The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Police

  • Can Ibrahim Idris reform the Police?

    SIR: On two occasions when I went to  police stations to seek bail for persons who had minor scuffles, I was asked by police officers on duty for money to procure ‘Izal,’ ‘Detol,’ and ’tissue paper,’ before I could see these persons.

    Aren’t the senior officers aware of this practice by their junior officers?  Do law enforcement officers work for the government and people of Nigeria or for themselves? Why do we seemingly have failure in security? Why is there a constant spike in crime and all manner of economic sabotage? I see policemen only interested in parking vehicles to extort money at check points. I hardly see or hear about police officers giving chase to robbers leading to apprehension, as happens in the movies.

    Our society can be safe only when there are effective partnerships between government and the police to fight crime in a 360 degree angle. There will be no security while state governors big-note themselves for presenting the police with vehicles to help fight crime. The vehicles cost a mere pittance of the huge security votes they collect monthly from federal allocations.

    The job of the police would be made easier if efforts are channelled correctly. For instance, a pool of informers should be set up and informers paid to report potential crimes before they fester. The state should have a Witness Protection Programme to protect whistle-blowers.

    The job of the police would be made easier if transportation for officers on duty is not restricted to sitting at the back of Hiluxes and Ford Rangers. What kind of strategy exposes law enforcement officers to danger? Have the authorities not heard of unmarked official saloon cars? And should the police go for covert assignments in a rented taxi?

    A policeman’s job would be easier when the state checkmates all those who openly denounce the Nigerian state with nefarious and self-serving intent.

    I shudder to think about the fate that might befall the policemen I see with guns only, in the middle of nowhere, without patrol vehicles when I travel on Nigerian roads. How would they escape without patrol vehicles if they are attacked by bandits?  Why does the state risk the lives of its police force in this way?

    I wonder at the kind of policing Nigeria hopes to provide when the rank and file only attend shooting ranges, buy their kits and no training is provided on democratic idealism so as to appreciate the concept of citizen rights in a democracy.

    All federal agencies should be mandated to contribute to a pool of funds to help the police, to free the over 150,000 police officers working in the homes of private citizens, because there are too few officers and too many crimes.

    What’s going on? It’s sickening to see a police patrol team more interested in pulling over a pickup van or truck carrying building materials, than giving chase and trying to apprehend robbers, car snatchers, kidnappers and child traffickers. Nigeria is drifting towards a dark and fearsome abyss.,

     

    • Simon Abah,

    Port Harcourt.

  • Police confirm attack on Shell facility in Imo

    Police confirm attack on Shell facility in Imo

    The police have confirmed an attack on a facility belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) at Awarra, Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo.

    DSP Andrew Enwerem, the Public Relations Officer of police in the state, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Owerri that the police received report of the attack in the early hours of Thursday.

    Enwerem could not disclose the extent of damage done to the facility or the group that carried out the attack.

    Mr Precious Okolobo, spokesman for SPDC said “the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP), which runs through Awara, Imo State at the Assa-Rumuekpe line, has been shut for repairs since June 8, following a leak at Okolo launch, Bonny in Rivers State.

    “We are investigating the reported incident at Awara’’, he said.

    A source in Awarra community told NAN that the incident occurred at about 5.30a.m.

    It said the explosion created huge flame at the site and could not confirm if there was loss of life.
    No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

  • Three die, 14 Injured in another Lagos-Ibadan expressway accident 

    Three die, 14 Injured in another Lagos-Ibadan expressway accident 

    Three persons were Thursday confirmed dead and 14 others injured after a truck rammed into commercial bus with 17 occupants.

    The accident occurred at about 5:30am around Berger on the Busy Lagos-Ibadan expressway, less than 24 hours after multiple crashes claimed no fewer than eight lives on the Ogun State axis of the road.

    It was gathered that an unregistered truck lost control and rammed into the commercial bus marked KRD326XG killing two males and a female on the spot.

    The Nation gathered that the bus somersaulted after it was hit by the truck and veered off its lane.
    While the three persons who died were trapped under the bus, others who made it out early sustained varying injuries.

    It was learnt that it took the combined efforts of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the State Fire Service, Police and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps  (NSCDC) officials to extricate the bodies of the deceased underneath the vehicle.

    Confirming the accident, General Manager LASEMA, Michael Akindele said it was caused by the recklessness of the truck driver.

    He stated that the agency received a distress call at about 5:36am on the accident, adding that all the injured were taken to the Accident and Emergency unit.

    He said: “We received a distress call through the emergency toll lines at about 5:36am. This prompted immediate activation of the ERT of LASEMA and other emergency responders which include Lagos State Ambulance Services, Lagos State Fire Service, Nigeria Police, LASTMA and the FRSC to the scene of accident.

    “Preliminary investigation carried out by the ERT at the scene of the incident revealed that the incident was as a result of reckless driving of the truck driver.

    “The truck collided with the LT bus, causing it to veer off the road leading to the accident. Nine passengers sustained serious injuries, while five others sustained minor injuries and were immediately rushed down to the trauma center by FRSC and LASAMBUS. The truck driver was taken to the Trauma center as a result of shock.

    “Three passengers were also trapped dead and were extricated by the LASEMA Emergency Response Team with the use of the light duty equipment. 17 passengers were said to be on board the bus.

    “Motorist should avoid reckless driving and also ensure that they drive within the appropriate speed limit to prevent road traffic accident in the State.”

  • Gunmen kill bank customer, cart away money

    Gunmen kill bank customer, cart away money

    Gunmen Thursday killed a bank customer, Kingsley Chukwudi in the Apapa area of Lagos State.

    The incident occurred in the morning while the young man was leaving the bank.

    It was gathered that the gunmen who rode on power bike, allegedly trailed the victim to the bank and shot him.

    The Nation gathered that they also carted away his bag containing laptop, money and other valuables.

    It was learnt that a combined tram of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives and policemen attached to the Apapa Division have been on the lookout for the suspects who fled immediately they shot the victim.

    A source who hinted on the incident said the robbers probably thought that the victim was carrying huge money in the bag.

    “He has entered the bank and was leaving when he was shot. He was a security guard. He was carrying his laptop bag and the robbers thought he was going to deposit money into the bank but the young man was just carrying his laptop bag.

    “His body was taken to Area B Police Command in Apapa, which attracted crowd because he was a very good person,” the source said.

    Efforts to get the state command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP) to comment on the issue failed as at the time of filing this report.

  • Owo Poly shut as students, police clash

    Owo Poly shut as students, police clash

    The Rufus Giwa Polytechnic in Owo, Ondo State (RUGIPO) has been shut, following a clash between students and the police. Fifteen students were injured in the clash, which followed a protest against the knocking down of a Mass Communication student from a commercial motorcylist aka Okada by a police officer. RICHARD ADURA-ILESANMI (Mass Communication, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko) reports.

    WHO is at fault? The police or students? Police say it is the students; but the students disagree, insisting that the police are liable for the clash at the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO), last Sunday, in which 15 of them were injured. Two students were also allegedly killed, but management has since debunked that claim.

    The clash followed the students’ protest after an accident between a commercial motorcycle aka Okada, carrying a Mass Communication student, and a police van. The driver of the vehicle allegedly ran over the victims and fled.

    Led by the Students’ Union Government (SUG) leaders, the protesters marched on ‘B’ Division of the Nigeria Police in Otapete, where the hit-and-run police officer is attached.

    More than four vehicles, including police vans, were vandalised in the pandemonium.

    To prevent a breakdown of law and order, management shut the campus.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered the accident victims are still unconscious. The student’s name could not be ascertained at the time of this report, but she is said to be a part-time Ordinary National Diploma (OND) 1 Mass Communication student.

    The SUG President, Ebifemi Omojuwa, accused the police officer of knocking down the victims and abandoning them to their fate.

    Ebifemi said: “We embarked on the protest when we learnt that a policeman knocked down a student and a motorcyclist. We were told by students around the scene that the policeman immediately drove away after hitting the victims. We later heard a rumour that the girl had died and this prompted students to gather in the school to know whether the news was true or not.

    “We went to the Federal Medical Centre to confirm the news, and we discovered that the girl was in coma from the injuries she sustained on her head. She was then referred to the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH).”

    A student, who simply gave his name as Omolere, said: “When we got to the Federal Medical Centre in the morning, the doctor that attended to the girl said she was seriously injured and in coma. We were also told that the Okada rider had fracture on his head and legs.”

    Students alleged that the policeman, who knocked down their colleague, was “heavily drunk”, which was why he allegedly left the victims on the road after the accident.

    The rumour of the victim’s death, it was gathered, sparked the protest during which students barricaded the Benin-Owo-Akure Expressway with bonfires. This caused a gridlock as travellers were stranded for several hours. Other major roads in Owo were also blocked by the protesters.

    The students moved to the Police Division, located a few kilometres away from the campus. As the protesters approached the station, CAMPUSLIFE gathered that riot policemen fired teargas to disperse them. There were also gunshots, it was learnt.

    Eyewitnesses said six injured students were rushed to the hospital. Ebifemi condemned the police action, describing it as provocative. He said: “It is disheartening seeing the police shooting sporadically at students, not even minding senior management officials and members of Students Affairs were among the protesters. They shot at our Rector, Mr Idowu Ologunagba, and other school officials, who were with us. I can confirm that more than 12 students left with injuries, while others were mercilessly beaten by the police.”

    The union president accused the police of burning a room in Cocoa Villa, an off-campus hostel on Owo-Emure Road, close to the police station.

    A management source told CAMPUSLIFE that a police officer attempted to shoot the rector, who escaped from the scene. The source said: Our rector had to run when one of the police officers pointed his gun at him. We know the police officer, who attempted to shoot the rector. He graduated from the part-time programme of the school. We still don’t know what right the police have to shoot at peaceful protesters?”

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that though Governor Olusegun Mimiko has waded into the matter, there has been no statement from the government.

    National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Vice President Timilehin Ayenuro condemned the police action and called for an investigation into the matter. Ayenuro said he  met some injured students, who are responding to treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

    Reacting on Orange 94.5 FM in Akure, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Femi Joseph, accused the students of attacking the Police Division. He said the officer, who hit the okada  rider, did not run away, claiming that the policeman used the patrol van to help the victims to the hospital.

    He said: “The driver of the police vehicle did not deliberately hit the student and the motorcyclist. It is also a untrue that the driver abandoned the victims; he immediately took the victims to a hospital and they are receiving treatment.”

    Joseph condemned the attack on police station and the destruction of properties by the protesters. He did not confirm whether or not the police fired at the protesters.

    Debunking the claim that a student was killed in the fracas, a top official of the school, in a WhatsApp message to our correspondent,  said: “No RUGIPO student was killed as wrongly reported. One of the injured students was referred to OAUTH in Ile-Ife for treatment, while the three students that sustained gunshot injuries are in stable condition and are receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre in Owo.”

     

  • Ondo community petitions police over alleged sponsored attack

    Ondo community petitions police over alleged sponsored attack

    There is anxiety in Ode-Ugbo community, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State over invasion of the oil community by suspected hoodlums allegedly sponsored by a prominent monarch over alleged land dispute.

    Already, a group of Akure-based lawyers Mafimisebi, Jayeola & Co have petitioned the Commissioner of Police (CP) over the matter.

    The community, through their lawyers, urged Governor Olusegun Mimiko and the police authorities to intervene by arresting those behind the attacks and begin investigation into the allegations levelled against them.

    In a letter dated June 20,2016 and signed by Idowu Mafimisebi on behalf of Ode-Ugbo community, they said on March 20,the Divisional Police Officer(DP0)in Igbokoda came to the community to inform them that they should allow one prominent traditional ruler in Ugboland to build a house on a piece of land said to be owned by his great grandfather.

    They said their clients – Ode-Ugbo community – reacted that the land in question belonged to Akingboye’s family, the son of Ojedele, the former Olugbo of Ugboland.

    According to the letter, “our clients reacted with regards to various attacks on the people of Ode-Ugbo carried out by the monarch, which they reported to the police and the state government.

    “These acts of murder, arson and attacks was chronicled as a compendium and submitted to the Police Commissioner on March 24, but no action since then.”

  • One dies as miscreants fight in Lagos

    One dies as miscreants fight in Lagos

    An unidentified man was Wednesday stabbed to death in Lagos Island after some miscreants engaged in a free-for-all.

    The incident occurred at Orolanya Street at about 2:30pm.

    It was gathered that the street boys who were battling for supremacy, had blocked the entire street, brandishing bottles and cutlasses.

    The Nation gathered that it took the intervention of policemen from Adeniji Adele division to disperse the miscreants.

    Confirming the incident, the state command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP) said the street boys fled upon sighting police patrol van.

    She said: “The hoodlums took to their heels on sighting the patrol teams while the corpse of one of the hoodlums who was stabbed to death during the fight was removed and taken to the mortuary. Effort is on to arrest the culprits.”

  • Banker charged with stealing customer’s N952, 857

    Banker charged with stealing customer’s N952, 857

    The police have accused a former Syke Bank transaction officer, Jolayemi Olawale, of reactivating a customer’s dormant account and stealing N952, 857 from it.

    Olawale, 35, whose address was not given, was arraigned Wednesday before Mr. B. A. Sonuga of an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    He is standing trial on a two-count charge of fraud and stealing.

    Prosecuting Inspector Ingobo Emby said the defendant committed the alleged offences between December 29, 2015 and January 4, at Syke Bank Plc, Alaba branch, Lagos

    He alleged that Olawale used his position at the bank to reactivate a dormant account number 1010327078 belonging to one Adebayo Akeem.

    The court also heard that the defendant fraudulently changed Akeem’s phone and pin numbers and requested for an ATM card for that account, through which the money was withdrawn.

    “The defendant fraudulently withdrew the sum of N952, 857 from the account after reactivating it,” Emby said, adding that the amount was then stolen.

    The alleged offences were said to contravene Sections 285 and 335 (a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    Kolawole denied the charge.

    The defendant’s counsel, Mr Bamidele Ajabaluku, urged the court to admit him to bail on liberal terms.

    Magistrate Sonuga granted him N1 million bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    He ordered the sureties to deposit N200, 000 in the account of the court’s Chief Registrar and adjourned till August 30.

  • 41 Nigerians deported from U.S

    41 Nigerians deported from U.S

    At least 41 Nigerians were on Wednesday deported from the United States for drug,  police and immigration related offences.

    The deportees,  all males according to Immigration sources were flown in aboard a chartered aircraft operated by Miami Air International marked with registration number N733MA, which arrived the Lagos international airport at 12.20pm.

    According to the source nine of the deportees were brought back for drug offences,  26 for police offences while six had immigration related problems.

    Only last week about 163 Nigerians stranded in Libya voluntarily returned home.

     

  • Disquiet in the police over ‘irregular’ promotion

    Disquiet in the police over ‘irregular’ promotion

    Some policemen have expressed displeasure over the promotion of 14 officers to Deputy Commissioners of Police (ACP).

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) at the weekend announced the promotion of the officers from Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACP) to DCP.

    Those promoted were Nkechi Enehikuere; Juliana Abah; Abdulkadir Jimoh; Garba Baba; Joseph Egbunike; Jonathan Towuru; Adeleke Bode and Muri Musa.

    Others include Magu Mustafa; Lawal Tanko; Celestine Eluemelu; Edward Ajogun; Sylvester Alabi and David Igbodo.

    The development has caused feelings of injustice as senior officers who were left out have accused the police of not following due process.

    According to the aggrieved officers, the standard practice of seniority was not followed.

    They alleged that with exceptions to Enehikuere, Abah, Jimoh, Baba and Egbunike, the PSC left out several senior officers who have attended and passed their Senior Staff course.

    The aggrieved officers alleged that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase recommended his protégés for promotion without recourse to seniority.

    One of the officers who pleaded anonymity said: “On the ACP seniority list, the first four names are Enehikuere (first), Abah (second), Jimoh (third), Baba (fourth) and Egbunike (24th).
    “Towuru 52, Bode 75, Musa 91, Magu 99, Tanko 121, Eluemelu 134, Ajogun 214, Alabi 217 and Igbodo 220. Where is justice?  How can this be?

    “Only five of the 30 most senior ACPs that have gone on course were promoted.  This is wicked. Most of them bribed their way at the PSC. Some of the officials at the commission vehemently opposed, but were overruled by the powers that be.

    “Because the IGP is going out, he has jumped gun in promoting and compensated his loyalists. This is very bad,” said one of the officers.