The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Police

  • One killed as police foil robbery operation

    AN armed robbery suspect was shot dead in Lagos yesterday when policemen attached to the Apapa Police Station foiled an attempt by his gang to hijack a bullion van conveying money to a bank.

    Three persons, including a soldier, were seriously injured. One of the hoodlums was arrested by the police.

    It was learnt that the robbers, who were operating on three motorcycles, opened fire on the van on Mobil Road, Apapa.

    Sources disclosed that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at the station, Usman Ndababo, a Chife superintendent (CSP) had sporadic gunshots of the hoodlums and quickly mobilised his men for action.

    When his team located the scene, the robbers had over-powered occupants of the van and their escorts. The robbers reportedly fired at the policemen, who fired back killing one of the bandits.

  • Police rescue abducted woman in Aba

    Men of the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Aba Area Command and military personnel have rescued an Aba-based businesswoman, Ebere Amarachukwu Chimaranma, from her abductors.

    Chimaranma, The Nation gathered, was kidnapped at Umuchichi village behind Glass Industries, Aba, Abia State around 6pm on October 16 by three gunmen.

    She was said to have gone to the village to monitor the work done on a building construction site before her abduction.

    According to an eyewitness, who pleaded for anonymity, the three men arrived the construction site minutes after the woman arrived.

    The witness said: “The woman was inspecting how the labourers at the site were pouring the German floor with the site engineer when three boys, suspected to be kidnappers, arrived at the site and ordered her to enter her Honda Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) car.

    The kidnappers were said to have dropped her in a village at Obingwa where she was later picked up by the police and military joint team on Sunday evening.

    Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Geoffrey Ogbonna confirmed the release of the businesswoman.

     

  • Eight in police net for robbery

    The Ebonyi State Police Command yesterday said it had arrested eight suspects for alleged involvement in armed robbery, cult activities and rape in Oshiri community, Onicha Local Government.

    Speaking to reporters when parading the suspects at the police headquarters in Abakaliki, spokesman for the command, Sylvester Igbo, said the suspects had been terrorising the people of Oshiri community and its environs.

    He said: “The suspects robbed Mrs. Grace Lazarus Nwogu of Amakala village of N475, 000 on September 18. The same gang on September 19 robbed the woman of a 12-inch mattress. It also stole her dog.”

    Igbo gave the names of the suspects as Chinedu John (aka Internet), Umahi Aloy Obinna, Ogbu Eze Jerry, Agu Odefa Chimaobi, Joseph Osogo Christian, Ogechukwu Chuku Nwuiye, Egede Ogbonna Friday and Njoku Victor.

  • Police arrest robbers who robbed The Sun in Onitsha

    The ring leader of a four-man robbery syndicate who stormed the circulation office of The Sun newspaper and other adjoining offices in the commercial city of Onitsha has been apprehended by the police.

    The suspect’s name was still undisclosed but he was apprehended in the Fegge area of Onitsha, near the Onitsha drugs market, while three of his gang members narrowly escaped arrest.

    They allegedly carted away cash estimated at over four hundred thousand naira only (N400,000).

    The four suspects operating on two motorbikes, stormed the one-storey building office of The Sun office at 57 Old Market Road, opposite Onitsha General Post Office, robbed three offices one after the other, including The Sun, Complete Sports and Canefield Investment Limited, a stock broker, and fled on their motorbikes.

     

     

     

     

     

  • High Court quashes case against police

    A High Court sitting in Aba, Abia State, has struck out a case against the Police by Chief George Eze.

    Eze approached a High Court in Ukwa, near Aba, claiming that an invitation by the police amounted to an infringement of his fundamental right to personal liberty. He urged the court to restrain the police from harassing, arresting or detaining him.

    The Nation learnt that the police last year attempted to arrest Eze after receiving a report from Mr. David Ikechi Ekenta of Akwete Ndoki in Ukwa East Local Government alleging that he (Eze) broke into his compound at an odd hour.

    After a failed attempt to arrest Eze, police invited the suspect to report at the police headquarters, Umuahia for interrogation, it was learnt.

    He, however, insisted in his originating summons that he had done nothing wrong that should warrant his unlawful arrest and detention by the police.

    Counsel to the applicant, U. Ukaegbu, said it was left for the respondent to show that his client’s alleged harassment by them and intended detention was justified, which he said could be shown by proof of evidence of what he had done.

    Ukaegbu said since the police invitation was used to begin investigation against a person, the court would be failing in its duties of protecting citizens against arbitrary use of state power if it could not look at the reasonableness or otherwise of an invitation letter simply because it emanated from the police.

    Counsel to the respondent, V.O. Ezenta, argued that what the applicant was asking the court to do was to shield him from criminal investigation, which was tantamount to interfering with the powers of the law enforcement officers under the constitution.

    Justice C. O. Onyeabo held that mere arrest or plan to arrest was not an infringement of the fundamental right and as such, no court should allow itself to be used as an instrument of subversion under the guise of enforcing a fundamental right.

    “The application lacks merit and is accordingly dismissed,” the judge ruled.

  • Police rescue kidnap victim

    •Hunt abductors

    The Aba Area Command of the Nigeria Police has rescued a kidnap victim.

    It has declared a manhunt for members of a kidnap gang, who allegedly abducted the victim, a businessman, in Aba on Sunday.

    The Nation learnt that the abductors, now at large with bullet wounds, on Sunday morning at 6, Omenazu Street, off Faulks Road, in a white Toyota Hilux, abducted their victim when he went to a hair salon.

    It was also gathered that two motorcycles, two AK47 rifles, two mobile phones and 49 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the gangs’ hideout at the Nwakanma family compound in Umuadaba Osisioma Local Government Area of the state.

    The Aba Area Commander, Rabiu Dayi, who led the operation, told reporters that a combined team of anti-robbery squad from the command and Zone 9 Umuahia, in a gun duel, killed a member of the gang, while others, after being overpowered by the police, fled to an unknown destination with bullet wounds.

    He said security report indicated that the kidnappers also operated at Nekede and Orlu in Imo State where they allegedly abducted people and took them to their hideout at Osisioma Ngwa.

    Dayi advised Aba residents to volunteer information about criminals to the police.

  • We’re wrongly accused by the police, say suspects

    Four suspects yesterday told an Ekiti State Magistrate’s Court that the robbery charge levelled against them by the police is false.

    Ilesanmi Oluwadare (39), Faleye Akintunde (29), Seun Adegbola (30) and Oluchi Simon said they were not part of any robbery and did not know one another.

    The suspects, who insisted on their innocence, were accused of robbing Chief Ajayi Ayodeji of his traditional beads, wristwatch, handset and money on September 3 at Sajalo Villa in Ilegbe Quartres, Ifaki-Ekiti.

    Faleye told The Nation tearfully that he was a motor mechanic in Ajilosun, Ado-Ekiti, adding that he was arrested in Ido-Ekiti.

    He said: “I never stole a pin in my life and I have never been to a police station for any offence. I do not know any of these guys with whom I am being charged for armed robbery. I went to greet my elder brother, Gbenga, in Ido-Ekiti.

    “Immediately I came down from the motorcycle in Ido that day, they arrested me. I did not know what my offence is. I contacted my sister and they told her to pay N6,000. She paid N4,000 and begged them to release me, but they detained me because of N2000. The second day, they transferred me from Ido to the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit in Ado-Ekiti.”

    Adegbola said he was also arrested in Ido at Number M3 around the Central Mosque.

    He said: “Around 8:30pm, I was in front of my house at No M3 when the divisional police officer, who was passing by, pointed a torch in my face. I responded by pointing a torch at him too, as I did not know who he was.

    “Angered, he ordered one of his men to arrest me. I shouted and people came out to see what was going on. They did not allow him to arrest me. But he came back around 12:30am and took me to Ido Police Station. The following day, he called SARS from Ado-Ekiti and they took me away.”

    Ilesanmi said he was on his way to see his relations in Ido from Ondo State when he was arrested.

    He said: “I got to Ifaki around 9pm and went to a store to buy satchet water. I was drinking it when the police arrested me. I do not know what to do now.”

    Oluchi said she was arrested for buying an allegedly stolen Techno phone.

    She said she explained to the police that she did not know the phone was stolen, yet they arrested her.

    Oluchi said: “I explained to them how it all went but they insisted on arresting me. I am a housewife and three months pregnant. They kept punishing me until I lost the baby.”

    Magistrate S.I. Ojo remanded them in prison custody and adjourned hearing till November 4.

  • Police urged to curb ‘cattle rustling’ in Plateau

    The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 4, Mr. Michael Zuokumor, on Friday ordered the Plateau Police Command to curb the menace of cattle rustling in the state.

    Zuokomur, who gave the order during a one-day official visit to the command in Jos, said that cattle rustling had been causing problems in the state.

    He said cattle rustling had been causing the death of many people within Plateau and neighbouring states of Kaduna and Nasarawa States.

    Zuokomur said, “The command should evolve strategies that will curb the cattle rustling to the barest minimum so that peace will return permanently to Plateau.

    “The police investigative operatives should do everything within their powers to unearth those perpetuating this heinous crime so that innocent people will not be killed.”

    According to him, the conflict between the farmers and pastoralists within the zone is being solved through dialogue.

    The AIG said that the performance of the Commissioner of Police in Plateau was impressive as the crises had been reduced to the barest minimum.

    Zuokomur urged all the officers and men to put in their best while performing their duties of protecting lives and property.

    He advised them to always invest their money wisely so as to avoid becoming paupers and beggars after their 35 years of service in the force.

    “I strongly advise you to invest your money in the purchase of shares and build modest houses that will accommodate you and your family after service.

    “The officers and men should strive to utilise their hard earned salaries for the sole purpose of taking care of themselves in future retirement,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Zuokomur as saying during the visit.

    The AIG denied the rumour going round that the police was planning to make deductions on some of the allowances of the police officers across the country.

    “The rumour about the deductions is unfounded and has no basis,’’ he said.

     

  • Police promote 39 officers

    Police promote 39 officers

    •61 redeployed

    The police authorities have approved the promotion of 39 senior officers.

    A breakdown of the list showed that four Commissioners of Police were promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs).

    Among the promoted AIGs are Balla M. Nasarawa, who until his promotion, was the CP Anambra State Police Command. Others are Edgar Tam Nanakumo, who is presently acting as the AIG in-charge of Zone 12, Bauchi.

    Mohammed J. Gana, who was the CP Federal Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS) also benefited. Also promoted is AIG Sabo Ringim Ibrahim, who was acting as the AIG in-charge of Border Patrol.

    Eight Deputy Commissioners were elevated to the rank of substantive Commissioners. Seven Assistant Commissioners are now Deputy Commissioners. Twenty Chief Superintendents of Police got promoted to Assistant Commissioners of Police.

    Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar has similarly ordered the immediate redeployment of 61 senior officers to various Commands and Formations.

    Those affected are six Commissioners (CPs); 26 Deputy Commissioners (DCPs); and 29 Assistant Commissioners (ACPs).

    The affected CPs are CP Sherifat Disu Olajoku, who was moved from Western Ports Authority Police Command to CP Administration ‘C’ Dept. Force Headquarters.

    CP Ambrose O. Aisabor has been redeployed from CP Administration ‘A’ Dept — FHQ, Abuja to CP Western Ports Authority Police Command, Lagos; CP Irimiya Yerima is moved from Eastern Ports Authority Police Command, Port Harcourt, to CP Admin ‘A’ Dept, FHQ, Abuja.

    Also affected was CP Tijani Baba, who was the Deputy Commandant, Police College, Kaduna, is redeployed as CP Eastern Ports Authority Police Command, Port Harcourt; CP John Opadokun from CP PMF, FHQ, Abuja, to CP Marine, FHQ, Lagos; while DCP Karma H. Hassan becomes the CP Police Mobile Force (PMF), FHQ, Abuja. All postings take immediate effect.

    A statement yesterday by Force spokesman, Frank Mba said the promotions and redeployments take immediate effect.

    Meanwhile, Okiro has directed Abubakar to investigate the alleged humiliation and stripping of a woman police officer in the public at Onitsha, Anambra Sate.

    The officer was allegedly stripped by a businessman, as widely reported in a national newspaper of September 18. Okiro said Abubakar should send a report to him in good time.

    A statement by the spokesman, Ferdinand Ekpe said.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Kidnapped judge: Suspects fill police cells as courts remain shut

    The suspects arrested by the Edo State Police Command are increasing in police cells across the state.

    This followed the continued protests by judges, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) over the kidnap of Justice Daniel Okungbowa by unknown gunmen. The judge was abducted last Wednesday at Ekpoma in Esan West Local Government where he had gone to resume duties.

    His abductors are yet to contact his family.

    At his Benin City home, his family wore long faces. They refused to comment on the incident.

    Judges began boycotting court sittings last Thursday when news about the abduction filtered in. Lawyers joined the boycott on Friday.

    They said they would boycott courts until Justice Okungbowa was released unconditionally.

    Members of JUSUN joined the protest yesterday. Courts were deserted.

    The JUSUN members, who carried placards, marched on the Government House and the headquarters of the police command.

    They demanded the release of Justice Okungbowa, adding that he should be set free unhurt.