The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Police

  • Three babies rescued as police smash baby factory

    The Anambra State Police Command at the weekend smashed a baby factory in Odekpe, Ogbaru Local Government Area.

    The police said they rescued three babies from the “factory”.

    Also, a woman, simply identified as “nurse”, was arrested.

    The police uncovered the place when a girl, according to a source, was delivered of a baby boy. But the child was allegedly sold off.

    The mother was said to have raised the alarm.

    The source said security operatives recovered the baby later from the owner of the home and handed it over to the mother.

    Police spokesman Uchenna Eze confirmed the incident to reporters yesterday in Awka, the state capital.

    He said the operation was handled by the state’s joint task force, comprising the military, the police and men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    But the police could not confirm a similar incident in Nnewi, where a cache of arms was reportedly discovered at an erosion site.

    Eze said the arms discovery had not been reported the command.

    Our reporter learnt yesterday that the operation took the security operatives to a bush in Nnewi, where a suspect, simply identified as Ogbonna was arrested.

    The suspect reportedly had a polythene bag containing Indian hemp.

    It was also learnt that the same security operatives stormed an uncompleted estate at Uruagu Nnewi allegedly owned by suspected businessman living overseas.

    Items recovered arms included an AK-47 rifle, a military rifle, handcuffs, 1,500 live ammunition and 30 fully loaded magazines.

  • Fake soldier in police net

    Fake soldier in police net

    A fake soldier, Mohammed Usman, was among suspects paraded yesterday by the police in Kogi State.

    According to the police, Usman, dressed in military uniform, had been extorting money and collecting wares from traders in the name of “his boss”.

    The 32-year old father of three said he got the uniform from a friend, but denied using it to intimidate people.

    Usman said: “I got the uniform from a soldier friend. I never stole in my life. I use the uniform to snap pictures. They came to arrest me in my house. The policemen that arrested me are my friends. They come to my house; we eat and drink, but they arrested me for impersonation because they saw Army uniform in my house.”

    Also paraded were Hinmikalu Joseph (35) and Michael Ogule Babatunde (26), who allegedly prepared Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

    Olawumi Awe, Sunday Owa and Sule Kolo were paraded for allegedly operating an illegal arms factory.

    Items recovered from them included two AK 47 rifles, 19 locally-made single barrel guns, five wooden rifle butts, 26 new cut-to-size barrel pipes, two vehicles and military gears.

    Commissioner of Police Paul Okafor warned criminals to stay away from the state.

    He said over 20 suspects were in police net for various offences.

  • Tension in Ado-Ekiti as police warn trouble-makers

    Tension in Ado-Ekiti as police warn trouble-makers

    There was tension yesterday  in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, following reports that some members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) were planning a reprisal over last Thursday night’s killing of the union’s former chair, Mr. Omolafe Aderiye.

    Factions within the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) also went on a free-for-all at Ajilosun area of the state capital over the harassment of their immediate past state chairman Mr. Rotimi Olanbiwonnu, whose property was burnt.

    Many residents stayed indoors. Churches recorded low attendance.

    Policemen stationed in strategic places subjected motorists to interrogation at checkpoints. Pedestrians were routinely frisked.

    Police Commissioner Taiwo Lakanu said he got report that some hoodlums were planning more attacks.

    He warned those who he described as having no legitimate business in Ekiti to “stay clear or face the full weight of the law”.

    A statement signed by police spokesman Victor Babayemi, said: “The police have placed their men on red alert to prevent these bandits from carrying out their nefarious activities anywhere in the state.

    “The Commissioner of Police, CP Taiwo Lakanu , has ordered the deployment of adequate manpower to embark on extensive vehicle and foot patrols on nooks and crannies of the state.  He has directed that policemen should henceforth embark on thorough searching of vehicles and pedestrians so as to forestall importation of dangerous weapons.

    “In view of the current happenings in the state, the Commissioner of Police wishes to warn that any person or group of persons that have no lawful business in the state should stay clear. He warned that the full weight of the law will be visited on any individual or group fomenting, inciting, aiding or abetting the commission of crime in any part of the state.”

  • Lagos police command gets new spokesperson

    Lagos police command gets new spokesperson

    •Braide transferred to Panti

    Lagos Police Command spokesperson Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), has been redeployed to the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID) at Panti, Yaba, Lagos Mainland.

    She has been replaced with DSP Kenneth Nwosu. The redeployment takes immediate effect.

    Braide assumed office on June 11, 2012 as the first female officer to head the Command’s public relations office.

    In a thank you letter to the media and the public, Braide begged those she might have offended to forgive her.

    She said: “I am using this medium to express my profound gratitude for the maximum support given to me by my friends in the media and Lagosians as a whole. You have been quite cooperative as you assisted me in making my job easier despite my short comings.

    “During the discharge of my duties here in Lagos State as the Police spokesperson, l may have had disagreements with some of you, I hereby use this medium to say “I am sorry”. Considering the complexity of my office and varied opinions, there was no way I wouldn’t have offended someone.

    “As the first female Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos State Police Command, I expressed fears when I assumed office on June 11, 2012, but to my greatest surprise, I experienced the warmest reception and assistance from you all.

    “May I use this medium to thank AIG Umar Manko who accorded me the wonderful opportunity to serve Lagos State. I thank him for his understanding, assistance and fatherly advice during my tenure. My gratitude also goes to the new Commissioner of Police Kayode Aderanti for his understanding during my short stay with him. I also solicit that you accord my junior colleague DSP Kenneth Nwosu the same level of cooperation you gave to me”.

  • Police in Imo launch new outfit to combat crimes

    Police in Imo launch new outfit to combat crimes

    In its determination to combat kidnapping, robbery, car theft, thuggery, cultism and other heinous crimes, the Imo State Police Command has launched a new crime fighting outfit code-named Special Response Squad (SRS).

    The Commissioner of Police, AbdulMajid Ali, said the creation of the outfit was one of the numerous initiatives of the command in ensuring a peaceful, crime-free and secured Imo, especially during the Yuletide.

    He assured that the personnel have been urged to shun corruption and be firm, fair and friendly in the discharge of their duties.

    Speaking during the passing out parade of the new outfit at the Mobile Police Base in Owerri, the Imo State capital, Ali revealed that the officers and men of the squad had undergone a one-month intensive training, stressing that “it is my pleasure to certify them fit and ready to carry out their assignment effectively and efficiently.”

    Warning politicians to refrain from acts of thuggery and other forms of political violence during the forthcoming general elections, the police chief announced the ban on the use of firearms by vigilance groups and other unconventional security outfits.

    He gave a two-week ultimatum to all the affected groups to surrender any firearms in their possession, warning that any person or group of persons found with firearm after the expiration of the ultimatum will be severely dealt with.

    He said: “All security networks, vigilance groups and every unconventional security outfit bearing firearms should surrender their arms to the police station nearest to them within two weeks. Similarly, I warn all persons engaged in any form of crime to leave the trade or leave the state entirely, else they will meet their waterloo.”

    He also disclosed that the command had made remarkable achievements between March and August in checkmating criminals and their activities.

    “Within the time under review, the command rescued 22 kidnap victims and arrested 39 suspected kidnappers, rescued 39 stolen babies and arrested 46 child traffickers. It also recovered 40 stolen vehicles and recovered stolen properties estimated at N29 million.”

  • Woman in police net for buying stolen vehicle

    Woman in police net for buying stolen vehicle

    The joy of Mrs. Caroline Akinlosotu knew no bound few days ago when her fourth son came home with a two-year American visa on his Nigerian passport.

    When the young man who had been pursuing the American visa for some time now to enable him join two of his elder brothers in the United States returned home with the travel document, Akinlosotu, a widow with four sons heaved a sigh of relief.

    But the joy was cut short few hours later when a team of anti-robbery squad from the Ondo state police command stormed her home in Ondo town and arrested her and her third son on allegation of receiving stolen vehicles and motorcycles from a fleeing suspect identified as “Labuta”.

    It was learnt that on September 3, a black coloured Nissian Primera car with registration number AGL-582 AV, suspected to have been stolen by armed robbers, was abandoned by unknown person somewhere around Ijimekun Street, Ondo town.

    On the receipt on the information, a team of detectives from Yaba Division, Ondo were deployed on surveillance around the street where the vehicle was parked.

    At about 3p.m on the same date, the suspected stolen vehicle was found being cannibalized by one Onyekachi Anya for transportation to where it would be sold to customers.

    However, police investigation into the criminal act later linked Mrs. Akinlosotu with the matter by allegedly receiving both stolen vehicles and motorcycles.  Others arrested in connection with the crime include one Gbemisola Adeyefa and Nike Bolodeoku.

    When the suspects were paraded at the State Police command headquarters, along Igbatoro, Akure, Mrs. Akinlosotu said amid wailings that her joy was shrouded in sorrow.

    She confessed to buying the cannibalized Nissan salon car from “Labuta” who is now on the run, for N25,000.

    Asked why she bought a car for N25,000, Akinlosotu said; “it is God that punished me because I am a cloth dealer and I don’t deal in cars. But what pained me most in all these is that I have two of my sons currently in America and I was arrested the day my last son got his travelling visa to United States of America (U.S.A).”

    About 30 other suspects were also paraded by men of the police command for various crimes ranging from armed robbery, cult activities, internet fraud and drug related offenses.

    The state commissioner for police, Isaac Eke said the arrest was made possible following a serious onslaught against criminals in the state.

    According to Eke, 34 suspects were arrested at different locations across the state for various criminal offences, with a major crackdown on cult groups in the state.

    The commissioner said 20 suspected cultists, including one Bayo Akinfemiwa, a member of Eye cult and chairman of Okada riders’ union in Ondo town were arrested by the police.

  • Police shoot two vigilance group members

    •’They’re robbery suspects’

    Two members of a vigilance group have been rushed to the emergency unit of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, after they were shot by the police.

    It was learnt that the victims were pursuing some robbery suspects when policemen opened fire on them.

    The incident unsettled the neighbourhood behind St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Yenagoa.

    An eyewitness said residents raised the alarm about a robbery, which was said to be an occurrence in the area.

    “The vigilance group responded to the call and immediately started chasing the robbers.

    “But unknown to them, a neighbour had called the police.

    “When the police came and met the vigilance group members, two of the police officers shot them in the stomach,” the eyewitness said.

    Sympathisers were said to have thronged the hospital to wish Emma Gabbuth, a refrigerator repairer, who hails from Emede in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State and a young man said to have come from Atissa, quick recovery.

    But police spokesman Alex Akhigbe insisted that the victims were robbery suspects.

    He said the police received a distress call and on getting to the neighbourhood, they saw two men with cutlasses.

    “When the police asked the men to stop they refused and instead started running. Then the police shot at them.

    “They were disarmed and immediately taken to FMC for treatment.

    “As far as we are concerned, they are robbery suspects because we are not aware of a vigilance group in that area.”

  • Police: Ban on road blocks still in force

    The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has stated that the order banning the setting up of police road-blocks nationwide is still in force.
    A statement on Sunday  by the Force spokesman, Emmanuel Ojukwu said the IGP had re-issued directive to all commands and formations to that effect.
    “The IGP warned that all semblances of police road-blocks and permanent check-points reportedly re-emerging in some parts of the country, especially in the South-East, South-South and South-West geo-political zones of Nigeria should immediately be dismantled.
    “The IGP who described the trend as a serious violation of subsisting order on road-blocks warned that severe sanctions await any command, formation or personnel that violate the order”, the statement added.
    The IGP was also quoted to have charged command Commissioners of Police and heads of formations to ensure total compliance with the order.
    In place of road blocks, the IGP had ordered extensive visibility patrol and effective surveillance on roads nationwide.

  • Grant autonomy to traffic police

    SIR: I wish to express my views on the abnormalities going on, the descrimination and injustices being meted to officers of the Motor Traffic Department of the Nigeria Police.

    Much as we salute the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan as visibly seen in his efforts of at alleviating poverty, the Motor Traffic Department has been left behind;  indeed, the organisation is in bondage.

    Officers of the organisation are denied due allowances, motivation and promotion. This continues to dampen their morale. This writer enlisted into the section seven years ago, preciesly in August 2007. Despite serving the organisation dilligently and with humility, I have not enjoyed any promotion. This is in spite of winning laurels for my command as a member of police football machine during the period.

    Besides, I have served as a station writer for a year and a traffic control officer for two years. These two are just a few of the duties performed by many a traffic warden without being given the necessary allowances and promotion by the police authorities. It is like the section does not exist.

    Police authorities continue to discriminate against traffic wardens, seeing them as lesser police officers or attachees with no legal authority or autonomy to carry out their duties. The result is that they are neither respected by the police nor appreciated by the public.

    As if the situation was not bad enough,the police stopped the recruitment of traffic warden officers since 2008 hence reducing the manpower of the section making the workload more tedious.

    Presently, the traffic warden uniforms can no longer be provided neither can it be found in the market to buy.

    Recently,  the promotion list of men and officers of the force on general duties enlisted between 2007 to 2010 was released, but alas, those of the traffic warden fro the same period were not  released without any justifiable reason.

    It is imperative that the police authorities explain to Nigerians why the traffic wardens are denied their rights like hazard  and welfare allowances. The traffic wardens are neglected, deprived and marginalised despite the hazards we encounter in the course of performing our duties.

    A quick way to address these injstices and bring the abnormalities to an end is to grant the organisation total autonomy from the Nigerian police force.This will not only help to boost the

    morale of the officers and men of the section, it will bring in efficiency, smooth running of the organisation and enhance the nation’s growth.

    It is to be noted that the men and officers enlisted into the department are talented, able-bodied and educated as well as civilised enough to contribute their quota to the growth of Nigeria and the

    world at large.

    Autonomy will also go a long way to create more jobs for the army of unemployed graduates.  Above all, autonomy to this organisation is the right thing to do; it will help to write the name of this administration in gold.

    • Agboola Alabi,

    Ilorin, Kwara State

  • Rape victim family accuses police of cover-up

    Rape victim family accuses police of cover-up

    The family of a 12-year old rape victim is accusing the police of trying to sweep the case under the carpet.

    The maid was allegedly raped by Kingsley Anyanwu, 33, the brother of her master, at their Mazamaza Lagos home about three months ago.

    The maid was hired by Anyanwu’s elder sister, who is a banker to take care of their aged mother.

    She fled from home to a church in the neighbour after the incident.

    Investigations started at Satellite Police Station before the case was transferred  to the Human Trafficking Section of the  State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID) at Panti, Yaba, Lagos Mainland, following a petition by NOPRIN, a network of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to the Commissioner of Police.

    The family is alleging that the police are not sincere in their investigation despite a medical report showing that the maid was sexually assaulted.

    The suspect’s sister, the family claimed, may have bought the police over to get her brother off the hook.

    The maid was initially examined at a Health Centre at Adeniji Jones, Ikeja, where it was confirmed that she was defiled. She was referred for expert management.

    Despite the report being sent to the Police by MIRABEL Centre, investigations appear to be stalled as nothing has been heard from the police.

    MIRABEL facilitated the maid’s second examination at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) where it was reconfirmed that she was raped.

    National Coordinator of NOPRIN Okechukwu Nwanguma, said the last the NGO heard about the case from the Investigating Police Officer  (IPO) was that investigators went to the suspect’s residence and interviewed his mother.

    The woman was said to have heard the girl was screaming while she was allegedly being raped.

    The maid’s aunt said the police took photographs of the scene which she paid for. Copies of the photographs were also given to the police. The police promised to invite her and the suspect’s family for ‘settlement’, but she is yet to hear from them.

    The family is appealing to the Commissioner of Police, Mr Kayode Aderanti, for justice.