The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Police

  • Police to pay driver N2m damages

    Lagos High Court in Igbosere yesterday awarded N2 million damage to a bus driver, Isiaka Alabede, who was unjustifiably shot by a police Inspector, Joseph Akpojivi.

    Justice Aisha Opensanwo, in her judgment, held that the defendants, Inspector Akpojivi and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), breached the claimant’s Fundamental Human Rights (FHR).

    The judge said the police’ reliance on Section 33(2)(b) of the Constitution shows their lack of understanding of the provision, which creates exceptions.

    In an FHR application with suit number M/368/2012, Alabede was said to be driving home in the company of his friends and girlfriend on November 20, 2011 at Oko-Oba, Agege, when he was accosted by a vigilance group at 11pm.

    The claimant averred that some policemen led by Akpojivi, who claimed to have received a distress call that armed robbers were in operation, arrested him and took him to their station. He said the police shot him in his knee and stomach and was rushed to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) where one bullet was extracted, while another bullet is still lodged in his body.

    Irked by police authorities’ alleged nonchalance towards his plight, the claimant had instituted the suit, demanding N500 million as damages against the police on grounds that the injury he sustained from their bullets had rendered him impotent.

    Having held that the police breached the claimant’s fundamental rights, Opesanwo awarded N2 million damages and N100, 000 cost against them.

  • Four robbers shot dead by police in Ibadan

    Four robbers shot dead by police in Ibadan

    •As victim recount ordeal

    When Mr Abiodun Adeniran a lecturer at The Polytechnic, Ibadan was returning home from work that fateful day, all he had in mind was to have a peaceful rest after a hard day’s work, but this was not to be.

    As he entered his compound at Akobo area of the city, little did he know that danger was lurking. He walked straight into the hands of a group of armed robbers who after disposing him and his wife of their precious wedding rings and other valuables also went away with his car..

    The academia, while narrating his ordeals in the hands of three armed robbers said it was his first experience meeting men of the underworld face to face.

    According to him, he had returned from work into the living room not knowing that the armed robbers had been keeping vigil inside the uncompleted building behind his residence.

    Adeniran said his mother in-law had gone out to pick some clothes hung to dry outside when she discovered that they had fallen to the other side of the fence.

    “As she was trying to look beyond the fence, suddenly three hefty men jumped the fence from their hideout and ordered her to lead them into the main building.

    “When they entered, they demanded for everything including money, handsets and other valuables in the house among which were our wedding rings.

    “They also demanded for the key of my car which was parked in the premises and they went away with it,” the lecturer recalled.

    Before the robbers left, he said his wife and himself were locked up in the bathroom while they gave the key to his mother in-law.

    Immediately they left, he said “people came to sympathise with us, and the incident was reported at the police station”.

    The robbery victim said the police swung into action immediately, sending radio messages to all police formations and this led to the killing of the three robbers.

    While drumming support for the police, the victim who commended them for a job well done, urged government to give Nigeria Police the necessary support to do more.

    Parading the dead suspects at the Police Headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan, recently State Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Indabawa, disclosed to journalists that four armed robbers, including the three that robbed the Adenirans were killed during a gun battle with the policemen in Ibadan.

    He said the robbers were killed on Friday, January 17, 2014. The fourth robber was killed along the Lagos/Ibadan road, Seko area near Dominion University while attempting to evade a police checkpoint, while three others ran away.

    Indabawa also disclosed that a Honda Accord car with registration number TD 206 AAA, belonging to one Engineer Adeniran Ademola was reported stolen by robbers who also went away with some belongings of their victim.

    The police boss stated that the police manhunt for the robbers was helped by support from a popular hunter, Alhaji Kwara Azare, who joined the police in the search for the car which was trailed to a point on Oyo road.

    “When the three occupants (suspected robbers) discovered that they were being trailed, they diverted to Alaaka road where they opened fire on the police patrol team pursuing them. In the process, the three suspected robbers were fatally wounded while the vehicle was recovered from them.” The CP noted

    Indabawa disclosed that when police conducted search on the Honda Accord car, items such as the vehicle document and other documents found in the car indicated that the vehicle belonged to Engineer Ademola.

    Other items recovered from the killed robbers included, an A-K 47 rifle, one double barrel locally made pistol, one single barrel locally made cut-to-size shot-gun, 101 rounds of live ammunition, nine rounds of live cartridges, eight assorted mobile phones, one laptop and the sum of N17,170.00.

    The Commissioner of Police said the robber who was killed at Seko area was trying to evade a police checkpoint. He revealed that the occupants of the car, a Toyota Camry, with registration number ST 57 AAA refused to stop at the check point prompting the policemen to pursue them. But the occupants of the car, in order to evade arrest opened fire on the policemen chasing them and an exchange of gun fire ensued. In thye process, one of the occupants of the car was killed while the three others escaped into the bush.

    Indabawa explained that the vehicle was immediately recovered while on the spot search led to the recovery of two shot guns, 12 rounds of live cartridges, one knife, four assorted handsets and one cutlass.

    The CP disclosed that some of the particulars recovered from the car revealed the owner as Omowunmi Abubakar of Yinusa Balogun bust stop, Okota palace, Lagos.

  • Police train 60,000 ahead of Osun, Ekiti elections

    Police train 60,000 ahead of Osun, Ekiti elections

    No fewer than 60,000 mobile policemen are currently undergoing training at the Mobile Police Training College, Ila Oragun, Osun State ahead of the upcoming governorship elections later in the year in Osun and Ekiti States.

    The mobile policemen are expected to be part of a larger contingent of policemen to be deployed across the country during the 2015 general elections.

    The first batch of the 60,000 cops began their training Friday, last week at the college in Ila-Oragun where 7,000 participants were inaugurated.

    The commencement of the training coincided with the release of the time table for this year governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States as well as the 2015 general polls by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    According to the Commandant of the college, Mr. Jackson Olumuyiwa El-Ekoh, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), the aim of the training programme was to keep the officers and men of the police mobile force combat ready so as to checkmate likely hoodlums or miscreants before, during and after the 2015 general elections.

    The training which would come in series of three month duration for each batch of the participants was at the instance of Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji M.D. Abubakar. According to the Commandant, it was the idea of Abubakar and the IGP was passionate about the programme and he is being briefed on hourly basis about its progress.

    Apart from a combat course for the participants, other aspect of the training would include specialised courses in Electoral Act, Fundamental Human Rights, The Rule of Law, Democracy and Conflict Resolution, Crisis Management, Disaster Management and Operations, Bomb Awareness, Improvised Explosive Devices and Evacuation among others.

    Reading a riot act to those who could not meet the standard of the training, DCP El-Ekoh warned that they would be demobilised and sent back to the conventional arm of the Force.  He reminded the participants of their pledge to make the country safe and secured, noting that the work of the police required discipline, intelligence, integrity and dedication to serve their fatherland.

    Corroborating the college commandant, his deputy, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Mr. Livingstone Orutugu, said the participants would be trained on how to be civil while discharging their statutory duties. He said resource persons are drawn from the universities and professional bodies to compliment the well-rounded and tested personnel of the college.

    The image maker of the college, Mr. Azeez Idowu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), also said the programme started early in 2014 to avoid crisis associated with security during elections. He said the college founded eight years ago had justified the fund expended on it with the marked improvement on the image of the police force. He said: “Officers and men are more civil, crime rate in many parts of the country is going down, there are no road blocks as directed by the Inspector-General of Police, there are no reports of police intimidation and harassment by members of the public. The college training has impacted positively and significantly on the performance of the police.”

    Two of the participants in the first batch of the training programme, a Deputy Superintendent of Ppolice (DSP), Abdul Majeed Issa, and a police corporal, Umoru Haruna, said they are looking forward to a robust experience during their training.

  • ‘Police permit not  required for rallies’

    ‘Police permit not  required for rallies’

    It has  become habitual for the Police to disrupt or refuse request for rallies  by the opposition and human rights groups. The last of such actions was a planned rally by a group, Save Rivers  Movement, which was disrupted by the police. Lagos lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) writes that under the law, the power to issue permit is vested in the governor of a state and not the police

    In January 2012, the mass protests against the so-called removal of fuel subsidy were

    violently disrupted by the police and the army personnel. During its recent industrial action the Academic Staff Union of Universities had cause to direct its members to embark on protests to draw public attention to the underfunding of public universities in Nigeria. The police dispersed the protesting academics with tear gas. A fortnight ago, a political rally in Port Harcourt, Rivers State was brutally suppressed by the police.

    In justifying the violent attack, Mr. Joseph Mbu, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police claimed that the rally was unauthorized as the conveners did not obtain police permit. Since the disruption of public meetings and rallies is an infringement of the fundamental right of Nigerians to freedom of association, assembly and expression it is pertinent to draw the attention of the authorities to the state of the law on public meetings.

    Under the Public Order Act (Cap P42) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 the power to regulate public meetings, processions and rallies in any part of Nigeria was exclusively vested in the governors of the respective states of the Federation.

    Thus, by virtue of section 1 of the Act the Commissioner of Police or any other police officer could not issue a licence or permit for any meeting or rally without the authority of the governor. In other words, no police officer was competent to issue a permit for holding any public meeting or rally or cancel any such public meeting or rally without the authority of the governor of a state.

    In the case of All Nigeria Peoples Party  & Ors. v. Inspector General of Police (2006) CHR 181the Plaintiffs being registered  political parties requested the Defendant, the Inspector-General by a letter dated 21st May, 2004 to issue Police Permits to their members to hold unity rallies throughout the country to protest the rigging of the 2003 elections. The request was refused. There was a violent disruption of the rally organized in Kano on the 22nd of September 2003 on the ground that no police permit was obtained.

    In a suit filed at the Federal High Court against the Inspector-General of Police, the Plaintiffs challenged the constitutional validity of police permit under the Public Order Act and the violent disruption of the rally. In defending the action the Defendant contended that the conveners of the rally did not obtain a police permit. In dismissing the contention of the Police the trial judge, the Honourable Justice Chinyere stated inter alia: “The gist of the provision in section 1 of the Act is that the Governor of each State is empowered to direct the conduct of all assemblies, meetings and processions on public roads or places of public resort in the state and prescribe the route by which and times at which the procession may pass.

    Persons desirous of convening or collecting any assembly or meeting or of forming a procession in any public resort must apply and obtain the license of the Governor. The Governor can delegate his powers to the Commissioner of Police of the State or to other police officers. Persons aggrieved by the decision of the Commissioner of Police may appeal to the Governor and the decision of the Governor shall be final and no further appeal shall lie therefrom.”

    On the inconsistency of police permit with sections 39 and 40 of the Constitution and Article 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Act (Cap A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 the learned trial judge said: “In my view, the provision in section 40 of the Constitution is clear, direct and unambiguous. It is formulated and designed to confer on every person the right to assemble freely and associate with other persons. I am therefore persuaded by the argument of Mr. Falana that by the combined effect of sections 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution as well as Article 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the right to assemble freely cannot be violated without violating the fundamental right to peaceful assembly and association. I agree with Mr. Falana that violation can only be done by the procedure permitted by law, under section 45 of the Constitution, in which case there must be a state of emergency properly declared before theses rights can be violated.

    I also agree with Mr. Falana that the criminal law is there to take care if protesters resort to violence in the course of demonstration and that once the rights are exercised peacefully, they cannot be taken away.

    The Public Order Act so far as it affects the right of citizens to assemble freely and associate with others, the sum of which is the right to hold rallies or processions or demonstration is an aberration to a democratic society. It is inconsistent with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution. In particular, sections 1(2),(3),(4),(5) and (6), 2, 3 and 4 are inconsistent with the fundamental rights provisions in the 1999 Constitution and to the extent of their inconsistency, they are void. I hereby so declare.”

    After declaring the provisions of the Public Order Act which require police permit for public meetings and rallies illegal and unconstitutional the Federal High Court proceeded to grant the following reliefs:

    “1.  A declaration that the requirement of police permit or other authority for the holding of rallies or processions in Nigeria is illegal and unconstitutional as it violates section 40 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap 10) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990.

    2. A declaration that the provisions of the Public Order Act (Cap 382) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990 which require police permit or any other authority for the holding of rallies or processions in any part of Nigeria is illegal and unconstitutional as they contravene section 40 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap 10) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990.

    3. A declaration that the Defendant is not competent under the Public Order Act (Cap 382) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990 or under any law whatever to issue or grant permit for the holding of rallies or processions in any part of Nigeria.

    4. An order of perpetual injunction restraining the Defendant (the Inspector-General of Police) whether by himself, his agents, privies and servants from further preventing the Plaintiffs and other aggrieved citizens of Nigeria from organizing or convening peaceful assemblies, meetings and rallies against unpopular government measures and policies.”

    Completely dissatisfied with the judgment of the Federal High Court on the issuance of police permit the Inspector-General of Police appealed to the Court of Appeal.

    Upon hearing the case the Justices of the Court of Appeal unanimously affirmed the judgment of the Federal High Court. With respect to the powers of governors to authorize the issuance of permit for holding public meetings and rallies in their states Olufunmilayo Adekeye JCA (as she then was) had this to say:

    “On a proper perusal of the provisions particularly section 1 subsection 1-6, and sections 2-4 there is no where the name of the Inspector General is mentioned in connection with the issuance of permit for the purpose of conducting peaceful public assemblies. Such application is to be forwarded to the Governor within forty-eight hours of holding such. The Governor may delegate his powers under the Act to the Commissioner of Police of the State or any superior police officer of a rank not below that of a Chief Superintendent of Police as applicable to this case in hand.”

    On the fundamental right of Nigerian citizens to assemble freely and protest without licence or permit Adekeye JCA proceeded to hold as follows:

    “The power given to the Governor of a State to issue permit under Public Order Act cannot be used to attain unconstitutional result of deprivation or right to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. The right to demonstrate and the right to protest on matters of public concern are rights which are in the public interest and that which individuals must possess and which they should exercise without impediment as long as no wrongful act is done…Public Order Act should be promulgated to compliment sections 39 and 40 of the Constitution in context and not to stifle or cripple it. A rally or placard carrying demonstration has become a form of expression of views on current issues affecting government and the governed in a sovereign state. It is a tread recognized and deeply entrenched in the system of governance in civilized countries – it will not only be primitive but also retrogressive if Nigeria continues to require a pass to hold a rally. We must borrow a leaf from those who have trekked the rugged path of democracy and are now reaping the dividend of their experience.” (See Inspector-General of Police v. All Nigeria Peoples’ Party (2008) WRN 65).

    In his contribution to the judgment of the Court of Appeal Muhammad JCA confirmed that police permit is alien to a democratic society when he reiterated that:

    “In present day Nigeria, clearly police permit has outlived its usefulness. Certainly in a democracy, it is the right of citizens to conduct peaceful processions, rallies or demonstrations without seeking and obtaining permission from anybody. It is a right guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution and any law that attempts to curtail such right is null and void and of no consequence.”

    In consigning police permit to the dustbin of history the Court of Appeal relied on the case of New Patriotic Party v. Inspector-General of Police, Accra (1992-1995) GBR 585 where the Supreme Court of Ghana observed that:

    “Statutes requiring such permits for peaceful demonstrations, processions and rallies are things of the past. Police permit is the brain child of the colonial era and ought not to remain in our statute books.”

    In line with the rule of law the current Inspector-General of Police, Mr. M.D.Abubakar has directed all police officers to comply with the verdicts of boththe Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal by  recognizing thefundamental right of Nigerians to assemble freely and protest without harassment. Hence, in the Nigeria Police Code of Conduct launched at Abuja on January 10, 2013 it is stated that police officers shall “maintain a neutral position with regard to the merits of any labour dispute, political protest, or other public demonstration while acting in an official capacity; not make endorsement of political candidates, while on duty, or in official uniform.”

    In view of the aforesaid judicial pronouncements on the fundamental right of Nigeria to protest peacefully without police permit which has been recognized by the Inspector-General of Police as espoused in the Nigeria Police Code of Conduct we urge the Rivers State Commissioner of Police and other Police Commissioners to desist from cancelling or disrupting political meetings and rallies convened by Nigerians in exercise of their freedom of association and assembly.

    Incidentally, the Honourable Justice Adekeye J.S.C. (Rtd) who delivered the historic judgment of the Court of Appeal which confirmed the illegality of police permit is now a member of the Nigeria Police Service Commission.

    We have no doubt that the respected Justice will rightly advise the Nigeria Police Force to stop the illegal and contemptuous practice of insisting on the issuance of police permit for political meetings and rallies in Nigeria.

    Notwithstanding that the provisions of the Public Order Act relating to the issuance of permit for holding public meetings and processions have been struck down the Constitution has empowered governors to issued directives to commissioners of police with respect to public order and security in their respective states.

    This was confirmed by the Supreme Court in the case of Attorney-General of Anambra State v. Attorney-General of the Federation. (2005) 9 NWLR (PT 931) 572 at 616 where Uwais CJN (as he then was) held that:

    “The Constitution in section 215 subsection (1) clearly gives the Governor of Anambra State the power to issue lawful direction to the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, in connection with securing public safety and order in the State.”

    Following the aforesaid judgment of the Federal High Court the Olusegun Obasanjo Administration ensured that the protests organized by the Nigeria Labour Congress in 2005 against incessant hike in the prices of petroleum products were not disallowed by the police. In the same vein, the Acting President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan ensured that the rallies convened by the Save Nigeria Group in Lagos and Abuja in 2010 to protest the coup of the cabal that seized power when the Late President Umaru Yaradua was in a state of coma in a foreign hospital were not attacked by the Police.

    Since democracy admits of freedom of expression the holding of dissent, protests, marches, rallies and demonstrations the right of Nigerians to freedom of expression should not be enjoyed on the basis of the whims and caprices of the ruling class.

    In the light of the foregoing, it is submitted, without any fear of contradiction that the power to issue licence or permit for holding public meetings, assemblies and processions was never vested in Inspector-General of Police and Police Commissioners but in the State Governors. Police permit which is a relic of colonialism has been annulled on the ground of its inconsistency with the provisions of the Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on freedom of assembly, association and expression. To that extent, the disruption of public meetings and rallies by the police and other security agencies ought to be resisted by Nigerians as it is illegal and contemptuous.

     

     

     

     

  • Group petitions police, SSS over attempted abduction

    A human rights group, the Access to Justice (AJ), has petitioned Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar (IGP) over alleged suppression of police investigation into the attempted abduction of a Port Harcourt resident Mr Arthur Judah by the police in Rivers State.

    The petition, signed by the group’s Legal Programme Attorney, Mrs Destina Dalumo, was also sent to the Director of the State Security Service (SSS), the Governor of Rivers State, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chairman, Police Service Commission and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 6, Calabar, Cross River State.

    The group said their client’s life is in danger, urging the security authorities to intervene.

    “Our client is convinced that his life is no longer safe in Port Harcourt. We are in the circumstances requesting that you use your good office to call for the case file and to re-assign the investigation of this matter to a credible police officer and police unit capable of conducting investigations into this matter with integrity,” the group wrote.

    Judah alleged that the police in Rivers abused their powers in obstructing and, ultimately, suppressing criminal investigations into an attempt to abduct him.

    AJ said sometimes in October, last year, Judah got some strange calls with the caller refusing to divulge his identity.

    The caller later said his name was “Chief Ezego”, claiming he was Judah’s deceased father’s friend who entrusted him (Chief Ezego) with some inheritance to deliver to Judah.

    It turned out the claim was false, and the “chief” was later discovered be masterminding Judah’s abduction.

    Police officers told Judah to play along and meet with the chief. He and his co-conspirators were arrested, only to be released a few hours later purportedly on the order of Rivers Commissioner of Police. AJ said the men were released when the police had not even had the chance to interview them or begin any investigation.

    “Our client was stunned as to how the attempt to abduct/kidnap him could be treated so lightly by a Police Commissioner.

    “Our client was also informed that the Rivers CP directed that the case file be transferred to his office and he asked the parties (the complainant and the suspects) to visit his office the next day, November 4, 2013.

    “On the afore-mentioned date, our client arrived at the CP’s office in the early hours of the morning with the police officers who went for the arrest and they were in the CP’s office till evening with no one attending to them.

    “Incidentally the crime suspects were not present for the said meeting. At the close of the day, police officers in the office of the CP asked our client and the police officers with him to return the next day.

    “However, to everyone’s amazement, the police officers who went for the arrest were arrested and detained for reasons only known to the CP.

    “Subsequently, the CP immediately transferred each of them to different police stations outside Port Harcourt.

    “Some persons within the law enforcement community conversant with the developments advised our client to immediately leave Port Harcourt …

    “We urge you to take urgent and adequate measures to save our client’s life and provide needed security for him.

    “We urge your urgent intervention in this regard as we look forward to a more transparent and impartial investigation of the case,” AJ wrote.

     

     

  • Police Commissioner Mbu, softly, softly

    The Rivers State Commissioner Mbu is a man of arrogance. On Sunday, he was on Channels TV explaining why his men dispersed an All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Obio Akpor, which resulted in Senator Magnus Abe developing low blood pressure and internal bleeding.

    The violent and direct attack on Abe is a frontal assault against democracy. The police have been unleashed on the people. The police seem not willing to arrest first, but primed to shoot first and ask questions later. The country seems burdened with a Police Force that has now become an agent provocateur and a tool of political oppression.

    Former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu, in a reaction on the matter, said: ” The Jonathan Presidency is willing to sacrifice the lives of countless Nigerians so that it can continue to lord it over Nigerians. If they could shoot a current Senator in broad daylight on a Sunday, imagine the mayhem they will set upon the average citizen seeking to advance his political rights. Their purpose is not to govern Nigeria but to break down the rule of law and our democratic institutions so that they may own Nigeria.

    “The illegal conduct of the Police in Rivers should be called what it is; it is uniformed gangsters, a coup against democracy. The rights and the protection guaranteed to the Nigerian people should never be a function of the party they are affiliated with. Under the current Jonathan government, we move towards fascism.”

    The Rivers APC has described as barefaced lies CP Joseph Mbu’s account of the event. It described Abe’s fate as “attempted murder”.

    It faulted Mbu’s claim that it applied for police permit for most of its rallies but failed to do so for the Obio-Akpor rally. It said it rather applied for police protection for the Obio-Akpor rally and instead Mbu’s men disrupted the rally.

    Mbu’s claims raise posers about what minimum force means? If minimum force landed Abe in hospital, maximum force would have sent him to early grave?

    It must be pointed out to Mbu, who is pretending not to know, that the Constitution gives Nigerians the power to associate freely without any need for police permit.

    CP Mbu and his sponsors need to pray Abe lives, as things may get out of hand if he leaves!

    As the 2015 elections draw near, the police must watch it. If things continue the way they are, then this country is in danger. People must be free to associate.

    The words of the late Mahatma Gandhi suffices here: “Remember that all through history, there have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they seem invincible. But in the end, they always fall. Always.”

    The National Assembly must rise to its statutory responsibility in defence of the people’s rights and to exercise legislative oversight of an executive branch through the police which has lost all sense of democratic balance and fair play.

    If the National Assembly does not rise at this juncture, things will only worsen.

    Mbu also needs to watch it. Even if he is being sent on an evil assignment, he should reject it because of his tomorrow.

    Softly, softly Mbu. Those using you will get tired of you at some points and look for another person to use and you will have the value of an orange already soaked.

     

     

  • Police detain stepmother over death of husband’s son

    Men of the Ondo State Police Command are batt-ling hard to unravel the sudden death of 13 year-old, Awal Osisi, who was alleged by his stepmother, Mrs. Rukayat to have committed suicide.

    The incident which occurred Wednesday last week at Omi-Eja Street, Alamoye Road, off Akure High school in Akure, the Ondo State capital remains a mystery to residents who are asking the deceased neighbours what could have prompted the little boy, who was in Primary Five to kill himself?

    Some of the residents are suspecting a foul play in the death of the boy whom they said had always been subjected to the beating of his life by his stepmother while alive.

    Already, Rukayat has been detained by the police following the statement she made on the death of the little Awal.

    One of their neighbours, Mr. Andrew Emeka who spoke with The Nation alleged that Rukayat raised alarm that attracted residents of the area that his stepson had committed suicide by hanging himself in their one room apartment.

    Though, the sad event was said to have happened when his husband, Mr.  Osisi, who is ironically a police officer had gone to his base in Ikare-Akoko.

    Osisi, an indigine of Kogi State, was said to have separated from Awal biological mother before he got married to Rukayat and they started living together in a one room apartment.

    A brother to Osisi’s landlord, Mr. Taiwo Adegoke debunked the allegation that young Awal committed suicide by hanging himself as claimed by Rukayat.

    According to him, “Rukayat ran out and raised an alarm at about 10:30am that her stepson had hanged himself to the door handle of their one room apartment. When I told her to go and show me where she claimed the boy hung himself I realised that the boy’s height is higher than the door.

    “When I saw the purported rope that she said the boy used in hanging himself, I realised that it was just a bag strap which cannot even go round the boy’s neck.

    Adegoke revealed that Rukayat had earlier sent Awal on an errand which the boy refused to go an action that provoked his stepmother to beat him.

    He alleged “maybe while beating the boy he probably gave up the ghost and she tried to cover up her crime with the allegation that the boy hung himself.

    “When she brought the body of the boy, the boy was already foaming and bleeding from his nose and mouth and the blood stains were still visible around the house.

    “When we rushed the boy to the State Specialist Hospital, Akure the medical personnel requested for police report when she told them the same story of suicide.

    “It was then we accompanied her to ‘A’ Divisional Police Station in Akure to report the case, where she was detained after relaying the story and the police suspected foul play.

    “If she can speak the truth, I am sure the issue will be better but because she cannot tell the truth that is why she is been detained. But the boy did not hang himself in our house.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Wole Ogodo confirmed the incident, saying the case was already under investigation due to suspected foul play and the circumstances surrounding the incident.

    Ogodo said, “A suicide case was reported on January 8, 2014 at about 2:35pm, one Rukayat Osisi of High School Area, Akure, came to ‘A’ Divisional Police Station, Akure to report that at about 10.00am  she discovered that one Awal Osisi now deceased, 13 years, allegedly died inside the room after committing suicide.

    “The complainant further stated that the victim allegedly hanged himself with belt tied to the door handle of the room.

    “She further stated that she removed the corpse of the deceased to Ondo State Specialist Hospital, Akure before coming to “A” Division, Akure to report officially”. On the receipt of her report Ogodo said that policemen visited the scene of the incident and suspected a foul play.

    He further noted that, “the complainant is a stepmother to the deceased and his mother has already divorced the father.

    “The story of the complainant is also difficult to believe, she is presently undergoing interrogation and DCB is presently investigating the case and it would be transferred to State CID for discreet investigation,” the PPRO said.

  • Police review crime prevention plans for 2014

    Police review crime prevention plans for 2014

    Police authorities yesterday deliberated on strategies for handling security matters and communal clashes in various flash points across the country.

    Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar chaired the meeting, which was attended by the Police Management Team, Assistant-Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs).

    Security issues ahead of the 2015 elections were also reviewed, with plans on how to curtail kidnapping, armed robbery, rape and other crimes.

    Abubakar hailed heads of police formations for their vigilance in 2013, saying, however, that they need to work harder this year.

    The discussions centred on strategic policing, control and anti-crime plans.

    The IGP directed heads of police formations to present a summary report of their activities in 2013.

    The police chief also said the meeting would analyse the dwindling image of the force and accountability as well as review crime fighting and patterns of crimes in the various zones and state commands.

    Abubakar said: “We shall at this meeting discuss the issue of discipline that has been attributed to good or bad image for the police; welfare of personnel and attention paid to their well-being.

    “The vision and mission of the police and political development in each state as well as an outline of what police commissioners have done in the circumstances to avoid politicisation and clashes among political parties will be examined.”

    The IGP named Kaduna, Taraba, Nasarawa, Plateau and Kogi as states that required special focus.

    According to him, the Police Management Team will apply effective intelligence gathering procedure to ensure sustained security.

    He said: “We also need to appraise the synergy, partnership and cooperation with sister security agencies at states and zonal level. We will discuss issues of investigation; relationship with the Judiciary and improvement of prosecution (detention, bail and prosecution, bribery and corruption), among others.

    “Also to engage our attention are issues on training and the 2015 elections as well as research and planning. Issues relating to rape, terrorism, kidnapping, car snatching/stealing, sectarian and communal clashes will also receive attention.”

    Abubakar told reporters before the meeting went into closed-door that the security and political situations in each of the 36 states would be reviewed.

    This, the IGP said, was to enable the force adopt strategies to tackle security challenges and check political crises.

    He said: “We are going to pay attention to the political situation in Nigeria and look at the zones and each state of the country.

    “We will review the political situations in each state, adjudge and see what the police commissioner has been able to do, and see whether or not he has been able to take care of such situations.

    “Where he has challenges, we will look at those challenges and find out the impediments that have stopped him from doing what he is supposed to do to avoid a political crisis.”

    The IGP said there was need for adequate preparation ahead of the 2015 elections.

    Abubakar said: “If elections will take place in 2015, whether we are on board or not, we have the responsibility as an agency of government to ensure that preparation for 2015 starts in 2014.”

    He said the meeting would also review communal and religious crises in some states to plan on how to address them.

    According to him, there are clashes in Kaduna, Nasarawa, Benue, Taraba and Plateau states.

    He hailed officers and men of the force for their efforts, saying: “I acknowledge publicly that everyone of them has contributed to making Nigeria safe.”

    The police chief stressed that the police and other security agencies would work together to make the country safe and create an environment that would engender economic development.

    Abubakar, however, noted that despite the challenges of terrorist activities in the Northeast, 2013 was better in crime management and control.

    He said: “There is no doubt that 2013 was a critical time for all security agencies, particularly for the Nigeria Police.”

    The police lost 49 of its officers and men in one fell swoop on May 9 at Lakyo village in Nasarawa State on a mission to tackle members of Ombatse cult.

  • Crimes reduced in Kwara, say police

    Police in Kwara State yesterday said the number of criminal cases committed last year was 666, compared to 803 in 2012.

    In a statement, Commissioner of Police Agboola Oshodi-Glover said crimes reduced by about 17 per cent in the preceding year.

    Oshodi-Glover noted that culpable homicide cases increased from 30 in 2012 to 61 last year, while robbery decreased from 15 to nine.

    Oshodi-Glover said: “In the period under review, the command witnessed some cases of robbery, car theft, culpable homicide, house/shop breaking, chieftaincy and land disputes as well as civil disturbance.

    “The command recorded a reduction in crime due to the creation of nipping points within the command and reinvigoration of PCRC.”

  • Warning for vehicle owners

    The Lagos and Ogun State Police Commands have warned owners of vehicles abandoned at Owode Onirin, Ipakodo-Ikorodu and Ago Okota police stations to remove them or lose them to the public through auctions 21 days after this publication.

    The vehicles are: Peugeot 406 TDU100AA, Honda Accord EJ712SMK, Honda Accord MUS564QA, Toyota DX BG575MK, Faragon bus YE653KJA and Toyota Camry LX418AAA