The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Police

  • Police: Ryan Lochte made up robbery claim

    Police: Ryan Lochte made up robbery claim

    Brazilian police official told The Associated Press that American swimmer Ryan Lochte fabricated a story about being robbed at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro.

    The official, who has direct knowledge of the investigation, spoke on the condition of anonymity Thursday because he was not authorised to speak about an ongoing probe.

    He said that around 6 a.m. on Sunday, Lochte, along with fellow swimmers Jack Conger, Gunnar Bentz and Jimmy Feigen, stopped at a gas station in Barra da Tijuca, a suburb of Rio where many Olympic venues are located. One of the swimmers tried but failed to open the door of an outside bathroom.

    A few of the swimmers then pushed on the door and broke it. A security guard appeared and confronted them, the official said.

    The official says the guard was armed with a pistol, but he never took it out or pointed it at the swimmers.

    According to the official, the gas station manager then arrived. Using a customer to translate, the manager asked the swimmers to pay for the broken door. After a discussion, they did pay him an undisclosed amount of money and then left.

    The official says that swimmers Conger and Bentz, who were pulled off a plane going back to the United States late Wednesday, told police that the robbery story had been fabricated.

    Lochte first lied about the robbery to his mother, Ileana Lochte, who spoke with reporters, the police official said. That led to news coverage of the incident and prompted police attention.

    A police news conference was scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

    Lochte’s lawyer, agent and father did not immediately return messages seeking comment from the AP.

    USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky said late Thursday morning that Lochte’s teammates were scheduling a time and place to meet with authorities.

    “All are represented by counsel and being appropriately supported by the USOC and the U.S. Consulate in Rio,” Sandusky said.

    The swimmers could face punishment — probation, suspension, a fine or expulsion — under USA Swimming’s code of conduct, which prohibits dishonesty or fraud. It was not immediately clear if the organization planned to act.

    Mario Andrada, a spokesman for the Rio organizers, said he was relieved that the story had turned around.

    “Let’s give these kids a break. Sometimes you take actions that you later regret,” Andrada said. “Lochte is one of the best swimmers of all-time. They had fun, they made a mistake, it’s part of life, life goes on, let’s go.”

  • Edo 2016: PDP has no plans to recruit militants

    Edo 2016: PDP has no plans to recruit militants

    The Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu Campaign organization Thursday condemned the remarks credited to Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole that the PDP has made arrangements with militants from neighboring states with the aim of disrupting the September elections in the state.

    The chairman of the Media Committee Of the organization Mr Chris Nehikhare in a statement said it is case of the pot calling the kettle black because it is the APC and the Governor Adams Oshiomhole that are spoiling for Violence!

    He said, “We have announced and drawn the attention of the security services to his many infractions and in his characteristic manner to divert attention from himself, the accused turns around to become the accuser”.

    It will be recalled that the Governor on Wednesday called on the Police to checkmate plans by some opposition politicians to import thugs into the state from neighbouring states with a view to causing mayhem during the election in the state.

    He was speaking during a visit to him by the Assistant Inspector-General in charge of Zone 5, Benin City, Mr. Adeyinka Kolawole Sodipo, to his office in Benin City.

    According to Nehikhare, “It is on record that renowned Niger Delta Militant Ayirimi Emami who is alleged to be helping Oshiomhole recruit ex-militants to perpetuate violence at the forthcoming Guber election was seen today campaigning with the Governor of the outgoing Party in Benin City”.

    He added that, “Ayiri as he’s popularly called has been given N240million by Adams Oshiomhole for the dirty job. He is said to have already received the First instalment a few months back when Adams Oshiomhole in company of Philip Shuaibu took Ayiri to pin-point hot locations of the PDP stronghold where violence will be required on the Election Day”.

    “Ayiri was taken yesterday to Egor LGA which is a sure LGA for the PDP and he’s to be taken to the Hometown of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and other locations today”.

    He said while the PDP and the Ize-Iyamu campaign organization sees  the governor’s position as laughable, “we wish to point out that this is indeed the sign that the APC with the comrade governor in the lead has stepped up their propaganda machinery to the level of misleading the security agencies.”

    He then called on the police and other relevant security agencies to be proactive in arresting any security breach that may lead to the disruption of elections in all parts of the state.

  • Suspected militants kidnap two children in Lagos 

    Suspected militants kidnap two children in Lagos 

    Suspected militants on Tuesday night abducted two children of same mother at the Igando area of Lagos State.

    The children aged six and eight were allegedly kidnapped at Ojo Olorunfemi Street while playing with their mates at their residence, 43, Oje Olorunfemi street.

    It was gathered that the kidnappers might have been led by a barber on the street, (DeClassic Barbing Salon owner), who has been arrested by policemen in Igando.

    His arrest was sequel to allegations from other children who disclosed that he was seen talking to the kids before their disappearance from the playground.

    The Nation gathered that the abduction of the children prompted security operatives currently engaged in Operation AWATSE to comb the entire with the hope of rescuing them.

    Although the kids were yet to be found, a security source disclosed that five suspects, including two militants were arrested at Igando and Isheri-Osun.

    When The Nation visited the family’s residence, the children’s parents were said to have gone to the police station.

    However, The Nation’s reporter who went to the station was not allowed in.

    A gateman who gave his name as Oseni said: “We did not hear of any ransom. The thing is that the parents are keeping the whole matter under wrap for their own safety because we are not even sure if it was an organized crime for just kidnapping children. I have been a gateman here for six years now and I have never witnessed any kidnap here.

    “This is the first and I hope we never get a repeat. I think the kidnapper took those children through the adjoining gate on the street because if he had taken them through the main street, people would have raised an alarm. Problem is none of us really knows this barber since he just moved into the street not long ago. I know the woman more. She hawks corn in the area.”

  • Man allegedly poisons neighbour’s pot of soup in Lagos 

    Man allegedly poisons neighbour’s pot of soup in Lagos 

    The police in Lagos are investigating an alleged attempt by a man Gordon Daniel to kill his neighbour’s family over electric bill disagreement.

    Daniel, a resident of Ajegunle was accused by the neighbour, Mrs. Saidat Shakiru of putting insecticide in a pot of soup she was cooking on Tuesday.

    It was gathered the woman had left her soup pot on the fire to attend to another issue only to return and discover that the soup reeked of sniper, a poisonous liquid insecticide.

    The woman was said to have accused Daniel who was the only resident of the compound at home when she was cooking.

    She was said to have alerted the landlady who resides on the topmost floor of the storey building as well as her husband who was at work before the matter was reported to the Baale of Aiyetoro street, Saheed Fakunle.

    According to a resident: “Sadiat and the suspect were at home when she was cooking the soup. The woman allegedly went outside to buy something and before she came back Daniel had doused sniper into the soup she was cooking.

    “When the woman opened the soup pot she perceived an offensive odour from the soup and she sensed foul play. The angry woman drew the attention of the landlady to what she had observed.

    “Her landlady asked whom she suspected. Since there was nobody at home, she accused Daniel of the deed. When her husband, Shakiru returned from work, she explained her predicament about the soup she was cooking and the matter was moved to the Baale.

    “After carrying out investigation, the Baale handed over the suspect to the police alongside the pot of soup.”

    The Nation gathered that the suspect, who blamed his actions on the devil, said he was angry because the woman usually insulted him over electric bill.

    “The woman has been insulting me over electricity bill. I don’t know what got over me so I decided to put sniper inside their soup to punish her. I am sorry. I regret what I have done. She insulted me so much because of the electricity bill if not I don’t have any problem with her and her husband,” he said.

    The owner of the house, Taiye Aroyewun frowned at the suspect’s action, calling him a madman.
    He said: “The man must be a madman to have attempted to wipe out an entire family. Now that he has been caught, he’s pleading and trying everything possible to settle the matter. Everybody refused because he is a wicked man who committed a wicked act. If I forgive him today, supposing he chops my head off tomorrow what would happen?”

    A source at Ajegunle police station who hinted on the arrest said the case file and suspect will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti.

  • PDP Convention: Why we sealed Shark Stadium – Police

    PDP Convention: Why we sealed Shark Stadium – Police

    The police Wednesday said they shut down the Sharks Stadium in Port Harcourt, venue of the national convention of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to forestall the breakdown of law and order.

    Speaking on the development, the Force Public Relations Officer, Don Awunah said the action was a proactive move aimed at safeguarding lives and property of the crowd at the venue.

    Awunah spoke on Wednesday during a live radio programme, Political Platform on Raypower FM.

    According to him, “It is not about sealing. We did not just seal. You must understand that the police is a critical stakeholder in democracy within the framework of the Nigerian law and other extant laws.

    “There were two conflicting court orders but the primary motive of the police is that there is peace and protection of lives and property. It is not the issue of A and B. It is not an issue of whether you are obeying A or B but you must be proactive in law enforcement because at the end of the day, the question you will be asked is; what did you do?”

    “It is just like a simple scenario of conflict resolution where there are two contending issues, what do you do? You refer back to the status quo so that you can move forward and the status quo here is that we are maintaining security. That is our primary motive and we are not taking sides. We cannot take sides in this issue. We are like referees.

    Awunah who admitted to be in possession of the two court restraining orders, added, “You know law enforcement and court decision are collaborative.

    “We have the Attorney General; the court system and we have the police. Don’t forget, we are the lead agency in internal security and when it comes to democratic set up, the police is number one.

    “So, when you have such scenario, you need to consult and you don’t consult by a button, you don’t consult by just tapping a button and having an answer”.

    When asked what the outcome of the consultation was, Awunah said the police were still consulting with the view to ensuring peace in Port Harcourt, stressing that democracy has become a bit volatile in the state.

    On why the venue was sealed off without informing the party leaders, the Force spokesman said it was informed by the suddenness of the court order.

    “Even the court orders caught Nigerians unawares. You don’t plan anything. So, we are just being proactive. If we sense a situation that can create anarchy and disorder or disrupt social production, what do you do? You have to be proactive. It is not about catching people unawares.

    “You evaluate situations. It can burst like a bubble and you don’t have to wait for people to start throwing stones. That is all about proactive policing. You have to move from the traditional concept of reacting to situations to being proactive so that you will be able to dominate, control and facilitate democracy, which is what we are doing.

    “In security matters, there is no crystal ball to see into the future, you predict and project likelihoods and you plan and do proactive policing. And this is within the confines of the law.

    “It is about law enforcement and it has shifted traditional reactive concept to more proactive concept because democracy in Nigeria today, you cannot predict what can happen in the next minute.

    “People could be in their homes and hideouts planning violence. So, you have to be able to control and dominate the area. Now, Sharks Stadium is the epicenter of democratic process in Port Harcourt or the PDP, so to speak and of course, you must appreciate that there were two warring factions. So, they need to resolve.

    Awunah said the police did not act on “orders from above”, but acted within the framework of the law.

    He said; “We work according to laws. You see, you need to work according to your function as spelt out in the laws of this country. We are the lead agency as long as internal security is concerned and when it comes to evolving democracy like we have today, we are the lead agency. We are part of the democratic processes.

    On whether the police implemented Justice Okon Abang’s order, the Force spokesman retorted, “Whoever you talked to is politicking and we don’t politick. In as much as we are critical stakeholders in political process, we are insulated from partisan politics.

    “What we are doing is doing our professional job to ensure that these two factions resolve. It is about conflict resolution.”

  • Police seal off PDP convention venue

    Police seal off PDP convention venue

    The Sharks Stadium, Port Harcourt, Rivers State venue of today’s National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been sealed off by a combined team of security personnel from the police and Department of State Services (DSS).

    The Rivers Commissioner of Police, Francis Mobolaji Odesanya, said in a telephone call that : “We are obeying court order.”

    It was gathered that policemen and other security operatives moved to the sharks stadium at the old Port Harcourt Township, popularly called Town, as early as 4 a.m. today, to prevent the breakdown of law and order.

    Sharks stadium was ready last night, while the Outside Broadcasting (OB) vans of the Africa Independent Television (AIT), Channels Television and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) were mounted Tuesday evening and early this morning, but the security men asked the teams to quickly vacate the stadium, while journalists who got to the venue as early as 6 a.m., were ordered to immediately leave the stadium.

    Our correspondent who was at sharks stadium at 6 a.m. was prevented at the main gate by fully-armed and stern-looking policemen, DSS operatives and other security personnel from gaining entrance into the venue.
    Journalists, politicians and other persons who had already entered the stadium were ordered out, with more journalists and PDP members still milling around the stadium, as at press time, in case of further developments.

  • Police have done well in crime-fighting, says Amuka-Pemu

    Police have done well in crime-fighting, says Amuka-Pemu

    vanguard publisher, Sam Amuka-Pemu, has hailed the Lagos State Police Command for reducing robberies and other crimes. The former frontline columnist spoke yesterday during his visit to the command’s headquarters in Ikeja, the state capital.

    He praised Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni and his team for the timely arrest of the robbers who attacked him two months ago and for recovering his property from the hoodlums.

    Amuka-Pemu said: “I personally want to thank Police Commissioner Owoseni and his subordinates for the beautiful job they did over the robbery attack on me. Just as we were giving up hope after the attack, we were told that they had nabbed everyone involved. The police have also been arresting other criminals across the state.”  The paper’s Managing Director Gbenga Adefaye urged residents to cooperate with the police to fight crime.

    Owoseni, who recalled that the publisher had been attacked twice within two years, said: “Uncle Sam has contributed in no mean ways to the development of journalism. He is a gift to humanity. For the criminal elements who carried out the attacks, God Almighty has shown that He is greater than them. They were not able to get away with the evil they committed.

    “I also want to appreciate you, sir, for coming here. It will serve as a moral booster to officers and men of the command. Your coming will also be a narrative, under the present leadership of the Inspector-General Of Police (IGP), that Nigerians will live safely and carry out their business activities. We will keep on fighting crime with everything available to our disposal.”

  • Police release woman caught with dead baby

    Police release woman caught with dead baby

    An aged woman who was arrested around Oshodi with a dead baby has been released.

    The woman, identified as Kuburat Ayinde was intercepted yesterday afternoon at Oshodi under bridge by road users and accused of kidnapping a-month-old baby strapped on her back.

    Upon discovering that the child was dead, the mob descended on the woman who was eventually rescued by policemen at Oshodi.

    It was gathered that the detectives interrogated the woman and she claimed that the dead baby was her grandchild.

     

    Police spokesperson Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP) said the woman was eventually released after the child’s mother and other family members came to the station and corroborated her story.

  • Police release woman caught with dead baby in Lagos

    Police release woman caught with dead baby in Lagos

    An aged woman who was arrested around Oshodi with a dead baby has been released.

    The woman, identified as Kuburat Ayinde was intercepted on Monday afternoon at Oshodi under bridge by road users and accused her of kidnapping a-month-old baby strapped on her back.

    Upon discovering that the child was dead, the mob descended on the woman who was eventually rescued by some of the policemen at Oshodi.

    It was gathered that the detectives interrogated the woman and she claimed that the dead baby was her grandchild.

    A police source said that the woman disclosed that she was rushing the child to the hospital passing on, adding that the child’s mother was mentally unstable.

    It was gathered that the woman was detained by the police to carryout investigation to ascertain her claims.

    According to the command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP) the woman was eventually released after the child’s mother and other family members came to the station and corroborated her story.

  • Police arrest grandma, man for ‘child labour, battery’

    Police arrest grandma, man for ‘child labour, battery’

    A grandmother, Alhaja Fatimah Williams, has been arrested by the police for alleged child labour and battery of a teenager.

    Mrs Williams was arrested with one Yusuf Waliu, 25, who used hot iron rod to burn the victim on the chest as well as flogged her with cables, leaving cuts all over her body.

    The suspects were paraded yesterday at the Command’s headquarters in Ikeja.

    According to the victim, Kemi Biola, a Beninoise, her relative handed her over to the woman as housemaid in January and since then, the woman had been assaulting her.

    Biola, who was discharged from the hospital recently, said she had never been paid since she started working for Mrs Williams, adding that it seemed the woman usually gave the money to her relative.

    She said: “I was brought to Nigeria in January and I started working for her since then.  She has never given me any money and I have never stolen anything from her. She usually beats me.

    “In this particular case, we went out together to buy something and when we came back, she asked me to wash clothes, sweep and clean the house, wash dishes. She asked me to do so many things at the same time. So, I was doing them and I worked till about 11pm and I was tired.

    “She came back and asked why I did not sweep the compound, she did not allow me to explain anything and she just called Brother Waliu to beat me.

    “He used hot iron and wire on my body. I didn’t steal any money. The only thing I did was that I could not finish the work she asked me to do. Since I came here I do not go to school but I was schooling in Cotonou. Anytime I tell her I want to go, she will beat me and tell me that those who brought me will come and take me in December,” she said in Yoruba language.”

    Mrs Williams claimed the girl usually stole from her, adding that she paid her brother N40,000 for transportation and two months’salary of the girl.

    She said: “She is stubborn, and has stolen so many things from me which I can show you. I have called her brother to come and take her, but he said he was in Seme.

    “She pees in the house from the stairs even when she is not sleeping. The brother has collected N40,000, N20,000 was for transportation and the other N20,000 was her two months’salary. He said he didn’t want to come till December so that he could collect the money in bulk and take her at once.

    Waliu claimed that the iron burns on the victim was a mistake, adding that he was ironing when he started beating her.

    “It was when I was trying to collect the powder from her but she poured it inside her mouth, it was while I was struggling with her that the iron burnt her chest. I beat her because she’s stubborn. I asked her to give me the insecticide but she swallowed it. I wanted to scare her with the iron but it touched her. It only touched her once,” he claimed.

    Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni, who paraded the suspects, said the victim was grievously wounded, adding that the suspects would be held for child trafficking, labour and abuse.

    “She has been completely brutalised by that suspect. When you see her body, you would see the extent of inhumanity to a fellow human being perpetrated by the suspect. The suspect will within the shortest possible time, be arraigned before the court of law,” Owoseni said.