The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Police

  • Police investigate abduction of youth corps member along airport road

    Police investigate abduction of youth corps member along airport road

    • We can’t locate our daughter since Thursday

    How did a member of the National Youth Service Corps, Jessica Eghonghon Edionwele, disappear between the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport-Abuja City Gate highway last Thursday? And who are the brains behind her disappearance?

    These are the issues the police are now trying to resolve following a formal report lodged with them by Jessica’s parents.

    The 25-year-old corps member is serving in Ibadan, Oyo State, and had arrived in Abuja by air on Thursday to visit her parents.

    Soon after her plane landed in Abuja she headed for her parents’ home in the city only to disappear in transit.

    Her father, Mr. Joe Edionwele, believes she was abducted.

    He told The Nation that the abductors are yet to communicate with the family.

    “Our daughter is serving in Ibadan. On Thursday, she left Ibadan for Lagos to board Arik Air Flight on Seat 9A to Abuja. We were able to confirm that the flight landed safely,” he said.

    “But between the airport and our residence in Area 1, something went wrong. She was abducted and we have not been able to locate her. We have been searching for her without any trace of her whereabouts. We appeal to Nigerians to assist us to bring back our daughter.

    “The kidnappers have not established contact with us.”

    It was gathered yesterday that the police and other security agencies have swung into action to rescue the corps member who read Physiotherapy at the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma in Edo State.

    Coordinating the investigation and rescue operation is the FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu.

    “The CP is personally leading the team trying to locate the abducted girl,” a police source said yesterday.

    “This is a strange incident along the airport road but we will certainly unmask the syndicate.”

  • Police arrest couple for allegedly duping bereaved couple

    Police arrest couple for allegedly duping bereaved couple

    A Port Harcourt, Rivers State couple has been arrested by the Enugu State Police Command for allegedly duping a bereaved couple and the conspiracy to kill the couple’s only child.

    The culprits whose names were given Moses Okechukwu Emeka and his wife Elitha from Amuzu Ikeduru in Imo State, according to the police, have a hand in the murder of Paschal Eneje on April 19, 2015 in the deceased’s village of Amozibe in Udi Local Council of Enugu State.

    Enugu State police spokesman Ebere Amaraizu said after the gruesome murder, the couple duped  the parents of the deceased to the tune of N3, 000,000  under the guise that they knew those behind the killing of their late son.

    Elitha, Amaraizu said, allegedly conspired with her husband and called the mother of the deceased on phone claiming that she also has a baby boy for the deceased, and demanded money for the baby’s upkeep.

    This was discovered to be false but before the discovery, she (Elitha) had collected a large amount of money for the upkeep. The payments were made through an account she provided to the couple who never saw the child.

    The couple was arrested in Port Harcourt by a crack team of detectives from Enugu State police command on September 29, 2015.

    The late Paschal who resided in Port Harcourt was murdered gruesomely as he was about to drive into the compound at Nsude from Port Harcourt when gunmen who had laid ambush opened fire on his vehicle and killed him.

    The gunmen had demanded from the parents of the 28 year-old the sum of two million naira (N2million) to spare their son’s life or have him killed.

    The parents could only provide the sum of twenty thousand naira (N20, 000) through a First Bank Account number allegedly belonging to one of the suspects identified as Ernest Ihediuche Nwanoche.

    Amaraizu said: “Following the report of the incident and through intelligence gathered by the operatives of the Homicide Section of the command, suspects Ernest Ihediuche Nwanoch,  Donatus Nnamani and Everistus Chibuike Ezeobi were apprehended, investigated and later arraigned before the court who in turn remanded them in  prison custody while manhunt on others are intensified.”

  • Ilorin: Drama as suspected robber falls from bank’s roof

    Ilorin: Drama as suspected robber falls from bank’s roof

    There was drama on Friday at the Unity Road Branch of Guaranty Trust Bank in Ilorin as a suspected robber fell from the bank’s roof, throwing the banking hall into pandemonium.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the suspect was hiding in the roof of the bank while waiting for his accomplices to commence a robbery operation when he fell.

    A security man attached to the bank told NAN on condition of anonymity said that the suspected robber must have been hiding in the roof overnight.

    He also said nobody knew how the suspect got into the roof of the bank as there was no sign of damage to any of the security doors in the bank.

    The security man said the suspect was promptly apprehended by some customers inside the banking hall and later handed over to the police.

    The Police Public Relations officer, ASP Okasanmi Ajayi, confirmed the incident to NAN.

    He said immediately the report reached the police command, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Esosa Amadasun, visited the bank.

    The police spokesman said nobody was injured in the incident while interrogation of the suspect had commenced.

    When NAN visited the bank, it was under lock while a security man was busy directing customers to the Taiwo Road branch of the bank.

     

     

  • How my police father, disabled mum shaped my life , by Edo lawmaker

    How my police father, disabled mum shaped my life , by Edo lawmaker

     Hon Osaigbovo Iyoha is a first-time lawmaker in the Edo States House of Assembly. He won election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to represent Oredo East Constituency. In this interview with Osagie Otabor, the lawmaker reveals how the determination to succeed, in spite of his humble background, spurred his efforts.

    How do you combine business with politics?

    It is not easy. It is only in Nigeria and in some other countries that politics has become a full time job. It is bad for it to be so. Ask somebody here who he is, he will tell you, I am a politician. I think politics should be part-time. We should make politics less attractive. That is what drives stealing and other vices. It will make people to know that public service is an avenue to serve. People should have time for their business as well as being involved actively in politics.

    What was your growing up like?

    It was not easy growing up. I was not born with a silver spoon. I am the son of a policeman and a disabled tailor. They did their best to make sure I had a good education. I grew up in Benin City. I sold things on Lagos Street to survive. A lot of people had it more difficult than I did. It was not bread and butter always. My parents had to bend their backs to ensure I got educated. The secondary school I went to, the Immaculate Conception College, was one of the best in old Bendel State. For me to get admission into ICC then, being from a modest background, means my parents meant well.

    How did you make the breakthrough in business?

    As every young man, while in secondary school, you aspire to be a doctor, lawyer or an engineer. I attended former Edo State University now Ambrose Alli University. I actually wanted to be an Electrical Engineer but I was given Mechanical Engineer. At that time, we were under the illusion that after school, jobs would be waiting for us. Growing up in a difficult time, I knew that I had to find a way to survive.

    After completing my National Youth Service Corps, I went to live with my sister in Lagos. Luckily, I was around where real estate was growing – the Badagry area real estate was growing. I became an agent and turned into a super-agent. I moved to Ajah axis where they call the fastest growing real estate area in Africa and I became a broker for most of the communities. That was what we did for 10 years. In 2007, we moved to Bayelsa. The attraction was real estate. But after three years, I was lucky to be close to people through which we started doing construction jobs. It was from there I moved into politics.

    How did you feel when you made your first millions?

    I am not a millionaire, but the reward for hard work is success. You will realise that some people work harder than you but they have not been fortunate. It is only through God we can achieve more. Making money is like arithmetic; when you are able to be at the right place at the right time and take it when opportunities call. When you project and work towards your dream, you will get there. You also need to be truthful. Morally, I was taught to be modest by my parents. No matter what happens, nobody knows tomorrow. When I look at my background compared to where I am now, I never believed it. If you have the desire and energy to work at something, make sure you have every time and not taken by the vices. Once you keep the focus, you will achieve your goals.

    What pushed you to run for political office?

    I have been a private businessman all the while. I got interested in politics because of what Oshiomhole said the day he declared to run for governorship. He said governance is a serious business that should not be left for mediocre. That was where the drive came from. We needed to start building the system and to make good laws. That was the drive and I believed (that) I have a lot of goodwill.

    How has it been this past three months?

    It has been a very interesting time at the Assembly. We are learning on the job. We are not a rich state. We are doing something but you know we are barely three months in office.

    Do you think your party will make headway in 2016?

    What you sow is what you reap. If you ask people on the streets and market women they will tell you the difference between the PDP and APC. I was surprised people were congratulating Jonathan for conceding defeat. He did not have a choice because the people wanted change. The thing is to impact on the people because the day of reckoning will come. I always tell people they should vote us out if we do not perform. The only reason people voted APC was when they compared what APC governors were doing in Lagos and Edo to other PDP controlled states, they saw the difference.

    Go to Delta State, you will not believe it is an oil rich state. Go to PDP states, they have not done anything. We have the momentum in APC. It is no longer business as usual in this country because a new sheriff is in town. Everything in this country was programmed to fail because certain individuals want to reap from the system before it collapses. We will not lose focus on what we have for the people. Very soon, everything is going to fall in place. The problem we have in this country is corruption but things have started falling into place. There is improvement in power. Policemen now conduct themselves a little better. I travelled and was surprised to see a new immigration service at work. Where several immigration officers used to stay, you find only two and there was no queue. I was initially worried. We got in the baggage room and all the baggage were ready. Before now, you will wait for two hours and be asked series of questions just to be extorted. Things are falling into place in this country.

    What is view on the search for Oshiomhole’s successor by Dr. Ogbemudia?

    Only the people have the power to install a successor. When he finds his successor, we are still going to determined who to succeed Oshiomhole.

     

     

  • Police: suspects not arrested on crime scene

    Police: suspects not arrested on crime scene

    The police have told an Ado Ekiti High Court that none of the suspects standing trial for the murder of the former Ekiti State National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Omolafe Aderiye, was arrested on the scene of the crime.

    This was one of the revelations at the proceeding of the court presided over by Justice Adekanye Ogunmoye yesterday during which the police tendered exhibits.

    The accused are Adebayo Aderiye (first), Adeniyi Adedipe (second), Sola Durodola (third), Ajayi Kayode (fourth), Oso Farotimi (fifth), Sola Adenijo (sixth) and Olanbiwonnu Rotimi (seventh).

    The former NURTW boss was murdered on September 25, last year, at his business office at Ijigbo, Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    A police inspector, Whesu Felix, of the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) tendered six expended  cartridges found on the crime scene and a pair of bathroom slippers worn by the deceased.

    Whesu also tendered the written statements of all the accused, which were admitted and marked as exhibits.

    The witness, who was led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Ahmed Tafa, said he led a team of investigators to the crime scene and the State University Teaching Hospital morgue, where Aderiye’s body was deposited.

    He added that he took pictures of the scene and the body, which were also admitted as exhibits by the court.

    Whesu added that Dr. Omonisi, a pathologist, carried out a post-mortem and issued a medical report.

    During cross-examination by counsel to the first, third and fourth accused Chris Omokhafe, Whesu admitted that they were not arrested on the crime scene.

    While being cross-examined by counsel to the second accused, Biodun Fasakin, Whesu said Adedipe was arrested in Ibadan, Oyo State last November.

    The witness agreed with Fasakin that there was “serious mayhem” in Ekiti State from September 22-25, last year, which was “political” in nature.

    Answering questions from Lekan Olatawura, counsel to the fifth and seventh accused, Whesu admitted that Olanbiwonnu was arrested at 1am and his statement obtained at 2.30 am and charged to court “without proper investigation”.

    Whesu also admitted while being cross-examined by counsel to the sixth accused, Adetunji Oso that Adenijo, like the others, was not arrested on the crime scene.

    He admitted that Adenijo was arrested almost a year after the incident while all the statements of the accused were taken in the same office.

    Personal Assistant to the slain former NURTW boss, Gbolahan Okeowo, also testified yesterday.

    The case was adjourned till October 26.

  • Police warn against anti-Amaechi protests in Rivers

    Police warn against anti-Amaechi protests in Rivers

    •Group hails Amaechi’s ministerial nomination

    The planned protest by supporters of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike against the ministerial nomination of former Governor Rotimi Amaechi has been shifted from Abuja to Port Harcourt, the state capital.

    The leadership of Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday kicked against Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members’ planned “show of shame” while Police Commissioner Musa Kimo warned both parties.

    The protest by Wike’s supporters was initially billed for Abuja on Monday, ahead of yesterday’s reading of list of President Muhammadu Buhari’s 21 ministerial nominees, but was shelved, when The Nation leaked the information on Sunday, following an exclusive security report.

    The Rivers State PDP had allegedly concluded plans to protest Amaechi’s nomination and clearance.

    APC leaders and members from the 23 local government areas were holding an emergency meeting last night at the party’s headquarters on Forces Avenue, old Government Reservation Area (GRA), Port Harcourt, on how to support Amaechi’s nomination and clearance.

    The party’s Publicity Secretary Chris Finebone could not be reached for comments last night.

    A chieftain of the party, who attended the strategic meeting but spoke in confidence, said APC’s supporters wanted to prove to Wike and the PDP that they did not have the monopoly of protest.

    He said APC wanted to show its solidarity with Amaechi, who he described as “the General of Commonsense Revolution and the Lion of Niger Delta”.

    But in a statement by police spokesman, Mohammad Ahmad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Police Commissioner Musa Kimo confirmed the allegation and APC members’ alleged plan to tackle PDP’s protest.

    The statement added: “Accordingly, the police commissioner hereby warns these groups to jettison the plan to stage the protests to avoid truncating the existing peaceful co-existence in the state. While the command respects the individuals’ rights to peaceful assembly, it will not tolerate a situation where such protests lead to breach of public peace and breakdown of law and order…”

    Also, the Rivers Progressives Front, a body of senior politicians and professionals in Rivers State, has hailed President Buhari for nominating former Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as a minister.

    In a statement by its Administrator, Sotonye Ijuye Dagogo, the group said: “The nomination of former Governor Amaechi among other tested progressive leaders is an eloquent statement by Mr. President that the change that Nigerians voted for has come to stay. It is a bold and unmistakable statement that Mr. President is very clear about his mission to reposition our great country, Nigeria. It is a statement that puts to shame professional blackmailers and smear campaigners.”

     

     

  • Community donates patrol van to police

    Community donates patrol van to police

    Bothered about the rate at which crimes and other social vices increase in their communities, residents of Agbara community have donated a patrol van to the Agbara Division of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Ogun State Command.

    The gesture was to help in strengthening its capability towards curbing crimes in the area.

    The Managing Director, Ogun State Property and Investment Corporation (OPIC), Babajide Odusolu, who handed the vehicle over to the police said community policing is crucial to effective crime control.

    Odusolu, who was represented at the ceremony by the General Manager, Agbara OPIC Estate, Taiwo Aridegbe, said security is a collective responsibility, even as it also necessitates corporate support to the security agency.

    He added that the donation was part of OPIC’s corporate social responsibilities (CSR) towards combating security threat which has plagued development in the area in the last decade.

    He praised the police for their partnership with the state government to foster peaceful environment, adding that part of the agenda of Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s administration was to secure people’s lives and property.

    He said: “Government alone cannot face the business of policing in the state, either by way of personnel or equipment. So, if we cannot add to their personnel, we should help them with equipment. One of the cardinal programmes of Governor Amosun is to ensure safety of lives and property in Ogun State.

    “In recognition of our plan to enhance the reach of district police station, the board and management of OPIC decided to donate a patrol vehicle for use by the district police post in patrolling OPIC Estate, Agbara.”

    Responding, the Commissioner of Police, AbdulMajid Ali, who was represented by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Agbara Oyeniyi John, described OPIC’s effort as timely and commendable.

    Also, the Baale of Igere community in Agbara Estate, Apostle John Bamidele, said a robust security network would enhance development and attract industrialists to the state.

     

     

     

  • Police rescue kidnapped nine-month-old baby

    Police operatives in Lagos have arrested a woman, Jennifer Arinze, who reportedly kidnapped her friend’s nine-month-old baby.
    The suspect, who was said to have abducted the baby in the Ajegunle area of the state, was arrested in Okija, Anambra State and the child recovered.
    The suspect it was learnt, told the baby’s mother, Mrs. Aina Adetola,  that she wanted to buy biscuits for him at a nearby kiosk but never returned.
    It was gathered that she was arrested between Okija and Oraifite in Anambra state, where the baby was also recovered.
    Briefing reporters on the activities of the force the past month, the Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni the incident occurred at the baby’s mother’s shop.
    He said: “A lady who pretended to be friend to another woman at Ajegunle area of Lagos, stole the woman’s nine month old baby.
    “The suspect went to the shop of the mother of the child and requested to buy the child some biscuit and beverages at a nearby kiosk.
    “While the mother of the child was busy in her shop, the suspect bolted away with the nine-month-old baby.
    “Through our network of intelligence, we were able to trace the suspect to a place in between Okija and Oraifite.
    “The suspect has been arrested; the nine- month-old baby has also being reunited with his family.”
    Owoseni also disclosed that the police killed five notorious armed robbers in shootout, made over 100 arrests and recovered several weapons last month.
    The suspects, he said, were arrested for various offences ranging from armed robbery to kidnapping, child theft, murder, advance fee fraud, cultism, impersonation and car snatching.
    Parading about 34 suspects at the  command headquarters,  he stated that 40 were arrested for armed robbery and 31 others for cultism.

  • Anambra Police nabs fake DSP

    Anambra Police nabs fake DSP

    • Confirms  arrest of 43 MASSOB Members
    • As AIG Gwary storms Anambra

    Anambra state police command, has arrested a 32-year old man, Abdul Makong, a native of Gari-Lamido in Taraba state for impersonating as Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).

    According to the state Police Commissioner, Hosea Karma, the arrest followed a tip off when he went to the palace of a traditional ruler in Awka-South Local Government Area of the state, urging the people to bring some money so that he could recruit interested members into the force in the community.

    He said the impersonator had been going about extorting money from unsuspecting members of the public to assist them get recruited into the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

    Karma made this known on Tuesday in Awka, after receiving assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of zone 9 Umuahia, Usman Gwary.

    Furthermore, he disclosed that the command had also arrested 43 members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).

    While parading the suspected fake police man, Karma said that the suspect had just finished a prison term in April after he was convicted in 2013 in connection with the same offence.

    He however, warned members of the public to beware of the like of Makong, adding that recruitment into the Nigeria police force had transparent process devoid of any corrupt manipulation.

    Speaking with reporters, the suspect confessed that he just came out of the prison last April, adding that he was a graduate of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, where he obtained a degree certificate in Political Science in 2008.

    He alleged that he was forced into crime because he could not get a gainful employment opportunity, adding that it was a friend who lured him into impersonation.

    Addressing officers and men of the state police command yesterday, the AIG, Usman Gwary said that his visit was in response to the directive of the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Solomon Arase that he should tour police headquarters in the zone to lecture them on the new security policy of the current administration.

    He said that South East zone from the recent investigation conducted by a special team set up by the IG, was rated among the most peaceful zones in the country.

    Gwary however, warned officers and men of the state command not to condone act that would compromise peaceful security atmosphere prevailing in the state.

    Furthermore, he warned them to ensure that they do not allow MASSOB members to disturb the prevailing peaceful atmosphere in the state, even as he commended the state police Command in its efforts in flushing out criminal elements from the area.

    Again, the Police boss Urged them to adopt religiously the various security policies marshaled out by the IG.

    He also called on the police command to work seriously in collaboration with other sister agencies, while commending the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano for the various forms of support his administration had given the police command.

  • Police arrest abductors of UNIPORT VC’s son, others

    Police arrest abductors of UNIPORT VC’s son, others

    The police in Rivers State yesterday paraded four suspects, who allegedly kidnapped  the son of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).

    Ejire, the first child of Prof Ndowa Lale, was abducted at Eleme last month and held for four days.

    Two of the suspects- Samuel Osaro, a Senior Secondary School (SSS) 2 pupil and Wisdom Godfrey – told reporters they took part in the abduction.

    The police also paraded 12 others for alleged cultism, robbery and kidnapping.

    Police Commissioner Musa Kimo assured residents that the command would rid the state of hoodlums.

    Represented by police spokesman Mohammad Ahmed, Kimo said over 16 suspects, including kidnappers, robbers and cultists, had been detained.

    The police chief said seven kidnap victims, including a 76-year-old woman, 68-year-old Prof Iheanyi S. Nzeneri of UNIPORT, among others, were rescued.

    He said one of the abductors was killed.

    Kimo named other rescued victims as Bunmi Shoneye (43); Theresa Nwosu (76); Osimoke Itu (all married women); Judah Ayoade, Ogochukwu Duru (10) and Friday Ozogo.

    Kimo said a suspect, Stephen Ezebunwo, allegedly participated in the abduction of Friday Ozoko, who was  buried in a shallow grave at Choba Water Front.

    He said Ezebunwo was arrested on October 1 at Rukpokwu in Port Harcourt.

    Ezebunwo allegedly worked with Kelvin Ogbulaon (22); Chiwendu Akani (20) and Nelson Kacaranmos (23), who reportedly confessed and were paraded on July 27 .

    Kimo decried the inhumane treatment abductors meted out to their victims, saying: “These rescued victims were found in inhumane, cruel conditions, depicting depravity, wickedness and reprehensible disposition.

    “Mrs. Shonoye was found chained at the kidnappers’ hideout on Rumuduru Road, Port Harcourt.

    “A suspect, Obinnma Ezekiel, 28, and Henry Enyi, 28, were arrested during her rescue.”

    The police chief said two AK-47 rifles, four magazines, 40 rounds of 7.62 live ammunition and a Honda Accord were recovered.

    He said 11 suspected kidnappers were arrested while one was killed during the period under review.

    According to him, two AK-47 rifles, six magazines and 131 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition were recovered from the leader of a notorious cult group, Ovunda Jacob (aka Junior) and his group, who were said to be behind several robberies, cult-related activities and kidnappings at  Orazi and environs.

    Kimo said: “His arrest led to the recovery of three stolen vehicles – a black Toyota Camry with registration number (Bayelsa) BRO 407 NV; a blue Toyota Avalon car with registration number (Rivers) FS 937 PHC; a blue and grey Toyota Camry with registration number (Rivers) GCU 225 BF.

    “George Kelly, 20, who has been on the command’s wanted list  for cultism, was arrested on September 27 at Mile 3 in Port Harcourt.

    “Substance suspected to be cocaine was recovered from him.”