The Lagos State Police Command has warned owners of abandoned vehicles parked at Badagry and Ogudu Police Stations to remove them or lose them to members of the public through auction.
They are Volkswagen Golf SL432AAA, Nissan Sunny BB753AKD and Faragon bus XD359KRD
THE Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr Agboola Glover-Oshodi, has promised to support the FEDPOFFA Management to eradicate cultism and all forms of social vices among students.
He made this promise when he visited the polytechnic recently.
He commended the management for its efforts to rid the institution of bad eggs.
The Commissioner, who arrived in the company of top echelon of the Kwara State Police Command and members of Police Community Relations Committee in Offa Local Government Area, was received by the Rector, Dr. Mufutau Olatinwo; Deputy Rector, Administration, Dr. Ayo Olaosebikan; Deputy Rector, Academics, Alhaji Biaminu Saliu; Registrar, Alhaji Abdulhamid Raji; Bursar, Mr. Paul Adegbemi and the acting Librarian, Mr. Adegboyega Adedeji among other top officers of the polytechnic.
In his welcome address, Dr Olatinwo said the management would sustain the cordial relationship between the two institutions. The Rector also underscored the importance of security as an indispensable ingredient towards achieving sustainable development in a society.
TWO policemen and a gunman were killed in a gun battle at Kagarawul in Gombe yesterday, the Police Command has said.
Police spokesman Fwaje Atajiri said they were still investigating to ascertain the number of the gunmen.
He said his men were on patrol in the area when they were ambushed and shot.
Atajiri urged residents to report any suspicious movements in their neighbourhood.
A 35-year old security guard, Mr Pius Edward, has been paraded by the Oyo State Police Command for stealing N13 million from the office of the Bishop of an Anglican Church in Ibadan, the state capital, where he worked.
He was paraded recently along with his wife, Fausat, and his mother in-law.
The state’s Police Commissioner, Mr Mohammed Indabawa, explained that the suspect burgled the Bishop’s office where the huge sum was kept and thereafter fled to a hotel in Okada village in Ogun State where he lodged with his family with the assistance of an immigration officer attached to Ogun State Command of the Nigerian Immigration Service.
The police boss said the immigration officer, whose name he did not disclose, was fully aware of the source of the money, assisted Edward and his family to procure travelling documents to Dubai.
But the suspect, during investigation, was arrested at Idi-Iroko border town in Ogun State. When searched, a cash sum of N656,000 and $2,300 were recovered from him.
Other items recovered from him, according to the police boss, are a black Honda Accord saloon car and a blue Mitsubushi Gallant saloon car. Both were unregistered.
While speaking with The Nation, the suspect confessed to the crime, saying he was propelled by the devil.
But Edward dismissed police claim on the amount stolen, saying he stole only N2.5 million though he agreed that the cars and some hard currencies were recovered from him.
“The money I stole is not up to N13 million as being claimed by the police. I only stole N2.5 million from the Bishop’s office. I immediately fled to my mother in-law in Ogun State with my wife. My wife and mother in-law did not know anything about the money. I did not even tell my wife about it. My mother in-law warned me to return the money when I told her I stole the money. I did not even tell her the exact amount; I told her it was just N300,000”, he said.
Also paraded by the police were five persons arrested in connection with the cultivation of Indian hemp. About 458 bags of the illegal substance were recovered from them.
The drugs were loaded in three buses and one Volvo car when the police stormed the farm located at Eleja village along Akanran in Ona Ara Local Government Area of the state and apprehended them.
Indabawa gave the names of the suspect arrested as Stephen Osanwe, Peter Frank, John Ugoh, Macauley Akanno and George Elvis.
Thirty-nine policemen were killed by armed robbers in various parts of Lagos State this year, it was learnt yesterday.
The policemen were felled by bandits’ bullets in 54 robbery operations across the state.
The Nation learnt that within the period, 322 cases of murder were recorded; 1,130 vehicles stolen and 149 robbers killed.
Of the 1,130 vehicles, 557 were snatched, 568 were removed from where they were parked and five were driven away by drivers.
The statistics, according to the state police command, also show that 472 robbers were arrested, while 390 arms, 16,034 ammunition and 919 vehicles were recovered within the period. The Police foiled 390 robbery operations.
Commissioner of Police Umar Manko said the command had put in place strategies to ensure a secured environment, including more police patrol, intensive vehicular and border patrol, purposeful strategic raids on criminals’ hideouts, intensive patrol of all waterways and strategic deployment of gun boats and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) at key locations.
Armed robbers have reportedly killed a senior police officer, identified as Iheme Wilfred, Assistant Supretendent of Police (ASP) at Ijare town in Ifedore Local Government area of Ondo state.
A source said the deceased who was the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) in Ijare Police Division and other officers were on their official duty when the bandits attacked them.
It was learnt that the robbers who carried out operation at Ikere Ekiti state last Thursday evening were trying to escape through Ondo state.
On meeting the securitymen on the Ijare-Ikere road, they opened fire on the leader of the team.
Immediately,the senior police officers was killed, other members of the team on patrol were said to have fled into the bush, giving the men of the underworld opportunity to pack their arms.
The robbers were said to have earlier attacked a commercial bank in Ikere Ekiti and carted away unspecified amount of money.
Similary, Police sources said the deceased got information that the robbers who operated in Ekiti state were heading towards Ijare in Ondo state which is a border town of the two states.
He consequently ordered his men to lay ambush for them but unfortunately got fired as the robbers first sighted him.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Mr Wole Ogodo, who confirmed the incident said men of the State Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) have commenced a search for the bandits and expressed confidence that very soon, they would be apprehended.
He said” It happened on Thursday night the officer and his men were on duty when the robbers struck and killed him, we have commenced investigation on it and I am sure the robbers would soon be arrested.
Ogodo said the remains of the dead Senior police Officer had been deposited in a mortuary at the State Hospital, Akure .
YOUTHS of Nguzu Edda in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, yesterday foiled a kidnap attempt of Chief Ama Orji Ewa, father of top businessman and stalwart of PDP, Chief Julius Ama Orji. The Nation gathered that suspected kidnappers had invaded the compound of the stalwart who was away on a business trip and attempted to bundle his aged father away. But one of the children living in the compound raised an alarm which attracted community members and forced the kidnappers to abandon the man and took to their heels. It was gathered that the Coordinator of Afikpo South Development Centre, Mr. Okorafor Ugwuocha later mobilised the vigilante and youths in the area, who in conjunction with security agents intercepted the kidnappers at a neighbouring town in Abaia State. “Two members of the four-man gang were arrested and handed over to the military anti-kidnapping squad in Umuahia Abia state,” said a source. The Coordinator, in a telephone chat, commended the youths and security teams of both Ebonyi and Abia States for working together to foil the kidnap attempt and the arrest of the suspected kidnappers. He also advised the people to be security conscious especially during the yuletide period and report any suspicious movements, especially from unknown persons to the police and other security agents. Police spokesman in the state, ASP Chris Anyanwu said he was aware of the incident but could not immediately comment on it since it involved security agents of two states. “We are still waiting for official statement before we brief you, but I have heard of the incident.”
The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, comes from a family of police. At least, ten of his family members are with the Nigeria Police Force. In this interview with GBENGA ADERANTI, the Ogun State police image maker talks about the challenges of coming from a family rooted in the police force; the inner battles with his conscience and his job as a police officer, why he is not afraid of death, despite the hazards inherent in his job, among other issues. Excerpts:
You were just given an award in South Africa, what was it all about?
The award was given to some outstanding police officers and corporate bodies in Johannesburg, South Africa by a media firm, Security Watch Africa. They just recognised outstanding police officers, those with exemplary performances in their various sections or duties in the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies all over Africa. Some governors and companies in security business were given awards too. I was fortunate or left me say I was lucky to have been picked as the Best Police Public Relations Officer in Nigeria.
Why do you think you were picked for the award?
I wouldn’t know, all I know is that whatever you are doing, you should know that people are watching you. Some people are watching you for bad, some are watching you for good but this time around, people are watching what I do because I know, for them to have picked me as the Best Police Public Relations Officer in Nigeria, they must have seen what I do and I don’t need to look at people’s faces before I do what I want to do, it is just for one to be committed, one to be dedicated and make sacrifices. PR work in command, you need to make sacrifices. You give out your personal number, not your official number because people want to talk to you and you must make sure that policing is taken to the grassroots.
People will want to talk to you, even if you refer them to DPOs, Area Commanders, admin officer or whoever in the department, they will tell you that they still want to speak with Muyiwa Adejobi, the PPRO.
I have taken it upon myself, for almost five years I have been PRO in Ogun State to be giving my personal number out consistently on most of the programmes, either radio or television or any forum I find myself. People have seen this as my own style of doing the job the way it should be done.
People feel comfortable relating with me because they talk to me on issues on my line. It is not convenient my brother, I need to tell you this, people will call me at about 1:am. 2:am., 3:am. When there is an incident in the town, they will call my number rather than the control room number. If I give them control room number, they will say I don’t need control room number, after all, I have Muyiwa’s number and of course, the implication is that whatever happens to such a person, he is not going to call any operational number, he is not going to call central control room, he is going to call Muyiwa Adejobi and Muyiwa Adejobi is a human being. Muyiwa will want to sleep but Muyiwa won’t be able to sleep because I don’t put off my phone. The sacrifices I make, people have noticed it. Invite Muyiwa to any programme, Muyiwa will be there, call Muyiwa to go and attend any community meeting, Muyiwa will be there. Talk of giving information out, I don’t joke with it, talk of being well connected on the internet, I’m well connected. If there is a story, I write the story, get confirmation and approval from the CP, I send it out. If there are ssues to be discussed whether national or state, I contact the force PRO that this matter is in Ogun State and I think it is national. If he gives me the go ahead, I do it. As part of my schedule as enshrined in the police schedule of duties, I’m to get the force PRO abreast of what is happening in my command and I will continue to do this.
Your job is to manage the image of the police, how do you feel when your conscience comes in conflict with your job?
Public relations does not teach you how to lie. Public Relations is all about the truth and positive projection of image. Let me give you an instance, there was a time someone said: ‘I don’t like police because they are collecting N20’. I will be a foolish PRO to say it is not true that the police are collecting N20. Do not forget that when you are talking as a PRO, you have three or four audiences- the organisation you are working for; the public who want to hear what you are saying; your own people around you, the members of the force will want to hear what you want to say because those are the members of the force that have been alleged to be collecting money.
So the best thing that I could have said is ‘fine they are collecting money on the road; we’ve not sent them, the IG has not sent them, the Commissioner of Police has not sent them, no security man has sent them. They are on their own, but it takes two to tango. But do not encourage policemen by giving them money.
We are giving to tell the public the machinery we have put in place to stop corruption in police force. The IGP monitoring team is there. We have the X-Squad, which is there to checkmate the excesses of erring and recalcitrant police officers and men. The IGP is doing training and retraining. He is sourcing funds to do training to change the psyche of our officers and men. Why must you collect bribe? The
IG fought tooth and nail before he could put up the newly launched police Code of Conducts. We expect our men to read and digest it and behave accordingly.
Public relations does not tell you or teach you to say police do not collect N20. Public relations will tell you to say the truth.
Okay, let me put it this way, when morality comes in conflict with your job what do you do?
You just follow the law and do the right thing. We have guidelines, we have rules, and follow what the law or constitution says. That is to do your job as a policeman. There is no morality, there is no sentiment and there in no conscience, just do the right thing.
Lagos and Ogun States reportedly have the highest number of crimes. What are efforts are being made to bring them to the barest minimum?
Let us start by saying that we thank God for the kind of Inspector-General that we have. Secondly, the Commissioner of Police we have in Ogun State is very active and very lucky a man. I’m saying lucky because if robbers come to Ogun State today, they can’t operate and even if they do, in the next one week, they will be arrested. They cannot come to Ogun State and say they want to operate because it is not possible. If you have monitored the trend of arrest of criminals in the recent past, like the arrest of Godogodo; ‘Lieutenant’ Goke, the former was arrested in Lagos State, Goke was arrested in Ogun State by men of Ogun State Command. We are using our men to harness resources around us to jump on these guys. Our intelligence gathering is excellent for now. As we speak, just last night (a night preceding this interview), five robbers were arrested. They wanted to come to Ogun State to attack an ATM machine and cold rooms because they knew they could not attack our banks. They went where they could access liquid cash- bureau the change, petrol stations.
Two weeks ago, we arrested a syndicate that was coming to attack a bureau de change. They had not even struck before we got them arrested.
Residents of Ogun State feel more comfortable sharing information with us because we are now accessible. People say police in Ogun State now say ‘sir, sir’ to their civilian counterparts. The ‘sir, sir’ syndrome is what we need to do all over Nigeria as they do in Ogun State. I cannot, for the reason of effecting an arrest for breach of traffic offence would want to brutalise you.
Do you sometimes get scared or feel that you could be killed?
Something must kill a man. Why should I feel threatened? Somebody was telling me sometime ago that ‘the the way you talk, the way you condemn robbers, as a public relations officer, will they not come after your life?’ I said no. All I know is that the people your are serving, their spirit, their creator will defend you. Don’t be wicked, be nice to people, people will begin to pray for you, prayers work a lot. So by the time people pray for you, you are upright, you are reasonable, you are not in any dirty engagements, you do not send arms to robbers, you do not connive with robbers, you do not connive with land grabbers, you do not support injustice. All these things will come together to act as a buffer against any attack on you. So, I’m not afraid of anything, I know there is God and above all, somebody must learn how to pray. If you pray to God, He will defend you. I’m not afraid of anything, not even death. Of course, something must a kill a man.
There was a time vigilante groups like the OPC were outlawed, but they are now everywhere purportedly providing security. How has the effort of these outfits complemented the work of police?
I’m not aware of the operation of the OPC. I do not relate with them. For instance, here in ogun State, I do not relate with OPC. These vigilance groups are so many in the state that we had to e harmonise them to Vigilance Service of Ogun State. It was launched by the Ogun State government. There has been support from Ogun State government to them in terms of provision of vehicles.
Despite your prospects in the force, your people are dragging you to become an Oba. What do make of this?
The Owu people came seeking me. Initially, I rejected their entreaty. I became a cadet ASP in 2005. I have just spent seven years and I still have 16 or 20 years. I am already a DSP. By the time I put in 35 years in the police force, I should be a much senior police officer in Nigeria. Initially, I rejected it, but there have been a series of warnings coming that ‘if they have come to look for you to become an Oba, do not reject it. Even the police will not reject it. You see, most of the Obas are either retired police officers. I was told that a retired police became a king in Kogi and the Nigeria Police celebrated him. And that is what police will do for me. Being a police man and becoming a king after retirement is something ennobling. It will help you put a good security structure in place he knows the right thing to do, he will have internal security for his own domain. So, becoming an Oba is divine. There is nothing I can do about that, but for now, I have not been appointed. I’m still going to face my job I won’t allow that to distract me. If God says I’m going to be there, I will get there.
What is the delay in choosing the new Olowu?
The problem is, when there is no justice, there will be a problem. You know that when you want to select an Oba in Yoruba land, there are some rites and consultations to be made. They have been told to pick the son of the late Oba who died in an accident. That accident was not normal, it was a spiritual attack and for peace to reign in the town, they should coronate his son. Again, after consultations with the Ifa, they said they should pick his person. The issue now is that I have police job.
My father loved Nigeria Police Force. I love the Nigeria Police force that was why I left a lucrative job for the Police Force.
You have five people in your family as police personnel. How do you relate?
My father’s nuclear family has four in the force and we have ten from the extended family.
My wife is a police officer, but junior to me. I do not expect her to be saying ‘morn sir’. When she wants to greet me in the morning, we still maintain our culture and tradition.
But when it comes to official duties, when in uniform, she must give me my compliments, even if she is going to hug me later. If I’m to visit my wife at her formation, she would call people to attention for me that I have arrived. After the official recognition, I can go ahead and hug her. My elder brother is a Superintendent of Police. When he comes around, I call people to attention, even though my brother will still call me kabiyesi. We relate well. When it is a family affairs, we relate normally.
Battle-ready policemen, led by Rivers State Commissioner of Police Mbu Joseph Mbu shot live bullets and fired teargas canisters at the 25 lawmakers loyal to Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who sat yesterday at the centre of Moscow Road in Port Harcourt, near the Assembly Complex.
The policemen also barricaded the main gates of the Rivers House of Assembly with three Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and many patrol vans, preventing the 31 lawmakers from sitting.
The 25 lawmakers loyal to Amaechi, who is also the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), and the six legislators being backed by the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, as well as their supporters, were not allowed to move near the Assembly’s gate.
Wike declared that the six lawmakers loyal to him would soon sit on the floor of the Assembly. He condemned the decision of the 25 lawmakers, led by Deputy Speaker Leyii Kwanee, to sit on the main road. Speaker Otelemaba Dan Amachree is overseas for medical treatment.
The self-acclaimed Speaker, Evans Bipi, who represents Ogu/Bolo Constituency, said at the appropriate time, he would reconvene the House, insisting that the 25 pro-Amaechi lawmakers remained suspended, in line with the April 29 decision of the Chief Felix Obuah-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
The Rivers PDP said Amaechi should be held responsible for further crisis in the state, describing yesterday’s alleged use of hooligans to occupy the House of Assembly complex by the supporters of Amaechi as provocative.
The Bipi-led lawmakers were determined to sit, in line with Wednesday’s judgment of the Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, presided over by Justice Ahmed Mohammed, which declared as unconstitutional, the taking over of the Assembly by the National Assembly.
Wike’s supporters stayed in front of the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre on Moscow Road, beside the police headquarters. Amaechi’s gathered at the Workers’ Square, near the main gate of the Secretariat Complex.
With the likelihood of the anti-Amaechi lawmakers to storm the Assembly from 8 am, like they did during the fracas of July 9, the policemen took over the main gate before 8 am, making it impossible for the legislators, Assembly workers and journalists to have access to the complex.
Three APCs were positioned at the Assembly’s gate, with over 50 patrol vans and an army of policemen. Moscow Road, which hosts the Court of Appeal, was closed to traffic.
Of the 25 pro-Amaechi lawmakers, around 10:45 am, 22 with chairs provided by Port Harcourt City Local Government Council, started sitting on the road, by the junction of Moscow Road and William Jumbo Road.
In a show of force, at 11:05 am, policemen invaded the road, firing guns and teargas canisters.
Mbu, who is leaving Rivers on Sunday, preparatory to his one year course at the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru near Jos on January 30, led policemen to eject the lawmakers, who sat for about 20 minutes.
While the sitting lasted, the Deputy Speaker Leyii Kwanee, who presided, said the legislators loyal to Amaechi planned to sit, but were shocked to discover that policemen had barricaded the road. They also wanted to brief Mbu about the planned sitting for adequate security, he said.
Other lawmakers who spoke at the sitting were Josiah Orlu (Eleme constituency), Victoria Nyeche (Port Harcourt 1), Ibiso Nwuche (Ahoada West) and Gift Nwokocha (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni).
As Aye Pepple (Bonny) held the microphone to speak, policemen stormed the place. There was confusion.
The pro-Amaechi legislators condemned the police action, saying they came to perform their legitimate duties.
Wike, a former Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt; the Director-General of Amaechi Campaign Organisation in 2011 and the grand patron of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), spoke through the Secretary-General of the GDI, Samuel Nwanosike.
The Supervising Minister of Education said: “We will go to the Rivers House of Assembly to sit, when Rivers Police Command is notified of the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, with the Certified True Copy (CTC). Rt. Hon. Evans Bipi will preside.
“The 25 pro-Amaechi lawmakers are deceiving themselves. They remain suspended. On the day of the sitting, we will inform the whole world that the lawmakers are more than six. Rt. Hon. Evans Bipi will announce the proper reconvening of the House and the lawmakers will sit without fear.
“Why is Amaechi and his supporters desperate to sit? Imagine the desperation of sitting on the road. Rt. Hon. Bipi and the other lawmakers will not go to that ridiculous extent, because they are loved by Rivers people and remain gentlemen.”
The pro-Wike lawmakers are Bipi, Michael Okechukwu Chinda (Obio/Akpor II constituency), Kelechi Godspower Nwogu (Omuma), Martins Amaewhule (Obio/Akpor I), Victor Ihunwo (Port Harcourt III) and Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, the Chief Whip (Andoni).
Ibani, until his December 1 defection to Wike’s camp, was one of the 27 pro-Amaechi members.
The chief whip is a political “boy” to the Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, from Ikuru Town in Andoni Local Government Area, but defected at the GDI’s rally in Ogu, headquarters of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area.
Initially 27 lawmakers were supporting Amaechi. One of them, Tonye Harry, a former Speaker and deputy to Amaechi while he was Speaker for eight years, recently died. He has not been replaced.
The Obuah-led PDP, through the Special Adviser to the Rivers Chairman on Media, Jerry Needam, said: “The PDP notes with worry the presence of armed thugs all around the Assembly Complex, who are neither members nor staff of the Legislative Assembly, but came in buses, in company of some members of the Assembly loyal to Governor Amaechi.
“The Party condemns in strong terms, the hiring of thugs in buses in an attempt to take over the Assembly, and also wonders why such twist in his reaction to the Abuja High Court judgment, when shortly after the ruling, his Commissioner for Information, Ibim Semenitari, said the government rejected the judgment and has filed both stay of execution and appeal motions against the decision of the court.”
The interim State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr. Davis Ikanya Ibiamu, said: “You see how power is being used against the people. The majority of the lawmakers in the House of Assembly want to visit the commissioner of police, but the police have refused to allow them see the Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu.
“We suspect that the five opposition lawmakers are going to be sneaked into the House to conduct proceedings. The APC considers this development unnecessary and unacceptable. If the commissioner of police believes he is doing his professional duties, then, he should allow the public to see it as such”.
“We call on the National Assembly. We call on the past presidents of Nigeria. We call on Nigerians to condemn what is happening today. Rivers State is under siege. The action of the police in preventing the 25 lawmakers from entering the House of Assembly complex is provocative. We are waiting to see whether they will allow the other five lawmakers to enter the House, sit and attempt to impeach the governor.”
The Rivers police commissioner assured that the Assembly’s gate would be opened, when the due process is followed by the lawmakers. He insisted that he remained a professional police officer and had not taken sides.
On July 9, an attempt was made to remove Amachree as speaker, for Bipi to be made the helmsman, but Amaechi and some of his aides stormed the chambers, leading to a free-for-all. Some of the lawmakers were injured.
Police in Kwara State yesterday paraded a suspected a middle-aged man for alleged illegal manufacturing of firearms.
Adeola Odetoye was arrested in Otte, Ilorin, on Monday.
Items recovered from him include six locally-made single barrel guns, eight butts and 13 single barrel pipes for dane guns and one expended cartridge.
Commissioner of Police Agboola Oshodi-Glover said the command also arrested Alabi Olawole, Kabir Sanusi, Atunde Abiola and Yisau Muideen for alleged robbery.
Oshodi-Glover said two cars were recovered – black Honda Accord (Lagos: KM25AAA) and Toyota Camry (Kwara: FFA296AE).
He said: “For the Yuletide, the command has put in place adequate security measures.
“I am advising residents to shun any act of trial by ordeal as the law frowns at it.
“I am using this opportunity to warn our youngsters to desist from the use of fireworks and knockouts (banger), as those found wanting will be arrested and prosecuted.”