Deputy Gov. Tele Ikuru.
Others include PDP state Chairman, Felix Obuah, former United Bank of Africa Chairman, Chief Ferdinand Alabrabra and commissioners and state legislators. (NAN)
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Rivers: Police arrest killers of DSP Alkali
The police have arrested five people for their alleged involvement in the murder of one Police Officer, DSP Mohammed Alkali during the legislative re-run election in Rivers State.Following the death of the officer, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris set up a team to investigate the killing.In a statement in Abuja on Thursday by the Force Spokesman, Don Awunah, he noted that five suspects have been arrested in connection to the murder.Suspects arrested are: Noble Nwaerema, Dike Deinpiribo, Valentine Alalibo, Onwunari J. Warmate, and Iloke Stephen.According to the statement: “The high powered investigation team set up by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris and saddled with the responsibility of investigating the circumstances surrounding the gruesome murder of DSP Mohammed Alkali in Rivers State during the December 10, 2016 re-run parliamentary election has had a major breakthrough with the arrest of the principal suspects listed below:“Upon further interrogation of the suspects, it was discovered that they were active members of the group that gruesomely murdered DSP Alkali Mohammed in cold blood on the 10th of December, 2016 in Rivers State.“This vicious gang doubled as political thugs who were part of the group recruited by Politicians from Rivers and neighboring States to scuttle the December 10, 2016 re-run parliamentary election”.The statement further read: “The suspects have confessed to the crime and are cooperating with the Police to recover the severed part of the slain officer.The police also hinted that investigation is ongoing to rescue the missing orderly.“Investigation is on top gear to rescue the missing orderly to the murdered officer and recover the police vehicle that was snatched during the incident. The suspects were also found out to be linked to the leader of a major political party in the state”.The police has also sought information that will enable them apprehend other people believed to be linked to death.“The Inspector General of Police is hereby soliciting for information,support and cooperation of the good people of Rivers State in apprehending the remaining members of the gang who are more likely to cause further harm to security personnel and innocent citizens.“However, the Nigeria Police Force is determined to ensure that gangsterism, cultism and sponsored political assassination become a thing of the past in Rivers State and Nigeria at large”. -
Police faults report of NGO on Rivers re-run election
The Police have faulted a report by a Non-Governmental Organisation, CLEEN Foundation on the rerun election held at the weekend in Rivers State.The Foundation in a report claimed that the election was marred by irregularities, large scale violence, professional misconduct and open bias by security operatives and electoral personnel.The police while condemning the report described the report as lurid, fraught with inaccuracies and lacking in substance.In a statement in Abuja on Tuesday by the Force Spokesman, Don Awunah, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris has also set up a high powered investigation team to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of one police officer, DSP Mohammed Alkali and others who are missing.According to the statement: “The report released by an NGO, CLEEN Foundation that the elections were ‘marred by irregularities, large scale violence, professional misconduct and open bias by security operatives and electoral personnel’ is in its entirety lurid, fraught with inaccuracies and lacking in substance.”“It is a disservice to the evolving Nigerian democracy and sacrifice of the security personnel for the CLEEN Foundation report to assert that, there were serious cases of electoral violence orchestrated by the Police, Army and DSS.“It is also saddening for the CLEEN Foundation report to attribute the death of a police officer, DSP Mohammed in the course of duty to what the report termed “unwarranted use of force and shooting.” It is a brazen display of insensitivity to the fallen officer and disrespect to the family.“Undoubtedly, there were some infractions of law in the course of the elections where the police and other security agencies rose to the occasion and ensured the electoral process prevailed accordingly”.The IGP has however assured Nigerians that the enthronement of credible electoral process remains one of his priorities.Assessing the election, the police said: “There is no doubt that some disgruntled elements in the state attempted to foist violence and insecurity on the populace that are generally peace loving. Comparatively, the re-run election was a huge success in contrast to past elections in the state that were usually characterized by violence and wanton destruction of lives and property.“The IGP master plan on election security will continue to be improved upon for future elections in the county. This master plan will usher in credible, fair, free and acceptable elections in accordance with the principles of democratic policing and international best practices”. -
Uyo: Why we can’t release names of victims, by police
•Governor, police disagree on death toll
The Police yesterday declined to release the names of the dead in Saturday’s Reigners Bible Church International building collapse.
The police said in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, that the list would be released after the profiling of the dead.
Police spokesman ASP Cordelia Nwawe, said the names of the dead would be released as soon as the police concluded the profiling of the bodies.
Nwawe said the death toll had risen to 29. “It was 27 dead persons yesterday. It is now 29,” he said.
But the figure contradicts the 23 dead given by Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel.
The governor also told guests at the Solemn Assembly held at the Government house Banquet Hall in honour of the victims that no aide of his died trying to save his life.
When the police spokesperson was asked if any arrest had been made following Governor Emmanuel’s order that contractors and engineers handled the project be apprehended, Nwawe said: “We will do that when the need arises.”
Chief Medical Director, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Prof. Etete Peters, said names of the dead would be released as soon as the police completed the profiling of the bodies.
He said: “You know it is now a police case. The Commissioner of Police has said we should not release names until they finish the profiling of the dead persons. We need to be careful also so that some people would not claim the bodies of people that do not belong to their families.”
Yesterday, the Federal Government’s 10-member team of experts arrived in Uyo to complement the efforts of medical personnel.
The leader of the team and a consultant orthopedic surgeon from the University of Lagos, Prof. Suleiman Giwa, said that the team was put together on the instruction of Health Minister Prof. Isaac Adewole.
The team, he said, consists of two Neurosurgeons, three orthopaedic surgeons, three plastic surgeons and two specially- trained operating room nurses.
He said: “The unfortunate incident as you are aware did not affect only the people of Akwa Ibom but all Nigerians and the Health Minister in his wisdom decided that we should raise a team of experts to come to Uyo and render a helping hand and bring succor to the weak, the sick and those who are in dire need of complicated surgery.”
The team will visit all the hospitals where the victims of the tragedy are admitted, examine them and offer suggestions where necessary to ensure that those who are sick get back to their normal life.
Giwa said: “As we are here in Akwa Ibom, we did not come empty- handed; we came with drugs and other medical support to make our coming easier, and we are prepared for the task ahead.
”We have visited the University Teaching Hospital and we are now at the Ibom Specialist Hospital. So far most of the patients we saw are responding to treatment which is gladdening‘’.
Peters thanked the Federal Government delegation for coming to Akwa Ibom at the most appropriate time and not leaving the state alone in time of sorrow. -
Synagogue stampede: Police, NEMA, LASEMA debunk report
Report of a stampede at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) that allegedly claimed three lives have been dismissed by the Police, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).
Similarly, the church denied the report, insisting that they have watched their video recordings of Prophet Temitope Joshua’s outing during Saturday’s special healing service and nothing of such was seen.
One of the spokespersons for the church who refused to be named said: “It’s just a rumour. I can tell you categorically that nothing of such happened here. Funny enough, I was even in church on that said Saturday when they claimed it happened. All the same, when I got the call from a journalist, I still consulted all the media team.
“You can make your findings. Nothing like that happened. You know the media team follows the prophet around with a video and still camera. How come none of the cameras picked up the stampede?”
However, some worshippers at the church and taxi drivers who carried passengers outside the premises told The Nation that there was an actual stampede.
According to a source, it happened outside the church premises around 4am, when Prophet Joshua came out.
He said: “What happened was that the man of God came outside the church and as he was walking, people tried to touch him. Alot of people were outside including sick people and they were running over themselves trying to touch him. That was when some people trampled on others.”
A taxi driver who refused to be named said he was carrying passengers to and fro the place, adding that he could not really ascertain if those trampled upon died.
He said: “It was early in the morning. I usually go there to carry passengers on their special healing service because so many people come from different parts of the world.
“People outside were forcing their way in and in the process, pushing one another. I don’t really know if anybody died but I know that some people were trampled upon.”
Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni said he was unaware of any stampede at the church, wondering how something like that would happen without the police knowing.