The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Police

  • Four dead as gunmen attack Zamfara village

    Four dead as gunmen attack Zamfara village

    The police in Zamfara have confirmed the death of four persons following attack by gunmen on Tangaran village in Anka local government area of the state on Tuesday night.

    The command Public Relations Officer, DSP Sanusi Amiru, confirmed the incident on Thursday in Gusau while briefing newsmen.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the gunmen arrived the village in the night while the residents were getting ready to go to bed.

    They opened fire on those still outside during which the four persons were killed.

    An eye-witness, Kabiru Umar said an 11-year-old girl who was selling bean cake (kosai) was among those killed.

    When her mother came to pick her remains, she was shot on her buttocks.

    Umar said that other residents quickly locked their doors while those outside scampered for safety while the indiscriminate shootings lasted.

    The command spokesman said six other persons sustained various degrees of injuries and were taken to Anka General Hospital with the assistance of the police.

    He said that the police recovered three bullet shells.

    Amiru said that normalcy had returned to the area and the police had commenced tracking of the attackers.

    He expressed confidence that the attackers would be arrested by the police.

     

  • Yuletide: Police tighten security in FCT

    Yuletide: Police tighten security in FCT

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command said it had tightened security at motor parks, hotels and other strategic places in the territory, ahead of the Christmas celebration.

    The Commissioner of Police for the territory, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.

    Inalegwu said that the Inspector-General of Police’s directive to all Commands to ensure effective security, further reinforced the measure taken by his command.

    “We have taken steps to heighten security across the FCT; there are visible police deployments at all the motor parks in the FCT.

    “In addition, we have encouraged the transport unions and the luxury bus owners to also have their own internal security arrangements which we supervise and guide them,“he said.

    Inalegwu said that the command had deployed officers to hotels considered very strategic to the FCT.

    “We have deployed officers for hotel security coordination and we have also made additional deployment to most critical hotels that we consider very strategic to the FCT,” the commissioner said.

    He said that the ‘Safer Highways ‘had been fully deployed and mobilised with well motivated personnel.

    “One other thing we are doing is sustaining raids on suspected criminal hotspots where we have made important breakthroughs and arrests through, “he said.

    The Commissioner also said that the relationship between the police and communities was enhancing the command’s operations.

    He restated the command’s readiness to continue to collaborate with other security agencies to ensure security in the FCT.

    “We will continue to strategise with other security agencies to secure the territory.

    “ We have also collaborated with communities in this area. We have had a lot of engagements with the Churches,“ he said.

    “Security is about partnership, we have also circulated our help lines to the public,“ he said.

    He urged the media to help make the help lines available to residents.

    Inalegwu advised residents to be careful while receiving gift items during the yuletide.

    “Don’t get careless when you are going to the Church or Mosque, ensure that all bags are searched.

    “Pregnant women should be screened thoroughly to ensure that the pregnancy is not fake,“ he said.

  • Police arrest man for making charms for cattle rustlers

    The Kano State Police Command yesterday paraded a 37-year-old man, Rabi’u Ado, for allegedly making charms for suspected cattle rustlers.

    The command also handed over 1,048 cows and 109 sheep to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

    Police Commissioner Muhammad Musa Katsina, who handed over the livestock to the governor, said the command had been battling cattle rustlers at Falgore Forest through its Operation Puff-Adder.

    The police chief said the command was succeeding in the fight and other crimes.

    He said: “The police are gradually dominating the forest, subduing miscreants and forcing them to relocate. We have been recovering stolen animals and weapons and making arrests.

    “In the course of our engagement – from November 2 till date – we have arrested 51 suspects in connection with cattle rustling, robbery, receiving rustled cows and possessing fire arms.

    “Notable among them are Nura Usman and Sabo Audu, both of Dogara Village, who were arrested for receiving rustled cows from Datti Rodi, a notorious cattle rustler who was gunned down in an earlier police operation.

    “Another notable suspect, Alhassan Sani Tata, an accomplice of Rodi, was arrested in possession of a Dane gun and some quantity of gunpowder.

    “Another interesting suspect is Rabi’u Ado (37), of Sabon Gida Ja’en, Kano. The suspect was arrested in possession of two pairs of Army uniform, a pair of police uniform, a jungle hat, five assorted belts and charms. He is suspected to have defrauded people and providing charms to armed bandits and cattle rustlers.”

    Items recovered from the cattle rustlers include 1,048 cows, 109 sheep, pump action, two double-barrelled rifles, two fabricated AK-47 rifles, two fabricated pistols, seven cutlasses, two cudgels, iron rods, a leather whip, 391 cartridges and 25 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition.

    The cows and sheep would be handed over to the committee responsible for identifying their owners.

    Katsina said: “One of our strategic partners, a vigilance group’s member, Mallam Babangida Abubakar, of Diwa Village, was fatally wounded by the miscreants. He died before he could get medical help. Also, 11 cattle rustlers died in the jungle operation.”

    According to him, the command’s Ambush Squad recently arrested Abdulrasheed Nuhu (23), Khalifa Sanisu (19), Hussaini Mohammed (19), all of Gaya Quarters, Badawa, Kano.

    Katsina said the suspects broke into the home of Dr. Shehi Ali and robbed him of property valued at N1,302,000.

    He said: “Investigators recovered some of the property, including I-pad tablet, HP laptop and Toshiba laptop. Investigation further revealed that on August 5, the suspects, with Nasiru Isiaka of the same address, broke into the home of Alhaji Inuwa Uba and robbed him of N96,000 and an I-pad tablet.”

    On the war against drug peddling and addiction, the police chief said on November 26, the command’s Ambush Squad arrested Shafi’u Abdu (28), of Gulu Village, for alleged possession of 25 kilogrammes of dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp at Kwanar Gulu in Rimin Gado Local Government Area of Kano State.

     

  • Police assault woman in Ogun

    Police assault woman in Ogun

    A woman, Mrs Risikat Abosede Bamidele, is lying ill after a taste of “police brutality” last Sunday.

    She lost her two-month pregnancy after she was, allegedly, battered at the Kemta Division of the Ogun State Police Command by a senior police officer.

    Mrs. Bamidele, a non-teaching staff of Catholic Comprehensive High School, Onikolobo, Abeokuta, claimed she was nine weeks pregnant when she visited the Kemta Police Station.

    Her husband, Tunde, had been detained, because of a work-related matter.

    The victim, who spoke from her bed at the State Hospital, Ijaiye, claimed she was phoning her brother-in-law, Vincent Olubodun, when the senior policeman beat and shoved her in various directions.

    According to her, she was detained on Saturday evening when she visited the police station to see her husband.

    She bled throughout the night and discovered the miscarriage on Monday after she was released on bail.

    Mrs. Bamidele said the doctors confirmed that “I suffered a miscarriage”.

    She said: “When I got to the police station, my husband gave me his phone to call his brother.

    “As I was making the call, I saw a man. I never knew he was the Divisional Police Officer (DPO). He said ‘you’re very stupid, you’re phoning after 8pm, you don’t know we don’t phone here after 8′.

    “I apologised and said I wasn’t aware because the other officers didn’t stop me.

    “He grabbed my phone and called a police officer to arrest me. They harassed  and pushed me around.

    “My husband rushed out shouting ‘she’s pregnant, don’t push her,’ that was when the man started slapping and shouting at me.

    “During the night, I had serious cramps and I informed the policeman who told me there was nothing he could do. He ordered me to go and sleep but I couldn’t sleep.

    “I started bleeding and my husband gave me money to buy sanitary towel, which I used and I was released the following day.

    “I was told that my offence was that I didn’t leave the phone at the counter.”

    Her husband, Tunde, told reporters that he was arrested and detained for demanding  N894, 000 debt owed him and his colleagues by an unnamed construction company.

    He said:  “Before we were detained, the police said my colleagues and I should write statements and I said I wasn’t ready to write any statement.

    “At 7pm, my wife called me because I am diabetic and she came to the station to see me.

    “When she arrived, I gave her my phone to call my brother and what I started hearing from inside was ‘bastard, go inside’.

    “She was detained. My clothes were removed, water poured on me and the instruction that I should be smoked with teargas.”

    But police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the case had not been formally reported to the Police Commissioner, Abdulmajid Ali.

    Adejobi advised the victim and her family to officially complain to the commissioner of police.

    Adejobi said: “I just got information from the media; the case has not been brought to our notice.

    “I urge the family to write an official complaint letter to the commissioner.

    “If this report is true, I can assure you the commissioner will have personal interest in the case because this is strange to the command and we will not allow anyone to tarnish our image.”

  • Save us from police, residents urge lawmakers

    Save us from police, residents urge lawmakers

    THE police have been accused of harassing; intimidating and arresting some Lagos Island residents with the connivance of hoodlums.

    Scores of the residents stormed House of Assembly at Alausa, Ikeja, yesterday, protesting what they called the “unjustifiable action”.

    Executive Secretary of Concerned Citizens for True Justice Prince Adedamola Adele Shonibare, who led the protesters, said the problem started last year, when the All Progressives Congress (APC) Assistant Youth Leader on Lagos Island, Azzez Ashake was shot dead by some People’s Democratic Party (PDP) agents.

    “We reported the matter at the Central Police Station in Lagos. The principal suspect was arrested and was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti. The Panti Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Gbenga Adeyanju, took over the matter and within a short time, the suspect was released despite the intervention of Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos.

    “The hoodlums have been terrorising us for a long time. They have injured and maimed many people in the area.

    “About a month ago, we discovered that an officer in connivance with a woman started harassing, intimidating and persecuting innocent people to make an avenue for the gang to come back to the community.

    “The community did not banish anybody, but the offence they committed is driving them away. The moment they come back to the community, the law would take its course. Nobody will attack them, but they must be arrested by the police and prosecuted.

    “The police are harassing, intimidating and arresting innocent members of the community because the Area Commander knows that the law must take its course. In fact, the area commander invited me to his office on three occasions to plead that I should help him persuade the community to allow some people back to the community,” he said.

    Shonibare claimed that he met with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase in Abuja, adding that the IG referred him to the Deputy Inspector of Police (DIG), Finance and Administration, who promised to look into the matter.

    He added that he met with the IGP again in Lagos last week, adding that the police chief promised to look into the matter.

    Shonibare claimed that some traditional chiefs do not want those arrested indiscriminately released.

    Another resident, Mrs Fausat Lawan, alleged that PDP agents were causing problem in the area, adding that they destroyed her properties, wounded her and abducted her son.

    “People should help me. They also injured my daughter-in-law and they have been making life difficult for us,” she said.

    Speaker Mudashiru Obasa assured the protesters that the issue would be addressed.

    “We have seen your petition, but don’t cause any trouble. We were not there when these things were happening, but we will take the necessary steps on the matter.

    “The government would not allow anybody to suffer. We will punish whoever is guilty, and the person would be dealt with based on the judgment of the court,” he said.

    The House, he said, would ensure the release of those unjustly arrested.

  • Police arrest three ‘human traffickers’

    Police arrest three ‘human traffickers’

    The police have arrested three suspected human traffickers in Ibafo, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, while trying to ferry 26 minors to Lagos State.

    Zainab Ahmad (18), Aisha Abdullahi (55) and Zuliat  Abdulmalik(45) were said to have sourced the underaged children, comprising 25 girls and a boy from Kano State.

    It was gathered that the suspects were bringing the children to Lagos State to be used for menial labour but were arrested at Ibafo Motor Park on Sunday.

    Parading the suspects at Eleweran, Police Commissioner Abdulmajid Ali said the suspects were arrested, following the proactive stance of the command.

    Ali said: “Based on our usual stakeholders’ meeting and proactive measures, we got a report that some underaged kids were seen at a motor park at Ibafo.

    “Security agents were called in.  Our team raced there and got the leaders-three women going with them to Lagos.

    “Their mission in Lagos, according to the suspects, is to take them to do some menial jobs. If you look at them, they don’t even know what they are in for.

    “They look innocent and we had to take some measures to avoid unpleasant situations, particularly in this Yuletide period.

    “We are alert now because of the threat of insurgence in our area and we have to be very proactive. If you see the children, they look quite innocent and they may be used as suicide bombers and that is why we had to round them up and investigate them.”

     

  • Military, police, frustrating sanitation laws in Lagos, says Dep. Gov.

    The Lagos State Government has lamented the increasing rate of lawlessness and crimes in the state, pointing  fingers at the military and police officers.

    The state’s Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, made the accusation while fielding questions from journalists shortly after monitoring the November edition of the state’s environmental sanitation exercise in Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.

    Adebule said the military and police did not only disregard the state’s environmental laws but were caught helping to drive commercial vehicles in their uniforms and wielding guns to violate the laws.

    She said, “We have gone round Lagos, especially Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government. We are dissatisfied with the level of compliance to the sanitation law. There was clear disregard for the sanitation law. I am using this opportunity to appeal to the officers of Nigerian Army and other security agencies to desist from violating the law.

    “I discovered that the military and police officers are the ones leading the violation in the state. I want to urge their heads to call them to order. They must lead by example.

    “They are the law enforcement officers in the country. But it is pathetic that they are violating the law. We will appreciate it if they comply with the sanitation law. It is very important to us.

    Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of Ifelodun Local Council Development Area, Mr Wahab Adebayo, appealed to the state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, to intervene in the dredging of drainage channels in the council, especially the Sule Lane canal, which he said creates heavy flood and discomfort anytime it rains.

     

  • How new police ombudsman CRU will function, by head

    How new police ombudsman CRU will function, by head

    Worried by the increasing cases of brutality and torture against members of the public, The Nigeria Police has set up a Complaint Response Unit (CRU) to monitor the conduct of its personnel. With the introduction of the CRU, the police high command has placed its officers and men under 24-hour surveillance. Assistant Editor, GBADE OGUNWALE and Correspondent, FAITH YAHAYA report on the new police ombudsman.

    The Nigeria Police is overwhelmed by the huge debts arising from judgment costs against its personnel for proven cases of misconduct. The police authorities are also disturbed by the battered image and negative public perception that the Force has attracted.

    Determined to address these and other cases of unethical conduct among police personnel, the Inspector General of police, Mr. Solomon Arase, and his management team have come up with a mechanism for introspection and self-examination. Thus, the recent launch of an in-house ombudsman, dubbed the Compliant Response Unit (CRU) marked a turning point in the art of policing.

    The CRU is determined to ensure sustained complaint-reporting mechanism through which citizens’ concerns and queries are addressed without delay. Head of the CRU, Chief Superintendent of Police, Abayomi Shogunle, said that with the introduction of the unit, police personnel can only engage in acts of impunity to their own peril. “The CRU will be effectively deployed to close gaps that hitherto existed between the police and citizens in jurisdictions where such is being practiced,” he said.

    According to Shogunle, the CRU, which is stationed at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, covers the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. CSP Shogunle added that the CRU is primed to operate on 24-hour basis, including weekends and public holidays, stressing that its officers will always be available to attend to complaints.

    Quoting a directive from IGP Arase, the CRU boss said the Force has chosen to be more open in a bid to win the trust and confidence of the citizenry. The best way to achieve this, he said, is to promptly address reported cases of professional misconduct against officers and men.

    As a community-oriented compliant management system, the CRU is exploring some of the options provided by modern day technology obtainable to police formations in most advanced countries. So, the CRU is designed as a customer service point for the Nigeria police. The unit is deploying a multi-platform complaint reporting mechanism to aid speedy intervention in citizens’ complaints at all times.

    Giving an insight into how the CRU intends to process complaints from members of the public, Shogunle said: “Upon receipt of such complaints the same would be forwarded to any of the already trained three designated officers in each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The complaints will be channelled through to the state Provost Marshal, O/C state Intelligence Bureau and O/C state Control Room for immediate necessary action and report back to the CRU call centre.

    “There are three trained responding officers in each of the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, making a total of 111. Responding officers are expected to verify, resolve and submit reports on all cases passed to them within a given time frame. Every proven case of misconduct would attract sanctions even after resolutions.

    “The Call Centre, stationed at the Force Headquarters, is being manned by 25 officers who would run shift duties. These officers have undergone a three-day special training offered by one of our foreign developmental partners.”

    On the mode of operation of the unit, the head of the CRU said: “We are making available different reporting platforms such as customer care phone lines, SMS/text messaging platform, social media (Twitter, Facebook, Whatsapp, Blackberry Messenger), e-mails and web based forms. Similarly, we have put in place an online chat room where complaints of professional misconduct against police personnel can be reported by members of the public. The operation is backed with a feedback process through the same platform where the complaint originated.

    “We have put in place mechanisms to ensure immediate and instant resolution of all complaints so received from members of the public. Complaints received will be referred to the appropriate police department, formation or command for detailed investigation and necessary departmental actions. Complaints will be handled in strict compliance with relevant laws of the land, the Police Act, Force Orders, IGP Circulars and Force Administrative Instructions”.

    Trained CRU field officers will also be deployed to constantly identify causes of recurring police/citizen friction in designated areas, with the view to recommending possible solutions for onward transmission to the Inspector General of Police. The officers will also interact with local communities and police officers on the field. This is with the view to achieve amicable resolution of police/public friction where parties in dispute are agreeable to such on-the-spot resolution.

    Commenting on contemporary issues that gave rise to the setting up of the CRU, IGP Arase said the process will enhance accountability in the police. “This is not a surprise, for even within the global policing space, it is acknowledged that an unaccountable police will remain an ineffectual institution. This is to the extent that such a Police Force will be populated by personnel whose discipline level and professional standards will be eroded and who will operate with impunity.

    “An uncountable police institution will, no doubt, lose public trust and confidence which are vital ingredients of policing. In Nigeria, the general perception of the members of the public is that the Force lacks clear mechanism which members of the public can explore in reporting real or perceived professional misconducts of police personnel with a view to seeking administrative intervention and obtaining feedbacks in an expeditious manner. Contrary to this perception, there have always been administrative windows for addressing such complaints from members of the public and these mechanisms are equally potent.

    “Indeed, I make bold to state that there is no public institution in Nigeria that has exposed itself to public accountability and self-cleansing initiatives using its in-house control framework more than the Nigeria Police Force. The missing link, it must be admitted, had been the inability of the Nigeria Police to take full advantage that information and communication technology offers to strengthen its accountability mechanism.

    “This is aside the fact that these mechanisms have with time become duplicated in a manner that has been impacting on their potency. It is in acknowledgement of these policing realities that the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force resolved to establish the Complaint Response Unit (CRU) at both the Force Headquarters and field command levels.”

    On the functions of the CRU and assistance from local and foreign development partners, IGP Arase said: “The CRU will act as a central, ICT-driven public complaint unit of the Force. It will take full advantage of ICT and social media platform to interface with the public towards receiving and processing complaints from members of the public and giving requisite feedback on actions taken on such complaints. It is designed to complement existing in-house public complaint monitoring and processing frameworks.

    “The broad objective of the launch of the CRU is to entrench police accountability values into our policing system and to galvanise the citizens towards actively participating in the policing framework of the country. I must specifically appreciate the support of the British Government which, through the Justice For All Programme (J4A), provided funding, hardware, software and training support for the Force towards the establishment of the NPF Complaint Response Unit.

    “Also recognised is the support of CLEEN Foundation for leading the way in assisting the Nigeria Police to set up the ‘stop-the-bribes’ social networking site which will form an integral component of the NPF Complaint Response Unit. Same appreciation goes to the management of Techno Phones, Lagos (Nigeria) for their corporate support in providing 120 mobile GSM handsets for the operations of the unit.”

    The head of the CRU team, Shogunle, said arrangements were in top gear for the creation and distribution of sensitisation materials for the benefit of the public. The materials are expected to outline the course of action citizens can take to report professional misconduct against police personnel. On the other hand, the materials are also expected to contain information reminding police personnel of the consequences of their unlawful actions.

  • Delta: Police kill suspected kidnapper, arrest four others             

    Delta: Police kill suspected kidnapper, arrest four others             

    Operatives of Delta State Police have shot dead a suspected kidnapper during a gun duel in the state.

    Four other accomplices were also arrested and cash recovered.

    Delta Police image-maker DSP Tina Kalu who confirmed the incident said detectives from the Special anti-kidnapping Squad stormed criminal’s hideout at Orifite in Anambra State and engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel.

    According to her the kidnap suspect identified as Ifeanyi was shot and arrested alongside Onyeka Anyanwu, Okoh Koagwashi, Emeka Okolie and his wife Loveth.

    Kalu said the sum of N554,000 believed to be part of the 2 million ransom collected by the kidnappers for the release was  recovered from Loveth Okolie.

    It will be recalled that on November 18 unknown gunmen kidnapped Christopher Ijeh in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South L.G.A

    In a related development, Police also rescued two kidnap victims at Ughelli following a tip-off.

    Kalu said police stormed the kidnapper’s hideout- an uncompleted building in Agbarho, Ughelli North L.G.A and arrested a suspect identified as Jones Daniel.

    The victims Fole Daniel and Edore Agba were rescued unhurt.

    Items recovered include two live cartridges.

  • Bayelsa: Navy hands over rescued woman to Police

    Bayelsa: Navy hands over rescued woman to Police

    Commodore Yakubu Wanbai, the Commander, Nigerian Navy Naval Base, Yenagoa, on Friday handed over a woman rescued from kidnappers on Bayelsa waterways to the Bayelsa Police Command.

    Wanbai handed over the victim, Mrs Tokoni TrustGod, to police representatives, CSP James Ejure, from Criminal Investigation Department, and Mr Richard Ogwuche of the Anti Kidnap Squad of Bayelsa Police Command.

    Ejure, who received TrustGod from the commander, stressed the need for the security agencies in Bayelsa to continue to work together to effectively fight crime.

    He commended the Navy for the feat and assured that the Police would conduct ‘’discrete investigations’’ into the matter with a view to apprehending the alleged kidnappers for prosecution.

    Wanbai told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) shortly after the handing over, that the kidnappers had struck residence of the victim at about 2 a.m in Angiama-Gbene on Thursday.

    “My men on patrol in the waterways got a distress call and the gunboat headed to the scene of the incident.

    ‘’The suspected kidnappers, whose speedboat had developed a fault, abandoned their victim and fled on sighting the patrol boat.

    “My men rescued the woman and brought her to the base, in line with the existing inter-agency cooperation, we handed over the woman to the Police for preliminary investigations,’’ he said.
    Narrating her ordeal, TrustGod told NAN that the kidnappers, numbering five and armed with gun and machetes, invaded her residence at Angiama-Gbene.

    She said that the event took place in the early hours of Thursday, adding that the kidnappers later abducted her.

    “They broke into the house and asked me if I was Prof. Millionaire Ambowei’s sister and I told them that I wasn’t.

    ‘’They said that I was lying and took me away to the water side where they put me in a speedboat.

    “When we got to Olagbene, their boat developed fault and also ran out of fuel.

    ‘’When they saw an oncoming boat, they fled into the bush, I also ran away and the people in the boat took me and hid me in the neighbouring community.

    “Shortly afterward, the kidnappers who had fixed their boat came back to the place I was kept and shot severally, threatening to kill the people if I was not produced.

    ‘’They brought me out and left with me for the waterside.

    “We boarded the kidnappers’ boat again, but at this point the Navy patrol team arrived, and we heard the sound of the Navy gunboat.

    ‘’It was at this point that the kidnappers abandoned their boat and escaped into the bush, and when the Navy people came I cried out to them that I was the one held hostage.

    “The Navy men took me in their boat and brought me to Yenagoa,” TrustGod said.

    TrustGod said that Ambowei was her husband’s brother, based in Port Harcourt.