The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Police

  • Police redeploy another set of commissioners

    Police redeploy another set of commissioners

    The Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba has approved the redeployment of new set of police commissioners to different commands and formations in the country.

    The Force Spokesman, Emmanuel Ojukwu, who announced the redeployment of 33 commissioners in a statement Tuesday, said  it is in line with determination of the force to enhance the administrative and operational effectiveness of the Force.

    He added that the exercise was designed to fill vacancies created by officers who will be embarking on a course at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos.

    The police had last week redeployed 16 of its commissioners.

    The newly redeployed commissioners are – Danladi Y. Mshelbwala, Ibrahim K Idris, Shuaibu L. Gambo, Musa Katsina Mohammed, Usman Tilli Abubakar, Olufemi David Ogunbayode, Waheed Olayikan Salau, Dorothy A. Gimba, Foluso A. Adebanjo, Agboola Oshodi-Glover, A.K. Shodipo, Idris Faruk Umar, and Usman Yakubu.

    Others are – Mohammed Sani Usman, Ibrahim Adamu, Salisu Fagge Abdullahi, Lawal Shehu, Nyats Nyehsu Jatau, Tijani Baba, Mohammed K. Mohammed, Paul E. Okafor, Vanletine U. Ntomchukwu, Ademola Omole, Joshak Habila, Adeyemi O. Samuel Ogunjemilusi, Ishaku Alhaji Barau, Sam Okaula, DibaL Paul Yakadi, Haruna Huzi Mshelia, Usman Ali Abdullahi, and Mohammed A. Mustafa.

  • Vehicle owners get ultimatum

    Vehicle owners get ultimatum

    The Lagos State Police Command has warned the owners of all accidented and abandoned vehicles parked at Ajah Division to remove them within 21 days of this publication or lose them to members of the public. They are: Mercedes Benz G-Wagon with registration number KJA 534 AAA, Kia-Rio KJA 225 BE, Toyota 4Runner DN 866 JJJ, LT Bus Volkswagen FX 118 AKD,  Mercedes Benz 200 LQ 79 AAA, Nissan Primera BC 847 APP, Toyota Camry APP 481 BE, Jagua LSD 664 BE, Opel Astra CK 115 LSR, Mazda 323 KJA 688 BF and Lexus Jeep unregistered.

  • Police insurance premium

    •We can’t get the best from the cops when govt keeps delaying payment 

    We are astonished that a mountain is being made out of the Federal Government embarking on the needful by setting aside N3.5bn as insurance premium for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for the 2015 financial period. More outrageous is the fact that the newly approved premium expected to be paid to Custodian and Allied Insurance and 21 other insurance firms as underwriters for the police in 2015 had expired since December, last year.

    This is despite the fact that the underwriters had long sent reminder letter about the expiry date of the insurance policy to relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government. Yet, the MDAs have been apathetic despite their knowing that insurance companies, as provided by law, run a policy of ‘no premium, no cover’. The Insurance Act 2003, section 50 is explicit: “The receipt of an insurance premium shall be a condition precedent to a valid contract of insurance and there shall be no cover in respect of an insurance risk unless the premium is paid in advance.”

    The concerned authorities need to be asked about the fate of policemen faced with misfortunes in the intervening period of premium default for 2015 so far, in view of the volatile security situation in the country. Equally worthy of note is the observation that the police premium for 2014 is reportedly the same as 2015. The question: If premium is determined by claims made by the insured in the covered years, why is it that police premium has remained static despite reported increase in the number of incidents leading to more claims from the underwriters? Is the 2015 police insurance premium officially assumed or based on policy advice from the underwriters that are aware of the consequences of under-insurance when in the long or short run, the need for claims arises?

    We are aware of the demand for enormous insurance claims from underwriters by widows and dependants of slain police and other paramilitary men and officers engaged in battles with the Boko Haram insurgents in the north east and others in the line of duty in other parts of the country.

    The figures purportedly sent by the underwriters and the National Insurance Commission in September 2013 to the  office of Accountant-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Finance reportedly showed that a significant number of men of the armed forces and police were killed on duty.

    For instance, between January and June, 2013, claims of above N1.5billion were recorded from men that were killed on duty alone, without those that died from other causes. The reason for the static premium figures remains scary.

    We are also aware of provision for Group Life Insurance Cover under the Pension Reform Act which is meant to provide financial compensation to dependants/relatives of an insured worker who dies while still in service. But since the NPF gained its autonomy over its insurance matters and equally got separated from the civil service and other forces in 2013, we expect a better coordinated structure for all they do; something that is a far cry from its shoddy handling by the office of the secretary to government of the federation. This is today not the situation.

    It is sad that the nation is still grappling with how to sort out police insurance premium in an age and time when such an issue should be taken as given. It is equally disheartening to know that the same police that governments unleash on the society just to perpetuate themselves in power are not well taken care of. If the government is genuine and sincere about building a committed police institution, the police should be insured as a matter of law, and not as an act of favour.

  • Police intercept truckload of arms in Kwara

    Police intercept truckload of arms in Kwara

    *APC wants security agents to act on attacks of members

    The Kwara state police command has intercepted a truckload of arms and ammunitions in Kosubosu, a border town in Baruten local government area.

    This came as the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state urged security agents to act on attacks of its members by suspected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) thugs.

    Last Wednesday, suspected PDP hoodlums attacked the campaign train of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and Senator Bukola Saraki in Isapa, Ekiti local government area of the state.

    The Ibadan, Oyo state bound vehicle with registration number Lagos XU 110 BDG was said to be coming from Burkina-Faso.

    Officers and men of the Kosubosu Divisional Police Headquarters nabbed the driver alongside another accomplice.

    A police source said that the arms, which comprised scores of cartons of cartridges, were securely concealed in the truck.

    Occupants of the vehicle were given as Abdulazeez Isiaka and Amusa Amodu.

    The state police Commissioner, Salihu Garba, confirmed the arrest.

    He added that another vehicle was with arms and ammunition was impounded around that axis yesterday.

    Garba added that the command had dispatched some officers and men of the state Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to the border community for further investigations.

    Reacting to the development, the council chair, Mallam Mohammed Omar-Bio, described the incident as saddening especially at the general elections are around the corner.

    The chairman, who also was at the police station to inspect the bullets, applauded the men of the Nigeria police in the area for their gallantry and doggedness, calling for an immediate promotion of the officers.

    He said: “This has confirmed that those people that are threatening the existence of Nigeria about the election mean the business.”

    The council boss however warned people against any act inimical to the peaceful existence of the country and that of free and fair election.

    Specifically, APC urged the police to call the PDP governorship candidate in the state to order to stem the tide of political violence.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Ilorin, the state capital, Chairman of APC, Alhaji Ishola Balogun-Fulani, alleged: “A candidate of the PDP has camped suspected hired assassins in different hotels ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

    “We do not believe that police and other security agencies in the state should be urged or begged to do their jobs before they take actions on the unlawful and criminal activities of the PDP.

    “Disturbingly, the fact that the police have handled the violent PDP and its rampaging thugs with kid-gloves signals to, perhaps, a collaboration between the police and the PDP in the state.

    “If indeed there is no collaboration between the police and the PDP, the police command should show and assure the people of the state that that the police command is in charge of the security of the state.”

  • Police, DSS ‘arrest’ council chairman

    Police, DSS ‘arrest’ council chairman

    Security operatives yesterday ‘arrested’ the Chairman of Oyo West Local Government Area of Oyo State, Soji Ojo-Awo.

    It was gathered that the arrest was not unconnected with the pulling down of the billboard of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Teslim Folarin, which was said to have been erected in front of the local government secretariat.

    Sources said PDP members  complained to the police and the Department of State Security (DSS) in Ibadan, the state capital.

    Ojo-Awo was said to have been summoned by the agencies. He wrote statements and was detained.

    The council chairman was said to have insisted that he knew nothing about the destruction and that it was wrong for the opposition to erect a billboard at the entrance of the council secretariat at Ojongbondu.

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Olayiwola Adeyemi, saved the situation from degenerating as supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were moblising for what they referred to as “arbitrary use of security agencies by the PDP to harass, intimidate and victimise the progressives”.

    Some of the aggrieved APC members accused the PDP of removing their candidates’ posters and replacing them with those of PDP’s candidates.

  • Police redeploy 16 commissioners

    THE Police Service Commission has approved the redeployment of 16 commissioners of police.

    The redeployment is in line with the commission’s drive to reposition the Force for optimal performance, according to a statement by the commission’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Mr. Ikechukwu Ani.

    Affected in the exercise are the Commissioner of Police (CP) in Ekiti State, Fredrick Lakanu, who has been moved to Ogun State Command; CP Ibrahim K. Idris (CP PMF FHQ, Abuja) move to Kano State Command, CP Musa Katsina Mohammed – Nigeria Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Jos – to Oyo State Command; and CP Usman Tilli Abubakar (NIPSS, Jos) to Jigawa State Command.

    Others include CP Olufemi David Ogunbayode (NIPSS, Jos) to Zamfara State Command; CP Mohammed Sani Usman (CP MS ‘F’ Dept. FHQ) to Nasarawa Command; CP Nyats Nyehsu Jatau (CP Railway Lagos) to Taraba State Command; CP Mohammed K. Mohammed (Dep. CMDT, PSC, Jos) to Bauchi State; and CP Karma Hosea Hassan (CP Anambra State) to Rivers State.

    Also moved are CP Joshak Habila (CP CTU, FHQ) to Abia State; CP Salisu Fagge Abdullahi (CP Special Fraud Unit (SFU), FHQ) to Sokoto State; CP Damilola Samuel Adegbuyi (CP, SFU, FHQ) to Edo State; CP Adeyemi O. Samuel Ogunjemilusi (CP Interpol FCID, FHQ) to Ekiti State; CP Dibal Paul Yakadi (FC2i/c Anambra State) to CP Anambra State; CP Tonye Ebitibituwa (CP ‘A’ R&P FHQ Abuja) to Cross River State Command; and CP Danladi Mshelbwala (CP EOD FHQ, Abuja) to CP Kebbi State Command.

  • Slain police officer’s family cries out over alleged neglect

    Slain police officer’s family cries out over alleged neglect

    For the family of one of the four policemen killed in the recent armed robbery attack on Ikare-Akoko in Akoko North East Local Government Area of Ondo State, it has been a tale of woe since their breadwinner, Corporal Kola Ogidan was killed in the January 13 attack that also claimed the lives of 19 others.

    Still struggling to come to terms with the sudden death of Ogidan, the family is faced with lack of money to organize a befitting burial for their slain son. And their problem is compounded by the police authority’s seeming reluctance to offer any form of assistance.

    The family, in a statement, alleged neglect by the state police command and has therefore cried out to the Inspector General of Police Mr Sueiman Abba to come to their aid and intervene in the matter.

    They said the command complained of paucity of fund when asked for money to organize Ogidan’s funeral rites.

    Ogidan who was popularly called “Kola Team” was attached to Akure Road Police post in Ikare Akoko and was shot to death on the day of the incident by the armed robbers who invaded the town.

    The family noted that the late Ogidan’s entitlements from the Police force were also not released by the State Police authorities.

    The family noted that the deceased Police Officer who was survived by an aged mother, pregnant wife and children died while serving his nation, hence the need for the government to compensate them.

    It was learnt that Late Ogidan was one of the few Police Officers that faced the robbers in an attempt to protect the masses.

    Also, it was learnt that the deceased’s family had met with the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Isaac Eke on the matter but nothing positive came out of the meeting. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Wole Ogodo could not be reached for comments.

    Residents of the town have however called on the Nigerian Army to establish a military check point in the town to forestall further ugly occurrence.

    The State Assembly at its sitting on Tuesday also called for the establishment of Military post in Ikare-Akoko Community.

    A community Leader, Chief Saliu Ojelabi said the community needed heavy presence of security men to ensure security of its people.

     

  • APC slams DSS, Police for silence on threats by ex-militants

    APC slams DSS, Police for silence on threats by ex-militants

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has slammed the Directorate of State Service (DSS) and the police for their “loud silence” on the threats of war by ex-militants.

    The failure of the security agencies to act is an indication of their double standard and lack of fairness, the party said in a statement issued yesterday in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

    To the APC, Chief Government Ekpemukpolo (alias Tompolo), Mujadeen Asari-Dokubo and others met at the Government House in Bayelsa, threatening to go to war should President Goodluck Jonathan lose the February 14 election.

    It is insightful to

    note that the same security agencies that reacted with hysteria to the harmless comments by Governor Rotimi Amaechi have suddenly lost their voices when the ex-militants threatened to wage war on the nation.

    ‘’When Governor Amaechi said soldiers had the right to protest if their welfare was not taken care of, the DSS was at its most efficient level, with its voluble spokesperson threatening fire

    and brimstone and only stopping short of arresting the governor, despite his immunity.

    ‘’When the same Governor Amaechi said the APC will form a parallel government if the Feb. 14th and 28th elections are rigged, the same DSS and the police sought to outdo each other with threats and condemnation of what they called ‘inciting comments’, even when Governor

    Amaechi’s warning was conditional.

    ‘’Now, the ex-militants have said President Jonathan must be re-elected or they will unleash violence on the country. In other words, it is immaterial whether or not he loses in a free and fair

    elections. There is no clearer indication of impunity than the action of the ex-militants, who issued their threats in the Bayelsa government house, with the governor of the state in attendance.

    ‘’More than a week later, the DSS has been missing in action while the police, in what can pass as a most shocking reaction, said they are still studying the ex-militants’ comments. Even after former Defence Minister Gen.Theophilus Danjuma called for the arrest of the ex-militants for their treasonable threats, and the ex-militants had the audacity to repeat the threats, the police still continued to ‘study’ the threats. This is simply unbelievable,’’ it said.

    APC said the implication of the conspiracy of inaction by the DSS and the police is that, under the administration of President Jonathan, there are different rules for different Nigerians, wondering how the security agencies can be trusted to provide a level playing ground for

    all political parties before, during and after the forthcoming general elections.

    ‘’For supporters of President Jonathan, there is no law, there is no police, there is no DSS. Their support for the President is a licence for lawlessness and irresponsibility, and if at all there is any law, they remain far above such law. That is why they could dare the entire nation by issuing such treasonable comments and get away with their action,’’ the party said.

    It called on Nigerians to take note of the glaring double standard of the security agencies, while urging local and international observers to closely monitor the activities of the security agents before, during and after the polls.

    ‘’On our part, the fact that the DSS and the police, both of which have issued their last warnings against those making inciting comments, have failed to move against the war-mongering ex-militants is a confirmation of what we have always believed: that national institutions have been deployed in the pursuit of partisan, rather than national interests under the Administration of President Jonathan,’’ APC said.

  • Police get 2,564 vehicles

    Police get 2,564 vehicles

    The Federal Government has procured over 2,564 vehicles for the police as part of the facilities needed for the general elections.

    Vice President Namadi Sambo, who launched the vehicles in Abuja yesterday, said the procurement was part of the implementation of the police reform programme.

    He explained that the programme would enable the police to have the infrastructure needed to ensure the safety of the citizens.

    Some of the vehicles commissioned include 170 Nissan NP 300 Hard Body Patrol Pick Up Vans; 129 Nissan Frontier Double Cabin Patrol Vehicles; 50 Nissan Patrol 4WD Jeeps; 10 Toyota Double Cabin Armoured Patrol Van; and four Ford 550 Model 4×4 armoured personnel carriers.

  • Police parade six robbery suspects

    The Abia State Police Command has paraded six suspected armed robbers with a pledge to curb crimes.

    Parading the suspects in Umuahia at the weekend, Police Commissioner Adamu Ibrahim said the command took security measures, which resulted in the arrest of over 200 suspects before, during and after the Yuletide.

    He said his men, while patrolling Aba-Owerri Expressway, arrested Chinaza Ofoegbu from Isuikwuato with a machete at a black-spot at Aro-Ngwa near Aba.

    Ibrahim said an armed robbery suspect, whose name had been on the police watch list, Chimere Eze, aka ‘Nwa Barrister’, had been arrested.

    He said the suspect evaded arrest for over three years and was arrested with a locally- made pistol hidden in a brown bag at Asaga village, Arochukwu where he fought his colleagues.

    The police commissioner said his men raided Asaeme village, Uratta, Aba and arrested Onyekachi Uchendu of 11D Faulks Road, Aba in a hideout with one unregistered Skygo motorcycle suspected to have been stolen.

    He said another armed robbery suspect, Uchenna Ibeawuchi, of Umulolo Olokoro was arrested for possession of a stolen motorcycle.

    “On interrogation, he confessed, which led to the recovery of six motorcycles.”

    Ibrahim said his men apprehended Enyinnaya Umegbulam for attacking Chibuike Ojiabo and Azubike Paul, both of Ihie Ndume in Umuahia.

    According to him, the suspect injured the two with stones, sticks and bottles and stole their phones and money.

    Ibrahim said Ojiabo, who was injured, died in hospital while Umegbulam ran away.

    “However, my men later arrested him.”

    He said the police at Bende Division received a distress call from a citizen at Ozuitem and when they got there, with the help of a vigilance group,  arrested Okorie Dick with a locally-made pistol.

    “Efforts are being made to arrest his colleague, Uwalaka Nwokorie, of Ozuitem.”

    Ibrahim said the last person paraded was Ezekiel Ogbaa, who was arrested while trying to steal an MTN transformer.

    He said the suspect conspired with five others at large, adding that his men recovered a Citroen Jumper bus registered as WER 36 EM, used by the suspects.