The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Police

  • Police arrest land grabber, police accomplice

    Police arrest land grabber, police accomplice

    A suspected land grabber (Omonile), Alhaji Jubril Okelewu, has been arrested by the police.

    The Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) at Adeniji Adele, Lagos Island, alleged that Okelewu fraudulently sells other people’s property to unsuspecting buyers.

    The police arrested Okelewu when he and his boys were attacking some security guards attached to Gannybol Nigeria Enterprise at Ibeju-Lekki Local Government.

    The Nation learnt that some officers, who connived with Okelewu to perpetrate the crime, were facing disciplinary action.

    The police, sources said, acted on a petition by the company, which alleged that Okelewu and some hoodlums tried to seize the land allocated to the company by the Lagos State government.

    “We have had cause to report the activities of Okelewu and his group to the New Towns Development Agency (NTDA) through our letter of July 9.

    ‘’The NTDA, by its July 10 letter, confirmed our status as a bonafide allottee of the land and directed the Lagos State government Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit to assist in clearing illegal structures from the land.

    “Surprisingly, Okelewu, who does not have any title or right to the land seems to have enlisted a deputy commissioner and an assistant commissioner, both of the Force Headquarters Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, in the perpetration of their unlawful act.

    ‘’These two officers ordered the arrest of our men  and harased us on the land,” the petition read.

    Explaining further, Alhaji Kamoru Bolarinwa, who spoke on behalf of the company, hailed the police for their quick intervention.

    “We have the documents to back up our claim. Okelewu conspired with some policemen to harass and detain our boys, who were hired to guard the land. I thank God for the intervention of the Inspector General of Police Solomon Arase, who ordered an independent investigation into the matter,” he said.

    When contacted, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department Danazumi Doma said the police were aware that the suspect connived with some policemen to destroy government property and harass innocent citizens.

    “The property in question belongs to Lagos State government and legitimately sold to individuals and companies for development.

    ‘’He was arrested, warned and had been granted bail. Investigation is still on while the officers, who connived with him, are facing disciplinary action,” Doma said.

    But the suspect’s family has described Okelewu’s arrest as unlawful.

     

  • Police rescue driver from kidnappers

    The Abia State police command has rescued a driver attached to the  the Chief of Staff, Udo Nwachukwu, from kidnappers.

    According to police spokesman Ezekiel Onyeke, Nwachukwu was kidnapped last week at Umezerolo, Umuana Ndume, while washing his car.

    Onyeke said the gunmen locked Nwachukwu in the boot of their car and took the car he was washing.

    “The gunmen came in a green Toyota Camry, locked Nwachukwu in the boot while another member of the gang drove his Toyota Hilux van registered as ABSG506.

    “A neighbour alerted us and we chased the hoodlums and, on Ikwuano road, they abandoned their victim and his car at different locations.

    “Efforts are on to arrest the hoodlums and I can assure you they will not escape,” he said.

    Onyeke appealed to the public to come up with useful information that could lead to the arrest of the criminals.

  • Court reorders police to produce robbery suspect

    Court reorders police to produce robbery suspect

    A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja on Monday, for the second time, ordered the state’s Commissioner of Police (Officer –in-Charge, State Anti-Robbery Squad), Superintendent of Police  (SP) Abba Kyari  to produce in court an armed robbery suspect,  Ebi Tosan, 20, on August 20, 2015.

    The new order followed the failure of the Police to present the suspect in court Monday as ordered by the court at its last sitting.

    Tosan was arrested by the police on April 5, 2015 over alleged involvement in the robbery of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) at Admiralty Way, Lekki.

    The applicant, Tosan was paraded alongside other robbery suspects before the press in May 2015 as one of the robbery gang that allegedly robbed the Lekki branch of FCMB.

    Tosan had  through his counsel, Chief S.W. Baidi, filed an application before the court presided by Justice Olabisi Ogungbesan for bail, claiming N1 million against the respondents for infringement and curtailment of his constitutional right to personal liberty, freedom of movement and presumption of innocence.

    However, the trial judge, Justice  Ogungbesan, on Monday, refused to hear the application since there was no information from the Attorney General, who was later joined in the suit, as to the whereabouts of the applicant.

    Justice Ogungbesan said: “It will be fair if the Attorney General is brought to court, they will be able to tell us where the boy is. It is an allegation and I want to hear from the Commissioner of Police. This is a weighty allegation and an allegation of robbery. I believe if you bring the Attorney General to court, you will have half of the problem solved.

    “I shall hereby adjourn to August 20 for hearing of the Applicant’s application. It is further ordered that the 1st and 2nd respondent produce the applicant on the adjourned date.”

    Counsel to the applicant, Chief Baidi had told the court that the 20-year-old boy was going to school when he was picked up by SARS that he participated in the Lekki robbery and had remained in the Police custody  since April 4, 2015.

    “We have not seen this boy till date. We have served all the orders of court to police and they have not come to court. Infact, the Investigation Police Officer (IPO) told the boy’s father that since they have met a lawyer, then let the lawyer show them where their son is,” he said.

    Baidi explained to the court that the urgency of the matter has to do with life of a citizen, saying “who knows if he can be the President of this country tomorrow, if alive. This boy can be dispensed with overnight. We have problem serving the police.”

    Baidi told the court that it has been difficult seeing the suspect since he was arrested adding that they are now very  apprehensive as to the state and well-being of his client having regard to reported cases of extra judicial killings in Nigeria.

    “I believe that it is a deliberate act by the respondents to keep the applicant in continued detention in order to extract a confessional statement from him on the alleged offence,” Baidi added.

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  • Acid threat charge: Magistrate berates Police

    Acid threat charge: Magistrate berates Police

    The Magistrate’s court sitting in Ikorodu, Lagos on Monday berated the Nigerian Police for improper handling of a case of threat to life and breach of peace leveled against a 38-year-old man, Johnson Emmanuel.

    Emmanuel, was arrested on August 14, 2015, and taken to court by officers of the Owode Onirin Police Division, following an allegation of threat to life made against him by his neighbour, Taiwo Adigun.

    Emmanuel’s neighbour, Adigun, accused him of threatening her with a substance suspected to be acid and he was charged by the police for committing an offence punishable under Section 56 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.

    The second charge was that he conducted himself ‘in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by going with a bucket containing substance suspected to be acid, to bath Adigun.’ The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 116 (d) of the criminal Laws of Lagos State.

    Both the complainant and defendant were residents of number 1, Nathaniel Osagie Street, Irawo Bus Stop, Owode-Ajegunle.

    After pleading not guilty, Emmanuel was remanded in custody at Kirikiri Prison, Ikoyi, pending the perfection of the bail granted him by the court.

    However, at Monday’s ruling, Mr. W. B. Balogun upheld the defendant’s counsel’s submission of no case to answer and held that the prosecution had tendered ‘no evidence to prove the offences’.

    The court further held that the Investigative Police Officer ‘had not done a proper investigation of the case’ and that the charges of threat to life and breach of peace were all unproven.

    Mr. Watson, who was standing in for Mrs. Adejumoke Olagbegi-Adelabu, added that when people live in close proximity to each other in the same building, there are bound to be conflicts.

    He criticized the police for not exploring ways to settle the matter before bringing it to court.

    The two-count charge was struck out and the defendant was discharged.

     

  • 16 dead in Kwara State Polytechnic students’ cult clash

    No fewer than 16 people were at the weekend, killed in bloody clashes between suspected cult members of the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin.
    Though, the cause of the clashes have not been ascertained, it was gathered that suspected members of Aiye and Eiye confraternities struck first at the polytechnic.
    The state police command said it has arrested more than 30 suspects in connection with a renewed clash among student cultists in the state about16 victims were reportedly killed.
    Authorities of the institution had since shut down the campus indefinitely.
    State police command’s spokesperson, Ajayi Okasanmi (ASP) confirmed the arrest of the suspects, adding that 14 people among the arrested suspects were found culpable after screening.
    Mr. Okasanmi who said investigations still continued on the development, added that the 14 suspects would be charged to court for prosecution this week.
    It was gathered that one of the victims was gunned down during screening of aspirants for the Students Union Government’s election at the weekend, while another victim was reportedly killed at Asa Dam road area of the town by suspected members of Eiye confraternity.
    An eyewitness account said that the death led to a renewed clash among members of Eiye and Aiye confraternities, adding that it later spread to other parts of the metropolis such as Agbooba, Baboko, Sabonline, Irewolede and Niger Road.
    A resident of Niger Road in the metropolis said “it all started around 4 pm at the weekend. A victim who lived at Agbooba was killed beside a bridge close to the filling station at Oja Tuntun area of Ilorin.
    “Another dead body was found at Victory Hotel, Agbooba on Sunday. One suspected cultist was murdered at Irewolede yesterday. The deceased was chased to the area and in the process was matcheted by his assailants,” the source said.

  • IGP calls for adequate funding of police

    IGP calls for adequate funding of police

    Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Solomon Arase, on Monday called for adequate funding of the Nigeria Police to ensure operational efficiency.

    Arase made the call at National Security Conference on: Community Partnership Approach to Internal Security and Crime Management organised by Police and Sun newspapers, in Abuja.

    He said it was only through adequate funding that the huge logistic demand of the police can be met.

    Arase noted that modern policing was a cost-intensive venture of which the benefits far outweigh the value of budgetary investment.

    “Through effective funding, the welfare of police personnel will be met and the challenge of corruption that has eroded professionalism and public respect for police will be addressed,” he said.

    He called for the resuscitation and passage of the Bill on Police Trust Fund pending before the National Assembly to give effect to public-police partnership.

    The bill seeks to tax corporate entities to complement the Federal Government in funding the police.

    Arase maintained that if passed, the funding challenges of the police would have been addressed on a sustainable basis.

    He said the security challenges in the country and inadequate manpower would be best addressed through citizens-driven policing model.

    “This model will address the manpower deficiency challenge in the Nigeria Police as every citizen plays the role of police officer,” he said.

    In a key note address, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, advised President Muhammadu Buhari to prosecute all those found guilty of corruption.

    “All found culpable of corruption should not only forfeit their assets but should go to jail. We are 100 per cent in support of your fight against corruption in the country,’’ he said.

    He called on the police and other security agencies to join in the crusade against corruption.

    Abubakar said the police needed to be repositioned for the 21st-century and to have their welfare reviewed.

    According to him, the traditional rulers had played vital roles in maintaining security in their various communities.

    He urged all Nigerians to close ranks with the police to ensure adequate security in the country.

    Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mr Mike Okiro, said Nigerians were yearning for solutions to the security challenges in the country.

    He said the conference should come up with suggestions to address the challenges.

    Present at the conference were traditional rulers, members of civil society organisations and security experts.

    The high point of the occasion was the unveiling of A Guide to Personal Security, a handbook by President Buhari.

  • Police arrest ‘robbery kingpin’

    An alleged armed robbery kingpin, Bolaji Oyekanmi has been arrested by officers of the Lagos State Police Command.

    Foreign currencies were recovered from his hideout.

    Police detectives attached to Ilupeju Police Station led by Olayinka Egbeyemi, a Superintendent of Police (SP), swooped on the kingpin whose gang specialises in attacking bullion vans.

    It was learnt that the kingpin was nabbed after his gang successfully robbed a bullion van conveying cash.

    According to a police source, $118,000 and £50,000 totalling  N177, 246, 000 were allegedly recovered from a native doctor’s residence at Mushin, which served as the gang’s hideout.

    The foreign currencies which were said to have belonged to the Bankers Warehouse had been returned to the owners.

    Confirming the development, the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni said the suspect is under interrogation.

  • Albino commits suicide over alleged discrimination

    For allegedly being discriminated against, a 23-year-old albino, Ugochukwu Ekwe on Sunday committed suicide in the Festac area of Lagos State.
    The incident occurred at 311 Road, B Close‎, after the deceased’s parents went to church.
    ‎It was alleged that the deceased had attempted suicide last month after complaining of the discrimination he suffered from people as a result of his pigmentation.
    He was said to have been rescued by a friend who arrived early enough, but he succeeded on Sunday after refusing to follow his parents to church, it was learnt.
    A source in the neighbourhood told The Nation that his parents discovered his body hanging on the ceiling fan when they returned from church.
    He said: “On arrival from church, his parents were shocked to discover the body of their son hanging from the ceiling fan in one of the apartments.
    “One of his siblings was said to have raised alarm which attracted curious neighbours.
    “I was returning from church when I saw people gathered in front of the block of flats. When I enquired, I was told that Ugochukwu had committed suicide.
    “He finished his secondary school education since 2009. I also learned he had threatened to take his life, saying he was frustrated.”
    “Later, we saw some policemen from Festac division who removed the body.”
    When contacted, spokesperson for the police command, DSP Patricia Amadin said she was yet to get details from the Area ‘E’ Commander, Frank Mba.

  • FERMA, police partner to secure Abuja-Lokoja-Okene road

    FERMA, police partner to secure Abuja-Lokoja-Okene road

    The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) said it is collaborating with the Nigeria Police Force to combat crimes on the nation’s highways and enhance safety throughout the year.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the agency, Mrs Susan Chukwunwem on Saturday in Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Managing Director of FERMA, Mr. Gabriel Amuchi and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase had a joint inspection tour of the Abuja-Lokoja-Okene road.

    The statement said the joint inspection tour was aimed at identifying the black spots along the Abuja-Lokoja-Okene road, particularly the Osara Village, Iruekpe in Kogi.

    It said the notorious black spot (Osara Village), with over grown vegetation had been harbouring criminals, who incessantly unleashed their evils activities on innocent road users.

    According to the statement, Amuchi said the partnership between his agency and the Nigeria Police Force was a demonstration of government’s determination to ensure safety of roads users.

    “What is happening here is a very strong collaboration and because of hoodlums, we need serious security presence and patrol.

    “At the end of this clearing, we would improve visibility and sight-seeing and it is going to be a continuous relationship in other flash points.

    “We will need collaboration to commence work in safety places and the collaboration is in line with government directive to help Nigerians heave a sigh of relief,’’ he said.

    It quoted the IGP as saying that, “this stretch of road has become a source of security concern to us due to armed robbery and kidnapping attacks.

    “The Commissioner of Police in Kogi has been working tirelessly but the nature of the forest has given succour to hoodlums who always come out of the forest to attack people.

    “All other stakeholders are working tirelessly to ensure that we have a secured environment and the highways are also safe for travelers.

    “I decided to seek the assistance of FERMA to see how we can open a space here as part of our security prevention to ensure that the place is safe,’’ Arase said.

    He said that the ongoing vegetation control of the identified black spots would be a continuous exercise to enhance motorist visibility to deter criminal acts.

    The statement noted that the agency had commenced the monitoring of the right of way through a committee comprising of the Police, FRSC and the NSCDC, to stop further abuse of people’s right of way.

  • Police smash interstate car-snatching syndicate

    Police smash interstate car-snatching syndicate

    The game is over for a gang of interstate car snatchers  after being trapped by the   Special Anti-Robbery Squad  (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos.

    Two members of the gang, Evans Demodia and Benson Obode, were arrested in Benin,the Edo State capital by a team of  SARS operatives during a search for a stolen Toyota Corolla.

    The car had been snatched  at gun point  from a Lagos businessman, Alhaji Babangida Isah, at Dopemu area of Lagos.

    The SARS operatives,sources said,had tracked phone calls by the suspects  on Isah’s cell phone which they had stolen with his car.

    Demodia, an auto mechanic, was arrested  at his workshop, at No 33, Auchi Road, Benin City.

    Further search in his house yielded two other cars suspected to have been stolen –a  Toyota Camry belonging to one Mr. Lawrence Oaikhena, of Warri, Delta State, and a Honda CRV.

    The Toyota Camry, was said to have been robbed at gunpoint from its owner, in Warri, Delta State, when a white Peugeot 307 car, with two occupants, double crossed it.

    Twenty-seven year-old Demodia has  confessed that he is a receiver of stolen vehicles from the gang.

    He claimed to have  received over four cars from the gang’s alleged  leader, Obode.

    He said  Obode and one Chief Osama, met him in his workshop and lured him into joining the gang.

    His words:”I joined because I saw there was huge profit in the business. When I met Obode, he told me that he was a car dealer that buys vehicles and he would want me to help him sell in Benin, but later I discovered that he was an armed robber.

    “My suspicion was confirmed when I saw an expended cartridge in one of the cars, I also discovered that the vehicles usually had no papers. I deal in Toyota products, so I told him that I wanted Toyota cars. I paid him N400, 000 for the Toyota Corolla that he gave me and I sold it to a woman for N500, 000. I also bought a

    Toyota Camry from him for N350, 000 and sold it for N400, 000.

    “ I received two other cars which I was yet to sell when the police arrested me. When they interrogated me I told them that,  Obode supplied the cars to me and I took them to his house. We didn’t meet him at home , but his landlord was asked to follow us.

    “A few hours later, Obode, was brought into my cell and his face was covered with bruises. I asked what happened to him and he said he was beaten up by a mob when he got home. He told me that some vigilance men arrested him with a Peugeot 307 and he was identified as the robber who policemen from Lagos were looking for and while he attempted to escape he was chased and they gave him the  beating of his life.

    “On our way to Lagos, Obode, fell very ill and he was taken to the hospital.”

    Pleading for mercy, Demodia blamed his involvement in crime on greed.

    “I should have been contented with what I had. I wasn’t doing badly as mechanic and I have operated my own workshop for over five years. It was greed that made me join the gang. I feel very bad about it.”