The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Police

  • Police tortured, killed my father, says 10-year-old

    Police tortured, killed my father, says 10-year-old

    A 10-year-old boy, Jonathan Adewuyi has accused policemen attached to the Ayinla Police Division in Agbado, Ogun State of torturing his father to death.

    The incident occurred at the weekend at 4, Itoki Road, Itoki, where the boy lived with his father, Sina Adewuyi, 45, a bricklayer.

    According to the boy, his father died at about 5am on Sunday from injuries he sustained after his was brutalised by some policemen who came to extort his master, Dona Okey.

    Reliving the ordeal, the boy said after the policemen beat up his father for asking why they were in his compound around 4pm, they bundled him into their bus, took him away with them and he only returned at about 10pm.

    He said: “I am an apprentice working with the man (Okey) and learning to sell spare parts. His shop is in the same compound where we live. My master told them (police) he had no money with him for now because he used to give them money before whenever they came.

    “When my father came out from the house, he saw policemen and wanted to know what happened that police came to our compound. But they shouted on him and told him to leave the vicinity. He told them he lived in the compound, but they refused to listen and started beating him for having the guts to talk back at them.

    “He tried to runaway from them, but they chased him, caught up with him, hit him with a gun butt and asked him to enter their bus, which he refused. They bundled him into the bus and took him away.
    “He did not return till about 10pm and when he came back, he was in pains with marks of brutality on his body. He was complaining of headache and chest pain and so, we gave him painkillers but he vomited them.

    “My mother said we will take him to the hospital in the morning since it was already late, but around 5am on Sunday, he died.”

    Continuing, the boy said they went to the Sango Ota Area Command same Sunday morning to complain, but they were asked to go back to the division and file complaint, which they did.

    “Policemen came to our house, took photographs of my late father before he was taken to the mortuary. We were asked to return to the station on Monday, which I did with some of my father’s relatives.

    “At the station, they brought out so many policemen and asked me to point the people who came to my place. I was able to identify two of them who were among those that beat my father and took him away,” he said.

    Calling on the state governor Ibikunle Amosun, as well as the police high command to ensure justice for her late husband, the boy’s mother, Mrs. Tunrayo Adewuyi, 35, said the policemen have murdered the family’s breadwinner.

    “He is the bread winner of the family. I am only a petty food stuff trader. I have six children. Four boys and two girls. Who will help me? I don’t have anybody. The government should come to my aid,” she sobbed.

    The Area Commander of Sango Ota, Adegoke Fayoade, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) said the matter was being investigated.

    He confirmed that two policemen were identified and have been transferred to the State police command in Abeokuta for further action.

  • Police re-arrest ex-convicts for robbery

    The police in Oyo State have re-arrested three ex-convicts for robbery.

    Kamaru Ganiyu (28), Muili Taofeek (21) and Azeez Muyideen (22) were among the 17 suspects paraded at the Police Headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan by the Commissioner of Police, Leye Oyebade.

    Oyebade said Ganiyu, who was released from Oyo prison in February, was arrested with his gang and stole David Abel’s car on April 26.

    “Kamaru was arrested with his gang, following intelligence report. They confessed to have carried out the robberies in some parts of the state,” he said.

    Also paraded were Agu Onyeka (21); Biodun Jamiu (34); Dare Azeez (21) and Nurudeen Bilawu (28).

    In an interview with The Nation, Ganiyu said he was only finding a means of livelihood as his family does not want to see him again.

    The police commissioner said  Taofeek, released from Agodi prison, was rearrested when he broke into  Desola Yusuf’s house.

    He said the suspect while escaping snatched a purse containing assorted phones and N25,000.

    “Muyideen, also released from Agodi prison, went back the following day to steal a Bajaj motorcycle, where it was parked.”

    The police boss said the ex convict was arrested on April 22 through the effort of the public.

  • Security Trust Fund chief seeks state police

    Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSF) Executive Secretary Dr Abdurrazaq Balogun has said the time is ripe for state police.

    “In Lagos State we have everything that can enable us to create state police. The time is ripe to start for it,” he said.

    Balogun said LSSTF has achieved its core mandate, noting that from statistics, the rate of reported crime cases went down in the last six months.

    He said 12 cases were reported in March, adding that the prevailing peace was achieved by empowering the security forces.

    Balogun praised the government, corporate organisations and individuals for donating to the fund, adding that because of their gesture, the LSSF was able to increase the number of vehicles, vessels and modern equipment given to the security agencies.

    He said: “In the last few months, you would have noticed the increased presence of security on our streets, and also a greater number of our patrol vehicles reaching farther into our towns and keeping the peace. All of these have served as a deterrent to criminal elements who might want to take advantage of the unsuspecting people either on the street or in their homes. Apart from this, other initiatives, such as the street lighting project of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, which has lightened up the black spots and the encouragement of vigilance among the populace, have added to the overall sense of safety and well-being in Lagos. We can state as a matter of fact, that all the indicators are pointing to a decline in the rate of crime, including traffic robberies, vehicle snatching, kidnap cases, gangsterism and others – all of them have reduced significantly in the past six months.’’

  • Attack on Edo Dep Gov: CP orders arrest of suspects

    Attack on Edo Dep Gov: CP orders arrest of suspects

    The police high command in Benin, Edo State has declared that it will not leave any stone unturned in the investigation on the attack on the state deputy governor, Dr Pius Odubu.
    The incident which occurred on Saturday in Auchi,headquarters of Etsako west, left eight persons critically injured. They are being treated in University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and Auchi.
    Police Commissioner, Chris Ezike who gave the assurance at the Odubu campaign secretariat said the incident could have been avoided
    Ezike who came into Secretariat at about 9.21am went upstairs to meet with the deputy governor and left about 9.24am.
    He said the command is working on a lead that will help the police unravel those behind the dastardly attack on the deputy governor who was on campaign tour to Edo north.
    The Commissioner said the command is ready to ensure the safety and security of lives and property during and after the governorship elections.
    The attack on Odubu happened in the State Governor’s local government,
    “I have given a marching order that those involved be arrested. This thing happened in the day time, names have been mentioned and we going after them.
    “The actors in this game should know that power belongs to God. It is our appeal that they conduct themselves and their supporters in a lawful manner. We will get to the bottom of the incident. Luckily a few names have been mentioned, they are not ghost”

  • “I have bought over 4,256 stolen phones”

    “I have bought over 4,256 stolen phones”

    A man arrested by the operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command for being a major buyer of stolen mobile phones in Lagos, has confessed to have bought over 4,256 mobile phones from robbers, pickpockets and one – chance gangs operating in the state .
    The suspect, Kazeem Bamidele, 42, who is the Second Vice Chairman of the National Union of Road and Transport Workers’ (NURTW), Ajegunle Unit, equally confessed to the RRS Intelligence Team that he has over 52 boys in Lagos State, who steal and sell “clean phones” to him constantly.
    Kazeem, popularly known as “Elewure” in the social circle, was arrested , when the RRS Intelligence Team quizzed two stolen phones users in Kogi State in connection with abduction and robbery cases in Lagos State.
    The operatives had upon returning from a week – long investigation to Port Harcourt, Enugu and Kogi State, swung into actions by arresting Elewure from his shop in Boundary Market, Ajegunle, after he was fingered to have been the seller of two Blackberry Z10 phones and a CAT phone collected from victims of robbery and abduction incidences in the metropolis.
    Kazeem said, “I have over 52 boys who sell clean stolen mobile phones to me. On the average, I receive 38 ‘clean’ phones in a week. I have been in the business for more than two years”
    He also confessed that ” Boundary Market in Ajegunle, where I have office and shop, is where they sell the phones to me and that is where the buyers equally get them. I know they are stolen phones. Nearly every guy in Ajegunle is involved in this kind of runs. It is what they do to survive.”
    “I was pushed into the business by family pressure. I have two wives and seven children. I have so many dependants. What I pay as school fees alone is staggering ” the suspect claimed
    Bamidele also stated that ” I had too many problems in life. My mother gave birth to 13 children for my father. Though both of them are no more, only three of us are left. I am the breadwinner of the family’ ”
    “My first wife’s children are part of the predicament I have. Since I married the second wife, I have not known peace. Can you believe that since I was arrested, she has never called or visited me? I know this is a lesson for me in life. She has seven children for me and what I paid as school fees for her children is staggering”, he stated.
    He continued that “I started out in life as ‘elubo’, pepper and maize grinder. I know that most of these phones were gotten from pickpocketing, one chance and robbery” .
    The suspect added that ” My second wife has mounted so much pressure on me to quit the business long ago but the financial pressure was stunning. I think I have come to a point I don’t need to be advised to stop it now”:.
    He revealed that ” I buy Infinix Hot 2 at N10k and sell N12,000; Blackberry Z30 at N20,000:00 and sell at N22,000:00; buy Infinix Hot Note at N15,000:00 and sell at N17,000 and Samsung Galaxy X3 at N11,000 and sell at N14,000. I don’t buy iPhone because of its locking system”.
    Investigators revealed that as at the time of his arrest, five stolen mobile phones were found with him. He is presently helping the police to pick up his boys from their hide-outs, bus stops and routes of operations.
    Already, two commercial buses “danfo” used for robbery and one chance operations are presently at RRS Headquarters in Alausa.
    It was also learnt that the suspect revealed to the police most of the boys ,who bring phones to his shop , stay in hotels around the state.
    ” some of the phones traced to Elewure were that of high profile members of the society as well as celebrities” our source said.
    According to the Police PPRO, SP Dolapo Badmos the force was following up the suspect’s revelations and is making steady progress in the investigations of the case.
    The suspect has been transferred to SARS for further

  • Boko Haram: Yobe farmlands littered with mines, says Police

    Boko Haram: Yobe farmlands littered with mines, says Police

    Farmlands liberated from Boko Haram fighters in Yobe State will have to be de-mined before farming activities can commence again, the Deputy Inspector General of Police Operation, Sontoye Wakama, has stated.

    He warned that farmers in the liberated communities should not return to their farmlands until the Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) are cleared.

    Wakama spoke yesterday at a meeting with stakeholders, including heads of security agencies, chairmen of the affected local government, religious leaders and government functionaries.

    Five farmers were killed two weeks ago by IEDs on their way to clear their farms at Goniri in Gujba local government area.

    The DIG said:  “We are aware that most of the farmlands from the communities have been littered with IEDs by Boko Haram elements.

    “These farmlands have to be de-mined before the farmers begin to cultivate their farmlands.

    “We have to sweep these farmlands and make them free from IEDs to sure that safety of the farmers as they return to start their farming activities.

    I think we have to start burning up these farmlands so that some of the IEDs will explode.”

    Wakama called on Yobe State Government to rebuild water facilities, schools, hospitals and other essential amenities destroyed by the Boko Haram fighters when they held sway.

    The DIG announced police operatives are returning to the liberated areas in less than one week to enforce civil authority in the areas.

  • We’re ready for killer herdsmen in Ebonyi —Police

    We’re ready for killer herdsmen in Ebonyi —Police

    The Ebonyi State Police Command has said it is up to the task in protecting lives and property in the state.

    The spokesman of the command, ASP George Okafor, stated this in Abakaliki, the state capital, yesterday.

    He spoke against the background of recent attacks by Fulani herdsmen in neighboring Enugu State.

    On the measures taken by the command to ensure that the massacre in Enugu State does not occur in Ebonyi, Okafor said: ‘’In this command, I want to tell you that we have been very outstanding in dealing with matters involving cattle rearers, because we believe in alternative dispute resolution strategy.

    “In Ishielu, Ohaukwu Ezza North, Ebonyi LGA and other areas, Fulani herdsmen have entered the areas and caused some damages which would have caused serious clashes between members of the communities and the herdsmen, but we did not allow that to happen.

    “We called leaders of the herdsmen and the communities and made sure there were no clashes. We dialogued with them.

     ‘’Several matters between herdsmen and villagers which would have resulted in more bloody clashes than that of Enugu have been resolved in the state by the police command.

    “We have an agreement with the herdsmen that if farmers’ crops are destroyed or eaten up by their cows, the herdsmen will pay for it. We also told villagers or the farmers that they will pay for any cow they kill without any reason and the two parties have agreed on this.

    “Herdsmen have on many occasions paid farmers for the crops their cows destroyed and the natives have also paid for cows they unduly attacked.

    “So, we have taken so many measures to ensure that the incident in Enugu does not occur in Ebonyi, and God has been on our side because we have not had any clash and our dialogue strategy has been yielding fruitful results.”

    Investigation by our correspondent shows that the Fulani herdsmen in the state are moving freely with their cattle in different communities around the state.

    In Ozibo community, Ebonyi Local Government Area, herdsmen were seen grazing their cows and returning to a piece of land given to them by a member of the community, Chief Ngaji Nwaodoh, where they have been living for years.

    Efforts to get the Special Adviser on Internal Security, Mr. Ali Odefa, were abortive as he was said to be in a security meeting with some stakeholders in the state ahead of today’s PDP ward Congress.

  • WHY MERCY AIGBE CAUGHT IRE OF POLICE

    POPULAR Nollywood actress, Mercy Aigbe, had denied that she was arrested by the police in Osogbo, Osun State for committing any crime.

    Aigbe said although the police had given her a chase for no reason, trouble started when she brought out her phone and to record their activities upon bringing her car to a halt.

    Narrating her story on Instagram, the actress claimed the policemen pointed a gun at her and she brought out her phone to record what was going on.

    Fans have since decried her attitude, describing it as ‘dumb’.

    Aigbe said: “I was shooting a movie in osogbo and was going for a break with my PA and Driver when we saw a police van chasing us, they later double crossed us, came out of their van and started banging the bonnet of my car asking us to come down. I was shocked and scared because I didn’t know what was going on. I stepped out of the car to ask them what happened and why they double crossed us in that manner, the policemen started shouting and acting crazy pointing his gun at me. On seeing his behaviour, i took out my phone and started to record them, one of them forcefully collected my phone from me. My PA also started recording them with an ipad and the policeman slapped her and threw the iPad away.”

    Narrating the incident further, Aigbe said, “At this point a lot of crowd had already gathered when they saw me and what was happening and they started booing them, saying that is how osogbo policemen harass innocent citizens. When the policemen saw the large crowd supporting us and that they could be mobbed, they stylishly left only to call for reinforcement of other Police officers.

    Those ones came and started shooting sporadically into the air; everyone had to run for their lives. The police officers then forcefully collected my car key and car documents from my driver and even tried to beat him up. They then ushered us into my car and a police man drove us to their State Headquarters. On getting there, we were taken to the office of the assistant commissioner of police where we narrated what happened and how their men harassed us and caused unnecessary commotion!… I even showed him the videos I recorded. The ACP then apologised and pleaded with me to delete the videos. We settled the matter and I went back to work. ….Big thanks to my family, friends and fans for checking up on me.”

    Earlier reports said the incident which occured around 4.30 pm had the actress driving in a metalic gold Honda Accord car.

    When contacted, Assistant Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ajibade Egbedele, said, it was just a minor traffic issue and it has been settled.

  • Mosque collapse injures dozens in Somali capital

    Mosque collapse injures dozens in Somali capital

    At least 30 people were injured on Friday when a mosque packed with worshippers collapsed in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, police said.

    The police also said that at least 200 people were reported to have been inside the mosque in Mogadishu’s north-western Hodan district during Friday prayers.

    Rescuers were searching for injured or dead victims among the rubble.

    Local official Ahmed Nur Abdi said the collapse may have been caused by ongoing repair work inside the mosque.

  • Applicants for police jobs now 806,646

    Applicants for police jobs now 806,646

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) has said applicants for the 10,000 police job are now 806,646 .

     The update is contained in a statement in Abuja yesterday by the commission’s Head of Press and Public Relations Unit, Ikechukwu Ani.

     A statement said: “As at 9:35am onWednesday, April 27, 2016, 806,646 applicants have submitted applications.

     “A breakdown shows that 232,857 applied as ASPs, 190,415 as Inspectors and 383,374  as Constables. Submission of forms ends on the May 13, 2016, thereby given applicants six weeks.

      The commission, while emphasising that recruitment forms are free and online, added that it is receiving reports of fraudsters soliciting payment to help candidates either to obtain the forms or assist them secure employment.

     Commission Chairman Mike Okiro has, however, urged workers not to receive money from applicants or their sponsors, stressing that anyone caught would be dealt with and prosecuted.

    He said: “I am aware of the pressure from applicants but workers should rise above board and protect the integrity and sanctity of the exercise”

     The chairman called on the public to report anybody undermining the exercise through illegal sale of forms.

     While pledging to ensure a transparent process, Okiro insisted that the commission would be guided by the established criteria and qualification.

     He said arrests were made in some parts of the country and that the police are investigating to establish the culprits’ level of involvement.