The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Police

  • Police, NSCDC deploy 1,100 operatives in Bayelsa

    Security has been heightened in Bayelsa, the state of President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure a hitch-free 53rd Independence Day celebration today.

    It was learnt that security operatives had been placed on red alert to forestall any breach of the peace especially in view of the threat by the Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND).

    MEND had in September threatened to attack oil installations by October 1.

    The militant group had called on the oil giant, Chevron, to evacuate its Tank Farm in Escravos, which it claimed was one of its targets for the attacks.

    But sources from the JTF said major waterways and creeks in the region especially the ones located in Bayelsa State had been secured.

    There were fears that attacks might be sponsored in the state to embarrass the President.

    While JTF and the Central Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy were said to have deployed gunboats in the sea and creeks, the police including the state security outfit, Operation Doo-Akpo and the Ngerian Security and Civil Defence (NSCDC) were said to have secured the land.

    JTF’s Media Coordinator, JTF, Lt. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said JTF’s troops had been put on red alert.

    “We have put our men on red alert to dominate the waterways. You know we don’t take things for granted”, he said.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Taraba crisis: Police arrest Suntai’s aide

    Taraba crisis: Police arrest Suntai’s aide

    •Ex- commissioner tells IG to call police commissioner to order

    The political crisis in Taraba State worsened at the weekend following the arrest of the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor Danbaba Suntai on Media and Publicity, Mr. Silvanus Giwa, by the police.

    Giwa was arrested along with four others on Friday at about 10:30p.m in Jalingo –the state capital.

    One of the detainees, Hamidu Ali, a lawyer, who with his friends –including Giwa – were holding a valedictory session for him, was billed to leave for Mecca yesterday. The trip was, however, aborted because of his arrest.

    The detainees were still in police custody when The Nation correspondent visited the Taraba State Police Command, Jalingo yesterday.

    Asked what their crime was, the governor’s aide said he was only told that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Jubril Adeniji, ordered his arrest.

    It was gathered that the commissioner allegedly acted on the orders of the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar.

    “I don’t know why I am here; I don’t know my offence,” Giwa said while fielding questions from newsmen at the State Command yesterday.

    However, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the deputy governor, Mr. Kefas Sule, denied that Umar has a hand in Giwa’s arrest and detention. “It is not true,” he said.

    He said he met with the deputy governor who said he unaware of the arrest. He added that a security meeting was arranged for the police commissioner to brief Umar on the arrest.

    Police Spokesman, Joseph Kwaji, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) told The Nation that he could not comment on the arrest.

    The Nation learnt that Giwa’s arrest is not unconnected with his statement on Thursday in which he debunked claims by the Deputy Governor he (Umar) was 100 percent loyal to his principal, Governor Danbaba Suntai.

    Umar had said: “I make bold to declare to you that I am loyal to my boss, brother and friend. I have not engaged myself in anything to undermine his authority.”

    Umar spoke at the Executive Chamber of Government House at a meeting with local government council chairmen and traditional rulers.

    But Giwa on Thursday had said Suntai and other residents have lost the confidence they reposed in Umar because he has betrayed them.

    He said: “His (Umar’s) activities are a direct opposite of what he keeps saying.”

    Reacting to Giwa’s arrest, former Commissioner of Information, Emmanuel Bello, described the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Jubril Adeniji, as the acting governor’s agent of intimidation.

    He said in a statement,“The arrest, torture and continuous detention last night of Governor Danbaba Suntai’s media aide by the police is the latest proof of the return of jungle justice and a reign of terror in Taraba under Alhaji Garba Umar.”

    He accused the deputy governor of disloyalty running an illegal government.

    A lawyer, Ibrahim Effiong, has described as “unconstitutional,” the arrest of Giwa. He urged the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Jubril Adeniji, who is also a lawyer, not to be used for cheap political business.

    Quoting Section 35(3) of the Constitution, Effiong noted that “the police ought to have informed Giwa in writing and in a language he understands, on the grounds and facts of his arrest within 24hours,” failure to which, he said, amounted to “impunity.”

  • Police arrest Chinese for ‘stealing’ N105m

    Police arrest Chinese for ‘stealing’ N105m

    Operatives of the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) have arrested a Chinese who allegedly defrauded a bank in the Peoples Republic of China and relocated to Nigeria.

    The police said they recovered N105 million from the suspect and handed over the money to the anti-fraud detectives from China Police Department.

    The Commissioner of Police in charge of the unit, Mr Tunde Ogunsakin, handed over the money, which was recovered in dollars, to the Chinese police team.

    He said: “On August 28, the Chinese Government, through its Consulate in Nigeria, contacted the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police for collaboration to arrest a fugitive who ran away from China to Nigeria.

    “The Chinese government complained through a letter that the suspect, Fang Yang, and Leng Jiqing, a former Legal Representative of Qingdao Sifang Qiaolian Trade Company in Beijin, were wanted for eight million Yen loan syndicated through a fake bank deposit in 1996 to get a mortgage from the second sub-branch of China Agricultural Bank of Qingdao.

    “After the bill was discounted, the majority of the money was paid for the debts of their company and the balance spent on daily expenses of the company.”

    It was learnt that only 1.55 million RMB was paid back to the Licang second sub-branch of Qingdao branch of China Agricultural Bank. This led to a loss of 6.45 million RMB to the bank.

    Ogunsakin said: “Jiqing was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment in China but Fang Yang ran to Nigeria. Detectives from the unit swung into action. Yang, who resides in Nigeria, was apprehended at Golden Silk Ovic, Ogun State, after three weeks of chase. The suspect, a 50-year-old Chinese businessman who came to Nigeria in 2001, admitted in his statement the allegation levelled against him…”

  • Police deny report

    The Nasarawa State Police Command has denied media report credited to it that three unidentified assailants were killed in the renewed Obi/Assakio clash.

    It was also alleged that the suspected leader of the Ombatse militia in the state was killed by the military.

    Denying the report in Lafia, the deputy police spokesman Cornelius Ocholi said he neither granted any interview nor told any reporter about what was reported about the three assailants.

    He said he only confirmed to The Nation that only three people died in the Assakio crisis, while four others were injured and are responding to treatment after being taken to the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia.

    Ocholi added that about 30 houses were razed on both sides by the warring Alago and their Eggon counterparts.

    Wondering why such story he described as false is emanating “this time when the state is seeking to bring about peace,” Ocholi urged reporters to cross- check their reports to presents facts, especially when it has to do with figures.

    Ocholi said Police Commissioner Umar Shehu and his men would forestall further crisis, adding that the military were also patrolling and calm had been restored.

  • Police parade ‘fake’ number plate maker

    The Abia State Police Command has paraded “Rev” Charles Ubani, a former worker with the state Board of Internal Revenue (BIR) for allegedly making fake number plates and selling them to unsuspecting motorists.

    The suspect was also alleged to have forged Abia State Government’s letter-headed paper to dupe the unsuspecting public.

    The police said the suspect defrauded the government of its revenue.

    Parading the suspect in Umuahia, the state capital, Police Commissioner Usman Tilli Abubakar said Ubani was arrested for unlawful possession of four similar vehicle number plates.

    The police chief said the suspect specialises in making fake number plates, adding that he had been causing problems between vehicle owners and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

    Abubakar cited one of the duplicated number plates as KPR 781 AH, saying it started fading out soon after it was issued.

    He said this made the FRSC officials to arrest the owners of vehicles with such number plates.

    According to him, three vehicle owners had the same number plates.

    He said the suspect had also been using the state government’s number plate on his Toyota Camry car, which he allegedly registered with AB 01-AO4.

  • Monarch petitions police over land dispute

    Ekporo community in Eleme locality of Rivers State has petitioned the State Police Commissioner, Mbu Joseph Mbu for intervention to avert lost of lives and property over lingering land dispute with neighbouring Ogu community in Ogu/Bolo local government area.

    Speaking yesterday in Eleme, Rivers State, Chief Samuel Obe, paramount ruler of Ekporo community alleged that youths of Ogu numbering over 200 invaded Ekporo, shooting sporadically into the air while destroying economic trees under the guise of clearing a road in the community.

    The community leader indicated that the renewed threat from its neighbours stemmed from Ekporo’s protest against recent encroachment and fencing of an estimated 30 hectares and seizure of separate 10 hectares of Ekporo communal lands by the younger brother to a senator from the locality.

    Chief Samuel said: “We were here yesterday when the news came that many inhabitants of Ekporo community have fled in the face of this onslaught, the invaders have also threatened to begin demolition of buildings.”

     

     

     

  • Police arraign couple for visa scam in Edo

    A couple, Abdulazeez Umar, 50 and Hajiya Fatima Umar, 48, were on Wednesday arraigned at an Auchi Chief Magistrates’ Court for an alleged visa scam.

    The couple, facing a 13-count charge, allegedly collected N1 million from a woman, Princess Zainab Alamah, to get a Saudi Arabian visa for her.

    Some of the charges against them are conspiracy, felony, obtaining money under pretense, stealing and fraud.

    The couple pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The prosecutor, Cpl. Andrew Edmond, told the court that the accused persons allegedly collected the money from one Princess Zainab Alamah between June and October 2011.

    “My lord, this couple collected the money at different times to assist Alamah to procure document for her to attend the 2011 Muslim pilgrimage.

    “The  accused persons fraudulently and unlawfully converted the money to their personal use, without processing the visa as promised,’’ he said.

    The prosecutor said the offence contravened the Criminal Code of the defunct Bendel State 1976, as applicable in Edo.

    The Magistrate, Mrs I.A. Osayande, granted the accused persons bail, each for  N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    The case was adjourned to Oct. 16 for further hearing. (NAN)

  • The Nigeria Police Force

    Sometime in 1998 as preparations reached top gear for the return of democracy to Nigeria after decades of military rule interrupted midway by General Ibrahim Babangida’s failed third republic, a certain businessman in Ikeja, capital of Lagos State called a press conference for his office at midday. My colleagues and I were there.

    As he was into selling of exotic cars, we were looking forward to him unveiling yet another of such cars into the Nigerian market as was his practice. But we were wrong or rather shocked when we arrived at the imposing glass house structure that was his office and found nothing to suggest that an unveiling of a next generation car was in the offing. Nothing of sort was planned; the Chief from Ijebuland had other ideas.

    As he welcomed us into the press conference he launched into the reason for gathering the media into his office that mid afternoon:Nigeria, yes Nigeria, our dear country was on his mind. The incoming democratic dispensation was troubling his mind and he wanted to share his thoughts with Nigerians on how to make the 4th republic better.

    He was an elderly man and we listened patiently to his wisdom. Out of all the problems confronting our country then he singled out the Nigerian police as one problem, if solved, that could solve most if not all the other problems. Why, we asked.

    He noted that Nigeria’s problem is essentially maintenance of law and order or rather lack of it. If our laws were enforced to the letter by the police in particular and other law enforcement agents, he reckoned that Nigeria would not only be better but also prosper.

    He reckoned that if the Nigeria Police Force is well funded, the officers and men properly trained and catered for they would be willing and even expected/compelled to ‘serve with heart and mind’, as our national anthem says, Nigerians and the nation and not the leaders who pay the piper. We couldn’t agree with him less.

    As he later became a close confidant of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and even a strong member of his kitchen cabinet, we expected that the Nigeria Police would fare better under that regime and serve Nigerians better. You all know the outcome of the NPF under Obasanjo.

    As the drama of the ongoing power struggle in Rivers State between the State governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and the Commissioner of Police Mbu Joseph Mbu reached a head last Thursday with the latter prevented from accessing his official residence through his normal route by policemen acting on the orders of Mbu, the question came to mind as to whether the police force as it is today is actually Nigeria Police Force or Nigeria’s President Police Force.

    And whoever has been following developments in Rivers State since Governor Amaechi contested and won the chairmanship of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum for a second term against the wish of President Goodluck Jonathan can not but (in good conscience) conclude that the Nigeria Police Force as it is today is working for and in the interest of Mr President. And this is unfortunate.

    It is not as if the situation had been different in the past, the NPF had always been serving their master’s voice, whether under the military or civilian government. But the appointment of Mohammed Abubakar as Inspector General of Police had raised hopes that with an officer and gentleman, at the saddle at the Force Headquarters Nigeria would finally have a police force to serve the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.

    The IGP actually started well and the Force could be said to be doing well but for the problem of the Rivers State command and CP Mbu. Abubakar’s order dismantling police checkpoints across the federation has not just brought so much relief to the people but has also left criminals confounded as to where and when they could encounter a police patrol. This has brought the elements of surprise and unpredictability which are essential to fighting crime.

    The Force has been engaged in some laudable things but which the politics it has enmeshed itself in in Rivers State could rubbish altogether. If the IGP does not know it, CP Mbu is damaging the Nigeria Police and he is a bad advertisement for a professional police force that Nigeria crave for and which we expect Abubakar to give us.

    Let us leave the politics of what is going on between President Jonathan, his wife Patience on one hand and Governor Amaechi on the other hand aside. Why should the police under the guise of enforcing law and order prevent a state governor from moving freely on any route in his state, especially the route that leads to his residence? What is that security situation that the governor does not know or should not know about that would warrant him being denied access through a particular route/road in his state? If there was such a situation and it happened suddenly as Mbu’s apologists may want to argue, why wasn’t the governor informed immediately and advised accordingly? And assuming the policemen around did not know the governor was the one coming with his guests, why wasn’t his convoy allowed to pass through once their identities were established if the police command was not playing politics?

    There are so many ifs and whys here begging for answers, but the truth is that irrespective of whatever Governor Amaechi had been or could have been doing wrongly in the current political crisis rocking his state, the police in particular and every other organ or agents of government anywhere in Nigeria for that matter, should give him the honour and respect as the elected governor of Rivers State. It is not necessarily about him, but about that office and the Nigerian constitution which the police are duty bound to respect and uphold.

    The argument that there was an alternate route he could have taken and chose that particular route just to give solidarity to the recently opened state headquarters of the new PDP which he belongs does not hold water. Even at that, when has that become a crime and what business has the police got in sealing off the headquarters of the new PDP in Rivers State? More shocking ad disgraceful was the fact that the team that sealed off that party office and forcefully brought down both the flags of Nigeria and that of the party was led by a deputy Commissioner of Police. What a shame? What kind of officers are these? These are the kind of things that bring public disrespect to the police. When the people see naked partisanship like this by the police, absolute partiality, they lose respect for the force. If President Jonathan had been on the other side of the party, say a member of the new PDP, would the police have prevented his faction from opening it’s office or even the president taking the road in front of the party office to wherever he wanted to go? When the Nigeria Governors’ Forum was factionalized and President Jonathan decided to back the minority faction why didn’t the police say NO? Why didn’t the Force send policemen to seal off the office of the Jang faction of NGF? Going by the police logic on the new PDP, Jang faction of NGF is also operating illegally, so, why not apply the law on that group. Was it because the president is involved? This is the kind of inconsistent application of the law by the police that tends to promote crises and anarchy in the land. This is the kind of things that the IGP should prevent if the Nigeria Police Force are to be respected by Nigerians. The truth today is that Nigerians have more respect even for the Civil Defence Corps than a policeman or woman. It is that bad. And it is politicians in uniform like CP Mbu Joseph Mbu that promotes this kind of low esteem and contempt that most Nigerians have for the Nigeria Police Force, in spite of the efforts of such gentlemen officers like IGP Abubakar and most of his officers and men, including some that had served meritoriously in the NPF in the past.

    Back to the Rivers issue, IGP Abubakar, apart from the image of the Nigeria Police, has his own personal integrity to protect in this matter and should not allow one incompetent CP acting at the behest of his paymasters outside the Force, to tarnish his own reputation and taint his tenure as IGP. Abubakar should resist the temptation of allowing the NPF under his watch to be used as the militant wing of the ruling party the way one of his predecessors Sunday Adewusi deployed the police in the second republic to serve the interest of the ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN). We all know the place of Adewusi and the NPF of that era in Nigeria’s history today, IGP Abubakar should not travel that road. He has a name to protect. Nigerians are watching.

  • Atiku deplores police harassment of Amaechi

    Atiku deplores police harassment of Amaechi

    Former vice president Atiku Abubakar has deplored the incessant police harassment of Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, saying the situation has become incomprehensible, outrageous and humiliating.

    In a statement issued by his media office on Monday, Atiku said he was highly embarrassed by the excesses and open partisanship against a democratically elected governor who is also the chief security officer of the state.

    He called on the police in Rivers State to halt their siege against the new Peoples Democratic Party headquarters in Abuja, which has entered its second week.

    “Nothing justifies the advocacy for the decentralization of the police by allowing states to set up their own more than this.

    “There is nowhere in the world the police would take sides in private political conflicts at the expense of its constitutional role,” the statement added.

    The former vice president regretted that the persistent harassment of the governor has gone too far to be tolerated by decent public opinion and other leaders.

    The glaring partisanship of the police, Atiku argued would continue to elicit agitation for state police by the Nigerian people.

    “Police partisanship must stop immediately because it poses a threat to our nascent democracy. Our police force must concentrate solely on providing safety and security for Nigerians who face daily threats of violence and kidnappings.

    “Nigeria continues to head in the wrong direction. We face chronic joblessness and now a crippling, three-month long ASUU strike preventing students from attending school. That is where the Federal Government’s focus must be, not on launching partisan police actions,” Atiku stated.

    He also noted that, considering the heavy expenditure state governments make to equip and support the police, the harassment of Amaechi could undermine such cooperation.

     

     

     

  • Female police officer molested, stripped naked

    Female police officer molested, stripped naked

    Pandemonium was averted yesterday at Bridge Head, Onitsha,  when a female police officer, Inspector Tochukwu Offoegbu, was abused, molested and almost stripped naked by a dreaded wealthy man, (name withheld) who allegedly slapped the Commissioner of Police last year.

    An eye witness and a tout, who gave his name as Tunde, said Offoegbu was on duty when the ‘big man,’ who owns a park in Onitsha, approached her, allegedly telling her that he would facilitate her removal from Onitsha as he did to one  Archibong.

    He said the female police officer demanded to know what she did that would warrant her removal, so he gave her a slap for daring him. Also, his boys allegedly tore the female officer’s uniform, leaving her almost naked.

    ‘’She ran for her life into the Police post to avoid the peering eyes of the public before the Area Commander Benjamin Nwordu asked all of them to come to the area police station, Onitsha.

    ‘’That man cannot be arrested because last time he slapped the Commissioner of police because of park matters and so the governor closed the park and now, it is an Inspector. I fear,” said Tunde.

    When contacted, the DPO Fegge, where Offoegbu works , Muikdi Shehu, said he would not speak on the matter, insisting that the PPRO is the only person authorized to speak.

    The PPRO, Emeka Chukwuemeka, when contacted on phone said he was with the Onitsha Area Commander and would get back to this reporter on the issue.

    CP Balah Nassarawa was said to be out of the state as at the time of going to the press.

    Reacting, another eyewitness and Campaign for Democracy Coordinator, Dede Uzor A Uzor, demanded for the immediate arrest of the accused and thorough investigation into the matter with a view to punishing the offender to deter future occurrence.

    CD gave the Commissioner of Police seven days to arrest the man or face human rights groups protest and call for his removal as that was the height of abuse of an officer on duty, particularly a woman.