The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Police

  • Police, OPC foil robbery in Lagos

    In attempt by some armed robbers to unleash terror on residents of Bode Thomas Street and its environs in the Palmgrove area of Lagos suffered a blow in the wee hours of yesterday.

    The night marauders, The Nation gathered, sneaked into the street about 2.45am through the Awoyokun axis of Ikorodu Road, swooping on a building before they were dispersed.

    The attempt came two months after some robbers wrote to residents of the area, threatening to “visit them soon like the coming of Jesus Christ.”

    Following the notice that rattled residents, operatives from the Ilupeju Police Station promptly embarked on night patrol of the area.

    “They (the robbers) came in when everyone was deep in sleep. The overpowered the two security guards on guard at both ends of the street, beat them thoroughly before gaining entry into a building. But they could not go beyond the building when help came from some neighbours and the police, following residents’ outcry for help,” a resident, who simply gave his name as Saheed, spoke with The Nation about 8am yesterday when they stood in groups discussing the incident.

    “That was the first time I would witness a prompt response by the police in such a situation; they surprised us,” he added.

    A member of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) in the area, who rose to the occasion with his colleagues, said: “It was about 3am. We were woken up by frightening sounds of gunshots from the axis. We mobilised and rushed down there. We gave the robbers a hot chase but they were lucky to escape. We were still around when policemen came.”

    A lucky victim, who would not want his name mentioned, said one of the robbers was about assaulting him when the intervention came. “I thank God that I survived it,” he said.

    A worried resident, Mrs Mariam Lawal, who pleaded with the police to sustain their patrol of the area, also urged more surveillance on the notorious Awoyokun/Ikorodu Road junction where, according to her, nightfall “brings evil and tears.”

    “People avoid the spot whenever night falls, especially from 7.30pm. Some bad boys are fond of hiding there to dispossess pedestrians of money and other valuables. I have fallen victim twice. I want the police to keep an eye on the place at night to save us and others from attacks,” she said.

    Following yesterday’s incident, it was gathered that elders in the community were making efforts aimed at strengthening security of lives and property in the neighbourhood.

  • Why we invaded NASS – Police

    Why we invaded NASS – Police

    The police authorities have said that their officers and men stormed the National Assembly on Thursday, following intelligence report of a likely invasion of the House of Representatives by hoodlums and thugs.

    “The Nigeria Police Force promptly deployed its personnel to the premises to prevent a breakdown of law and order. Consequently, the police cordoned the area and began screening of all members and visitors alike,” a statement issued on Thursday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, said.

    The statement continued: “In the course of this lawful exercise, Alh. Aminu Tambuwal CFR, arrived the venue with a motley crowd, who broke the cordon, assaulted the police and evaded due process and the police had the duty to restore order and normalcy, using lawful means.

    “The IGP seizes this medium to warn all political actors and their followers to respect constituted authority and due process and to desist from the use of thugs to pursue their agenda.

    “The Nigeria Police shall continually apply all lawful means to prevent a breakdown of law and order in all segments of the society and shall apply the full weight of the law on any political actor who violates the peace and security of the nation.”

  • Police alleges arms build-up in Edo

  • Police, residents end robbers’ reign

    Police, residents end robbers’ reign

    THREE among the four armed robbery suspects who allegedly laid siege to the Oke Odun in Shashi, a Lagos suburb, have been seized by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos State Police Command.

    Residents said the bandits raided their homes, injuring victims and carting away money and other valuables.

    The suspects are: Chukwuemeka Bright Bardi (23), Dare Adetunji and Abraham Nsong, both aged 21. The fourth suspect, Joshua, is at large.

    A police source said the three suspects stormed a house on Salvation Street, on October 21, inflicted deep machete cut on their woman victim’s head and shot one of her daughters, Ann, in the leg. After injuring two other members of the house, they were said to have made away with money, phone sets and laptops.

    “They attacked them with a locally made pistol, pestle and kitchen knife, which police recovered,” the source said.

    After the attack, the victims reportedly raised the alarm and the community’s vigilance men cordoned off the area, leading to the arrest of Dare and Abraham. Their arrest led to that of Chukwuemeka, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    Chukwuemeka claimed that he did not follow the other two suspects on the operation that fateful day, but Dare and Abraham said he lied.

    Abraham said Dare broke the woman’s head, adding that Joshua that shot Ann in the leg.

    Dare, who confessed that he had participated in robberies four times, added: “The first operation fetched me N15, 000.

    The fourth operation failed. But since I started robbery, I have not shot or killed anybody.”

  • Three killed as police, kidnappers battle

    The Police Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Anambra State and a six-man gang of suspected kidnappers yesterday engaged in a gun battle at Okpoko in Ogbaru Local Government.

    Three suspects died in the incident.

    A victim, Mrs. Edith Maduekwe, who was kidnapped by the suspects on October 4 at Oba in Idemili South Local Government, was rescued at Oraukwu in Idemili North Council.

    Seven hundred and seventy-six thousand naira, which was part of the N1.4million ransom paid by the victim’s family, was recovered.

    Items recovered from the suspects included one Ak-47 rifle with 90 rounds, one pump action gun with 10 live cartridges, charms, etc.

    Parading the suspects, police spokesman Uche Ezeh said the leader of the gang, Charlie Parker, had been on the wanted list for four years.

    He said acting on a tip-off, the SARS Commander, James Nwafor, led his men to Okpoko where the suspects were sharing the ransom.

    According to him, when the suspects saw the police, they opened fire.

    Ezeh said three suspects were killed, while three were arrested with injuries, adding that one of them led the police to where the victim was rescued, before he died.

    He said the suspects demanded N50million from the victim’s family before the amount was reduced to N1.4million, which was paid to them.

    Seventeen suspects were paraded by the command for vandalism, rape, child trafficking and car snatching.

    Two women were apprehended for allegedly involving in child trafficking at Ihiala.

    One of the women, 32-year-old Oluchi Eze, was said to own a brothel (Mancho Hotels) at Uli in Ihiala Local Government.

    She was allegedly involved in selling a child  for N400,000 with Ikenna Nzomiwu (at large), after snatching the baby from Chinyere Ohamuzo.

    They allegedly carried out the child trafficking on October 28 at Uli in Ihiala Local Government.

    Also, 22-year-old Chidiebere Ohanome from Unuobo village in Okija allegedly sold her son to an un-named woman for N200,000 after delivery in Onitsha.

    She told The Nation that she wanted to abort the pregnancy, but was allegedly lured into child trafficking by one Dozie.

    Others paraded included four men arrested for alleged car snatching.

    They are 26-year-old Chigozie Obeleagu from Imo State, 25-year-old Kelechukwu Okoye from Orlu in Imo State, 56- year-old Peter Nnadika, also from Imo State and 38-year-old Oliver Adaonu from Nsukka in Enugu State.

    Chibuzor Udensi from Okija, Okoli Udochukwu, Onyemechi Chibueze and Asuquo Effiong from Akwa-Ibom were paraded for allegedly vandalising the property of the Power Holdings Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

    The command also paraded Ezenwoko Fred, who claimed to be a student of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State for alleged robbery.

    The “final year Electrical/Electronics Engineering student”, who hails from Ebema, Omoku in Rivers State, claimed he was given a pistol by his friend, Frank, to intimidate a girl, who refused to yield to his advances after collecting his money.

    The police spokesman said the suspects would be investigated and prosecuted.

    He urged parents to monitor their children, saying the command would make the state crime-free.

  • Police seal off Emeakayi’s office in Anambra

    Police seal off Emeakayi’s office in Anambra

    Battle-ready police operatives yesterday sealed off the secretariat belonging to the Prince Ken Emeakayi-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa, capital of Anambra State.

    This followed the factionalisation of the party in the state owing to leadership tussle.

    Emeakayi’s tenure was said to have ended on the 24th of October, 2014 when the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) dissolved it, paving way for Ejike Oguebego to take over the leadership of the party in Anambra State.

    But the Police denied sealing off the secretariat.

    Police spokesperson, Uche Ezeh, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), told reporters the action was to forestall breakdown of law and order.

    Despite the police denial, the office was under lock and key with red-eyed police operatives in charge.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which had earlier written a letter to the National Secretariat of PDP over the leadership crisis, monitored the congresses in all the 21 Local Government Areas in the state.

    It said it recognises only the Oguebego’s faction whose election it supervised.

    The congress, which started at 10am, held in all the 326 wards in the 21 local government areas.

  • Police withdraw Tambuwal’s security detail

    Police withdraw Tambuwal’s security detail

    The Acting- Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has ordered the withdrawal of security detail attached to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal.

    The order is contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu.

    The statement reads: “In view of the recent defection by the Right Honourable Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “Having regard to the clear provision of section 68(1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has redeployed its personnel attached to his office.

  • New squad for Abia police

    New squad for Abia police

    Hard times await criminals in Abia State as its police command has inaugurated a new squad trained to better contain hoodlums.

    Members of the squad have just concluded a two-week intensive orientation in weapon-handling, including how to cock a gun in three seconds, baton exercise, ambush and counter-ambush, among others.

    The new anti-crime team called Rapid Response Squad (RRS) was drawn from the State Police Headquarters, Umuahia, Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Police Mobile Force 28 and 55.

    It is expected that with the experience they gathered during their training period as well as in continuous training and retraining, the officers will function optimally and help to reduce incidents of crime in the state.

    Speaking at the passing-out ceremonies to mark the inauguration of the squad, the state police commissioner, Adamu Ibrahim assured that with the setting up of the crime-fighting team, crime and insecurity in Aba and the state will be a thing of the past.

    Ibrahim urged the officers to work hard to ensure that the aim of the command in setting up the team is not defeated. The state police chief also expressed his satisfaction with the trainees’ gallantry throughout the orientation period.

    Mr. Ibrahim said he was optimistic that the new squad would have a great impact in the command. He donated a hilux van to the team and promised to equip them with the necessary gadgets they will need to function effectively.

    In his address Aba Police Mobile Force 55 Squadron Commander, CSP Wilson Dankwano lauded the CP for setting up the squad, noting the CP’s achievements in the state since he assumed office in the state.

    Dankwano expressed optimism that with the level of experience the officers gathered from the two weeks training exercise, the command will be better policed and more secure.

    The RSS squad commander, DSP Idehai Godwin described their experience during the two weeks training as a bit strenuous but said that it would keep his team fit and smart for the task ahead of them, adding that they can perfectly use the baton to also destabilise and arrest suspects.

    Promising to use their wealth of experience to nip crime in the bud in the state and Aba business community, Godwin requested for the provision of necessary working materials and gadgets to make their work easier and effective.

    Some of the officers interviewed promised to give their best, adding that they were aware of the expectation of the command and the public.

  • Police: ex-council boss freed

    Police: ex-council boss freed

    The police in Ondo State at the weekend said the kidnapped former Chairman of Irele Local Government Area, Nicholas Akinbiola, has been released by his abductors.

    He was released before his relatives were about to meet the N20million demand of the kidnappers.

    Commissioner of Police Isaac Eke said this while parading 13 suspects at his office in Akure, the state capital.

    He said the family failed to carry along the police in the negotiation process.

    Eke said nine of the suspects were arrested for robbery and four for cultism.

    The commissioner said the four cultism suspects -Sunday Osunmadewa, Samson Balogun, Muritala Olawale and Imoleayo Akinlami -were arrested at Ife garage roundabout in Ondo town.

    He praised residents for giving useful information to the police

  • Navy hands over 23 suspected vandals to police

    Navy hands over 23 suspected vandals to police

    Twenty-three suspected pipeline vandals arrested in Ikorodu, Lagos State during a recent operation by the Nigerian Navy (NN) have been handed over to the police for action.

    Last month, Navy began an operation code-named ”AWATSE”, a Hausa word which means scatter around Ikorodu, to rid the area of oil thieves and pipeline vandals.

    Led by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command (WNC), Rear Admiral Sanmi Alade, naval personnel recovered over 2000 kegs loaded with petroleum products from the area.

    A statement by the command’s information officer, Lieutenant Commander Abdulsalam Sani disclosed that all retrieved kegs have been handed over to PPMC.

    Sani said that the 23 suspects were handed over to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Anti Pipeline Vandalism Unit, because preliminary investigations revealed they have cases to answer.

    Lt Commander Sani, who said the operation was still ongoing, emphasised the zero tolerance for illegality within the nation’s maritime dormain by the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin.

    ?He said: “The Commander NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Tekeimo Ikoli, who represented the FOC (Alade) at the occasion, handed the suspects over to the representative of the IGP Anti-Pipeline Vandalism Team, Xpress Omoigue (DSP).”