The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Police

  • Police tackle housing deficits in Aba

    Police tackle housing deficits in Aba

    The Aba Area Commander of the Abia State police command, Assistant Commissioner of Police Peter Wagbara has started addressing the accommodation challenges in his jurisdiction. Dilapidated structures are being rehabilitated. The commander’s quarters are also being rebuilt and expanded to accommodate more people.

    The woeful housing profile of the police is well documented. Their barracks built decades ago can only house a limited number of personnel. Even those inadequate facilities are filthy in most cases, with all kinds of negative behaviour associated with them. As a result, a good number of police personnel live outside the barracks, exposing themselves to undue danger and indignities, such as rent issues.

    A police source recalled how a friend and course mate from Police College Enugu was gruesomely murdered by men of the underworld immediately after their posting. The source said his friend would not have been killed in the manner he was if he were appropriately housed in the barracks.

    The source also said he too has been living outside the barracks for over 20 years.

    “My friend and course mate after we passed out from the police college in Enugu was posted to one of the communities in one of the southeastern states. When he got there, he told me that there were no quarters for them and so he had to go and rent an apartment outside the station.

    “One day when he was sleeping, some armed men attacked his area and when they got to his house and upon discovering that he was a police officer, they inflicted bodily injuries on him before riddling his body with bullets.

    “They didn’t get any arms because we book and sign out our guns from the armoury as soon as we are through with the day’s duty. You know that police or security agents are usually seen by the bad boys as their rivals. That was how I lost my bosom course mate.

    “If he was living in a police barracks such things would not have happened even though I have lived outside the barracks after my training till date. It has not been easy living in the midst of civilians. Are you talking about the continued harassment of the landlord, co-tenants or the community that one lives? It is not easy but there is nothing one can do owing to the nature and health condition of most of the police quarters.

    “Sometimes, the sewage is full and nobody cares to evacuate it, making some people to even defecate in nearby bushes. I even find it difficult as I am talking to you to visit some of my friends who stay in the quarters,” the source said.

    To address the issue of accommodation in his command, the Aba Area Commander, ACP Peter Wagbara on resumption of office started with the reconstruction and expansion of office of the Area Commander and the rehabilitation of Area Commander’s quarters in Aba which was abandoned for more than 10 years after it was burnt.

    The Nation gathered that while several attempts by Wagbara’s predecessors to renovate the house failed because of “paucity of fund”, they resorted to paying heavy hotel bills throughout their stay which Wagabra was not comfortable with, hence the renovation of the ACP’s quarters, renovation of offices and one of the residential quarters for officers and men under his command through the assistance of public spirited individuals.

    It was gathered that the renovation work on the residential quarters at its completion would provide accommodation for over 100 policemen.

    One other key area that received a facelift is the communication or control room of the Area Command which has been equipped with modern communication gadgets which has made communication with patrol teams more effective and that according to sources at the Aba Area Command helped in checking crime in commercial city especially, during the Christmas festivity where no crime was recorded in any part of the command during the period.

    Some of the police officers who spoke to our correspondent thanked Peter Wagbara for seeing the need to rehabilitate their dilapidated quarters which would go a long way to solve their accommodation problems when completed as they equally called on the police authority to build more quarters for them in order to save them from being exposed to preventable dangers.

    A police officer living outside the barracks who would not want his name in print told our correspondent that the dangers of living outside the barracks contribute to the level of their performance and productivity.

    According to him, most policemen resident outside the barracks don’t perform optimally because of the dangers of being attacked by their host community, armed robbers and hoodlums who would trace them to their homes to unleash terror on them.

  • Processional campaign banned

    Processional campaign banned

    The police yesterday banned processional campaign in Ogun and warned political parties and candidates to abide by the ban or face prosecution.

    The police also banned the use of uniformed personnel like operatives of Vigilance Group, Task Force officers as well as state-owned Traffic Compliance Agency – TRACE- other than police officers during campaign rallies.

    The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Akpoebi Egbuson, gave the warning in Abeokuta, the state capital, yesterday while addressing leadership of the political parties.

    Egbuson said the ban was predicated on the need to forestall electoral violence and other actions, such as mutilation or defacing campaign posters and billboards.

    He said the ban on the use of uniformed operatives besides the police was in compliance with the directives of the inspector-general of Police (IG).

    Egbuson advised parties to educate their members and supporters to ensure that ethnic factor, tribes and religion of contestants were not used as basis for campaigning against or in favour of party and candidates.

  • Election: Ondo Police preach peace at forum

    Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Isaac Eke has  warned politicians to be peaceful ahead of next month general elections.

    He said the police would ensure that erring politicians face the law.

    Eke, while addressing candidates of various political parties at a stakeholders’ meeting in Akure, said the police were prepared for the February polls with a promise that no officer would compromise during the elections.

    He decried political violence before, during and after elections, stressing that the police would ensure that those planning to cause violence are arrested the elections.

    Eke added that any individual who breaks the electoral laws would be prosecuted.

    He pointed out that political leaders should shun violence and any acts that could undermine the confidence the masses reposed in them.

    According to him, all electoral offenders would be prosecuted by the police in accordance with the provisions of the electoral act and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Eke said the state police command would provide adequate security for all the candidates seeking elective offices

    He also  assured the people of the state of the readiness of the police to create an enabling environment for all political parties during the polls.

    The State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Mr Segun Agbaje stressed that the commission would not be involved in any illegitimate act during the elections.

    He said “We are prepared to conduct a free and fair election and no party or individual will be treated with favour. Every candidate and political parties are the same before INEC. We shall not show interest in any candidate or political party before and during the polls.

    “Even all members of staff of the commission and the ad hoc staff that will participate in the election will also attest to an oath to ensure their neutrality during the exercise.

  • 85-year-old community leader beheaded over land tussle

    85-year-old community leader beheaded over land tussle

    An 85-year-old community leader at Aruogba village in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, Goodluck Uwumahongie, has been beheaded.

    His attackers reportedly took away his severed head.

    The late Uwumahongie was reportedly shot before his head was severed.

    He was said to have fled to nearby Irhirhi village with his family, following a crisis at his former home in Aruogba village.

    Three persons, including the community Youth Chairman, Okoro Obaretin, have been killed and several houses razed since the crisis broke out on November 23, 2014.

    Arougba was desolate yesterday.

    Houses, except those built by non-indigenes, wer locked.

    It was learnt that Uwumahongie’s killers scaled the fence at 5pm and committed the crime.

    His widow, Julie, 55, said she was informed about 5.30pm that her husband had been killed.

    She said her husband was killed in a tussle for the community land.

    She said: “One man, Osamwonyi, had threatened to kill my husband before the crisis. After we ran away from the village during the crisis to seek refuge at my father’s village at Irhirhi. He saw him here and said he would still kill him.”

    On how her husband died, she said: “I was called that my husband was brutally killed because of a land tussle. There had been a disagreement over the community’s land.

    “People said he was shot before they cut off his head and took the head away.

    “I hid my husband in my father’s house. Nobody was at home when it happened.”

    Police spokesman Joseph Edogiawerie, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the killing.

    He said two suspects had been arrested.

    Edogiawerie said the police were on the trail of the killers, who he said left with the victim’s head.

  • Two teenagers killed

    Two teenagers killed

    The police in Ondo State are searching for the killers of two teenage girls in Iju, Akure North Local Government.

    The bodies of Oyinkansola Owoeye and Folasade Bello were discovered by some residents.

    It was gathered that the two girls were killed by suspected ritualists, who were “returning” from a shrine.

    A source said the girls were returning from a farm when they met the suspected ritualists.

    The source added that there were machete cuts on them and their blood drained out.

    Police spokesman Wole Ogodo said they were killed by unknown assailants .

    The police spokesman said: “We received information that the two girls, Oyinkansola and Folasade, went to the bush to fetch firewood where they were killed.

    “Our detectives have visited the scene. The bodies have been removed and deposited at the mortuary of the State Specialist Hospital.”

    He noted that no arrest has been made, saying the command has begun investigation.

  • Man ‘beheaded’ in Abia

    Man ‘beheaded’ in Abia

    A man believed to be in his early 30s, Mr. Ahamefula Mba, has been allegedly  beheaded at Umuokwe, Umuhu Ezechi in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State.

    The incident reportedly occurred when he was fetching water in a stream.

    The late Mba is related to a former Commissioner for Lands, Chief Paul Chikezie Mba.

    A source said the victim was not aware that the suspect, Mr. Chinedu Okorie, was hiding, holding a machete, with the intention to cut his head.

    The source said the suspect fled the community after the incident, adding that children, who witnessed the act, cried out, attracting residents.

    The Nation learnt that elders informed the police from Bende division, who took the body to a mortuary.

    The source said before the incident, Okorie behaved in a strange way, adding that he bought a machete and sharpened it.

    “Youths searched for the suspect. When they could not find him, they went on the rampage, destroying his home and farm.”

    Police spokesman Geoffrey Ogbonna confirmed the incident.

    He said the command was looking for the suspect.

  • Police: Buhari’s head teacher not dead

    Police: Buhari’s head teacher not dead

    The Katsina Police Command has dispelled rumours of the alleged murder of Malam Ballo Isyaku, head teacher of Government College, Katsina, who released Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s certificate.

    The command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Aminu Sadiq, made the denial to reporters in Katsina.

    He said the command had contacted top officials of the ministry of Education and they confirmed that the principal was hale and hearty.

    Sadiq said the command also contacted the commissioner for Education and the zonal director of Education, who assured the police that the rumour was false.

    “We are surprised to read the story online that the principal had been killed by unknown gunmen.

    “The command wishes to state that the principal in question is currently organising a naming ceremony for a baby that came into his family,” he said.

    The PPRO called on the members of the public to disregard the publication as the handiwork of mischief-makers, adding that some disgruntled elements were out to cause disaffection among the residents of Katsina.

    The social media had been spreading the rumour that Isyaku had been assassinated by unknown gunmen for releasing the certificate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate.

  • Police to prosecute ‘troublesome’ politicians in Kwara

    Ahead of next month’s general elections, the Kwara State Police Command has vowed to arrest and prosecute any politician found in possession of dangerous weapons.

    Police Commissioner Salihu Garba read the riot act at a security meeting with political stakeholders in Ilorin, the state capital.

    The police chief said the police command would not tolerate the proliferation of firearms.

    He said: “We are not going to give anybody the permit to carry guns. We would not allow anyone to kill us. If you have a disagreement with your opponent, there is a better way to settle it – through the ballot. And if you have cars with factory-fitted tinted glasses, please obtain an official permit so that you can use it.”

    Following the speculation that the police command was planning an indiscriminate arrest of politicians during the general elections, Garba said only those who foment trouble would be arrested.

    He said: “We are not planning to arrest people indiscriminately. I am a human being and I would not like my liberty to be tampered with unnecessarily. Please, let’s talk to our children and wards not to be used by politicians as political thugs. If you do not commit any offence, walahi talahi, Garuba will not arrest or detain anybody.

  • A modern home for Sapele police

    A modern home for Sapele police

    It was a joyous moment for officers and men of the Sapele Police Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, Mr Mamma Sale Rijau, CSP, as the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr Alkali Baba Usman inaugurated a modern police station built by the division.

    The structures, which included a befitting DPO office, an administrative office, a 2-bedroom DPO quarters and borehole facility, were built through the effort of CSP Rijau, who has left marks in several police stations across the state, before his elevation as DPO of the largest division in Delta state.

    The edifice, which is a legacy of the highly respected police officer, was built through communal effort and the goodwill of the police officer who has earned the sobriquet of a ‘Crime Buster’ among his colleagues and members of the community.

    CP Usman was effusive in his praise of CSP Rijau and promised to mention his sterling qualities and dedication to duty to the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abba.

    “This project has been constructed with the cooperation of officers and men and community members, to reduce crime rate to its barest minimum. Sapele, being one of the largest divisions in Delta State, the station was faced with some constraints which hindered efficient performance.”

    CP Usman admonished police officers in the state to borrow a leaf from the dedication and commitment shown by the Sapele DPO over the years and to redouble their effort towards reducing crime and making the society more peaceful and safer.

    He said: “Over the years, there had been repeated cases of serious crimes such as armed robbery, murder, kidnapping and illegal oil bunkering among others and therefore charge his men to work harder to raid the area of the socio-vices.”

    Niger Delta Report gathered that the construction of a new DPO Office and administrative office has brought a relief to the DPO and his administrative officers, who hitherto had to squat in the same overcrowded general build of the station.

    Members of the Ekpan Police Community Relations Committee who attended the ceremony, said they were not surprised by the stride of Rijau, remarking that as DPO of the strategic Ekpan Police Division, he transformed the station and built a perimeter fence to secure the station.

    “He does not rely on handout and other sources of fund, which has helped him to maintain his integrity, he is innovative and creative. He was the one who built a DPO’s quarters as well as developed some new lockup stores to generate revenue to the station.”

    The presence of two serving members of the Delta State Executive council, Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly, Hon Monday Igbuya, two local government council chairmen, traditional rulers, members of NURTW and the state and local chairmen of PCRC, who attended the event were clear testimony of the super cop’s goodwill.

    Speaking with our reporter after the ceremony, the police top brass disclosed that he personally supervised the construction of the new building to ensure that not only was it done properly, but that the cost was brought to the barest without compromising on the quality of materials used.

    He revealed that he pooled resources and support of members of the community, who he had earned their trust to join and partner with the station to combat crime and develop the station as was the case in the new building.

    He said:  “What you are seeing today is the effort of the community, you are seeing the borehole in the station now, the new administration and DPO’s office. We also have a new two bedroom building in the DPO’s quarter now. All this were put in place during my time and I thank my God for it”, CSP Mamman Sale Rijau said.

    According to him; “I have work with the people diligently, they carry me along and I carry them along too hence I was able to put this in place. This is what the IG have been preaching, that the police cannot do it alone and that it will take the effort of members of the public for the police to achieve it purpose of policing the society.

    “I can say I have the spirit to transform wherever I am posted to, I like to leave a good mark which I exhibited when I was in Ekpan. When I was in Ekpan, police goes outside the station to fetch water, so I dug a borehole there, renovated the other two making it three. I put a new structure there too like this one. Anti-Robbery Office, I renovated it, the DPO’s office I also renovated it and so many others and I am very satisfied.

    “I am from Niger state, but Delta has been my home. I feel where you are working, you should transform it and that’s what I am doing”.

    “When we embark on this kind of project, we are only setting examples for junior officer to emulate. I would rather advice the junior officers to emulate the IG and CP because they are the ones we are emulating. They should learn from our senior officers because when you work and people appreciate it you would become satisfy.

    “Everything is not about money because if it was money, I couldn’t have achieved this, I have the power to pocket the money meant for this project, but I said legacy first. I supervised this job myself from starting to ending and I feel satisfied that people are appreciating it.”

  • Police parade eight suspected trans-border robbers

    Police parade eight suspected trans-border robbers

    • I got N28m in one operation, says suspected robbery kingpin

    Eight suspected trans-border armed robbers were Thursday paraded by personnel of the Lagos State Police Command for their involvement in various robberies including N100m around Alakija, Festac and a micro finance bank in Benin Republic.

    Also paraded were a Toyota Sienna bus, two AK 47 rifles, 11 AK47 loaded magazines, which the suspects allegedly hid in a specially constructed compartment underneath the bus.

    The suspects, John Nnmadi, 42, (leader);  Ifeanacho Igwe, 35, Samuel Igbi, 59, Anthony Umeh, 38, Chineye David, 29, Uchenna Eze,  35, Victor Anamalechi, 45 and Desmond Obinna, 32, were said to have been rounded up after the police received intelligence report on December 15, last year.

    The suspects, most of who were interviewed by reporters during the parade claimed they have participated in not more than four operations.

    Unaware that one of his members was in police net, Nnamdi, the gang leader after receiving a call from the member, moved to deliver his international passport as requested but was caught.

    His arrest and confession led to the clamp down of other gang members by the police.

    Eventhough the robbers have been in police custody since December, they showed no sign of remorse, rather, they bickered among themselves on who got the highest loot at each of the operations they had carried out within and outside Nigeria.

    Nnamdi, the gang leader said he collected N20m from the Alakija operation out of which he bought an Infinity jeep and other cars, but his claim was discredited by Ifeanacho who said they both collected N28m each.

    He said: “I got N28m and from the money I bought a tipper truck and a car. I also completed my mother’s house in Onicha LGA in Ebonyi State and sponsored my younger ones in school.

    “I was arrested in Cotonou and jailed for 20 months because I went with a friend to buy guns to start my own gang. But we have not even bought the guns when we were arrested.  It was a set up.

    “I was released on December 31 and came to Lagos only for the police to arrest me on January 5, for an operation we carried out in 2011.

    “It was someone who asked me to escort him to Cotonou to buy the guns. We were supposed to meet someone in Cotonou.

    “When I received my own N28m from the Alakija operation, I ran away from the gang.  Broke my SIM card and bought another line. I bought a bus which I started using for commercial purpose and my tipper was carrying sand.

    “But the tipper had an accident and killed someone. It also fell into water. I have not followed the group for another other operation. I did not go with them for the Cotonou operation in November,” he said.

    Nnamdi told The Nation he was arrested after he got a call from one of his members to bring an international passport forgotten in their operational vehicle.

    “It was Shola (Chineye David) who usually gave us information on where to rob. One Onyema contacted him for the Cotonou operation and he told us.

    “We entered the bank in the night from the back and we tied the security guards who were sleeping.

    “Victor specialises in opening saves and so, he was the one who opened the bank. We saw a bag there and used it in packing the CFA.  We released the security men after our operation.

    “When the money was shared, I got N7m, Shola N7m, Victor N7m and Onyema got up to N3m, the same thing with Nwa Father and others.

    “I bought Corolla for N1.5m in Lagos. We were not caught and we used this Sienna car for the operation.  We don’t usually have problems at the borders because they don’t check our vehicle. We hide our gins under the Sienna.

    “What we got in the Alakija operation was over $200 thousand and when we shared the money, my share was N18m.  That was in 2011.

    “From the money I bought Infinity jeep. I am not the one who built the house, it is my brother who is in France that owns the mansion at Igando.

    “I used part of my money to start importation of musical instruments which I sold at Alaba International market. I used to sell the items and started the business with N3.5m but when I made money from robbery, I started importing.

    “I was arrested when Onyema called me to bring his international passport which he forgot in  the Sienna. I did not know he has been arrested.

    “I have gone for about four operations in Nigeria and Benin Republic I have not gone to any other country. We have never killed or shot anyone because we usually go at night and don’t shoot.

    “I usually hold one of the guns and give one of my guys another one. I have never used charm but I pray before going for operation.

    “I am a Catholic, I go for confessions but I have never told the Priest that I am an armed robber. I am from Obinwa in Abia State. I am married with a child and my wife is currently pregnant. She does not know I am an armed robber.

    “When I was arrested at Ijebu it was because I had a problem with someone over a vehicle.

    “I regret my actions and I want an opportunity to change,” said Nnamdi.

    How they were arrested

    Addressing reporters before the parade the Police Commissioner, Kayode Aderanti said he got the information at about 11:30pm on that fateful day about some deadly trans-border armed robbers in Iba, Festac and Igando.

    Aderanti said upon his directive to the officer in charge of Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS),  Abba Kyari (SP), two SARS decoy teams stormed the hide out of the robbers at Victor y Estate, Iba,  along the LASU IGANDO road, where Igbonwelundu and Umeh were arrested.

    ‘Their confession led to the arrest of Chineye David, Uchenna Eze, Victor Anamalechi,  Ifeanacho Igwe,  Desmond Obinna and Nnamdi John, who is the armourer and gang leader.

    “The operational Toyota Sienna space bus with registration  number KFC and two AK47 rifles with serial numbers 3610142 and UR4341 hidden in a specially constructed compartment underneath the Toyota Sienna were recovered from Nnamdi.

    ‘The suspects confessed to several robberies including bank robbery in Port Novo,  Benin Republic,  a filling station and Bureau De Change robbers in Mali, attempted robbery of UBA Bank,  Shagamu road, Ikorodu,  several robberies in Port Harcourt,  Kano and the biggest of it all, N100m successful robbery in Alakija, Lagos from which Nnamdi John built a mega mansion at Igando and Ifeanacho Igwe built a duplex in his village in Onicha LGA of Ebonyi State.

    However, Igbi who claimed he only received N30, 000 from the group said he had no idea they were armed robbers.

    He said: “I am a bricklayer and I am from Delta State. In 2011, Friday came to my house with Nnamdi. It was in the night and they told me to excuse them.

    “I excused them and when they have finished they gave me N30,000 and I gave my wife N10,000 from the money.

    “I do not know they were into armed robbery.  I knew them before that night. But it was the only time they shared money in my house. I did not ask them why they were giving me money.

    “It was after about one year that news started spreading that N100m was shared in my house.

    “I was inside my compound in December when the police stormed and arrested me. My house is at 10, Ugwu Opera, Victory Estate, Iba.

    “It is only N30,000 I have collected from them and it was the same day that they came to my house.”

    Igbi’s claim was punctured by Chineye David, alias Shola, who told The Nation that they always shared their money in the old man’s house.

    “He is aware of our operations.  We usually meet in his house and share whatever we get in his place.

    “What I received from the Cotonou operation was N5m not N7m.  I was not with them at the Alakija operation. What I have made so far is about N6m.

    “We changed the CFA at Cotonou and we spent two days there before coming to Lagos. I got to know about the bank because my wife is from Benin Republic and I usually frequent that area.

    “I saw how busy the bank was and told my other members that we should attack there.

    “I used shaft to open the bank. I took part in the filling station operation and got N300 thousand there. I also got N600 thousand from an operation at a paint shop.

    “We have gone to another operation at Igando where tippers and trailers park and I only made N20 thousand. In all, I have made about N6m.

    “I used my money to buy a land in Owerri Town in Imo state and I also bought a car. I gave my my family some money too.

    “They do not know I am into armed robbery. I used to own a pharmacy store in Owerri but it closed down before I came to Lagos about 15 years ago.

    “I was a bus conductor when I got to Lagos but it was baba (Igbi) that introduced me to the gang.

    “He knows we go for operations and share what we make in his house.”

    To Eze, he joined the gang after and the robbers snatched a bus he was driving.

    He claimed he was given the bus to drive and make returns by one of the robbers, who is still at large but when he told the said benefactor of his misfortune, he assured him of better things.

    “He told me not to worry that he will speak to his oga on my behalf. That was how I joined the group and my job is to stay with the security guards when they arrest them.”