The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Police

  • ‘Police should replace military in Northeast’

    ‘Police should replace military in Northeast’

    Inspector General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase has said officers should take over from the military to restore peace to the Northeast.

    Speaking at a meeting in Abuja yesterday with stakeholders on security stabilisation in the Northeast, Arase said: “With the increasing success of the military, the time has come for the police to play their lead role in ensuring peace and normalcy in war-torn areas.

    “The unstable situation and conflict created in the Northeast have denied people in the affected areas of the security they deserve. This is why the Nigeria Police is evolving operational strategies leading to the restoration of police primacy and restoration of civil authority in the Northeast.”

    Highlighting some of the things the stabilisation exercise will focus on, the IGP said: “The stabilisation move is aimed at accomplishing the re-establishment and strengthening of public authority, safety and rule of law, rendering assistance to victims and communities to mitigate the losses and traumatic experience of insurgency.”

    The Minister Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazzau, represented by an official of the ministry, said: “We know that the internally-displaced persons (IDPs) are scattered all over the country and they have been yearning to return home. But they cannot go home without security in the areas. This is why this meeting is vital.”

    The Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral S.I. Alade, pledged the commitment of the college to the restoration of peace and normalcy to the Northeast.

    He said: “The college is committed to the return of peace and normalcy in the Northeast. We will collaborate with sister security agencies and other development partners to bring about peace in that zone.”

  • Police arrest 11 robbery suspects in Oyo

    Police arrest 11 robbery suspects in Oyo

    •Recover 18 vehicles

    Eleven robbery suspects have been arrested by the police in Oyo State with 18 assorted vehicles recovered from them.

    The suspects, who were paraded yesterday at the state Police Headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan, included two ex-convicts who were released from prison few weeks ago.

    Police Commissioner Leye Oyebade said the suspects have given confessional statements and they would soon be arraigned in court.

    The police boss said the command would continue to improve on its strategies to ensure that the state is rid of criminals.

    Oyebade said a gang of four- Olusola Adenle (37), Femi Rasaq (23), Paul Olaitan (20) and Sani Abdulahi (26) – broke into a house at Egbeda and carted away various household items.

    “The suspects, who were armed, had planned to attack their victims who might want to resist.

    “Investigations revealed that the hoodlums usually come from Ikire, Osun State. They are responsible for series of burglaries and robberies in Ibadan and other parts of the state,” he said.

    An ex-convict, Olaitan, said he was a Mass Communication student of the Polytechnic Ibadan before he was expelled from the school.

    Another ex-convict, Rasaq, said he went into crime because he was fond of it, adding that he is a trained barber.

    Michael Oladele (25), who was arrested while trying to sell a Nissan vehicle in Ekiti State, said he was forced into car snatching because he had no job.

    Recovered from the suspects were one locally made double barrel pistol, seven live cartridges, one Honda Accord with registration number JJJ 691AX, one Toyota Camry with registration number AKD 226 DN, anotherToyota Camry with registration number AAA 593 DL, one LG Plasma TV, one Toshiba Plasma TV, one unregistered Toyota Highlander, one green Toyota Highlander with registration number ABJ 42 KU and a grey unregistered Toyota Camry.

  • Oyo Police arrest 11 robbery suspects, recovers 18 vehicles

    Oyo Police arrest 11 robbery suspects, recovers 18 vehicles

    Eleven suspected armed robbers currently terrorizing the residents of Ibadan and environs have been arrested by the Oyo state Police Command along with eighteen assorted vehicles recovered from armed bandits in different parts of the state.

    The suspects who were paraded before newsmen Monday at the state Police Headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan included two ex-convicts who were released from prison few weeks ago.

    Speaking with newsmen Monday, the state Police Commissioner, Mr Leye Oyebade said all the suspects have given confessional statements and they would soon be arraigned in the court of law.

    While warning all criminally minded people to stay away from Oyo state, the state Police boss said the Command would continued to improve on its crime bursting strategies to ensure that the state is crime free , adding that the command has re-engineered and re-invigorated its swift anti-robbery squad for effective crime bursting.

    Two weeks ago, the state police Command had recovered 20 vehicles and arrested 15 suspected armed robbers.

    Various items recovered from the suspects paraded Monday included one locally made double barrel pistol, seven live cartridges, one Honda Accord car with registration number JJJ 691AX, one Toyota Camry car with registration number AKD 226 DN, A Toyota Camry car with registration number AAA 593 DL, one LG Plasma TV, one Toshihba Plasma TV, one unregistered Toyota Highlander, one green Toyota Highlander with registration number ABJ 42 KU and one ash colored unregistered Toyota Camry amongst others.

    On the armed robbery suspects and serial burglars that have been terrorizing the inhabitants of Ibadan and environs, the Commissioner of Police said the four gang of robbers (Olusola Adenle 37, Rasaq Femi 23, Pul Olaitan 20, and Sani Abdulahi 26) had successfully broke into a dwelling house at Egbeda area of Ibadan and carted away various household items.

    “The armed robbers who were armed to the teeth during the operation had planned to attack their victims who might want to put up resistance. Investigations revealed that the hoodlums who usually came from Ikire, Osun state are responsible for series of burglary and robbery operations in Ibadan and many parts of the state including
    Osun state,” he said.

    One of the arrested armed robbery suspects who was released from prison some weeks ago, Paul Olaitan,  20 years old, said he used to be a Mass Communication student of the Polytechnic Ibadan before he was rusticated and expelled from the school due to bad behaviors.

    Another suspect, also an ex-convict , Femi Rasaq told newsmen that he went into crime because he was fond of it , adding that he is a trained Barber but failed to practice the trade.

    Michael Oladele, 25, who was arrested while trying to sell a Nissan Jeep in Ekiti state, explained that he was forced into car snatching because he wanted to make a living.

    The state Commissioner of Police enjoined members of the public to continue to give useful information that could lead to the arrest of criminal elements still in the state, adding that the Command is determined to fight crime and make the state safe for all.

  • Delta police kill robbery suspect

    •arrest undergraduate for illegal possession of arms

    The Delta State Police Command has said that it shot dead an armed gunman after a gun duel in a botched robbery attempt at a filling station by a four-man robbery gang in Olomu community,Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.

    The state police spokesperson, DSP Tina Kalu, who confirmed the incident, said a combined team of police patrol team and vigilante groups from Olomu community foiled an attempt by a four-man gang.

    She said a member of the gang was killed by the police during a gun battle, while the rest escaped with gunshot wounds.

    According to DSP Kalu, “On 24/1/2016, at about 1600hrs, a combined team of police patrol team and vigilante groups from Olomu community successfully foiled an attempt by four man armed robbers gang to rob Oando petrol station, and in the process gunned down one of the robbers, while the rest escaped in their vehicle with bullet wounds.”

    Kalu also said detectives attached to Kwale Division, Ndokwa West, arrested a final year student of the Department of Business Administration, Delta State University, Abraka (DELSU), with a locally-made single barrel cut-to-size gun.

    “On 27/1/2016, at about 1520hrs, detectives attached to Kwale Division, in conjunction with vigilantes, while acting on a tip off, arrested one Ode Victor ‘m’   aged 25yrs, a 5th year Business Admin student of DELSU Abraka, with a locally made single barrel gun cut to size concealed under a tricycle. His accomplices, who are also students of the same institution, escaped. Investigation is in progress.”

  • Austria strengthens Police intelligence to counter terrorists

    Austrian parliament has adopted a new security bill giving the police intelligence service broader powers to investigate potential terrorists and extremists.

    A report on Wednesday in Vienna explained that under the new law, investigators would be allowed to preventively collect communication and telephone data based on the mere suspicion that someone might plan against Austria’s constitutional order.

    It said apart from terrorists, the law also extended to incitement to violence, as well as the formation of armed ideological or religious groups.

    The report disclosed that the law was supported by legislators from the ruling coalition of Social Democrats and the centre-right People’s Party.

    “The Greens and the far-right Freedom Party opposed the legislation.
    Meanwhile, the privacy activists said the law contains no adequate oversight mechanism to control investigators.”

  • Police stop execution of court order on 1004 Estates

    Police stop execution of court order on 1004 Estates

    The police have disrupted the execution of a court order on the management and control of the luxurious 1004 Estates on Victoria Island, Lagos.

    A company, 1004 Estates Limited, which was chased out of the estate on December 5, last year, by executives of the Home Owners and Residents Association (HORA), obtained an ex parte order last Friday from the Lagos High Court to resume the management of the estate, the biggest in the country.

    Justice Candid Johnson, who ruled on the matter, said: “An order is granted that all parties herein are to maintain the status quo in respect to management and control by 1004 Estates Limited of the parcel of land known as 1004 Estates.”

    He added: “An order is granted that the defendants, their men, agents and/or appointees howsoever, including (the police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps or their members or other security agencies) are restrained from further presence or activity from the disputed property known as 1004 Estates.”

    When the firm moved to the estates on Tuesday to execute the ruling, policemen from the Bar Beach Police Station disallowed them.

    Security operatives allegedly assaulted the estate’s workers and locked up the firm’s administrative complex after chasing the officials out of their offices.

    Even when the firm’s top executives produced the court order to support their action, the police said they were not interested in any legal document.

    They locked the firm’s offices and chased the workers out of the estates.

    Managing Director of 1004 Estates Limited, Mr. Samuel Ukpong, described the police action as “very shocking”.

    He added: “We are so shocked that police operatives could still work like this at a time the country is clamouring for change. We showed them the certified true copies of the order but they said to hell with us. The same police backed and supported a handful of HORA’s officials when we were illegally chased out on December 5.

    “We thought they would be more disposed to executing a court order, as against backing the illegal operation of December 5, which took place without any order or ruling. This is a rude shock and it is very shameful.”

    The company chief noted that by their action, the police had allegedly displayed bias in the battle for the estates.

    Ukpong said: “As a law enforcement agency, the police are expected to be impartial and comply with a court order. But it appears there is more to this tussle than we know.

    “Why would the police support a few individuals to take over a legitimate business and refuse to obey a court order to the contrary?”

    He urged Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni to call his men to order in line with the change mantra of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

  • Woman docked for attempted murder of fiancé, theft 

    The Police have accused a 46-year-old woman, Victoria Alaegbu, of attempting to kill her fiancé and stealing his 1.5 million dollars cash, equivalent to N295.5 million.

    Alaegbu, whose address was not given, was arraigned Wednesday at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, attempt to kill, stealing, unlawful detention and possession of a fake document.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Nicholas Akpene told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offences on December 13, 2015, at 8:30 p.m, at Ojora Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    He alleged that the defendant attempted to kill one Prince Hillary Unachukwu by administering a noxious chemical substance on him.

    It was also alleged that the substance administered on Unachukwu knocked him out from 8:00 p.m to 12:00 midnight, which gave the defendant time to steal his $1.5 million, equivalent to N295.5 million.

    The prosecutor further alleged that after taking Unachukwu’s money, the defendant locked him up inside his apartment with a padlock.

    He then alleged that when the noxious substance administered to him gradually wore off and Unachukwu awoke, he was too weak to free himself from the unlawful detention by the defendant.

    The prosecutor also claimed that the defendant was unlawfully in possession of a SIM card with number 07087773669, without properly registering the number with her name and address.

    He added that the registration of the sim card was done with the intent to commit fraud.
    The alleged offences contravened Sections 228, 270, 285 (1) (f) and 404 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, the prosecutor said.

    The defendant, however, denied all of the charges.

    Magistrate S. K. Matepo (Mrs) granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in the like sum.

    She ordered that the sureties must swear to an affidavit of means, show evidence of tax payment, and one of the sureties should be a blood relation of the accused.

    The case adjourned till February 10 for mention.

    Last Tuesday, the police arraigned Unachukwu’s 22-year-old security guard, Isaac Onoja, of conniving with unknown persons to steal the $1.5 million.

    Onoja, from Benue State, had claimed that some unknown armed men forcibly gained entry to the premises and tied him up before stealing the $1.5m from the complainant’s room.

  • Police arrest woman for allegedly killing her baby

    Police arrest woman for allegedly killing her baby

    The Police in Panyam, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau, on Wednesday arrested a woman for allegedly killing her newly-born baby girl.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the woman (name withheld) allegedly killed her baby shortly after delivery.

    It was gathered that the widow had suffocated the baby with clothes and dropped her in a pot.

    “After dropping the baby in the big pot, she went to the backyard of the family house and hid it before proceeding to the farm.

    “But unfortunately for her, curious children, who were playing around the backyard picked the pot to play with only to discover the dead baby inside and quickly raised an alarm, ’’ NAN learnt.

    The incident, which happened on Wednesday, threw the town into shock as people were seen in groups discussing the matter.

    Mr. Williams Nkarang, Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Mangu, who confirmed the incident, told NAN that the suspect had been arrested.

    He said she would be prosecuted but that she was not in good health.

    “We got wind of the sad and unfortunate incident and arrested the woman only to discover that she was bleeding from the delivery,” Nkarang said.

    He said the woman had been taken to hospital for treatment.

    The DPO said that as soon as the woman got well, she would be transferred to the state CID in Jos for further investigation.

    “She has told us about the man who impregnated her and we shall also take him into custody for questioning.”

    According to him, if it is discovered to be a case of conspiracy, both of them will be charged with homicide.

  • Lagos: Two men arraigned for having anal sex inside jeep

    Lagos: Two men arraigned for having anal sex inside jeep

    Two men, who allegedly had anal sex inside a jeep, were on Tuesday docked at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

    The accused – Innocent Egbuna, 33, and Jide Ajayi, 21 – are being tried for a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and act of gross indecency.

    Egbuna, who claimed to be a soldier, lives at No. 22, Support Regiment, Ijebu-Ode in Ogun, while Ajayi, an unemployed, is a resident of No. 28, Owoduni St., Onipanu on Ikorodu Expressway.

    The prosecutor, Sgt. Joseph Ajebe, told the court that the offences were committed on Jan. 18 at Ajao Road, Ikeja.

    According to him, the accused were caught by an anti-crime patrol team at Ikeja. “The accused were found inside a parked Nissan Jeep with registration no. KSF 914 AC having anal sexual intercourse.

    Ajayi said Egbuna accosted him and told him to have sex with him, promising to give substantial amount of money and that he will also take him to the club to have a nice time.

    “Ajayi agreed because he was frustrated and did not have money to fend for himself,” Ajebe said.

    The offences contravened Sections 136, 166 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 136 provides three years for act of gross indecency, while Section 166 prescribes a N15, 000 fine or imprisonment for three months for disorderly act. Section 409 stipulates a two-year jail term for conspiracy.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

    Ruling on the bail application of the accused, the Chief Magistrate, Mr. Alexander Komolafe, granted the two men bail in the sum of N100, 000 each with two sureties each in like sum.

    Further hearing in the case has been adjourned to Mar. 7.

     

  • Police parade suspected killers of woman, 65

    Police parade suspected killers of woman, 65

    Eight suspected cultists were yesterday paraded by the police over last Saturday’s clash which claimed a 65-year-old woman’s life.

    They are Afees Olaide, Nurudeen Lateef, Richard Ewa, Richard Abayomi, Mohammed Musa, Kayode Dada, Adams Adelakun and Tanimola Ogbere.

    Police chief Fatai Owoseni said they were arrested through intelligence gathering.

    The sexagenarian, Mrs Adejoke Adefuye, was burnt beyond recognition when her house on 19, Oshinfolarin Street, Bariga, was set ablaze by the warring Ibrahim Balogun-led Eiye confraternity and Aiye confraternity led by a man identified as Gideon.

    Ogbere said: “I was arrested by Bariga policemen at a local gin joint where I was taking alcohol. I was never a cult member; I have travelled since August to Ondo State to prepare for the burial of my grandmother, I was at a joint drinking when some policemen led by one Ade pointed at me and I was arrested immediately for an offence I did not commit.”

    “I am not afraid of death, whoever that roped me in the offence I did not know anything about would face the wrath of the Lord and their yet to be born   generation, because I have my legitimate business I was doing at the shore of the lagoon where I sell sand.”

    He said some incisions on his body were for personal protection.

    “My step-father did it for me when I was returning to Lagos, because I don’t want to be killed by the Ibrahim Balogun alias Small Jepron boys who killed my younger brother identified as Shagy,” he said.

    Abayomi, the second-in-command to Small Jepron said: “I went to take my bath on Saturday when I was arrested by the policemen.  I don’t know anything about the crisis; I was only coming back from the bathroom, when the policemen told me to stop. When I stopped, they arrested me and took me to Bariga Police Station, and later the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, where I and some others were brought to the command.”

    Musa, who said he had just been released by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for selling drug, denied taking part in the fight.

    Olaide, a musician with a stage name, Onala, said: “I don’t know anything about the fight. I was walking on the street, when I saw one of the police officers I know, I stopped to greet him, but instead of reciprocating, he ordered for my arrest. I am a barber, I was once imprisoned, now that God has brought me out, I can’t go back to what took me there initially.”

    Three power bikes, one live and expended cartridges and a tricycle popularly known as Keke Marwa, four boxer motorcycles, one Nokia phone and charm were recovered from the suspects.