Police has confirmed that 71 people died and 124 injured in the Abuja motor park explosion. The Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, confirmed the figures on Monday afternoon. According to him, 16 luxury buses and 24 other vehicles were affected by the explosion. Most of the victims were passengers and vehicle owners trapped at the blast scene. But the figures could be higher, as Mba added that security agencies were still collating casualty figures at the time of filing this report.
Tag: Police
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Police disrupt exam in Yenagoa centre
•Civil defence kicks
THE Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), which held nationwide yesterday, was disrupted at the Community Secondary School, Agudiama-Epie, Yenagoa Bayelsa State by the police
Trouble started when a team of the police arrived the centre and insisted on gaining entry into the classrooms where students had sat for the examination.
Two of the policemen, Corporal Okonkwo Sarah and Ethel Appiah, told the principal of the school and other supervisors that they had the mandate of the District Police Officer (DPO) to enter the classrooms.
It was gathered that there was no breach of the peace and security issues in any of the classrooms when the police arrived the centre.
The explanations of the Principal, Mrs. John-Adumo Caroline, that the guidelines governing UTME does not allow security operatives to enter examination halls were met with violence by Appiah and Ethel.
They pushed the female principal aside and marched to the classrooms.
Appiah caused panic among the candidates when she hit one of the supervisors, Mr. Emmanuel Amagbei and stripped one of his buttons.
Amagbei had tried to stop the policewomen by asking them to heed the advice of the principal, explaining that their action was illegal.
But they mistreated him and insisted that as members of the police force, they must be given unfettered access to any part of the school.
The duo also engaged officials of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) who came to monitor the examination in a shouting match.
It was gathered that their actions forced candidates who wanted to catch a glimpse of the scene to abandon the examination.
The policewomen were undeterred by the presence of the state Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr. Desmond Agu.
Agu, who toured many of the centres in Yenagoa and Otuoke, Ogbia, was disappointed with the conduct of the policewomen.
The policewomen insulted the commandant who tried to remind them the guidelines governing UTME and the roles of security operatives.
He said to them: “Security operatives including my men are not allowed to enter into the exam halls. They are only asked to stay outside and secure the centre. Are you not aware of that?”
But Okonkwo replied: “Our DPO sent us here. He told us to come here and that is why we are here. Nobody not even you can ask us to leave”.
While the commandant was still addressing them, the two policewomen walked out on him.
Agu’s efforts to call them back proved abortive as Appiah particularly ignored the commandant and walked away.
The men of the NSDC who escorted their commandant were furious at the attitude of the women and wanted to pounce on them.
Agu intervened to prevent what could have led to an inter-agency clash.
He said the conduct of the examination in the state was generally peaceful apart from the excesses of the policewomen.
“Other schools we visited show that the conduct of the students are good. The guideline of the examination does not allow people in uniform including men of the NSCDC to enter inside the classrooms.
“They are only to guide the people outside. Supervisors have been told not to allow them to enter and that was why they had problems with the policewomen”, he said.
He added that the policewomen must explain their mission in the school.
The principal decried the attitude of the policewomen and asked the police authority in the state to call them to order.
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Gummen attack Police, Bank, Court kills 8 in Jigawa
Unknwon gunmen Wednesday attacked the divisional police station in Gwaram local government area of Jigawa state and killed seven policemen and one civilian guard in their duty posts.
Reports says the attackers whom were in tens arrived the scene at about 1:30 AM of Wednesday attacked the police station and other places.
The attack came when the 15 PDP governors and three deputy governors were in the state (Jigawa) under the auspices of the PDP governors’ forum holding their meetings in the state when gunmen appeared killed the police attached the division.
Our reporter in the state gathered that the gunmen attacked and burnt down the Sharia court, Unity bank branch that have just been re-opened after suffering a similar attack by some gunmen suspected to be robbers.
An eye witness account whom prepared anonymity told our reporter that the attack came while he was saying his midnight prayers at 1AM.
According to him, “I was in my bedroom saying my prayers when the quite night was suddenly interupted by intermittent sound that was similar to gun shots.”
He stated further that; “I suddenly began to here shouts of people and I started reciting intensive prayers of protection from God while the gunshot also have already woken my wife that also joined me in the prayers,” he explained.
The Inspector General of Police in charge of zone one of the Nigeria Police Mr. Tambari Yabo Muhammad told journalists that, “there was indeed an unfortunate attack at around 1:30 am that lasted till 4 am that some 200 terrorists came in droves using Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) and attacked a Sharia court, Gwaram local government secretariat and unity Bank.”
The AIG said four mobile policemen, three conventional policemen and a security guard were killed in the attack”.
He said,” though no arrests were made but the police were able to put-up a fierce fight that repelled the attack and from the blood stains all over I am sure that they too must have recorded casualties and probably taken them away with them”.
He said they are about 200 in number and came via motorcycles and cars and disappeared into the night after breaking into the Unity Bank domiciled in the area.
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Police arrest man, 33, for defiling 12 years old in Bayelsa
Bayelsa State security outfit, Operation Door Akpor, has arrested a 33-year old employee of a popular fast food outlet for allegedly defiling a 12-year-old girl.
The suspect identified as Ikechukwu was rounded up at the Toolda junction, Ekeki, Yenagoa Local Government Area.
The suspect was said to have been arrested following complaints lodged by the guardian of the teenager.
He was, however, released by the police amidst outrage by members of the public.
But some persons said the suspect was released for lack of evidence and uncooperative attitude of the allegedly violated teenager.
A resident, who identified himself as Chris, said the suspect was alleged to have lured his victim with N200.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Alex Akhigbe, said the police could only act when affected persons agree to press charges.
But he advised parents to vigilantly monitor their female children.
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Killing of lawyers: Police has case to answer – NBA
The Warri Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has expressed suspicion over the involvement of the Delta state police command in the alleged assassination of two of their members about two weeks ago.
Expressing the association’s suspicion at a press briefing in Warri on Tuesday to condemn the killing of Horace Eguono Dafiaghor and Samuel Ekwuaghanju, two members of the Warri branch, the NBA tasked the Inspector General of Police to investigate the matter.
Meanwhile, the Delta state police command has declared five persons, including the notorious Kelvin Oniarah of Kokori village, who now stands trial for crimes including kidnapping, in Abuja, wanted for the killing of the two lawyers.
The NBA branch, which also said it would be petitioning the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), said the death of the lawyers, happening on the same day the suspects they were defending were also killed in questionable circumstances was too much for a coincidence.
Speaking at the briefing, chairman of the branch, Ben Oji, said “I saw the release by the CP. It is very unfortunate they came up with such statements even before commencement of investigation. From the scenario of this case, while it was in court and the death of one of the suspects in police custody, the police have questions to answer. Investigation must start from them.
“Incidentally, when two of our colleagues were killed the bodies we understood were discovered by policemen guiding the location. So, we can say that the bodies were discovered. But in case of the suspect, he died in police custody, so the policemen should answer for what transpired and what happened.
“If we are convinced as we are that the two incidents are related, then tackling the killing of the suspect will be in a way involve unraveling the murder of our colleagues. So, the police cannot at this stage where, to my mind, possibilities are still on board come out to absolve self of blame. Let them go and conduct investigation first”, the association said.
Meanwhile, the Delta state police command, in another press statement signed by the state’s Commissioner of Police, Ikechukwu Aduba, has declared five persons wanted in connection with the killing of the two members of the Warri branch of the NBA; Dafioghor and Ekwughanju.
According to the statement, the wanted persons belonged in a gang of criminals found out to be responsible for several criminal activities, which had been under investigations for a while.
“This most dreadful and bloodletting gang, earlier led by Kelvin of Kokori now standing trial at Abuja and one Jonathan Okoli also known as GSM, currently in our custody; from evidence at our disposal have been responsible for series of armed robberies and kidnapping escapades that occurred within Delta state for the past two years,” the statement said.
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Police deploy special forces in Zamfara
The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar has ordered the deployment of police special forces in Zamfara State to prevent the escalation of attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
Over 200 persons were reported killed by the herdsmen at Yargaladima village and other communities during a security meeting called by vigilance groups in the community.
A statement Monday by Force spokesman, Frank Mba said the deployment comprised 10 units of the Police Mobile Force; three units of conventional policemen; a unit of counter terrorism personnel; border patrol teams; and Force Intelligence personnel.
The special forces are to reinforce the existing police personnel in the affected areas, with the police air wing providing aerial patrol and surveillance.
“While commiserating with the families of the victims of the attacks, the IGP urged citizens to cooperate with the Force in its effort at restoring peace and security in the area and advised them to be law-abiding as they go about their lawful businesses,” the statement added.
The police boss was said to have earlier set up a reconciliatory committee headed by DIG Michael Zuokumor with a mandate to reach out to communities and stakeholders in the states that have witnessed similar attacks in recent times.
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Bomb scare in Minna: Police say it’s hoax
Activities at the Niger State Abdulkareem Lafene Secretariat in Tunga, area of Minna, were grounded for hours Monday following the sighting of an object suspected to be bomb purportedly planted at the entrance of the Office of the Head of Service (HOS).
Civil Servants and visitors to the complex ran for their dear lives at the spread of the discovery.
The object, a metallic cylinder filled with dirty materials was placed upside down on the way leading to the block which also housed Ministry of Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs and the State Economic Commission.
The object caused panic in the Secretariat as people took to their heels shouting “Bomb! Bomb!! Bomb!!!”.
Owners of Cars parked within the complex were seen hurriedly driving out their vehicles while officers and men of the Civil Defence Corps attached to the complex cordoned off the area where the suspected object was placed.
It was gathered that the State headquarters of the Police were immediately contacted and promptly came to the scene.
An anti-bomb squad was dispatched to the scene led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Emmanuel Alogbo who watched the squad detonated the object only to discover that it was not a bomb.
The police boss later held the object up and threw away the contents assured the on-lookers that the object was not a bomb as earlier rumoured.
He later enjoined the people to go about their duties without any fear, describing it as mere hoax.
Sanity and peace were later restored and Civil Servants went back to their desks.
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Police smash baby factory in Delta
The Delta State Police Command has rescued five pregnant women and four children, aged between one and five years, from a suspected syndicate of baby traffickers.
The baby factory was discovered by the police in Oko Community, Oshimili South Local Government Area, according to the spokesman for the police DSP Tina Kalu.
A woman, believed to be the leader of the syndicate, Chinelo Ezeugo,40, is already in police custody.
The discovery was made following a tipoff from the public.
The police said the syndicate usually recruited pregnant women and delivered them of their babies who would then be sold.
Victims were usually sourced from different parts of the country.
The police named the rescued children as Ibrahim Usman, 5, Usman Mohammed, 2, Chidera Okechukwu,5 and Abigail Ezeugo, 1,
The alleged ring leader Chinelo Ezeugo, however, denied involvement in the crime.
She said she was being framed by the local vigilance head who she claimed had a disagreement with one of her tenants.
Mrs. Ezeugo said the five pregnant women arrested in her house were all her tenants and their husbands had gone to bush market.
Her words: “I do not sell pickin. Those arrested in my house are all married and are doing business .I sell clothes and drinks. Nobody sells children.
“This is a case of intimidation. The head of the vigilance group in our community threatened to ruin me; this is the result of his threats. The man said I should send one of the women living with me away. He accused the women of trying to burn his house.
“I told him I could not send her away because her husband left her in my care and I told him to allow the woman’s husband come back from bush market, then he would take his wife away. The vigilance group head refused.”
DSP Kalu said investigations into the case is in progress and that the suspects will be arraigned in court in due course.
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Police, Navy clash in Kwara
Police patrol team and some naval personnel attached to a former chief of naval staff clashed yesterday at Omu-Aran in Kwara State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the clash, which started before mid-day, caused residents to scamper for safety.
A military patrol team on a special assignment in the town stopped the brawl after more than 30 minutes of confusion.
NAN reports that canisters of tear gas were fired before the warring parties could be dispersed.
Vehicular movement on Aperan Way, the major road linking the state with neighbouring Ekiti State, was blocked as a result of the brawl.
An eye-witness said the police patrol team from the Omu-Aran Police Command accosted a navy personnel, who had escorted his boss’ wife to the market.
“I was standing right here and the police patrol team accosted the navy personnel, who had come to the market with the wife of retired Vice-Adm. Samuel Afolayan.
“I think there was a kind of misunderstanding between them and within few seconds the disagreement turned physical before the intervention of the army,” the source said.
The Divisional Police Officer in Omu-Aran, Adamu Zawah, said the situation had been put under control.
Zawah urged residents to go about their businesses.
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Police burst baby factory in Ogun, rescue five babies
The Police burst another baby making factory in Adigbe area of Abeokuta, Ogun state, Thursday afternoon and rescued five children and three pregnant women holed up in the facility by the operator.
The Police also arrested wife of the suspected operator.
Curious residents of residents of Akinremi Estate in Adigbe and environs surged into the compound, many scaling the perimeter fence to have a glimpse of the Baby factory that has been in their neighbourhood and operated for years undetected.
A detachment of policemen from Adigbe Divisional Police Headquarters, Abeokuta, had a hectic time containing the crowed, which momentary went violent in anger, the youths among them torched the building.
Also torched two vehicles; a Toyota Camry salon car marked (Lagos) EKY 942 AJ as well as a Mitsubushi salon car marked (Lagos) AGL 971 BH parked within the premise.
It took intervention of officials of the Ogun state Fire Service who arrived the scene in two vehicles marked OG 124 A 09 and OG 122 A 09 put out the fire.
It was learnt that one of the victims had escaped from the baby factory earlier and took refuge in a building located about 200 meters away, pleading with the occupants to save her from her captors.
The escapee pregnant girl, it was gathered, confided in those shielding her from further abuse, telling them that her elder sister sold her and her unborn baby to the operator of the facility at the cost of N100, 000.
Upon hearing the reprehensible occurrence, the people were said to have informed the police, who eventually carried out a raid on the premises Wednesday night.
A twist crept in the baby factory saga, bring a ritual dimension to it, as the irate youths who set the building ablaze were said to be looking for a cooler and a can believed to contain fresh human bloods suspected to be in use for ritual purposes.
According to a witness, the youths who were believed to students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic after a thorough search of the building found ritual items such as ivory plate containing fresh blood, coffin, effigy, dried scorpions and assorted charms .
Also discovered are international e-passport, identity cards of Junior and Senior Secondary School students of Sacred Heart Catholic College, Oke -Ilewo suspected to have been abducted and killed by suspected ritualists.
When contacted, the command’s Deputy Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed the incident said two persons were rescued, while two others were arrested.
Oyeyemi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), gave names of victims rescued as Jennifer Goodluck, who is still nursing two months old baby and another lady that is in her full pregnancy.
The Command’s Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye and Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Elizabeth Sonubi visited the scene to assess the situation.
According Sonubi, the rescued girls would be rehabilitated.