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Tag: Police

Police vow to rid Lagos of miscreants

In line with Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP) Fatai Owoseni’s commitment to ensure maximum security of lives and property across the state, the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) has declared war on miscreants and traffic robbers.

This is coming at a time residents ýwere worried that charlatans have returned on the highways and bridges, unleashing terror on motorists and passersby even in broad daylight.

From Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Badagry Expressway, Agege Motor Road, Ijora, Ikorodu Road to Eko and Third Mainland Bridges, victims of robbery attacks relive their encounters on daily basis, with many accusing the security agencies of complacency.

But, with the arrest of over 181 suspects across different areas of the state in July by the RRS under newly deployed Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Tunji Disu, observers believe the ‘bad boys’ have started retreating.

They urged the police to fashion out modalities that will mop up illegal arms as well as stop criminal elements before they execute their plans.

Observers also believe that for effective policing, the state government must be willing to adequately utilise the Security Trust Fund by providing all the necessary tools and trainings required by the police.

Commenting on the spate of traffic robberies, a taxi driver who identified himself as Olushola said: “Though the situation is not as bad as it was about four months ago, the traffic robbers have reduced their attacks but they are still operating. If it was before, I cannot drive through Oshodi and Toyota without winding up.

“They just hang around, including little children. They usually attacked people even during the day. Once there is small traffic, you dare not wind down or leave your car unlocked.

“I have seen them attack many people on several occasions, pointing gun or knife at their victims.

“But with the presence of policemen in most of these dark spots even late in the night, the criminals are gradually withdrawingý.

“The police need to do more, especially now that Christmas celebration is drawing near. They have to look for a way to ensure there is 24-hour surveillance across Lagos.

“All those areas with bridges should be raided because teenagers who are part of these gangs hide there and smoke Indian hemps and act as spies for the older criminals.”

ýIn a chat with Southwest Report on how the 181 suspects were identified, Disu said the time of their arrests was considered.

He said: “There is no way we would have arrested innocent people because the raids were carried out around 1:00 a.m. After mopping up, we interrogated the arrested persons and those who could explain what they were doing in the locations at that time were allowed to go.

“When I was posted to head the RRS, we did crime mapping in line with the directives of the CP and located areas that are prone to crimes.

”We identified Oshodi, Ikorodu and Ijora, among others as areas where traffic robbers, bag snatchers as well as those who steal from children and in houses were rampant. So, we decided to start with those areas with greater number.

”We raided under the bridges and other hideouts of the miscreants and in most cases, the suspects put up resistance.

“We discovered that they post spies, including juveniles on ground who informed them of police arrival. At times we saw their spies playing cards.

“We were able to arrest the 181 because of the commitment of my men. They have shown great understanding and have remained committed to our drive to ensure that Lagos is safe for residents and business.

“Residents of Lagos should not be afraid. They should go to sleep with their eyes closed because the police would clampdown on criminals.

”But as you know, the police cannot do much without information. That is why we are appealing to the public to furnish us with useful information that will assist us serve them better.

“We have opened social media accounts so that people can reach us once any crime is being committed around them. We have Facebook, Twitter and e-mail accounts and there are people manning them round the clock.

“For Facebook, the account is rapidresponsesquad; Twitter is @response squad and e-mail address is rapidresponsesquad@gmail.com.

People should not hesitate to send information that will aid the police to keep criminal elements at bay.”

Disu also disclosed that all the suspects have been handed over to the relevant offices for further action, adding that the raid would continue until the hoodlums are out of business.

On what the RRS was doing in respect of incessant cult clashes in some areas of the state, Disu said the CP has issued a directive to all Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and Area Commanders to fish out criminal elements obstructing public peace, adding that no stone will be left unturned in maintaining peace and security across the state.

August 5, 2015
Police uncovers another kidnappers’ den in Oyo

… Five suspects arrested

The Oyo State Police Command has uncovered another kidnappers’ den at Oyagbe area in Oyo town,‎ where different atrocities are committed.

The State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Katsina, who led journalist to the den on Tuesday, disclosed that the place has been a deserted hotel belonging to one Olatunji Kabiru who is now in police custody.‎

He also stated that the men of the state command had arrested five kidnappers in connection with the kidnappers’ hideout.

Katsina while parading the suspects added that a victim Husseni Sani was rescued from the den of the kidnappers in Oyo Town area of the state.

According to him, the Kidnappers had come all the way from Benin Republic and moved to Kwara State and finally settled at the Atiba Local Government of Oyo state.

He said:” Today (Tuesday) we are happy to announce that a ground breaking discovery was made yet again and this time in Oyo town where some wicked individuals kidnapped a fellow human for ransom. We have so far arrested 5 people connected with the crime including the hotelier, and the victim Saki Fulani is now in our custody.

The hotelier, Olatunji Kabiru a former counsellor of ward one, Atiba Local Govt of Oyo State, said that the kidnapper had come to him asking for three room for two weeks which he claimed that a deposit of N5,000 was giving to him.

Kabiru said that he was not aware that they were kidnappers and that he got to know about their activities when the police came knocking at his door step.

The kidnapped victim, Hussein Sani, a cattle rearer from Ikoyi Ile, Kajoola Local government in Oyo town, said that he had been kidnapped at Ogbomoso and was fed rice and Coke for 14 days.

He said that the kidnappers had demanded N1million and threatened to kill him and his elder brother if he was unable to pay.

In his reaction, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, thanked the police and other defense agencies for their swift action at clamping down on the suspected kidnappers.

He said that the prompt and assertive move of the police contributed immensely to the discovery of the hideout, adding that community members be more careful in their various activities.

“I thank men of the police and other security agencies, for a job well done for bursting the crimes in this part of the state which is very surprising to us in this area. The prompt actions of the Police contributed to the immense discovery of the kidnappers, I must add that such people should not be allowed to exist in our societies.”

He however, called on the public to always inform the police when they suspect any unholy activities around their environment.

“I have to say at this juncture that it is everybody’s duty to be alert over the happens in their environment and keep the police informed about dangerous activities in their environment,” Alaafin said

August 4, 2015
Photo : Training for Police in Abuja

I-G SOLOMON ARASE (6TH L); SOLICITOR-GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION, MR ABDULLAHI AHMED-YOLA (5TH L); DIRECTOR-GENERAL, NIGERIA INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED LEGAL STUDIES,PROF. ADEDEJI ADEKUNLE (4TH L); CHIEF JUDGE OF FCT, JUSTICE ISHAQ BELLO (4TH R); DIG, DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, DIG DAN’AZUMI DOMA (3RD R) AND OTHER MEMBERS OF NIGERIA INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED LEGAL STUDIES, AT THE TRAINING WORKSHOP ON EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT AND VIOLENCE AGAINST PERSONS PROHIBITION ACT FOR NIGERIA POLICE IN ABUJA ON MONDAY

August 3, 2015
Police discover ‘baby factory’ in Delta

The Delta State Police Command said yesterday that it had discovered a “baby-production” factory in Asaba, arrested the operator, and rescued eight pregnant girls.

Spokesperson for the command, DSP Celestina Kalu, said in a statement in Asaba that the baby-making factory was discovered after detectives, acting on a tip-off, swooped on the premises.

“On July 30, 2015, Police detectives from GRA Division Asaba, while acting on a tip-off, raided a suspected baby factory opposite the Federal Radio Corporation, Asaba, and arrested its operator, Mr. John Ihezun.

“Detectives also arrested two boys, one Prince Chukwu and Obum Nwankwo, in the premises of the baby factory,” Kalu said.

The command said it found eight pregnant girls (names with-held).

The command said it had commenced investigations into the matter, saying that any person found to be involved, would be prosecuted.

August 2, 2015
Two policemen injured in Delta NURTW crisis

… 44 suspects arrested

Two policemen have been injured following the mayhem that trailed change of leadership by the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Uwvie Chapter in Delta State,
The State Police Public Relations Officer DSP Tina Kalu in statement made available to The Nation on Saturday said the violence which characterised the emergence of Ariyor Francis as Chairman informed the deployment of policemen to the area.
Kalu said a police team was mobilized to the scene but was attacked by protesters at Jakpa junction leading to the shooting of an Assistant Superintendent of police (ASP) in the buttocks.
Part of the statement reads, ‘ On 29/7/2015 at about 0700hr, the Area Commander, Warri received information that following the change of leadership by the National Union of Road Transport workers Union (NURTW) Uvwie chapter, leading to the emergence of one Ariyor Francis ‘m’ as chairman, pockets of violent protests erupted in the area.
” Based on the report, patrol teams were quickly mobilized to the scene, and at Jakpa junction, the protesters shot at the policemen, as a result of which an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) was hit on his buttocks by a bullet from one of the protesters. The victim was rushed to central Hospital Warri for treatment. ” Later, the police re-enforced and trailed the protesters to Agofure Motor Park on NPA –DSC express way Warri where the said protesters had gathered to cause more crisis and destruction and arrested forty-four (44) male suspects. Some of the protesters also on the same date at about 1140hrs attacked policemen on duty at Dofect motor park Effurun, shooting sporadically into the air and in the process, a police sergeant was hit by stray bullet on his right elbow. The injured policeman was rushed to Nigeria Navy Hospital Effurun for treatment.”
Kalu said the team following reinforcement trailed the protesters to Agofure Motors along NPA-DSC expressway where they had gathered to cause more crisis.
The police image maker said some of the protesters on the same date attacked another policeman in Effurun on guard duty at Dofecgt Motors sustaining gunshot injuries in his right elbow.
Kalu said normalcy has been restored.
The police, she said, arrested forty four protesters were arrested in connection with the violence.
Kalu said the injured policemen have been rushed to Warri Central Hospital and Nigeria Navy Hospital respectively.
She warned members of the public to respect the laws of the land and refrain from taking laws into their hands

August 1, 2015
Police tasked on security situation in Festac

THE recent killing of the All Progressives Congress chieftain, Mr. Shalewa Daramola , in Festac, Lagos, and the strangulation of an innocent Nigerian about two weeks ago in Ojo is causing anxiety among the residents and corporate organizations in that area. Mr Kunle Abiona, a chief executive of one of the leading indigenous companies in the area expressed worries over the recent spate of killings and insecurity in the area .

He said the development had truncated the peace and tranquility that reigned in the community before now. He therefore enjoined the new police boss in the community to take the issue of security head on. While commending the last police boss in the area, he noted that the new police boss, Frank Mba, is an experienced policeman who is competent and capable to arrest the spate of insecurity in the area. The chief executive also called on the Inspector General of Police, Solomion Arase to look seriously into the security situation not only in Festac but the entire Amuwo Odofin in general .

He said: “The community is cosmopolitan and that is why its security is imperative . Good security network will not only combat crime but will restore peace and tranquility once enjoyed in Festac and its environs.

August 1, 2015
Police arrest alleged killer of pregnant woman, 4 kids, others …on his way to abduct tribunal judges

The police in Imo State have arrested a 28-year-old alleged serial killer Henry Onyekachi Chibueze, accused of killing a pregnant woman, Mrs Oluchukwu, and six others at Igando, a suburb of a Lagos.

Henry, who hails from Nwangele Local Government Area of Imo State, was said to have killed Oluchukwu alongside her sister, Ngozi, one Sandra and four children, namely Happiness, Chidima, Chineye and Angela in cold blood at No. 43 Santa Maria Street, Igando, Lagos on February 16, 2013.

The suspect was arrested with four other accomplices including one Hakeem Bello, an indigene of Kwara State who allegedly deserted the army when he was posted to the Northeast to participate in the military operation against Boko Haram insurgents, and Alexander Ohigide, who was the gang’s native doctor and a native of Mbieri in Mbaitolu Local Government Area, Imo State.

Also arrested were the wife of Henry’s brother and her mother.

According to the late Oluchukwu’s widower, Ekene Henry Ozor, “the suspects were paraded before Governor Rochas Okorocha on Wednesday evening after they were arrested by SSS operatives at an undisclosed hotel in Owerri, where they had lodged in preparation for the abduction of some tribunal judges.”

Expatiating further, Ekene said: ”Henry confessed to have killed many people but lied that the reason why he killed my pregnant wife, her senior sister, Sandra Ijedinma and four children was because she used N45 million to open a supermarket for Sandra before they parted ways.”

Ekene said that the late Sandra left Henry when he could not take him to his village to know his people and that she could not ascertain his means of livelihood, adding that their relationship lasted only three months.

On how he feels about the arrest of the alleged serial killer, he said: “I felt a little relieved because it had not been easy due to the psychological trauma that my family has gone through in the last two years. I commend the efforts of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command which first handled the case, the SSS operatives for sustaining their efforts to apprehend the suspects since February 1, 2015.

“I wish to commend Governor Rochas Okorocha for his efforts in the arrest of the deadly gang of killers. Things have not been easy for me and my little children. We are still battling with the psychological pain of the gruesome killing of my wife and others.

“I have become indebted to the tune of N7.2 million, excluding properties sold, to meet up with the payment of hospital bill for my wife’s younger sister who underwent surgery as a result of gunshot injuries and the cost of keeping seven bodies in a mortuary before burial.

“I am yet to come out of the shock and I am now hypertensive. I therefore urge well meaning Nigerians, including the governors of Imo, Lagos and Delta states, to come to my aid so that my children and I can live a better life.”

August 1, 2015
Borno: Police confirm 3 dead in suicide attack

Three persons have been confirmed dead in a suicide attack early Friday morning at a vegetable market in Maiduguri, Borno State.
According to a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Victor Isuku , a suiucide bomber inside a tricycle diffused an IED.
He said the tricycle which was in transit, stopped at the market area creating traffic congestion before the device was diffused.
Three person died on the spot while several others sustained various degrees of injuries.

July 31, 2015
Police right to stop Tompolo’s MEND meeting, says CENTREP

As debates continue to rage in the Niger Delta over the botched meeting of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, the Centre for the Vulnerable and Underprivileged, has said the police acted lawfully in sealing off the venue.

The meeting was convened by a founding member of MEND, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), who afterwards explained that his intentions were genuine and that the meeting was not to restart crisis in the region.

Executive Director of CENTREP, Oghenejabor Ikimi Esq, who conceded that the former agitators were entitled to peacefully assemble and fraternity, maintained that the Police have a right to stop such meeting, if it is deemed capable of causing a breach of the peace.

Ikimi was reacting to the statement signed by Spokesperson of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Eric Omare, which condemned the deployment of policemen to the venue of the meeting.

He said: “We disagree with the (IYC) said claim root, stem and branches as the seal off of the venue of the said meeting by the police was constitutional since the said meeting was a threat to public safety and public order owing to the tension same had generated within the Niger-Delta Region and the entire country as many Nigerians believed that said meeting was a gathering of disgruntled contractors, oil thieves and political marauders and buccaneers.

“While we are not patronizing or holding brief for anybody or group, we concede that the Niger Delta ex-militant leaders under Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) has a right to peacefully assemble and associate or fraternise with one another.

“However, Section 45 of the same constitution which talks about restriction and derogation from fundamental rights says that nothing in Sections 37, 38, 39, 40, and 41 of the constitution shall invalidate any law reasonably justifiable in a democratic society a) in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health or b) for the purpose of protecting the rights and freedom of other persons.

“In other words, the above right of the ex-militant leaders to assemble together and to associate with one another can be restricted by law enforcement agents on grounds of public safety and order as done in the instant case by the Nigeria Police, and as such they should be commended for carrying out their statutory duties of maintaining law and order rather than being vilified for no just cause

“It is in the light of the above constitutional provision that we strongly differ with the respected Ijaw youth body on the police abortion of the above meeting.

“We however call on ex-militant leaders to shun similar gatherings in the future that may be inimical to public order and safety, more strongly when the Federal Government has assured Nigerians of her intentions to continue with the Amnesty programme,” Ikimi said.

July 31, 2015
Police chief seeks monarchs’ support to fight crime

Lagos State police chief Fatai Owoseni yesterday urged traditional rulers to be “the eyes and ears” of security agencies in the fight against crime.

Owoseni made the appeal when he met with the royal fathers at the State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos to brief them on his agenda.

He said the monarchs occupied an important position in the society since they were better placed to get information about individuals and their activities.

The police chief said they should also assist in monitoring all persons and groups in their domains.

Owoseni assured them of the command’s determination to provide adequate security for the state, adding that he was working on strategies to make the state crime-free.

He urged the monarchs to do detailed investigation on those who wish to join the police before signing any document for them.

This, he said, would check the intake of unscrupulous elements and help the police to check crimes.

Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos and Chairman, Council of Obas and Chiefs, who chaired the meeting, urged the commissioner to ensure tight security in the state.

Akiolu also urged the commissioner to check the criminals who now use the water ways to operate. He assured Owoseni of the royal father’s support.

July 31, 2015