The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Police

  • Kudos to Nigeria Police

    SIR: On behalf of the Nnewi community in Nigeria and in the Diaspora, I wish to commend the quick response of the Nigeria Police in apprehending one Kelechi Williams Eze who allegedly murdered our sister Njideka Lizzy Nzewi at her residence in Amuwo-Odofin area of Festac town in Lagos on July 21.

    It is testimony to the improvement in the efficiency of the Nigeria Police under the immediate past Inspector General of Police M.D Abubakar and the incumbent IGP Suleiman Abba.  It did not come as a surprise to me that the alleged killer was apprehended within one week of IGP Abba’s coming into office.

    I will not fail to mention the astuteness of DIG Mamman Tsafe, then AIG in charge of Zone 2 who created an enabling environment and vested trust in the abilities of the Area E Command to handle the case. He insisted that individual commands within Zone 2 take responsibilities and acquire capacity for solving challenges/crime within their jurisdiction. Our appreciation also goes to AIG Umar Manko whose stay in Lagos as Commissioner of Police birthed a massive improvement in the security situation within the metropolis.

    We pray that God will strengthen the current IGP so that he can continue his good work which will then consistently reflect in the rank and file.

    Most Nigerians who did not get to hear the full story or have the opportunity to follow the same story may not appreciate the kind of hardwork which went into tracking and the eventual arrest of the murder suspect.

    I must applaud the swiftness and passion with which the Area E Commander, ACP Dan Okoro got on the job using a special tracking technology to monitor and track the young man who was driving the victim’s car across four countries on the West Coast.

    From the narrative, the young man bolted to Ghana in the victim’s Range Rover Sports Utility Van after committing the crime. He eventually ended up in Cote d’voire where he was arrested by the Interpol in conjunction with crack detectives from Area E Command. I am aware that for the one week plus that this tracking and forensic investigation was going on, the Area Commander never went home but stayed on the case till the suspect was arrested.

    We are very grateful and delighted that under this present dispensation, the Police can be said to have come of age. We are certain that if it had not been for the proactive steps taken by the Nigeria Police, this case would have gone down in history as one of those unresolved murders and the pain would have lingered in our memory forever.

    • Dr Godwin Okonkwo,

    Lagos

     

  • Police, motorcyclists clash in Ondo

    Police, motorcyclists clash in Ondo

    Commercial activities in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State were disrupted yesterday, following a clash between the police and motorcycle riders.

    Eyewitnesses said trouble started when a police patrol van allegedly hit a motorcyclist as he was trying to evade arrest.

    This sparked the anger of other Okada riders, who believed that their colleague has died. But, it was later confirmed that he survived the attack

    It was learnt that the motorcyclists allegedly attempted to attack the policemen on patrol and police stations in the town but were repealed.

    Police spokesman Wole Ogodo denied that there was no fracas between the police and motorcyclists.

    He said: “There was no case of any policeman pursuing anybody who was trying to escape arrest.

    “The motorcyclist was going on his own and our men were on their own but along the way our van mistakenly hit the motorcyclist and he sustained a minor injury . “Immediately, our men took him to a hospital where he was treated and discharged on the same day,” Ogodo stated

  • Abia police arrest 22 suspected criminals

    Abia police arrest 22 suspected criminals

    The Abia State Commissioner of Police, Adamu Ibrahim has paraded 22 suspected robbers who were arrested in various parts of the state, assuring that his command is ready to confront crime frontally.

    Speaking in Umuahia while parading the suspects, Ibrahim said his men responded to a distress call from Eze Stephen of Okpuala Village Ntigha in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area that youths of the village saw one Obumneme Eze from Orota Lokpaukwu with a goat and motorcycle.

    Ibrahim said the motorcycle, a Sayang model with no registration number, was being negotiated for sale by the suspect at a give-away price.

    “The above items were suspected to have been stolen and we are investigating the case,” he said.

    The Abia police boss said his men on stop-and-search operation at Mba Village in Umuikaa/Omoba Road in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area intercepted one Justice Onyebuchi, a native of Amayi Umuokwu.

    Ibrahim said: “On searching his bag, my men discovered one locally-made single barrel short gun, two live cartridges concealed in a loaf of bread, a wallet containing N3, 000, one Diamond Bank ATM card and one MTN SIM card. We are after his men who are on the run.”

    He further said his men have reduced crime activities in the state capital to its barest as they have succeeded in apprehending eight suspected robbers who had been terrorising Umuahia, adding that since their arrest, peace has returned to the city.

    Ibrahim said his men on night patrol responded to a distress call on 2, Lagos Street by Uzuakoli Road in Umuahia where suspected robbers had broken into a shop and were stealing valuables.

    He added that on arrival at the scene of the incident, his men arrested eight suspected robbers at Eket Street Umuahia inside a Mitsubishi L300 bus with registration number APR 467 XA where they pretended to be sleeping.

    The suspects are Obinna Dike, Chibueze Amaobi, Elijah Nwosu, Chiehiura Ahiwe, Promise Anyalewechi, Sule Ali, Nkwachukwu Ihejirika and Chimezie Peter.”

    Continuing, the commissioner said his men acted on a tip-off and stormed a criminal hideout at Umugo Village in Ugwunagbo Local Government Area where they arrested Gideon Nwalozie, a native of Umuozuo Village in Osisioma, Uchenna Ekeke of Ndoki, Ukwa East, Nwafor Chikezie of Ebonyi State, Chidi Godwin of Nkerefi, Nkanu, Enugu State and Chinenye Nnagbogu (female) of Abam Village Eziagu in Enugu State.

    He said items recovered from them included one AK47 rifle with a defaced serial number, one magazine with 11 rounds of live ammunition and one red Toyota Camry car without any registration number, adding that his men are after other fleeing members of the gang.

    Ibrahim also said while his men were on routine patrol at Umuagu Village in Obingwa Local Government Area, they arrested one 32-year-old Chijiokee Gabriel and 25-year-old Ibezim Ogbonna for allegedly suspected to be involved in robbery and kidnapping activities.

    He said the first suspect, Gabriel, on interrogation, confessed to have participated in violent crimes in the past, alongside some members of his gang who include Ugonna Nwokeleme (alias Agbaja), Deenwa and others.

    The police boss said they confessed to have taken part in the kidnap of a woman last January around Glass-force Industry Aba, adding that Gabriel got a motorcycle from Ugonna as his own share of the ransom.

    The last suspects to be paraded were Sunday Anyim, Ike Ahamefula and Ikenna Anyanwu who were arrested by the men of the command at an uncompleted building at Ahiaeke, adding that the suspects confessed to robbing three Youth Corps members at their lodge. He revealed that dangerous weapons were recovered from them.

    The state police command also arrested and paraded five suspects who were alleged to be involved in child trafficking, two suspected robbers and six suspected drug traffickers and peddlers at different points in the state.

    Ibrahim said one Philip Erondu of Umuobasi Osisioma Local Government Area reported that his pregnant daughter, Uchechi Erondu had absconded from home, adding that she later returned without the pregnancy or any child. This meant that she might have sold the child after delivery. The information, Ibrahim said made his men to move into action and discovered that the baby was delivered in a maternity home belonging to one Joy Inegbu where arrangements were made to sell the baby. Unfortunately, the baby died. “We are after those involved in the incident,” he said.

    The Abia police chief said his men from Umuopara Division on patrol around Abia Tower on the Aba/Port Harcourt Expressway intercepted one Chinenye Ihuoma Nka of Ikwuano Local Government Area carrying a day-old and six months’ old babies.

    On interrogation, he said Nka claimed the babies were hers and one Patience Mgbechi sitting beside her in a bus, saying that they were coming from Port Harcourt and going to Mbaise in Imo State to give the baby boy to one Nkechi Obilor at Ahiazu Mbaise who needed the boy.

    The Police chief revealed that Umuahia and its environs had witnessed an upsurge in violent crimes of late. He said these crimes include robbery, kidnappings, murder/assassination, child trafficking and house breaking, among others.

    He said the rise in crimes in the state capital became a challenge to our men and they had to increase their intelligence gathering and surveillance, stressing that they discovered that criminals usually act under the influence of drugs.

    Ibrahim said early this month, he received an intelligence report that a house at 23, Arochukwu Street Umuahia has been identified as a hideout for criminals, adding that he was informed that criminals usually take off for their operations from the house.

    He said he detailed his men to put the house on surveillance. In the process, “we arrested 56-year-old Ngozi Nweke, 19-year-old Everester Nneamaka, 21-year-old Nweke Ndidiamaka Amarachi, 24-year-old Ifeoma Ijimogu, 25-year-old Michael Ogbonna and 26-year-old Onyekachi Nwokoma.

    The Abia police boss said during investigation, his men recovered 690 wraps of substances suspected to be cocaine, 201 raps of weed suspected to be Indian hemp, large quantity of unwrapped weed suspected to be Indian hemp, one Nokia X2 cell phone and the sum of N3, 785.

    The command also arrested two men suspected to be robbers after a robbery incident along Port Harcourt Expressway by Ihie in Ugwunagbo Local Government Area and those arrested were Ochieze Friday and Munachi Lemechi.

    The CP said the police have controlled crime rate, even as he attributed their success to the support and efforts of the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) at different locations, stressing that the police will leave no stone unturned to

    make the state safe.

    He called on the people to continue their support to police, stating that it is only when they are given information that they could work properly.

    “We want information that will make us proactive. So, always feel free to provide us with useful information to help us work better,” he said.

  • Police train officers on how to fight terrorism

    Police train officers on how to fight terrorism

    The police high command in response to the security challenges facing the country recently carried out an intensive training exercise for some of its officers at its training college in Ila Orangun, Osun State. ADESOJI ADENIYI was there.

    No fewer than 55 middle ranking career police officers, including two women participated in a three week intensive training for 2 i/c squadron commanders held recently at the Nigeria Police Force Training College, Ila-Orangun, Osun State.

    The programme was designed to afford the participants the opportunity to be trained in new techniques in weapon handling, tactical manoeuvres and obstacle crossing. Also, academic papers were presented by facilitators from the private sector and police instructors, especially on how to tackle the security challenges facing the nation.

    For the participants drawn from all the squadron commands across the country, it was a rewarding experience. The course 6/2014 chairman, Francis Osagie Erhabor, a Superintendent of Police, said the course though hectic, was very important and strategic for repositioning the police mobile force and squadron commanders in the face of current upsurge in violent crime and insurgency taking place in the North eastern part of the country. Two other participants, AbdulKareem Abubakar (SP) and Felicity Jacob (DSP) said they had really been equipped during the training and promised to discharge what is expected of them.

    Abubakar said the challenges of insecurity required tactical approach urging government to continue to train more security officials to contain all acts of terrorism in the country. ýHe said: “The course has equipped us with not only combat operational techniques that had been the norm over the years but those requiring mental and intellectual capacity.”

    According to Jacob, he and other participants in the training would ever remain indebted to the directing staff, instructors and management of the college for quality training programme.

    The passing out ceremony for the participants provided an opportunity for the Acting Commandant, Police Mobile Force Training College, Ila Orangun, Livingstein Orutugu, to ask the acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sulaiman Abba, to look into the challenges facing the training college. He listed among challenges facing the college, the  provision of primary school within the college to enable their children go to school.ý He said the participants had been exposed to both physical and intellectual aspects of holding the office of Squadron Commander in Police Mobile Force and other aspects of policing. However, Orutugu said: “I thank the Inspector General for the emphasis he put on professionalism.”

    The Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sulaiman Abba, who was represented at the passing out ceremony by the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Force Headquarters, Mr.Felix Uyanna, charged officers and men of the Force to re-dedicate themselves to duty and stand up to the challenges of terrorism. The acting IG said the reason for massive adjustment in the Police security thinking and training became imperative in other to cope with the emerging challenges of insecurity. He reminded the officers that they could not afford to fail Nigerians, therefore, urging them to embrace intelligence-led policing to aid their operations.

    He said: “it is no hidden fact that contemporary Nigeria is faced with emerging security threats and challenges different from what we used to know in the past decades. The emergent threats that manifest in the form of insurgency and terrorism have not only challenged our hitherto and reactive approaches to internal security operations. They have affected the operational preparedness of Police Mobile Force as the last line of defence for the Force to effectively counter and contain these threats as they emerge.

    “The era of riots, violent demonstrations and isolated acts of criminality have gradually given way to more precarious security situation in the country. Now crimes have become better organised, highly sophisticated, extremely lethal and totally complex, perhaps, with transnational links. This unwholesome security situation in Nigeria has not only impugned on the ability of the Nigeria Police Force as the lead agency in maintenance of internal security but also that of other security agencies often invited to aid in internal security operations.

    “Time was when the Police Mobile Force was not only the hope of the Force but also that of the people that time was no more. Time was when  a unit of PMF can effectively confront, contain and conquer any act of insurgency, that time was history. Time was when the PMF was dreaded by criminals more than soldiers that time is no more. Time was when the PMF was impregnable, when its personnel are hardly killed in operation, that time was gone.” Abba said.

    The IGP, who noted that ýthe nation is at a cross road, said a careful assessment of explicitly identified threats to the nation’s security has become imperative.

  • Police parade 34 suspects in Ondo

    THE  police in Ondo State paraded yesterday 34 suspected criminals.

    Commissioner of Police Isaac Eke, who spoke with reporters at the State Police Headquarters, Akure, said his men arrested “the suspects through a robust relationship the police have with the public.”

    He said 20 suspected cult members, seven robbery suspects, five cyber crime suspects/internet fraudsters and two Indian hemp ‘dealers’ were picked up by his men.

    Eke added that the ‘cult members’ were arrested in Akure, Ondo, Owo and Akungba-Akoko towns.

    Four stolen vehicles were recovered from car snatchers.

    The police chief said his men arrested a night guard, Lucky Stephen,  at Bolorunduro community in Ondo East Local Government.

    The suspect allegedly conspired with thieves to carry out attacks on the community.

    He said locally made barrel gun with five expended cartridges and a cell phone were recovered from him.

    Eke noted that high rate of cultist attacks warranted the creation of “Anti-Cultism Squad.”

    He said Jolly Obasohan and Tochukwu Augustine Ibuzute from Benin-City, Edo State were arrested and convicted for stealing N460,000 from the account of the Chief Medical Director of the State Specialist Hospital, Akure, Dr. Ikuomola Adeniyan.

    He said the suspects allegedly withdrew the money from the doctor’s  account through online banking transfer.

    The police commissioner added that his men arrested Babalola Akinyele in Ondo town for allegedly conspiring with Adenekan Adeola from Iju-Ishaga, Lagos and Olusesi Samson from Oke-Aro, Akure to steal N5million through internet banking transfer from a new generation customer’s bank account in Lagos.

    He said the suspects were arrested while attempting to withdraw  N2.5 million from a bank in Ondo town.

    The police commissioner assured the residents that his men would continue to partner with them.

  • I’ll change mindset of Nigeria police, says IGP

    The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba has vowed that he will change the mindset of officers and men of the Nigerian police.

    Abba stated this when he visited the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Muhammad.

    He said he decided to visit the minister because of the great importance he attached to the Nation’s Capital and the FCT Administration in his scheme of affairs.

    Abba said: “We will devote considerable energy towards changing the attitude of the rank and file of the police.

    “This we will do through measures that would change the way police officers relate with each other and the way they relate with the people they serve.

    “We need to have a change of attitude. When we do that, we will see new police that are mindful of values – values of hard work, loyalty and ethics,” he said.

    The Inspector-General expressed optimism that when he concludes his attitudinal reform of the police, the officers and men would be more ethical and committed to duty.

    He extended a hand of fellowship to the FCT Administration through increased partnership between it and the police.

    Replying, Senator Mohammed said the appointment of Mr. Suleiman Abba as the Inspector-General of Police has raised fresh hope of a new and better Nigerian Police Force.

    He hailed his appointment as a good choice by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    While congratulating Mr. Abba, he said he has no doubt that he would take the police to higher heights.

    According to him, the Inspector-General of Police has track records of hard work and professional excellence.

    He recalled his contributions to the success of the centenary celebrations and the World Economic Forum which the FCT hosted during his tenure as the AIG in charge of zone 7, Abuja.

  • ‘No rift between police, civil defence’

    ‘No rift between police, civil defence’

    The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, said yesterday that there was no rift between the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

    Ojukwu, an acting commissioner of Police, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on phone that the police and the NSCDC were members of the same family, working for one purpose.

    He dismissed reports that policemen attacked NSCDC operatives in their headquarters in Abuja.

    According to him, the story was untrue.

    Ojukwu said: “The Police and the Civil Defence are one family. Our relationship is that of a brother and a sister. We don’t have any problem with them.

    “The negative stories making the rounds about attacks are not true.”

    He said the police were investigating the alleged attempt by a police inspector to shoot others at the Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Dr. Ade Abolurin, in Lagos.

    On August 22, NSCDC alleged that a police inspector attempted to fire at Abolurin in Ikorodu, Lagos.

    The Corps, last Friday, also alleged that about 10 policemen launched an attack on its men in front of the NSCDC headquarters in Abuja.

     

  • Police officer’s wife, daughter abducted in Abia

    Two unknown men at the weekend abducted the wife and 18-year-old daughter of a police officer attached to the Rivers State Police Command, Mr Cletus Oke.

    The abductors, who operated on a motorcycle, reportedly attacked Oke, a Superintendent of Police (SP), in his Volvo car at 8.30pm at Osusu Abala village, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State.

    They beat him up and took his wife and daughter away to an unknown place in his car.

    It was learnt that the incident occurred on Saturday.

    Abia State Police Commissioner Ibrahim Adamu could not be reached for comments  last night.

    Gunmen, last Thursday, abducted a woman and her two children on the outskirts of Ohuru village in Obingwa Local Government Area.

    The Nation learnt that the police recovered the victim’s Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) at Owerrinta, in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.

    The police assured that efforts were on to rescue the woman and her children.

  • Robbers kill couple, police orderly in Enugu

    A couple planning to wed last Saturday in Enugu was killed on Friday night by unknown gunmen.

    Three others, including a police orderly, were said to have been killed by the robbers.

    The couple, it was learnt, intended to wed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Trans Ekulu, Enugu.

    Police spokesman, Ebere Amarizu, said the gunmen robbed a filling station in the area and killed its manager.

    The groom was identified as Uzochukwu Eze.

    He was said to be in company of his bride when the robbers killed them at the filling station.

    Eze was said to have his wife-to-be in the car with the intention to drop her off at her home.

    When the robbers were escaping through Nike Lake Resort Road, they killed the police orderly attached to the wife of the Chairman of Nkanu West Local Government Area.

    The police orderly was said to have alighted from the vehicle to ease the traffic at the Timber Market end of the road when the hoodlums disarmed and killed him.

     

  • Police to reduce crime in Ember months

    Police to reduce crime in Ember months

    The Police in Lagos have stated their readiness to collaborate with other security agencies to reduce crime during the “EMBER” months.

    The Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in charge of Operations, Mr. Emmanuel Ngwu, made the pledge after the weekly security meeting with Governor Babatunde Fashola.

    Ngwu said the police and other security agencies would curtail crime during the months leading to the Christmas and New Year.

    “If you are not new in Lagos you will know that each time the EMBER months arrive security agencies in Lagos begin to be proactive. This is because if you look at the population of Lagos you will see the need for the police and the armed forces to do their job and the need for  every other security agency to be ready for the task ahead”,  he said.