The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Police

  • Police arrest robbery suspects in Ogun

    • Arms, others recovered

    The police in Ogun State have arrested three robbery suspects – Yusuf Olatunji, Jamiu Babatunde and Tunde Ajasa– following a raid on their hideout at Gbaga Eriyo Ogijo community in Sagamu.

    A pistol, live cartridges, knives, cutlasses, bags of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp, various mobile phones and charms were recovered during the raid carried out by a combined team of police and the State Vigilante Service.

    The suspects, who are assisting the police with  information, have been handed over to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

    Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the suspects were arrested on March 14 in an operation spearheaded by the Divisional Police Officer in Ogijo.

    Adejobi said the Command was mindful of the influx of some hoodlums and criminals from neighbouring states and has put measures in place to flush them out.

    He identified boundary towns, such as Ogijo, Ijebu- Ode, Ijebu-Igbo,  Isheri, Akute Ajuwon, Ota among others as hideouts of hoodlums and other miscreants migrating into the state.

    “We’re flushing the criminals out of their hideouts so that they will not have any conducive environment to operate.

    “These strategies of raid, intelligence gathering and rigorous patrol have paid off and the command will not relent in its efforts to sustain such.

    “The Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali, has praised the DPO for his good initiatives and achievements.

    “He has, however, challenged other DPOs to re-engineer these strategies to make their areas safe.  He emphasised on constant raid of black spots and promised to continue to encourage his officers and men to fight crimes,” Adejobi said.

  • Ekiti estate residents petition police over planned eviction

    Ekiti estate residents petition police over planned eviction

    Residents of Fajuyi/Irewolede Estate in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, have petitioned Inspector–General of Police Solomon Arase over alleged plan of the Ayodele Fayose administration to evict them.

    Copies of the petitions were sent to Commissioner of Police James Etop; Director-General Department of State Services (DSS) Lawal Musa Daura;  DSS State Director;  Registrar of the State High Court and the National Human Rights Commission.

    The residents said this runs contrary to a court ruling, urging status quo on the matter still pending in court.

    The Chairman of the Residents Association, Ayo Orebe, said in the petition that the governor was acting on wrong advice by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Owoseni Ajayi, to evict them on April 1, contrary to a court ruling urging the parties to stay further action until the determination of the suit.

    “You will recall that we had earlier written two letters to your office over forceful ejection from our houses in breach of the purchase agreement between house owners and the Housing Corporation.

    “The first letter was dated August 6, last year, entitled: “Petition Against the Ekiti State Housing Corporation and State Government Over Forceful Eviction”.

    “The second letter was dated September 17, last year and entitled: “Petition against the State Housing Corporation and State Government Over Illegal Revocation of Property”, which was necessitated by revocation letters served on 17 residents for daring to sue the government.

    “The revocation letters were served on us, despite a case before Justice Bamidele Omotoso of the State High Court, Ado-Ekiti,” Orebe explained.

    He added that on December 9, last year, Justice Omotoso ruled in the presence of the police, government and Housing Corporation’s counsel that the parties must not take any step on the matter, until the case was determined.

    Orebe attached a copy of the court ruling to his petition. He also said on January 11, 2016, the court quashed the revocation letters served on the residents by the Housing Corporation during the pendency of the suit.

    “We thought the two rulings of the court ought to have curbed the illegalities and impunity of the Housing Corporation and the government, but this was not so.

    “The governor invited the residents to a meeting on March 17 in the Governor’s Office, Ado-Ekiti, where he threatened to evict the chairman and residents, especially the 17 whose names appeared on the cause list, irrespective of the court ruling of January 11.

    “It was shocking that the Commissioner of Justice, who was present at the meeting, misinterpreted the court ruling by advising the governor to evict the residents.

    “The case is still before the court and the next adjournment is today for hearing of the first and second defendants’ motion to amend their witnesses’ statements on oath,” he explained.

    He urged the police chief to advise the governor to obey the law to avoid action that may precipitate crisis in the state.

  • Abductions: Police train school guards in Lagos, Ogun

    The police in Lagos and Ogun states have embarked on the training of security guards in schools in order to beef up security around their premises.

    CSP Adebowale Lawal, the spokesperson for the Police Zone 2 comprising Lagos and Ogun, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos.

    “The exercise commenced in Ogun where some Divisional Police Officers met with security guards and schools management.

    “Mr Bala Hassan, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, has also directed all the DPOs in the zone to embark on regular enlightenment meetings on security with school principals and proprietors.

    “The DPOs are to lecture them on security tips they need to beef up security around and within their schools following recent abductions,” Lawal said.

    He advised the management of schools to install Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in order to monitor movement within and around school premises.

    “There is the need to install CCTV cameras so that at all times they will be able to monitor those entering the compound.

    “The gatemen should not concentrate on the gate alone; they need to patrol at all times and see what is happening as the CCTV will assist them.

    “The AIG also directed all DPOs within the commands to ensure regular patrol of all schools in their area,” Lawal said.

    The police spokesperson urged schools with low fences to raise them while those without fences needed to build one.

  • Police arrest 32 suspects in joint operation with Army, others

    Police arrest 32 suspects in joint operation with Army, others

    The Delta Police Command said it arrested 32 persons in a cordon and search operation with the Army, Navy and DSS in identified ‘hotspots’ in five communities in Uvwie L.G.A.

    The twin cities of Uwvie and Effurun have recently been embroiled in politically motivated violence.

    An Effurun Shoprite facility was attacked by irate youths on Janaury 8 looting and destroying property worth several millions of Naira after following altercation between Baro Henry and two naval ratings outside the shopping mall.

    The Delta State Police Command declared wanted Henry Baro, former Uwvie local government council boss, and a National Union of Road Transport Workers, (NURTW) boss, Napoleon Odibu, Effurun Central Motor Park, over the incident.

    A bounty of One Million Naira has been offered to the public for information leading to their arrest.

    Delta Police spokesperson, DSP Tina Kalu in a press release Friday made available to The Nation said the joint operation was to checkmate ‘the rising trend in violent crime in the State’.

    She said the cordon and search operation which invovled the Army, Navy and DSS was carried out on five communities on Uwvie local Government Area including Ubrete, Afieki, Udomulo, Effurun and Udumurie.

    Kalu said ‘a nylon bag containing 1070 INEC voter’s cards’ were recovered in the raid.

    She said ; ‘on 11/3/2016 operatives of Delta Police Command in joint operation with the Army, Navy and DSS carried out a cordon and search operation on identified hot spots at Ubrete, Afieki, Udumulo, Effurun and Udumurie Communities in Uvwie L.G.A. During the operation, two G3 rifles with twenty (20) rounds of 303mm ammunition, one cut to size locally made single barrel gun and a cartridge were recovered while thirty five suspects were arrested.

    Also recovered was a nylon bag containing 1070 INEC voters’ cards’.

    In a related development, the Delta Police Command said it has burst a five man syndicate which specialises in robbing unsuspecting bank costumers after trailing their victims in Asaba metropolis-the Delta State Capital.

    Kalu said the robbers trailed one Daniel Ihezue, residing in New Layout , Okpanam Road  and dispossessed him of the sum of N5,050.00 withdrawn from Zenith Bank ,Asaba.

    She said based on the report operatives of the SARS Asaba  acting on a tip-off arrested Eziokobundu Okolo which led to the arrest of  Damian Chidi Arinze ‘m’ (leader) of Ejighinmadu village, Awka-Etiti, Idemili LGA of Anambra state, Chukwubundu Obeleke ‘m’, Muri Giwa ‘m’, David Ogoro ‘m’.

    She said preliminary inquiries indicate that the syndicate specializes in robbing unsuspecting bank customers of money withdrawn from bank by trailing them

    She said the sum of N4, 510,000.00, part of the robbed money has been recovered from the suspects while the suspects are undergoing investigation.

     

  • Police kill 11 Trans-border armed robbers

    Police kill 11 Trans-border armed robbers

    11 Trans border armed robbers including their gang leader Tokiwe Joseph aka TK has been shot dead by a combined team of security operatives from Lagos State Police Command, MENSA, the Nigerian Custom, Benin Republic police hunters among others at the Seme Border area.

    Briefing the press Friday CP Fatai Owoseni said that they were about 17 armed robbers but four escaped, three still at the Seme border while 11 died during the exchange of fire.

    Recovered were the three boats with one castina marine, 22 dynamite, some explosives, 6 AK 47 rifle, two general purpose machine gun, 3678 assorted live ammunition. Excluding the ones they dumped inside the water while escaping as they were said to have come with 5000 ammunition.

    Also recovered were 28 empty magazine, 8 live jacket, 3 by 50 liters, 2 by 100 liters of jerrycan of fuel. One military jacket with charm.

    The commissioner of police is poised to synergize with sister agencies to make Lagos more secured and appealed to members of the public to share their information timely with police and other security agencies.

    CP Owoseni revealed that before their arrest their was a report that they were about to strike and the Nigerian security personnel and that of Benin Republic has been on surveillance at the border and water ways due to information that the notorious gang leader and his 17 man gang were about to attack banks at Seme area and Benin Republic.

    On the March 16, 2016, the gang emerged from their base and navigated the water ways at about 11pm to Seme area. When they came out from their boat, they came out in a commando way at about 11pm opened fire as they were advancing without knowing that the combined team were on vigil at the water front joined by Benin Republic and were challenged with superior fire power which made them to flee in different direction which showed that some of the dead are still in the water and will float with time.

    The officer in charge of FSARS CSP Adejobi led the operation with his officers and men playing the major role in boldly challenging the most dangerous gang leader Tokiwe Joseph said to be the gang leader that had killed many police men and the four SSS operatives sometime in the past.

    He said the command is doing everything possible to see that the four that escaped and three that are still within the Seme area are caught.

     

  • Nigerians commend Police for inaugurating Dog Breeding Centre

    Nigerians commend Police for inaugurating Dog Breeding Centre

    Some security experts in Lagos on Thursday commended the Police for inaugurating a Dog Breeding Centre, saying it would save money and enhance security operations in the country.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, had said that the Nigeria Police spent over N600 million on the procurement and maintenance of foreign dogs in the last few years.

    According to the IG, the new Centre has the capacity to breed and supply police dogs to the entire West African sub-region.

    “This is a good one by the Nigeria Police and if this centre is fully utilised, it will boost the performance of the security agencies,’’ Mr. Kenneth Ihechu, a security consultant, told NAN in Lagos.

    Another security expert, Mr. Daniel Fasheun, commended the establishment of the Police Dog Breeding Centre, saying it would save the Federal Government lots of money needed to tackle other security issues.

    “With this development coupled with appropriate reforms to upgrade the police, we can start to compare our policemen with those of the developed countries,’’ said Mr. Segun Falade, a security consultant.

    A retired military officer, who pleaded anonymity, said that the project was long overdue.

    “Security agencies in Nigeria often underestimate the use of dogs in tackling insecurity.

    “They should know that fighting insecurity goes beyond ordinary manpower.

    “Technology and other available combative options should be utilised to complement the efforts of security personnel,’’ he said.

     

  • Police denial shocks National Assembly panel

    Police denial shocks National Assembly panel

    The National Assembly Fact-Finding Joint Committee investigating the alleged invasion of the Ekiti State House of Assembly by the Department of State Services (DSS) was shocked to find out that the incident was not reported to the police.

    The revelation came to light on Tuesday when the panel visited the Commissioner of Police, Etop James, at the State Police Command Headquarters.

    The committee was co-chaired by Chairman, Senate Committee on Security and Intelligence, Mohammed Sha’aba Lafiagi and his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Aminu Jaji.

    Other members are Mrs. Azodo Eucharia, John Dyegh, Senator Paulker Emmanuel, Senator Laah Danjuma, Diri Douye and Isa Hassan.

    A source who was present when the panel visited the command told our reporter yesterday that the National Assembly members were confused when James told them that the police were not aware of any invasion.

    The source said: “The CP told the National Assembly Committee that the police were not aware of the invasion of the House of Assembly complex as claimed by the lawmakers.

    “The committee members were confused and shocked that such an incident, if it really happened, was not reported to the police.

    “The CP said since the matter was not reported to the nearest divisional headquarters or the state police headquarters, the police, as an institution, are not aware.”

    The committee, which also visited Governor Ayo Fayose, Speaker Kola Oluwawole and DSS Director Andrew Iorkyeh, promised to be fair to all parties.

    Lafiagi said the committee had interacted with all the critical stakeholders and extracted useful information to guide it on how to turn in its report to the National Assembly.

    He said: “To let you know the level of our concerns, the two chambers simultaneously passed resolutions that we have to probe the alleged invasion of the Assembly by DSS to unravel what actually transpired.

    “We immediately set up a joint committee to visit Ekiti and that is why we are here.

    “We have no terms of reference because we may like to interact with stakeholders more than once.

    “After we leave now, there may be more issues and this will mean that we have to come down again, so that is why we are not giving a dead line,” he said.

    Fayose praised the National Assembly panel for interacting with stakeholders, urging it to do justice in national interest

  • Police recover 19 stolen vehicles

    Police recover 19 stolen vehicles

    The police in Oyo State have recovered 19 vehicles and three motorcycles from some robbery suspects.

    The vehicles are: Toyota Rav4, five Toyota Camry, Honda CRV, Toyota Sienna, Land Rover SUV, one unregistered Toyota Rav4, Hyundai Elentra, Lexus SUV, Nissan Altima, one unregistered silver Toyota Corolla , Honda Accord, Honda Crosstour, Nissan Micra and Toyota Cellica.

    The motorcycles are one Suzuki and two Bajaj.

    Commissioner of Police Leye Oyebade, at the Eleyele command headquarters, Ibadan, said a notorious syndicate, which specialised in stealing vehicles was smashed by the anti-robbery squad.

    He said: “The syndicate was evasive, making our work difficult. But due to good intelligence network, we arrested Oludele Fatunola at Omi-Adio on February 2.

    “One Toyota Rav 4 and Toyota Camry were recovered from him. His confessional statement led to the arrest of other gang members at Olorunsogo as well as in Ogun and Rivers states.

    Also arrested were Ojo Adegboyega (52), Adedeji Idowu (52), Taiwo Oluwaleke (42), Muftau Mustapha (50), Bright Nmecha (30) and Henry Dike (41).

  • Rivers election: Police warn trouble makers

    Rivers election: Police warn trouble makers

    Mr. Sotonye Wakama, Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), Operations, on Wednesday, warned politicians and their supporters against causing trouble during the March 19 re-run legislative election in Rivers.

    He gave the warning in Port Harcourt while addressing politicians and police officers ahead of the election.

    The DIG advised politicians and their supporters bent on fomenting trouble, to have a re-think or face justice.

    According to him, intelligence report indicates that some politicians have hired and kept some people in a hotel, with the intention of using them to terrorise their opponents during the election.

    The DIG assured that the group and their sponsors would be dealt with, irrespective of their social standing in the society.

    ‘’We are not begging or appealing to anybody or group.

    ‘’If you like, come that day with guns and cutlasses, the police are battle ready.

    ‘’No matter who you are in the country, we will deal with you when you contravene the law; the law will be stretched.

    ‘’We are not here to plead, the law will be stretched; things have gotten beyond what could be tolerated.

    ‘’It is time to stop this nonsense,’’ he said.

    Wakama said the police had arrested some suspects in connection with the Omoku mayhem.

    In his contribution, Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers, said it was not possible for the commission to conduct peaceful election without the cooperation of politicians.

    He therefore appealed to them to cooperate with INEC towards ensuring a hitch-free election.

    Ikoiwak said 6800 members of National Youth Service Corpse (NYSC) would participate in the conduct of the polls.

    In their separate remarks, representatives of political parties assured that their supporters would be peaceful during and after the election.

     

  • Breaking news: Bomb blast in Borno Mosque

    Two female suicide bombers early Wednesday morning attacked a Mosque at Umari Village on the outskirts of Miduguri, Borno State capital.

    The bombers reportedly disguised to gain access among the male worshippers to avoid any suspicion.

    Twenty two persons have been reported dead at the spot of the blast according to a source in the area,

    The State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Victor Isuku confirmed the incident.

    ” I don’t have details of the casualty but I am driving to the scene now,” Isiaku said.

    A rescue official also put the casualty figure at 22 with about 30 injured.