The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Police

  • Bayelsa: Police arrest 106, arraign 58 for cultism

    Bayelsa: Police arrest 106, arraign 58 for cultism

    Some parents and guardians in Bayelsa State kicked, at the weekend, following the mass arrest of 106 youths including minors by the police for cultism.

    The police further caused controversy by their decision to arraign 58 of the suspects at the state High Court on two-count of conspiracy and membership of cult groups.

    The suspects including four minors were rounded up when a police squad raided some black spots in the capital city, Yenagoa.

    The court presided over by Justice Naiyi Aganaba, was however, said to have granted bails to the accused persons and asked them to show proofs of innocence and non-membership of the cults.

    As part of conditions for their bails, the court reportedly asked them to provide N100,000 each, sureties who must be senior civil servants from grade level seven and resident in Yenagoa.

    Justice Aganaba, adjourned the case to October, 20, 2016.

    But angry parents of the arraigned suspects protested outside the court premises, accusing the police of illegal arrest of innocent people.

    A parent, who identified himself as Kelvin, said his son was arrested few metres away from their home while on errand to buy a loaf of bread.

    “When I accosted the policemen after I heard my son scream for help, the police threatened to shoot me dead. They asked me what my son was doing outside after 8pm”, he said.

    Another woman, who claimed to be wife to one of the suspects, said his husband was arrested few minutes after their newborn’s dedication at home.

    He said: “He was accompanying a guest who attended the dedication event to the bus stop when he was arrested.

    “All pleas and explanations we made to the police fell on deaf ears. How do I bail him when we just spent money on hospital bill for the new baby’s delivery and dedication?”

    Also some members of the the Hausa community in Yenagoa, who joined the protest said over 32 Hausa persons were among the suspects arrested by the police.

    They said 12 of them including four minors were among the persons brought to the court.

    “Most of them were operators of commercial tricycles known as Keke Napep”, they said.

  • Police, youths trade blame over brutal killing of 30-year-old

    Youths in NKST Yina, Akpehe, a suburb of Makurdi, the Benue State capital, have accused the Benue State Police Command of complicity in the brutal killing of a 30- year-old driver, Emmanuel Tertsegh Dia.

    The state police command denied involvement of its men in the death of Dia.

    There are, however, conflicting accounts of the circumstances that led to the death of the deceased driver.

    It was learnt that operatives of the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) killed Dia on September 9, 2016 along Abu King Shuluwa Road at NKST Yina, Makurdi.

    The secretary of Makurdi Landlords Development Association in NKST Yina settlement, Mr Armstrong Tseaa, said: “Emmanuel Dia was shot dead at about 8:30 p.m. by men of State Anti-Robbery Squad in Makurdi.”

    A lawyer, who has taken the matter to the Human Rights Commission, Barrister Manasseh Iorsue, explained that the late driver was on his way home when SARS operatives killed him.

    He said: “After they killed him, they dragged his body into their Hilux van and took him to their station. Emmanuel Dia was very popular in the community, and (was) not a criminal. This attested to why the youths in the area are poised for a showdown with the police over the killing.”

    At press time, there was tension in NKST Yina settlement over the brutal killing of the late driver who is survived by a wife and two children.

    Sources disclosed that Dia was killed by SARS operatives in a bid to arrest a female occupant of a building in the neighbourhood.

    The landlord of the property where the incident took place, Terngu, said he was out of town when the unfortunate incident happened. He explained that a certain lecturer in the University of Agriculture Makurdi (UAM), whom he declined to name, had rented an apartment for his mistress in his house.

    It was learnt that the said lecturer abandoned his wife and children and moved in with his lover, Alice, a student of the Benue State University, Makurdi.

    Terngu said: “The girl (Alice) rented the apartment on April 1, 2016 and, since then the lecturer has also been living with the girl like husband and wife. In fact, you won’t know he had another wife.

    “The wife of the lecturer came to the house to look for her husband, complaining that he had abandoned his responsibility of taking care of her and the children because of his new mistress.”

    Barrister Iorsue said: “Some men came to Alice and told her that the wife of the lecturer had given them money to kill her but requested she doubled the money in order to be spared. Alice told them she had no money but promised to look for money. She later told her lecturer friend who, thereafter, alerted the police.

    “On the September 9, 2016, men of SARS came in trucks with the lecturer and had a phone conversation with someone, who was later invited to come to the house of Alice to pick the money. One Ameh Williams appeared and was arrested. There was subsequently a gunshot and people within the neighbourhood were attracted to the scene. The SARS men ordered them to go back, and one of them opened fire on the innocent driver who was standing on a gutter.”

    While displaying the expended bullets that killed the driver, Iorsue vowed to pursue the matter and ensure that justice is served. He denied the police statement that the deceased was criminal. If he was, he noted, the community would not demand justice on his gruesome murder.

    It was learnt that Alice has since disappeared, while irate youths vandalised her apartment. The aggrieved youths said that the policeman responsible for the death of Dia, a graduate of Electrical Education from the College of Education, Katsina Ala in 2008, must account for the deed.

    The spokesman of Benue Police Command, Mr Moses Yamu, however insisted that the late driver was criminal. He said: “A case of threat to life was reported and the police went to arrest the suspects. Among those arrested was one Ameh, who has confessed and implicated the deceased, so the youths cannot turn around and say the deceased is innocent.’’

    Yamu declined to say whether the said Alice was detained or not. “I cannot tell you about any mistress or girl. All I know is that there was a threat to life, the police swung into action and some persons have been arrested. I don’t know about mistress or girl and won’t talk about it.”

  • S’Court judgment: police warn against breach of peace in Kogi

    As the Supreme Court delivers judgment on the Kogi State governorship election suits next Tuesday, the Kogi State Police Command has warned against anyone taking the law into his or her hands as such offence would be dealt with according to the law.

    The state Police Commissioner (CP), Abdullahi Chafe, gave the warning yesterday while addressing newsmen in his office on the forthcoming Supreme Court judgment.

    He stressed that intelligence reports reaching the command indicate that some miscreants planned to create crisis during and after the Supreme Court judgment next Tuesday.

    The CP noted that the command was fully prepared to deal with whoever decides to take the law into their hands, stressing that no public celebration by anyone or groups after the apex court judgment would be tolerated.

    He warned political parties to caution their supporters against any act inimical to public peace.

    “Police will not waste any time in dealing with law breakers within the Constitutional requirement,” he said.

  • Police transfer 166 SARS operatives

    Police transfer 166 SARS operatives

    The Force Headquarters yesterday transferred 166 operatives of the Lagos State Special Anti-Robbery Squad(SARS) to other parts of the country.

    Thier transfer, it was learnt, may not be unconnected with what sources called the “rising robbery cases” in the state.

    The operatives were accused of romancing and treating criminals with kid gloves, an allegation most of the operatives described as untrue.

    According to one of the affected policemen, “how can they say we romance criminals at SARS when we risk our lives on daily basis pursuing notorious criminals?

    “It is true that someof us were transferred. We have been sent to different states. We are not bothered about transfer but it is not good for them to say we romance criminals.”

    Meanwhile, two suspected armed robbers were on Tuesday arrested around Chemist Bus Stop in Okota Road, Isolo.

    Emmanuel Johnson and Emmanuel Sunday were intercepted by a patrol team attached to the Isolo Division on a motorcycle.

    They allegedly had a locally made pistol and two cartridges with them when they were apprehended.

    According to a source, the suspects were headed for an operation before they were caught.

    Contacted, the command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP) confirmed the arrest of the suspects, adding that the case would be moved to SARS for discreet investigation.

    Badmos denied knowledge of the transfer of some SARS operatives, insisting that it was official matters and should not be discussed on the pages of newspapers.

  • Police arrest suspected motorcycle thief

    Police arrest suspected motorcycle thief

    Police in Lagos have arrested a 26-year-old man, Jamiu Bello who allegedly specialises in stealing motorcycles.

    Bello, an alleged inter-state robber, was arrested by operatives od the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), while attempting to steal a motorcycle at Ijora Olopa.

    He allegedly confessed to have stolen over 20 motorcycles in two years, and that two of his buyers were resident in the state.

    It was alleged that the motorcycle marked KTU388QG, belonging to one Israel Israel Ikyav was parked beside a canteen where the suspect stole it.

    Ikyav, who was eating, was said to have abandoned his food after another motocyclist told him that his motorcycle has been stolen.

    The suspect was said to have been chased by passersby who saw him commit the crime but was finally caught by RRS riders on patrol.

    Bello who claimed to have three children said he started stealing motorcycles two years ago.

    He said: “I started this crime about two years ago. There were two of us and we operated in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti and Ondo States. My accomplice, Ibijuwon is currently in jail. He was arrested the day we went for operation around Lagos Island. I managed to escape with the stolen bike while he was arrested and taken to the court.

    “On this fateful day, I left Epe to Yaba area. On getting to Yaba, I looked around to know how to start the day’s job there but I couldn’t find any motorcycle to steal around the area.

    “Then, I decided to move to Ijora – Olopa with the hope of stealing any bike on sight. I boarded a commercial motorcycle from Yaba to Ijora. At Ijora, I saw a man when he parked his bike outside and entered the canteen.

    “I noticed that he had locked its steering. So, I quickly asked the rider who took me from Yaba that I wanted to alight to see my brother briefly in that area.

    “I moved closer to the bike and broke its locked steering. Then I mounted it and zoomed off, abandoning the commercial rider who brought me to the area.

    “When I was on the bike, I thought I had escaped. Suddenly, I saw two RRS motorcycles pursuing me. I sped off but they caught up with me. I attempted to escape by joining another motorcyclist but I was caught.”

    Continuing, the suspect said he usually rode the motorcycles stolen from other states to Lagos where he sold them.

    He said: “I have stolen no fewer than 20 motorcycles across South West. If I go to other states apart from Lagos to operate, I will ride the bike down to Lagos to sell here.

    “I have two receivers of these stolen bikes. One of them lives at Alamutu in Mushin, while the other is in Ijora. The motorcycles are sold depending on how clean they are. I sold one N40,000. The scars on my body were inflicted by people who caught stealing motorcycles.

    “I am just an unrepentant thief because I was supposed to have changed my way of life.”

    Contacted, the police spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP) said the suspect will be charged to court, adding that efforts were on to arrest receivers of the stolen motorcycles.

  • Police backtrack on protest

    •Deny banning public procession

    The police now say Nigerians are free to hold peaceful rallies.

    The police had last Tuesday stopped a protest by the #Bring Back Our Girls group in Abuja, drawing flak from the civil rights community including Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka and human rights lawyer Femi Falana.

    But responding to the criticism yesterday, the Force Public Relations officer, Don Awunah, said the force recognised the impact of peaceful protests in a democracy and would not jeopardise the rights of Nigerians.

    Awunah quoted Police Inspector-General Ibrahim Idris as saying: “at no time did Nigeria Police Force place a ban on peaceful public protest/procession anywhere in Nigeria most particularly Federal Capital Territory.”

    He added: “Peaceful public protest/procession is an integral part of democratic norms in as much as it conforms with the rule of law and public order.

    “The Nigeria Police Force recognises the constitutional rights of every law abiding citizen to express his or her view through public protest/procession and other legitimate means.”

    He promised that the police would not attempt to disrupt peaceful rallies in as much as they are conducted within the provisions of the law and not on highways.

    He also advised intending protesters to notify the police of their planned rallies.

    “The Police will not condone any protest/procession on the public highways and roads inhibiting or disallowing public freedom and right of way,” Awunah said, adding: “The Inspector General of Police is committed to the principles of democratic policing and adherence to international best practices in public order management.

    “To this end, State Commissioners of Police and Police Commanders are directed to emplace strategies to protect and facilitate lawful public protest/processions as well as protect other members of the public who are not engaged in any form of public protest/procession.”

    Members of the #BringBackOurGirls group were on their way to the Presidential Villa last Tuesday in continuation of their agitation for more  government action on the return of the over 200 girls abducted in April 2014 when the police stopped them.

    The #BBOG group had said that the police lack constitutional powers to stop public rally.

  • Police, churches tackle crime in Aba

    Police, churches tackle crime in Aba

    There is an uptick in crime in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State, but something is being done about it. The police and churches have teamed up to put kidnappers, robbers and other criminals at bay.

    At a meeting, the police and leaders of various churches agreed to collaborate more, and that the churches would intensify efforts in grooming good citizens.

    Aba Area Commander Peter Wabara, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, told our reporter at the end of about three hours of talks with the church leaders that the police were collaborating with the churches because of their role in inculcating good moral values and virtues in parishioners.

    According to the Commander, “We are only trying to deepen our community policing policy as directed by the (Acting) Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Kpotun Idris who on assumption of office, directed that committee of eminent persons be set up in order to widen consultation with critical stakeholders in the business of policing, that the committee of the eminent personalities was inaugurated in Umuahia by the Abia State Commissioner of Police, CP Adeleye Onyebade.

    “What we are doing is a follow-up and we have identified religious bodies as critical stakeholders as people that we should partner with to enable us reach out to a larger percent of the populace as part of our strategy and campaign to checkmate crime and criminality in Aba and the state at large.

    “We are partnering with the church specifically to target teenagers and youth who are involved in kidnapping, robbery and other crime related offences. We realised that the church, especially in this part of the country and Aba in particular have large followership and we want to use that platform to talk to them using entertainment and amongst others”.

    Continuing, Wagbara added “We have event coming up on October 6 at the Abia State Polytechnic. The event is targeted at students from various higher institutions and secondary schools in Aba metropolis and its environs. Ex-cultists, armed robbers and others who have turned to a new leaf from their old ways including Men of God, and other respectable citizens will be on ground to talk to the youths. Our view is to catch them young, to restrain them from crime and to use the scheduled programme to further push the campaign against youth involvement in crime especially as we are entering the ember months”.

     

  • Community elects ex-police officer as king

    Community elects ex-police officer as king

    After a long spell without a leader, the people of Isingwu community in Umuahia North, Abia State, now have one, in the form of a former police officer.

    Chief Daniel Iheanyichukwu Ukaegbu has been chosen as the Ngwu IV.

    His first love was the police, in which he rose to the rank of inspector before he retired. His people have prayed for his reign to be peaceful and long.

    The community had elected Eze Charles Ezebuiro as the first Ngwu I but he died soon after and was replaced by Eze A. N. Ihuoma (Ngwu II) who also died during the reign of the former governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, and was replaced by Eze Sam Uzor Ebule (Ngwu III), who died four years ago.

    After the mourning of the death of their last traditional ruler, the people decided to elect another Eze, in the person of Chief Daniel Iheanyichukwu Ukaegbu as the Ngwu IV.

    The new Eze who hails from the Umuokoro clan in the Isingwu community, was the immediate past Palace Secretary to the last traditional ruler. He became the consensus candidate of the entire community and was presented to the Isingwu Welfare Union (IWU), which in turn presented him to the people with overwhelming acceptance.

    Presenting the new Eze-elect to the people of Isingwu, the president-general of IWU, Elder Onyeoforo Igwe thanked God for his mercies and protection for them to witness the day of the emergence of their new king and prayed God to continue to protect and guide their people both at home and in Diaspora.

    All the people who spoke at the presentation ceremony from the president of the women wing of the IWU, Mrs Nneona Ihuoma praised the people for the peaceful way they chose the new traditional ruler which has set them out as peaceful community.

    The youth wing president of the IWU, Sunny Chimaroke urged the people not to leave the new king alone as no one is an island of knowledge, stressing that he needs all the advice that would help him to lead the community.

    In his acceptance speech the new Eze-elect, HRM Eze Ukaegbu promised not to disappoint the people of Isingwu who have placed their destiny and kingdom in his hands, stressing that he will always strive to keep to the tenets of their custom, culture and tradition.

    Eze Ukaegbu also pledged to take the Isingwu community to the level where it will be the envy of other communities around, “I want to assure you the people of Isingwu community that I will not bring shame and disgrace to my people, rather I will ensure that we are at the position we deserve to be and remain there for the good of all”.

    The highlight of the presentation ceremony was the handing over the new traditional ruler to God by His Lordship. Rt Rev F. O. Ekeleme, who is also the chaplain of the Eze-in-council with prayers and asking God to keep him a life and give him a long reign for the benefit of the people of the community.

  • Abia police chief warns against extortion

    The new Abia State Commissioner of Police (CP) Adeleye Oyebade has warned officers and men of the state command to desist from extorting residents of the state or face prosecution.

    Oyebade said that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has zero tolerance for corruption including extortion from motorists and suspects.

    Addressing officers and men of the state command in Umuahia on his maiden interaction with them, Oyebade who is returning to the state after leaving it as deputy commissioner of police said that it will no longer be business as usual for any corrupt officer.

    Oyebade said that the era when police is seen as reactive, corrupt and lethargic institution is over, “The new police are committed to changing the perception people have about us, and we want to be seen as purely professionals”.

    He said, “It will be dangerous for a police officer that is not ready to imbibe the culture of professional best practices, diligence and discipline to remain in the present Nigeria Police Force”.

    “My advice to such police officers is that they should kindly change their attitude or else they will be fished out, the new police under IGP Idris is a people’s police which will be proactive”.

    “The new police order is community based, intelligence-led and dynamic police institution, alive to the responsibility of ensuring public order, prevention of crimes and protection of lives and property”.

    Oyebade said that policing is a collective responsibility of all well-meaning Nigerians, adding that it is only when there is a reciprocal trust that the appropriate support and cooperation will be gotten from members of the public.

    He charged his men, “We should perform our duties with the fear of God, in our patrols, while investigating crimes and even when handling suspects, the job should be done, but we must be fair and firm. We must respect the fundamental human rights of the people in the line of duty”.

    The CP called on the Divisional Police Officer (DPOs) to create an environment that will be conducive for those working under them to work effectively, “We should realize that our subordinates are our greatest assets, as no man is an island of knowledge”.

    Oyebade said, “I am a team player and we all are members of the same team, this team must be able to identify and map out effective strategies to defeat the opponents, we must conduct our investigations with professional dexterity.”

  • DSS, police to INEC: shift Edo governorship election

    DSS, police to INEC: shift Edo governorship election

    Citing terrorist threats during the forthcoming Sallah celebrations, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police yesterday jointly asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone Saturday governorship election in Edo State.

    At a joint media briefing, which lasted less than five minutes at DSS headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, police spokesman Don Awunah and Garba Abdullahi of DSS stated that the move became necessary because of intelligence reports about insurgents’ plans.

    Abdullahi and Awunah, who read a prepared one-page text on behalf of the two security agencies, refused to take questions from reporters.

    “The Nigeria Police and Department of State Services wish to inform the general public that credible intelligence availed the agencies indicate plans by insurgent/extremist elements to attack vulnerable communities and soft targets with high population during the forthcoming Sallah celebrations between 12th and 13th September, 2016.

    “Edo state is amongst the states being earmarked for these planned attacks by the extremist elements.” Awunah stated, emphasising that the issue deserves to be treated with seriousness.

    “The public would recall that similar threats were issued during the May Labour Day and Democracy Day celebrations as well as Eid-el-fitr holidays in July, 2016.

    “However, security agencies were able to decisively disrupt and thwart the insurgents’ plan.

    “In the same vein, while election is important, the security agencies cannot allow the peace of the county to be disrupted, and we will continue to remain vigilant and ensure consolidation of the successes gained in the current counter-insurgency fight.

    “It is in regard of these that we are appealing to INEC, which has the legal duty to regulate elections in the country, to consider the need for possible postponement of the date of the election in Edo State in order to enable security agencies deal decisively with the envisaged terrorist threats.

    “While the police/DSS remain mindful of the inconveniences this request may cause the various political stakeholders, it is our strong resolve that security agencies need not be distracted from ensuring a peaceful and secured Nigeria now and always,” he stated.

    Both agencies requested that the public should complement security agencies’ commitment by being vigilant and report any unusual movements or actions by any group or individuals.