The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Police

  • Police, delta communities unite against cultism

    There is growing tension in Delta State following an upsurge in cult- related violence.

    To reclaim their neighbourhoods, many communities have taken matters into their hands organising vigilance groups to checkmate these murderous bands of youths.

    As a direct response to the menace of cultism, many neighbourhoods in Asaba have formed vigilance groups.

    Vice-Chairman of Asaba Community Policing (ACP) a.k.a anti-cult, Azuka Okonji, said: “The cultists looted shops in Asaba metropolis, collecting illegal levies and harassing street traders so this was killing business. We had to put a stop to these killings.”

    Delta State Police Commissioner, Mr. Alkali Baba Usman, in an interview with Niger Delta Report said the police have not relented in its fight against cultism.

    His words: “We have taken the war against cultism to their camps. The command has had diligent clamp down on cult groups in different locations in the State.”

    He said some of the successes recorded by the command’s special anti-robbery squad (SARS) include raids on cult hide outs in Oghara, Ethiope West where 48 cultists were arrested and are already in court.

    At Agbor, Ika South, another cult hotbed, Usman said, nine cultists had been arraigned in court, noting also that at Jesse community about 13 members of Sparrow Junior Eye were also busted and are facing the wrath of the law.

    Relating a dare-devilry attack on police officers at Ibusa, Oshimili North, Usman said: “Cult members engaged a SARS team, threw stones at their Hilux van and in the process damaging the vehicles windscreens”.

    Usman noted that as a follow up on that attack, the command arrested 33 male and 2 female members of the Supreme Viking Confraternity.

    According to him, over 252 cultists have been arrested since the beginning of 2015, with the majority having been prosecuted and convicted.

    Ordinary citizens have not been left out of the crusade to rid the State of cultism; Chikelu Arinze is the PDP councilor representing ward 13 Oshimili South L.G.A.”

    “The ward I represent comprise of Hausa, Igbos, Yoruba in short all the tribes in Nigeria are fully represented there

    Chikelu Arinze, is a politician with a difference aside from having a deep commitment to better the lot of his people, has also spent his hard earned cash on equipping the local vigilance group and the Police.

  • Police kill five robbery suspects in gun battle

    The police yesterday killed five suspected armed robbers and arrested one with bullet wounds.

    Sources told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ikeja, the Lagos State capital, that the suspects were killed in a gun battle with policemen from Elemoro Division, Ajah in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area.

    “The police in Elemoro got information that the suspects were operating at Abule Parapo, opposite Awoyaya in Elemoro area of Ajah around 2am.

    “The suspects engaged the police in a shootout as soon as they saw them. Two locally made double barrel shot guns, one cutlass and iron cutter were recovered from them.

    “The gang had been terrorising residents of Ajah, robbing and raping women,” a source said.

    NAN reports that the casualities were brought to the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja at 12.15 p.m.

    The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has taken over the case file from the Elemoro Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Sani Limawa, a Superintendent.

    Contacted, the command’s spokesman, Joe Offor, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) said he had yet to get the details of the case.

  • Police kill five suspected robbers in Lagos

    Police kill five suspected robbers in Lagos

    The Police in Lagos on Wednesday killed five suspected armed robbers and arrested one with bullets wounds.

    Police sources told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ikeja that the suspects had engaged policemen from Elemoro Division, Ajah in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area in a shootout where they were killed.

    He said that five of them were killed on the spot and one injured by bullets was arrested.

    “The police in Elemoro got information that the suspects were operating at Abule Parapo, opposite Awoyaya in Elemoro area of Ajah around 2 a.m.

    “The suspects engaged the police in a shootout as soon as they saw them. Two locally made double barrel shot guns, one cutlass and iron cutter was recovered from them.

    “The gang had been terrorising residents of Ajah, robbing and raping women,’’ the source said.

    NAN reports that the corpses of the dead and the injured suspects were brought to the Lagos State Police Command headquarters, Ikeja at about 12.15 p.m.

    The operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) have taken over the case file from the Divisional Police Officer at Elemoro, SP Sani Limawa for further investigation.

    When contacted, the command’s spokesman, DSP Joseph Offor, said he had yet to get the details from the division as at press time.

     

  • Ebonyi police parade suspects

    Ebonyi police parade suspects

    The Ebonyi State police command has arrested 18 persons for robbery, attempted murder, unlawful possession of firearms, cultism, vandalism and others.

    Nine of the suspects were paraded yesterday at the command’s headquarters in Abakaliki.

    Commissioner of Police Peace Abdallah Ibekwe said three of the suspects, Ndubuisi Iseh, Uchenna Nweke and Sunday Elom, were arrested while planning a robbery operation.

    She said the gang attacked a patrol team at Evangel Camp Junction in Okpoto Ishielu on the Abakaliki-Enugu Expressway, injured the officers and snatched three AK47.

    “While the officers are hospitalised, the command, through intelligence,  smashed an intended robbery attack by the same gang.

    “The AK47 were recovered with 13 live ammunition. The suspects confessed that they had planned to block the Lokoja/Abuja Highway to rob.”

    Ibekwe said efforts were still on to track the suspects.

    Three others – Samuel Agha, Francis Okoro and Chukwu Ogbonnaya were arrested for being in possession of four locally-made pistols and four live cartridges. They have been charged to court.

    Onyema Nwali, John Nwopokwu and Friday Nwakpa were arrested at Ihoto Ameka Ezza South after a tip off and an AK47 was recovered from them.

    “Nnanna Igwe and Ugbu John were arrested after a tip off while planning a robbery operation. One locally-made pistol, one live ammunition and one expended cartridge were recovered from them. The patrol team also intercepted Kelechi Alo at Abaomege-Afikpo Highway and recovered four new local pistols with 13 9mm live ammunition from him,” Ibekwe added.

    Appreciating the support of relevant stakeholders, the commissioner assured residents of security during the Yuletide.

    “The command will continue in its efforts to stamp out crime in the state. The police is driven by a leadership that demands excellence and commitment to selfless service to Nigerians”, she said.

  • Govt, police warn parties against violence

    Govt, police warn parties against violence

    Bayelsa State government yesterday warned parties to shun violence before, during and after the December 5 governorship election.

    The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Esueme Dan-Kikile, at a news conference in Yenagoa, said peace was vital for a free, fair and credible poll.

    He spoke after Police Commissioner Nasiru Oki urged parties to avoid inflammatory speeches and hate campaigns, which could cause violence.

    Dan-Kikile enjoined the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and other Federal Government institutions involved in the poll to be neutral, to ensure a level-playing field for all parties.

    He decried the violence allegedly perpetrated against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the opposition parties.

    Dan-Kikile said: “As the ruling party, we advise our members and supporters not to react or avenge attacks and provocation by the opposition parties’ supporters.

    “We will be law-abiding and peaceful in our campaigns. Our party believes in issue-based campaigns aimed at improving the lives of the people.

    “We have visited communities during our campaigns and seen the challenges facing our people. We have agreed as a party to develop a framework to affect communities in every facet of life.”

    Sympathising with the injured PDP supporters, he said the party reported the incident to the police and asked them to arrest the suspects.

    Dan-Kikile urged other parties to partner the PDP-led government to ensure that the December 5 poll was conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner.

    Oki said the police and other security agencies were ready for a peaceful election.

    He said the police gave the parties equal protection during the rallies, adding that this accounted for violence-free campaigns.

    According to him, the land and the riverine areas were policed to avoid a breakdown of law and order.

    On the killing of a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Oki said the incident was being investigated, adding that the prime suspect had been arrested.

    He said: “We are investigating the killing. The suspect has been arrested. Members of two parties fought on where to place their banners. People were injured and one person died.

    “Attacks are being politicised here. If two women fight in their homes, they bring it as politics. Every quarrel is politicised. The way things are exaggerated is not as bad as that. All the same, we are on top of the situation. We have always told parties that immediately they apply for rallies, we will grant their request and provide security.

    “We make sure that two parties do not hold rallies the same day. I have issued a warning that quarrels should not be politicised.”

     

  • Police smash robbery gang in Ebonyi

    Police smash robbery gang in Ebonyi

    The recent onslaught against the men of the underworld in Ebonyi state has led to the arrest of 18 persons on suspicion of committing various crimes ranging from armed robbery, attempted murder, unlawful possession of firearms, cultism, vandalism etc, Ebonyi Command of the Nigerian Police have said.

    Nine of the suspects were paraded to reporters on Tuesday at the Command’s headquarters in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State Capital.

    According to the CP Peace Abdallah Ibekwe, three of the suspects Ndubuisi Iseh, Uchenna Nweke and Sunday Elom were arrested while planning to embark on a robbery attack.

    She said the gang had attacked a police patrol team at Evangel Camp Junction Okpoto Ishielu along the Abakaliki-Enugu expressway in the wee hours of the morning and inflicted bullet and machete cut wounds on them and snatched three AK47 riffles and twenty rounds of ammunition in each of the riffles.

    “While the Police officers are hospitalized, the command through intelligence led policing, diligence and gallantry smashed an intended robbery attack by the same gang the three suspects.

    “The three AK47 riffles were recovered with thirteen live ammunitions. The suspects confessed that they had planned to block Lokoja/Abuja Highway to rob innocent citizens before the command aborted their planned operations”

    She said efforts are still on to track the rest of the fleeing suspects.

    CP Ibekwe also said three other suspects Samuel Agha, Francis Okoro and Chukwu Ogbonnaya were arrested for being in possession of four locally made pistols and four live cartridges and have since been charged to court.

    Also the command arrested one Onyema Nwali, John Nwopokwu and Friday Nwakpa at Ihoto Ameka Ezza South on a tip off and recovered an AK47 from them.

    The command also swooped on a meeting of a cult group known as the Vikings Confraternity who took to their heels and in the process dropped a pistol which was recovered.

    “Again one Nnanna Igwe and Ugbu John were arrested on a tip off while planning an armed robbery operation. One locally made pistol, a live ammunition and one expended cartridge were recovered by the Police,” the CP added.

    The CP said the Police patrol team intercepted one Kelechi Alo at Abaomege-Afikpo Highway and recovered four newly made local pistols with thirteen 9mm live ammunitions from him.

    She further stated that the command’s officers in conjunction with Commercial bicycle (Okada) operators arrested two robbers who robbed two passengers on Okada dispossessing both of them of a total sum of N81,400.

    She commended the Okada operators who trailed the robbery suspects and alerted the police to effect their arrests.

    The command, the CP said, also arrested one Ndubuisi Ogbonnia and Chinedu Gabriel all of Amasiri Community in Afikpo North as they vandalized EEDC Transformer and stole the armored cables. The two suspects were charged to court where they pleaded guilty and were convicted.

    “In the same vein, one Odinaka Nwafor of Ezza Effium and Sunday Akpu of Igbudu Ekka village in Ezza South LGA vandalized EEDC Transformer and stole armored cables at Ndufu Echara village in Izzi LGA. They were arrested and later arraigned in court where they are still facing trial”.

    CP Peace restated her earlier warning to criminals to leave the state or be ready to face the onslaught of the command which have been re- strategized and re-organized for effective policing of the state.

    While appreciating the support and cooperation of relevant stakeholders, CP peace Ibekwe assured residents of the state during the yuletide and at all times.

    “The Command will continue in its efforts to stamp out criminality in the state. The Nigerian Police is driven by a leadership that demands excellence and commitment to selfless service to all Nigerians,” she concluded.

    One of the suspects, Ndubuisi Iseh confessed to the crime.

    He, however, said he was lured into the gang after they had already attacked the Police and robbed them of the guns.

  • Woman docked for abandoning children at rail line

    Woman docked for abandoning children at rail line

    A 40-year-old mother, who allegedly abandoned her two children at Ilupeju rail line, Lagos was on Tuesday charged before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    The accused, Adebisi Adeeko, whose address is unknown, is facing a charge of desertion of children.

    The prosecutor Insp. Simon Imhonwa told the court that the offence was committed on Aug. 10 at 3p.m.

    He alleged that the accused deliberately abandoned her children at the rail line crossing at Ilupeju area in Lagos.

    “Adeeko abandoned the children aged, 13 and 15 and absconded without any care, thereby exposing the minors to harm and exploitation.

    “ When she was confronted she could not reasonable explain the reason for her action,” Imhonwa said.

    The prosecutor said the case was reported at Alakara Police Station for Juveniles and subsequently to the Ministry of Youth and Social Development.

    The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 276 of the Criminal Law of Lagos 2011.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the children are currently in a juvenile centre in Ilupeju, till the determination of the case.

    The accused, however, denied committing the offence.

    The Magistrate, Mrs Bola Osunsanmi, however, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N50, 000 with one surety in like sum.

    She adjourned the case to Nov. 27 for trial.

     

  • Police rescue two kidnap victims in Rivers

    Police rescue two kidnap victims in Rivers

    •Two suspects killed 

    The Rivers State Police Command has rescued two kidnap victims abducted by gunmen in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on November 13.

    The victims – David Eke and Callistus Nnamdi – were reportedly snatched on Airport Road in the Garden City.

    The police yesterday confirmed their rescue from the kidnappers’ hideout at Umuebule Waterfront at Obigbo in Oyibo Local Government Area.

    A statement by the command’s spokesman, Mohammed Ahmed, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the kidnappers’ hideout was raided, following a tip-off.

    The statement added that two workers at the hideout were killed in a gun battle with the police.

    Ahmed thanked the public for cooperating with the police, adding that more needed to be done for the command to win the fight against criminals.

    The statement said: “The Rivers State Police Command wishes to further update the public on its activities, particularly the continued onslaught on the suspected criminals’ hideouts.

    “At 9.30 am on November 23, a tactical unit of the command stormed Umuebule Waterfront in Port Harcourt and rescued two kidnap victims. The victims were kidnapped on November 13 on Airport Road in Port Harcourt.

    “Two unidentified suspected kidnappers – David Eke and Callistus Nnamdi –  found guarding the rescued victims were killed during an exchange of fire. Two locally-made pistols, four cartridges and charms were recovered.

    “The commissioner enjoins the people of Rivers State to remain hopeful, confident and trusting in the ability of the command to discharge its constitutional mandate, assuring the public that we will do more.”

     

  • Agbara robbery: Police nab gang leader in Delta

    Agbara robbery: Police nab gang leader in Delta

    Operatives of the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team (SIRT) have arrested the gang leader of Thursday’s bank robbery in Agbara Industrial Estate, Ogun State.

    Twenty suspected militants dressed in military camouflage laid siege to the town as they raided about three banks before escaping through the waterways.

    The suspect, simply identified as Kelly Rotor, was arrested following a shootout between detectives and three members of his gang at Sapele, Delta State.

    A policeman died in the shootout.

    Rotor and others were said to have also participated in the Festac, Ikorodu and Lekki bank robberies.

    A source said IG Solomon Arase drafted the special elite squad to track and arrest the suspects, who have laid siege to Lagos in recent times.

    He said Rotor, after the Agbara operation, travelled to Sapale for a wedding where detectives arrested him.

    The suspect and some of his gang engaged the police in a gun battle. He was later arrested with gun injuries.

    [news_box style=”2″ display=”tag” link_target=”_blank” tag=”Robbery” count=”6″ show_more=”on” show_more_type=”link”]

  • Mbu decries decay in police training institutes

    Mbu decries decay in police training institutes

    Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Mbu Joseph Mbu has decried the dearth of infrastructures in police training institutes across the country.

    Mbu, who is the Commandant, Police Staff College, Jos, spoke with reporters after the graduation ceremony of Strategic Leadership and Command course two/2015 students at the weekend.

    He said: “I make bold to tell you that if we want changes, a special committee should be set up to visit all police training institutions because they are in a state of decay.

    “I have no regret saying this and I don’t care the consequences of what I am saying. Police training institutions are in a state of decay.

    ”When I came here, I know what I met on ground. This is the highest police training institution in Nigeria but it has decayed. It has been neglected.

    “There are abandoned jobs here from the Ministry of Police Affairs. There was a reform programme. Billions of naira were put into these jobs and they are all abandoned.

    “There is total decay in our training institutions. They have been neglected for a very long time. More than 20 years. We are facing infrastructural and logistics decay.

    “Officers who are here are feeding themselves. Then later, allowances are sent to them. It should not be so.

    “Before the officers come here, the Ministry of Police Affairs, which has now been collapsed, ought to make provisions and send adequate funds to the Commandant so that they can feed them well.

    Asked if contracts approved by former President Goodluck Jonathan for the renovation of facilities in police training schools were not implemented, Mbu said they have been abandoned.

    “You are here now and can go round to see things for yourself. I intend to call for the details of these projects and invite the contractors to the school.

    “The projects have been abandoned. Very good plans, ideas, vision but no implementation.

    “I was once the Chairman of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Task team. These contractors need to be followed up.

    “Also they owe lot of them too.

    “So they cannot use teeth to complete the jobs. But something has to be done because training institutions are the key to the success of any organisation.

    “If you train the personnel well, they will come out well. The IG Solomon Arase is now very conscious of the things we are facing over here and he is doing something.

    “But he is also constrained. I think he is sourcing for funds to get this place and other training institutions in good shape.

    “Even the staff of the colleges should also be encouraged. Once the collages are in good shape with good directing staff, then the products of that college will come out of the study and behave well to the society,” he said.

    Mbu also tasked the graduands to be courageous and have integrity, warning them to shun unprofessional acts.

    “As senior police officers, do not allow yourself be cowed. Do not succumb to blackmail or intimidation. Defend your subordinates when they do the right things and admonish them when they do wrong,” he counselled.