The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Police

  • Police arrest robbery suspects in Ogun

    Three robbery suspects were yesterday arrested by the police in Ifo, Ogun State.

    They were said to be part of the 11 suspects arrested on Saturday in another part of the state.

    The gang is said to be responsible for various robberies in Ogun and Oyo states.

    Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said shot guns, ammunition and other items were recovered from them.

    Adejobi said: “Barely a day after the arrest of 11 suspected armed robbers in Abeokuta, the command arrested three confessed armed robbers, who operate in Ogun and Oyo states, at Obada Oko and Papalanto in Ifo Local Government Area on Sunday at about 0500hrs.

    “Abiola Akanni, Eniola Fajobi and Peter Hammed are members of a robbery syndicate that was burst in Ifo recently, whose case is under prosecution at Magistrate Court 2 in Otta, with nine suspects arraigned before the magistrate.

    “The suspects were arrested as a follow-up to ongoing investigation into the robberies carried out by the syndicate.

    “The investigation is being carried out by a special team of policemen, led by the Divisional Police Officer in Ifo Division, Gbenga Megbope, a chief superintendent.

    “The suspects have confessed to the crimes. Items recovered from them include one locally-made double barrel gun, one locally-made single barrel gun, 20 live cartridges, 10 hand sets, jewellery and three new unregistered Bajaj motorcycles, in addition to the five guns earlier recovered from the nine gang members arrested earlier.

    “Police Commissioner Ikemefuna Okoye has put all officers and men in the command on their toes to make the state hot for criminals.”

     

  • Rotary donates to police, community

    he Rotary Club of Ikorodu Metropolitan has donated a 10 kva generator to the Area N Police Command, Ijede a suburb of Lagos.This is in fulfilment of its cardinal objective of making life better for the rural populace while serving humanity.

    The donation, according to the president of the club, Rotarian Kamaldeen Adedeji is to boost the morale of the police and make their working environment conducive to effective discharge of their duties effectively.

    The club also donated pipe borne water to the Bagidan community area of Ijede, Ikorodu.

    “It gladdens my heart because it is one thing to serve and another to see that your dreams come to true. We thank God for making today a reality, we have given the Area N police command a 10 kva generator for the betterment of their performance, we decided to give them the generator because when we visited the police station, it was very appalling; we felt that for somebody doing the kind of their job, a job of securing the lives of people, they need a conducive environment for them to be able to work effectively,” he said.

    Receiving the Rotarians was the Area N Police Commander, Mr A O Markus who said he was grateful to the club for extending a hand of fellowship to them.

    He promised that his command would extend its vigilante programme in the area as a way of showing appreciation for the donations.

    “It is a wonderful thing they have done for us, we are so happy about it, we are impressed and encouraged and we are going to do wonderful job around the Area N Command, we are going to show appreciation by our performances,” he said.

    He said the condition in his office before the donation was not conducive as it was stuffy and because of the epileptic power supply in the area, but now a new life has just been introduced with the generating set from Rotary.

    The delegation was led by the District Governor of Rotary International Club District 911 Nigeria, Rotarian Olugbemiga Olowu.

    In his words, he promised that the club would continue to do everything possible to help the police perform its functions effectively and ensure peace continue to reign in the area and Lagos State at large.

    “We must all work together to ensure peace and security in our areas, we will continue to work with the security forces to ensure that our lives are save,” he said.

    Given reason for his visit to the Ikorodu club, Olowu said it is a routine thing they do every year to access the various clubs’ performance level.

    “Every year the district governor goes round the clubs to know how the clubs are performing, the strength and weakness of the club and over advice to the president and members of the club so that they can make their clubs stronger; the Ikorodu club had lived to expectation even beyond because we in Lagos think that they are not doing anything in Ikorodu but today I know they are doing wonderfully well,” he said.

     

     

     

  • Cop’s dismissal: I won’t run a corrupt system – IGP

    Cop’s dismissal: I won’t run a corrupt system – IGP

    The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, on Thursday maintained that he would not run a corrupt police service.

    He was reacting to claims in some quarters that the dismissal of a police officer caught receiving bribe in Lagos was too harsh.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after joining Muslim faithful to pay the annual Sallah homage to President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday, the IGP said his tenure as the head of the police force will not condone such corruption.

    Apart from regular warnings to the officers and men of the police force, he said that the police adopt different strategies to discourage corruption in the service, including setting officers up.

    He said: “You can see that we are information technology compliant. We know what is happening in the You Tube, we know what is happening all over the world. And because we believe that we have to do what is right, we warn our officers and men, sometimes we set them up to ensure that we get them on the act. And so who is caught on the act is being dismissed.”

    “There is a process that is going on. If the man that was present where corruption has taken place is willing and ready to come and give evidence in court, he would be charged to court,” he added.

     

     

     

  • Army, police to respond to security challenge at Sallah

    Army, police to respond to security challenge at Sallah

    Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar yesterday ordered water-tight security across the country.

    The Army also pledged to continuously rise up to challenge insecurity anywhere in the country.

    Abubakar directed all zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police to ensure increased security surveillance, patrols and tactical police presence on major highways, places of worship, recreation parks and other sensitive, strategic and vulnerable places within their areas of jurisdiction.

    A statement by Deputy Force spokesman, Frank Mba, yesterday added that Commissioners of Police had been directed to deploy their personnel to guarantee free-flow of traffic and safe passage for travellers and other road users.

    He said: “Highway patrol teams, working in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies, are equally directed to take adequate measures in preventing road accidents and rendering assistance to travelers, particularly those in distress.

    “Muslim faithful across the country are, therefore, enjoined to celebrate this year’s Eid-el-Fitri with the reassurance that the police are working to guarantee an all-round security during the period of festivities and even thereafter.

    “The IGP assures the public especially, worshippers, travellers and all well-meaning citizens that the Nigeria Police will continue to discharge its constitutional responsibility of providing adequate security for all”.

    The nation’s chief police officer advised Nigerians to be security conscious at all times and to report every suspicious move by individuals or groups to the police or other security agencies.

    “The IGP equally used the opportunity provided by the Sallah celebration to convey his goodwill and that of the entire officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force to all Muslims in Nigeria.

    “While reminding every Muslim faithful of the significance of the season, the IGP enjoined them to emulate and imbibe the worthy virtues, principles and teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammed.

    “He called on all Nigerians, irrespective of their religious leanings and inclinations, to be tolerant and open-minded to issues of forgiveness, national peace and co-existence.

    “He called on religious leaders to encourage their followers to respect the nation’s diversities and see it as the strength of the country’s unity and a medium for development.

    Army spokesman, Brigadier General Ibrahim Attahiru said the Army would remain eternally vigilant, with the view to reducing vulnerability of the citizenry through proactive measures already in place.

    Gen. Attahiru said: “This is aimed at preventing the spread of terrorism to other parts of the country. This proactive measures have yielded results with the recent arrest in Lagos and Ogun States of 42 suspected terrorists.

    “I therefore wish to reassure Nigerians that the Army will continue to constantly review it’s strategies towards greater sophistication in tackling the security challenges facing the country.

    “This will be achieved through effective collaboration with other security agencies in order to defeat terrorists and other criminal elements and ensure the safety of lives and property of law abiding citizens.

    “To this end, the Army calls for the support of all good citizens in its fight against terrorism by providing information through the Army alert system”.

    He gave the following telephone hotlines: 08160030300, 07053333123 and 08191555888 for distress calls or for passing information.

    The spokesman added that the Army has started the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act by setting up a unit for access of information on its operations by members of the public.

    He alerted members of the public to a fake Facebook account opened by some criminal elements through which the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika is purportedly soliciting financial assistance from members of the public.

  • MASSOB, police differ on arrest of militants

    MASSOB, police differ on arrest of militants

    Seven members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) were yesterday allegedly killed by the police. They also claimed that over 100 of its members were arrested.

    This was contained in a statement in Onitsha, by MASSOB, signed by Mazi Chris Mocha, media assistant to Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, leader of the group.

    But the Anambra State Police spokesman Emeka Chukwuemeka, said he was not aware of the raid. Delta police said only four MASSOB members were arrested.

    MASSOB accused Delta State Policemen of shooting seven of its members in two separate raids allegedly carried out jointly on Tuesday and Wednesday by anti-riot policemen and local vigilance operatives in Onitsha.

    It alleged that the raid, which started at Upper Iweka in Onitsha, on Monday, with the alleged arrest and detention of a MASSOB chieftain, Ndubuisi Nwosu, believed to be cooling off in Cell 4 at the Anambra State Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Headquarters, Awkuzu, spread to Delta State where this latest onslaught allegedly took place.

    MASSOB demanded that its arrested members be released or charged to court. The group also asked for the bodies of those who died.

    But Delta Police said it arrested only four members of MASSOB at a hideout in OminiUgboma community, Oshimili South in Asaba.

  • IGP orders ‘water-tight security’ for Eid-el-Fitri

    IGP orders ‘water-tight security’ for Eid-el-Fitri

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, has ordered officers in charge of zonal and state commands to take measures to ensure “water-tight security’’ before, during and after Sallah celebration.

    The order is contained in the IGP’s goodwill message to Muslims which was made available to journalists on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Abubakar directed Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in charge of the 12 zonal commands to ensure increased surveillance, patrol and tactical police presence on the highways and places of worship.

    According to him, such surveillance and high police presence should be extended to recreation parks, strategic and other vulnerable areas.

    The IGP also directed the commissioners of police in charge of states to adequately deploy personnel to guarantee free flow of traffic and safe passage of travelers through their domains.

    “Highway patrol teams working in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies are equally directed to take adequate measures in preventing road accidents and rendering assistance to travelers, particularly those in distress,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the IGP as saying in the message.

    Abubakar congratulated all Muslims who participated in the Ramadan fasting, and prayed for the peace and security of the country.

    He urged them to imbibe the principles and teachings of Prophet Muhammed.

    He assured Nigerians of adequate security throughout the celebration, adding that the police were working round the clock to ensure that.

     

     

  • Rotary donates to police, community

    The Rotary Club of Ikorodu Metropolitan has donated a 10 kva generator to the Area N Police Command, Ijede a suburb of Lagos.This is in fulfilment of its cardinal objective of making life better for the rural populace while serving humanity.

    The donation, according to the president of the club, Rotarian Kamaldeen Adedeji is to boost the morale of the police and make their working environment conducive to effective discharge of their duties effectively.

    The club also donated pipe borne water to the Bagidan community area of Ijede, Ikorodu.

    “It gladdens my heart because it is one thing to serve and another to see that your dreams come to true. We thank God for making today a reality, we have given the Area N police command a 10 kva generator for the betterment of their performance, we decided to give them the generator because when we visited the police station, it was very appalling; we felt that for somebody doing the kind of their job, a job of securing the lives of people, they need a conducive environment for them to be able to work effectively,” he said.

    Receiving the Rotarians was the Area N Police Commander, Mr A O Markus who said he was grateful to the club for extending a hand of fellowship to them.

    He promised that his command would extend its vigilante programme in the area as a way of showing appreciation for the donations.

    “It is a wonderful thing they have done for us, we are so happy about it, we are impressed and encouraged and we are going to do wonderful job around the Area N Command, we are going to show appreciation by our performances,” he said.

    He said the condition in his office before the donation was not conducive as it was stuffy and because of the epileptic power supply in the area, but now a new life has just been introduced with the generating set from Rotary.

    The delegation was led by the District Governor of Rotary International Club District 911 Nigeria, Rotarian Olugbemiga Olowu.

    In his words, he promised that the club would continue to do everything possible to help the police perform its functions effectively and ensure peace continue to reign in the area and Lagos State at large.

    “We must all work together to ensure peace and security in our areas, we will continue to work with the security forces to ensure that our lives are save,” he said.

    Given reason for his visit to the Ikorodu club, Olowu said it is a routine thing they do every year to access the various clubs’ performance level.

    “Every year the district governor goes round the clubs to know how the clubs are performing, the strength and weakness of the club and over advice to the president and members of the club so that they can make their clubs stronger; the Ikorodu club had lived to expectation even beyond because we in Lagos think that they are not doing anything in Ikorodu but today I know they are doing wonderfully well,” he said.

     

     

  • Police smash baby factory in Rivers

    The police in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, yesterday paraded a fake In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatment service provider, Dr. Chinyere Emeka Precious, for allegedly inducing fake pregnancies.

    Also paraded were a couple- John Ndubuisi Joseph and Favour Chioma Joseph- who allegedly sell day-old babies to her.

    Mrs. Precious reportedly owns and operates the God’s Gift Maternity/Hospital at Elelenwo in Port Harcourt Local Government Area.

    She was said to inject desperate barren women with substances to make them appear pregnant. She would then arrange a stolen baby for the women.

    Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police (DSP) Jovinus Iwu, who led the operation, said the suspects were arrested at 1am last Saturday.

    Iwu said a day-old baby boy and a woman purportedly in labour were “detained”.

    But the suspects denied the allegation.

    Precious said she was a qualified and licensed doctor, who has been practising for several years.

    She said: “I have never defrauded anybody and the crime they say I committed I know nothing about it. I am a licensed doctor and have been in practice for several years. The police have all my licences. My number is 348 from the Nigeria Medical Council, Abuja.

    “In this country anybody can frame anyone, but God is watching and He will vindicate us.”

    She declined further comments.

    Joseph said: “My wife was ill. So, I took her to Dr. Precious who has been our family doctor for about one year. Let me tell you that she gave birth to a baby boy last Thursday,

    “We have accommodation problem; so I suggested to her to let us sell the baby for N300, 000 to get a house.

    “The baby is mine and I did not steal it.

    “What I told DSP Iwu in his office was that my wife put to bed on Thursday. I have accommodation problem, so I took the baby to the doctor to sell him for N300,000.”

    At the briefing, the officer in charge of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit narrated how the syndicate was tracked down.

    “On August 3, at about 1am, the unit got information about a baby factory syndicate, which specialises in selling of day-old babies at Elelenwo, in Port Harcourt.

    “On arrival, we met Mrs. Precious, who claimed to be a medical doctor and runs the factory.

    “We found a day-old baby boy, who was concealed behind the theatre. There was also a woman there who was reported to have been delivered of a baby.

    “When we confronted the woman, she claimed to have under-gone fertility treatment with the doctor.

    “But in actual fact, she was not pregnant, and was never pregnant. Rather what they do is hypnotise these women, who believe that they are pregnant. They are injected with substances which make their stomach swell.

    “They will then be placed on treatment for nine months. Before delivery, this syndicate makes arrangements to procure the babies, and once the arrangement clicks, they will take the women to the theatre or labour room.

    “At this point now, they will inject her with drugs that will make her unconscious; when that is done, she will now be laced with blood all over her body, including her private parts.

    “The same blood will also be used on the child, so when she regains consciousness they will now handover the baby to her, claiming that she has delivered.

    “Then they will start the second round of treatment to deflate her stomach.

    “Unfortunately, most women have fallen victims and it has been going on for so many years.

    “What we saw at the clinic was unimaginable. You see innocent women from as far as Abuja, Kaduna, Calabar, among others, all under going the quick fertility treatment.

    “These things are done at an exorbitant price. Prices range between N1.5million to N6million per child.

    “We are hoping that at the end of the day, the syndicate will be charged to court.”

    The recovered baby is at the motherless baby’s home at Borokiri in Port Harcourt.

     

  • Lawyers sue police over Amaechi’s safety

    Four lawyers from Ubima community, the home town of Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi yesterday said they will appear in court today over the abuse of Amaechi’s rights by the police.

    The applicants- Collins Dike, Smith Azubuike, Iheanyi Dike and Friday Azubuike- will urge the court to compel the respondents, Inspector General of Police and Commission of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, to respect the governor’s rights.

    The applicants are asking the court to compel the Inspector General to redeploy Mbu since his stay no longer guarantees the governor’s safety.

    They are also urging the court to compel the IG to restore full security apparatus of the governor, which is part of his rights as the state’s chief security officer.

    The leader of applicants, Dike, said they will tell the court to declare that the respondents have failed in their duty of protecting and ensuring Amaechi’s safety.

    Dike said: “We have made our statement clear in the suit we filed. All we are praying is that the court should consider the rights of the governor and order the police to respect that. The governor cannot be crying for safety in the midst of the police.

    “Everybody is aware that some of the security details attached to the governor have been withdrawn, and we are also aware that the governor no longer drives around the state as he always does while supervising numerous projects in the state. And the same governor has discovered that his life is in danger if Mbu continues, why not respect his views.

    “This is the more reason why we are heading to court today to ask the court to compel the respondents to respect Amaechi’s right.”

     

  • Police deploy helicopters, APCs to stop Port Harcourt rally

    Police deploy helicopters, APCs to stop Port Harcourt rally

    Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, and its environs were yesterday under police siege, with surveillance helicopters, Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and patrol vehicles deployed to prevent the “Defending democracy rally” organised by a coalition of activists.

    There was heavy deployment of policemen in Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa – apparently to prevent pro-democracy and human rights activists invited from other parts of the country to get to the rally venue.

    Niger Delta Civil Society Coalition (NDCSC) Chairman Anyakwee Nsirimovu and other members of the coalition who planned the rally, however, outsmarted the police by changing the venue.

    Nsirimovu, who described yesterday as a bad day for democracy, said that in the coalition’s letter to Police Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu to provide minimal security, Isaac Boro Park, Port Harcourt was indicated as the rally venue, but they converged on Liberation Stadium.

    The Police said they stopped the rally to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

    As early as 6 am, battle-ready, riot and regular policemen, backed by APCs, sealed off the Isaac Boro Park while the coalition’s members were already gathering at the Liberation Stadium for the rally that would have taken off at 9 am.

    The policemen, having waited till 9 am without seeing any activist, rushed to the Liberation Stadium with two APCs and many patrol vehicles when they got the hint of the venue change.

    The main gate of the stadium was immediately sealed off by the policemen with the two APCs and many vans. Passers-by were made to frog-jump, having been mistaken for members of the coalition.

    The invited activists and members of the coalition from the nine states of the Niger Delta, who had gathered at the stadium, were dispersed. Nsirimovu and other leaders were asked to leave immediately.

    But the coalition members and activists regrouped at a nearby private multipurpose hall on Stadium Road where they addressed reporters.

    The policemen in APCs and vans continued to patrol the streets of Port Harcourt and its environs.

    Rivers police spokesperson Angela Agabe said dispersing the activists was to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

    Speaking at the multipurpose hall, the chairman of the NDCSC said: “Impunity and abuse of the rule of law will not be allowed in Rivers State. Police are not neutral in Rivers crisis. Commissioner of Police Mbu Joseph Mbu must be immediately redeployed – in line with the resolution of the National Assembly.

    “We planned a peaceful rally, but Mbu’s policemen took over the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt – in a show of force, intimidating law-abiding citizens, who fought for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria. It is a bad day for democracy in Rivers State.

    “Freedom of expression, freedom of association and freedom of assembly are guaranteed in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but jettisoned by Mbu’s policemen. The need for peace, security and participatory democracy in Rivers State cannot be overemphasised.

    “Police permit is not needed before protesting or having a rally in a democracy. Mbu allowed Niger Delta militants to recently protest on the streets of Port Harcourt. Why did he ask his men to intimidate the members of the civil society coalition and law-abiding citizens?”

    Nsirimovu also described as “really unfortunate” a situation where people who denounced violence were intimidated by the police not to participate in a rally designed to be peaceful.

    The Executive Chairman of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, Debo Adeniran, who came in from Lagos, said he and other activists were supporting true democracy and human rights.

    Adeniran said allowing impunity would not be in the best interest of democracy, stressing that it could spread to other parts of Nigeria and that people’s will must be respected at all times.

    An activist from Jos, Plateau State, Nankin Bagudu of the League of Human Rights, said Nigerians were worried about the ugly development in Rivers State, especially with five of the 32 members attempting to impeach Speaker Otelemaba Dan Amachree.

    Bagudu added that politics must be on principle and not personal interests. He advised stakeholders to always give peace a chance.

    The General Secretary of the Alliance for Credible Elections, Emma Ezeazu, said the rule of law must reign.