The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Police

  • Imo pulls down homes of suspected kidnappers

    Imo pulls down homes of suspected kidnappers

    Imo State Government Thursday demolished houses belonging to suspected kidnappers who were arrested by the Police in the recent onslaught against kidnapping and other heinous crimes by the State Police Command.

    In the operation tagged “Operation Osheebe” led by the Imo State Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere and the State Police Commissioner, Taiwo Lakanu and the Commander 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze, Brigadier General Kay Isiyaku,  over ten houses were pulled down the in Ohuba, an agrarian community in Ohaji-Egbema Council Area of the State.

    According to Police sources, most of the kidnap incidents in the State is coordinated from a massive forest located in the community, where the victims are kept in connivance with the villagers who conceal the information from security agents.

    According to the Deputy Governor, the operation was in line with the determination of the State government to give priority to the security of life and property of the people living in the State.

    He said that the State government will not rest on its oars until those behind the unwholesome acts of kidnapping, armed robbery and other crimes are brought to book.

    Madumere who was shocked by the massive buildings owned by the kidnappers, said that the demolition exercise is a strategy that will have a lasting effects in the minds of the people so serve as a deterrent to others.

    He noted that it will be an unpardonable error on the part of the government if it allows those known for ill gotten wealth to continue to show off with their wealth, adding that, “such will be contradicting the cherished value and the very foundation of the society”.

    The Commissioner of Police, in his speech, noted that the strategy of demolishing the homes of criminals and their accomplices will send a warning signal that whosever indulges in crime and those abating and protecting them will not go unpunished.

     

  • Gunmen strikes ex-Abia LG chairman’s residence

    Gunmen strikes ex-Abia LG chairman’s residence

    A yet-to-be identified gunmen has reportedly attacked a former Executive chairman of Aba North Local Government Area, Hon. James Ochunkwo in his residence at Ogbor Hill, on the outskirts of the commercial city of Abia State.

    The gunmen were also said to have made away with undisclosed amount of money, a Blue coloured Volkswagen Turas Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) with registration number Lagos State KTU 889 DF belonging to the ex-local government chairman and other valuables including a cheque book, National Identity Card, ATM card(s) etc.

    When contacted on his mobile phone, the former LG chair popularly known as Owo blow told our reporter that the incident happened at about 9pm on Tuesday while he was driving into his compound.

    According to him, the gunmen may have been waiting for him near his house before they could execute their act.

    Narrating the incident, he said “I just returned to my house at about 9pm after the day’s work and immediately I drove into the compound, I heard a gunshot behind me and one out of the two boys ordered that I should hand over my car key to them. I complied by giving them and they drove out with the car with my National ID Card, cheque book, my ATM card, money, some clothes that I just got back from the drycleaner.

    “None of my neighbours came out. It was after the incident that some people came in and started asking me what happened. The matter has been reported at the Azuka Police Station; the division covering the area the incident happened. But in the morning, when the news spread round our area, some boys came and told me that they saw four persons inside my car the previous night, but never suspected that they were armed robbers. From the route that they took, it was clear that they avoided army checkpoint that is about 10 poles from my house and police post that is some distance away from my compound.”

    He feared that the hoodlums may have escaped into neighbouring southeast or south-south states with the car to avoid being spotted by the police or other security agencies.

    The police Public Relations Officer, SP Ezekiel Onyeke Udeviotu said he was yet to be briefed over the incident and assured that the police were going to do everything within their powers to ensure that the car was tracked and recovered.

  • 40 Nigerians deported from UK, Australia

    40 Nigerians deported from UK, Australia

    United Kingdom and Australia on Wednesday jointly deported 40 Nigerians for various immigration offences.

    The deportees comprising male and female arrived at the hajj camp area of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at 7:25am on chartered aircraft.

    Our correspondent gathered that a chartered aircraft with the registration number ZTA -4741 brought 36 Nigerians  -29 males and seven females to the country/

    Also, Air Seychelles with the registration number SND-1 brought four males into the country for similar offences.

     

  • Carpenter rapes 15 year old orphan in Enugu

    Carpenter rapes 15 year old orphan in Enugu

    A carpenter has been by the police in Enugu for allegedly raping a 15 year old SS1 pupil ‎said to be an orphan.

    It was gathered that the suspect identified as Casmir Eze from Umugoji Orba in Udenu local Government Area of Enugu had on Sunday at about 2am gained entrance to the compound of the victim identified as Marcillus Ogechi by scaling through the fence and thereafter forced the victim to open the door.

    He threatened her to open the door or risk being killed should she fail.

    It was further gathered when the victim who was warned not to shout or alert neighbours opened the door, the suspect who was said to be covering his face with scarf went into the room and allegedly pointed a gun at the victim and ordered her to switch off the lantern in the room and thereafter forcefully pounced on the victim and had carnal knowledge of her.

    Angered by this, and unknown that he was identified by the victim, the victim reported to the relations who assisted her to report to the police.

    The police immediately swung into action that led to the arrest of the suspect who is now helping the police in their investigations.

    According to the police spokesman, Ebere Amaraizu the suspect confessed committing the crime but maintained that it was the devil that pushed him into the act.

    According to him, “I don’t know what came over me although, I have been targeting how to get the girl since and no way hence I had to come through this way.‎”

     

  • Bodies of missing pupils found floating in Ebonyi River

    Bodies of missing pupils found floating in Ebonyi River

    Ten days after two junior secondary school JSS III students of the Federal Government College, Okposi, in Ohaozara council Area of Ebonyi State, were abducted by unknown persons, their decomposing bodies have been found in a local river in the area.

    The pupils, Tochukwu Ene, and Chukwuemeka Ugwu, were kidnapped on Thursday, May 12th, 2016 around the school.

    A family source of one of the deceased who disclosed this to our Correspondent in Enugu Tuesday , said “their corpses were found floating in a local river on Sunday, May 22nd, 2016”

    Our Correspondent learnt that police in Ebonyi, have made some arrest, including some members of staff of FGC, Okposi in connection with the sad incident.

    Among those arrested is the traditional ruler of the community who is now facing interrogation at the Police Command headquarters, Abakaliki.

    The family source added that before the two boys were murdered no attempt was made by the suspected kidnappers to reach the boys’ parents, Barrister and Mrs. Bato Eneh and Mr. and Mrs. Bonny Ugwu, aka Bonjoe, for a ransome request.

    The two late students just finished their Junior NECO examinations on the very day they were kidnapped.

    Remains of the students were laid to rest Tuesday at their respective hometowns, Obioma and Nsude, both in Udi council Area of Enugu state, following autopsy carried out by police pathologists to determine the possible causes of their deaths.

    However, speculation are rife that some youths of the area, including an unnamed staff of the FGC, Okposi,may have masterminded the dastardly act.

     

  • Gang members clash in Ibadan

    Gang members clash in Ibadan

    Members of a notorious gang clashed around Idi-Arere area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital Tuesday, throwing the neighborhood into pandemonium.

    It was learnt that the hoodlums attacked one another with dangerous weapons leaving residents to stay indoors in fear for about 30 minutes that the clash lasted.

    The clash was said to have started at about 6:45 am. They were said to be members of a gang known as ‘One Million Boys.’

    An eyewitness who spoke in confidence said residents began to hear the sound of the clash early which forced many of them to stay indoors. The hoodlums were said to have targeted one another’s movements in their plan and attacks.

    But there was no report of any death.

    Policemen were later drafted to the area to restore peace.

    After they ran into safety to escape arrest by policemen, the roads were littered with broken bottles.

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Adekunle Ajisebutu, said the situation was under control.

    He said: “The Commissioner of Police has ordered massive deployment of policemen to the affected area to forestall any breakdown of law and order. Normalcy has been restored even as police are maintaining constant patrol and surveillance of the place. The Commissioner of Police warns anyone fomenting trouble to desist or risk arrest and prosecution.”

  • Police probe killing of officer in Bayelsa

    Police probe killing of officer in Bayelsa

    The brutal killing of Mathew Akpos, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) attached to the Bayelsa State command by a “special police squad” has embarrassed the Nigerian Police.

    It was gathered, Tuesday, that the Force Headquarters, has mandated the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 5 to investigate the circumstances that led to the killing of Akpos in Yenagoa.

    Following the directive, the police were said to have constituted a team to probe the unfortunate incident and to unmask persons behind the killing.

    It was learnt that three policemen suspected to have been involved in the operation were arrested and were being investigated over the incident.

    A security source, who spoke in confidence, said the incident was embarrassing, describing it as a case of mistaken identity.

    “The killing of the officer is embarrassing and shocking to the police. Some persons have been arrested and investigations are ongoing,” he said.

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Butswat Asinim, could not be reached for his comment.

    Akpos was gunned down on Monday last week by gunmen believed to have come from an unknown division of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

    He was killed close to the OMPADEC school field in Amarata suburb of the state capital.

    The victim, who was said to have once worked at Ologbobiri, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state, was prior to his death, working at the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) in the state command in Yenagoa.

    Stray bullets from the gunshots fired at the scene of the incident hit an elderly woman, who is a trader in the area, on the leg and stomach.

    The woman, however, cheated death following multiple surgeries she received at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC).

    Residents in the area identified the gunmen as a “special police squad” and said they wore SARS’ vests.

    A source from the community said the gunmen trailed the victim to the area and wanted to force him into their vehicle.

    He said while Akpos was being dragged into the car, he resisted his assailants and in the process pulled out his pistol from its holster.

    He said the deceased police officer shot at the gunmen left him temporarily and staggered to safety.

    “One of the gunmen who was standing close to the Hilux van immediately pulled out his gun and shot the victim who fell to the ground. They later packed his body into their vehicle and zoomed off,” he said.

  • Police close PDP office as Modu Sheriff fights back

    Police close PDP office as Modu Sheriff fights back

    Ex-Acting chair shuns Fayose

    He destabilised party, says Wike

    The police yesterday sealed off Wadata Plaza, headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja.

    It is all in a bid to prevent the party’s crisis from growing. But ousted National Chairman Ali Modu Sheriff met with his strategists in Abuja and vowed not to surrender his mandate.

    Sheriff’s camp has also vowed to deny factional National chairmen Ahmed Makarfi and Sen. Ibrahim Mantu access to the secretariat.

    Sheriff and his loyalists were contemplating a court action last night, although a decision was yet to be reached as at the time of filing this report.

    To show his determination for a fight to the finish, Sheriff shunned calls from Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose.

    The governor was said to have called Sheriff many times but the deposed chairman spurned the entreaties which he termed as “medicine after death”.

    The battle may be dirtier because Fayose’s ally, Sen. Kashamu Buruji, turned back emissaries sent to him by the governor on the way forward for the party.

    Instead, Kashamu opted for a rapprochement with Mantu’s 57-man caretaker committee, with a plea to give Sheriff a second chance at the next National Convention in three months time.

    Basking in their victory over Sheriff, the Makarfi Caretaker Committee and the Mantu Interim Committee may this week merge “to put PDP in a good shape”.

    Sheriff met with his loyalists, strategists and some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) to discuss four options:

    • rejection of the imposition of the Caretaker Committee headed by Makarfi because it is a constitutional aberration;
    • probability of seeking an injunction in court to restrain either the Makarfi Committee or the Mantu Committee;
    • Sheriff to continue to operate from the National Secretariat without allowing either of the caretaker chairmen access to the place; and
    • approaching like-mind leaders of the party  and PDP governors to see reason and allow Sheriff  to remain in office.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Sheriff met with his strategists and some NWC members on Sunday and they have vowed not to surrender their mandate to either Makarfi or Mantu.

    “Sheriff told his loyalists that he will do his best to resist the impunity in the party being championed by some PDP governors.

    “The battle for the soul of PDP may take a longer time than expected because Sheriff is contemplating a court action to stop Makarfi and Mantu from parading themselves as national chairmen of the party. The two conventions which produced them were illegal.

    “Neither Makarfi nor Mantu will have access to the National Secretariat of the party.”

    As at 4pm, Sheriff was still locked in a meeting with his loyalists, including some former governors.

    The day started on a dramatic note, following entreaties to Sheriff by Fayose.

    Another source spoke of how Fayose called Sheriff seven times yesterday, but the embittered national chairman shunned his calls. Fayose was one of those who led the revolt against Sheriff in Port Harcourt on Saturday.

    “We were all shocked that Fayose woke up from the other side of the bed on Sunday to foster a fresh rapprochement with Sheriff, who refused to link up with the governor.

    “The same Fayose sent emissaries to Sen. Buruji who rejected the team.”

    Makarfi and Mantu factions may meet on Wednesday to reconcile and merge in the interest of the party.

    A source in Mantu’s faction said: “Certainly, the two factions may meet either on Wednesday or Thursday to harmonise and reconcile. We share the same vision on how to reform the PDP and we have both achieved our objective that a stranger like Sheriff should not lead our party.

    “At our meeting on Sunday, what we agreed was that we should watch events for some days before we meet and decide on the way forward with the Makarfi group.

    “The truth is that some of the party leaders behind Makarfi are also members of the Mantu group. Makarfi, Sen. Ben Obi, Prince Dayo Adeyeye and five governors are all in Mantu group. Any reconciliation with Makarfi will be a homecoming for either side.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “We are even at advantage because the certificate of registration of PDP as a party is with Mantu group.

    “If Sheriff locks up the National Secretariat of PDP, we can operate from Legacy House or we will acquire a new secretariat. Let us see who controls the party in the real sense.”

    The source admitted that Sen. Buruji had reached out to the Mantu group to give Sheriff a second chance.

    “Through some of his cronies, Kashamu pleaded with us to work with Sheriff. He said Sheriff is not as bad as being painted.

    “But we sent a message back to Kashamu that he should look elsewhere for reprieve for Sheriff.”

    A member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) gave seven reasons why the governors and PDP leaders had a rethink on Sheriff.

    He listed the factors as:

    • refusal to keep to his pledge to end his tenure on May 21;
    • his candidacy has created a sharp division in PDP which may lead to the final fall of the party;
    • alleged dictatorial tendency of Sheriff including issuance of threats to state chairmen of the party;
    • he might likely run an autocratic party machinery which will further divide the PDP; and
    • beholding the party to some new godfathers like Governor Wike and Senator Buruji who determine what goes on in the party.

    There are also alleged secret plot to secure the presidential ticket of the party in 2018 because he has allegedly approached some governors to be his running mates and antecedents as an opposition politician have made many PDP leaders to be uncomfortable with him.

    “I think the fears of playing into the hands of the opposition forced our leaders to make a U-Turn on Saturday. We chose to be cautious, “the BoT member added.

     

  • Police bar party chiefs from secretariat

    Police bar party chiefs from secretariat

    The struggle for leadership of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is growing.

    The police yesterday took over the party’s secretariat, preventing people, including journalists, from entering the premises.

    The blockade, party sources said, was to prevent ousted Chairman Ali Modu Sheriff from entering into the secretariat or the  chairman’s office.

    He was on Saturday deposed in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, venue of a botched national convention organised by his loyalists, spearheaded mainly by Governors Ayo Fayose (Ekiti) and Nyesom Wike (Rivers).

    But Sheriff is fighting back, insisting that he remains the chairman. He could not enter the secretariat yesterday for a scheduled news conference he planned to address.

    The police blocked the 70-metre public access road to the two gates leading to the secretariat with trucks at both ends, forcing Sheriff to change the venue of the briefing.

    He is fighting the battle alongside the National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, who had been fighting through the courts to retain his position a few days before the botched convention.

    The Concerned PDP Stakeholders, a body being coordinated by a former Information Minister, Prof. Jerry Gana is challenging the choice of a former Kaduna State governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, as chairman of the interim caretaker committee.

    The committee, which was hurriedly cobbled together by the party’s governors at the botched convention grounds in Port Harcourt, is meant to run the affairs of the party and prepare the ground for the conduct of an acceptable convention.

    But the Gana group has faulted Makarfi’s appointment, saying it was a violation of the PDP’s constitution. Citing the constitution, the group, insisted that the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) is the only body vested with such powers.

    A former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, who co-chairs the Concerned Stakeholders group, had called on the governors to allow the BoT assume the responsibility.

    Speaking at a media briefing, Mantu said: “It is now time for the BoT to step in and take charge. It is there in our constitution that in a situation like this, the BoT, which is the conscience of the party as well as the father of the party, should step in immediately.

    “In this situation, therefore, the BoT leadership must take up responsibilities for the running of the affairs of the party and bring all members back home for us to sit down and find a way forward as members of one family.”

    Efforts by our correspondent to get the reaction of the BoT chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin, failed.

    A meeting between Sheriff and Oladipo was still ongoing at the time this report was being filed at 6.35 p.m. on Sunday.

  • Police rescue woman abducted by Boko Haram

    Police rescue woman abducted by Boko Haram

    Vigilant Security Operatives from the Kano State Police Command last Saturday night in Hotoro quarters of the metropolis rescued a mother of three, identified as Khadeja Ibrahim, who miraculously escaped from the hands of her abductors, as she was kidnapped from Maiduguri, Borno State.

    She was rescued at about 11 pm last Saturday in the Hotoro area of Kano State from the grips of her captives, who drove her to Kano after kidnapping her at a bus stop on her way to the hospital in Maiduguri.

    Briefing reporters in Kano Sunday, Kano State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abbati Maigari Dikko, disclosed that Khadija’s captives picked her from a bus stop, pretending to offer her lift.

    According to the CP, no sooner she boarded the vehicle than she was hypnotized, with some undisclosed substances, which promptly rendered her unconscious, not realizing, where she was until the vehicle in which they were travelling developed a technical hitch at the outskirts of Kano.

    While the vehicle was on transit, the CP said that her captives asked her whether she is familiar with Kano metropolis but she replied that she had no idea.

    Thereafter, according to the Police Commissioner, her captors told her that they were taking to Kano to perform:” Aiki Allah (like a Jihad).

    Furthermore, the CP disclosed that as soon as Khadeja regained consciousness, she realized that the clothes she earlier wore had been removed and substituted with something that looked like a locally made bullet proof jacket, adorned with so many chains and nails.

    Meanwhile, according to the CP, while efforts were been made to fix the vehicle, which was also carrying two men, Khadija and another woman, and in the process she attempted to remove the jacket because she heard about the Aiki Allah, which aroused her suspicion that she is at the wrong hands (Boko Haram insurgents).

    Fortunately for Khadeja, according to the CP, she was able to remove the jacket, jumped out of the car and ran out, as one of the captors pursued her, threatening that wherever she escapes to she would be traced, emphasizing that they are all over the environment.

    But however, the CP noted that God in His infinite mercy enabled her to make good her escape, during which she ran into some Security operatives, who rescued and took her to Hotoro Police Station, from where she was transferred to the Kano Police Command Headquarters in Hotoro between 11 and 12 Saturday midnight.

    Meanwhile, Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has cautioned Kano people to be extra-vigilant, particularly market men and women, following information that Boko Haram insurgents may launch an attack in any of the markets in the commercial city of Kano.

    This followed information extracted from the Boko Haram insurgents that they may launch an attack in any of the Kano markets, sooner or later, hence the need to be extra vigilant.