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Tag: Police

  • Rivers women march for police chief’s removal

    Rivers women march for police chief’s removal

    Scores of women from the 23 local government areas of Rivers State yesterday took over the major roads and streets of Port Harcourt, the state capital, demanding the immediate removal of Commissioner of Police Mbu Joseph Mbu, for allegedly taking sides in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) crisis.­

    The police chief has always insisted that he is neutral.

    The women, dressed in black, symbolising mourning, were the led by Princess Ure Ejim. They first converged on the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt for prayers, before moving to the gate of the Government House. They were received by Tele Ikuru, deputy governor.

    The protesters got to the gate of the Government House at 8:35 am and waited till 9:05 am, when Ikuru came to address them. The Chief of Staff, Tony Okocha, and other top Rivers government officials, were with Ikuru, who mounted the back of a white Toyota Hilux van. He rounded off his speech at 9:22 am.

    The protesting women, armed with placards bearing various anti-Mbu inscriptions, were chanting anti-Federal Government songs.

    Some of their placards read: “Mbu is a politician”; “Mbu, apologise and go”; “CP Mbu, anti-democracy”; “CP Mbu, do not kill Rivers State”; “CP Mbu must go”; “Go, Mbu go”; “Police Commissioner must go”; “Mbu is a confusionist”; “Leave us in peace; Mbu Joseph”; “Police are partial”; and “Rivers women want peace”.

    Ikuru, who spoke on behalf of Amaechi, said: “Women are known as the architects of peace. So, when you see women stand up, know that indeed there is problem and any man born of a woman must succumb.

    “When women stand up, when women ask for peace, every man must succumb. I want to thank you because you have moved this entire thing to another theatre. The theatre you have moved it into is the theatre of religion.

    “The theatre of seeking the face of God. You are asking God to intervene. That is why you went to pray before undertaking this demonstration.

    “The Bible states that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

    “What you have done now is to move this entire thing to another theatre, where you call upon God to come and take total control.

    “By reason of the fact that you have called upon God, by reason of the fact that you have knelt down and you have cried to God in heaven, God will hear you.

    “I ask you, at this moment of challenges, at this moment of difficulties, to be prayerful, because this is time for prayers. It is time for fasting and whatever you ask and pray for, God will do it for you.

    “Let me urge each and everyone of you to conduct yourself in a most peaceful and orderly manner, because you have shown you are women of peace.”

    The leader of the protesting women, Princess Ure Ejim, admonished the warriors to give peace a chance, declaring the Rivers women no longer want Mbu as Rivers police commissioner.

    Princess Ejim said: “Since Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi became governor on October 26, 2007, after the landmark judgment of the Supreme Court the previous day, we have been enjoying peace and other goodies in Rivers State.

    “Police Commissioner Mbu is on a deadly mission in Rivers state. CP Mbu is a politician. Women of Rivers state are requesting that Mbu Joseph Mbu must resign or be moved out of our state now. They used to say police are our friends, but police are no longer our friends in Rivers State.

    “We are mourning the death of peace in Rivers State. Other Nigerian women should join us to demand the immediate removal of CP Mbu Joseph Mbu.”

    An elderly woman, Chief Goodness Ukwu, said she and the others were at the Government House to protest the continued retention of Mbu as Rivers police commissioner, adding that the activities of the police boss had aggravated the already tense situation in the state.

    A new PDP chairman, Obuah was sworn in Abuja, following the declaration of High Court. Obuah in the camp of the Minister of State for Education, Mr Nyesom Wike. The former chairman. Chief Godspower Ake, who was elected on March 17, last year.

  • We lost 56 men in Nasarawa, say police, SSS

    We lost 56 men in Nasarawa, say police, SSS

    •’Why Kuku, Asari-Dokubo, others can’t be arrested’

    SECURITY operatives yesterday announced what they suffered in the ill-fated raid on the hideout of Ombatse cult group in Nasarawa State.

    The police lost 46 men while the State Security Service (SSS) lost all the 10 men deployed in the joint operation that went awry last Thusday.

    The details were given in a statement jointly signed by defence and security information managers of the Army, Navy, Air Force, SSS and the police.

    Their clarification came even as they gave those calling for the arrest and investigation of ex-Niger Delta militant, Mujaheed Asari-Dokubo and Special Adviser to the President on Amnesty Programme, Mr. Kinsley Kuku, a disappointing response.

    The information managers said the duo and several others issuing sectional threats over the 2015 presidency were merely exercising their freedom of speech.

    They said such rights enjoy constitutional backing and that clamping down on them would amount to gagging them and infringing on their human rights, saying that such a development might pit the government against the media and the human rights community.

    The Director of Navy Information, Commodore Kabiru Aliyu said: “We are in democracy and so, it is not easy to gag members of the public. If we do so, the media and the human rights community will complain about infringing on the fundamental rights of the citizenry.”

    Dokubo and Kuku were reported to have stated penultimate week that the Niger Delta region would take up arms if President Goodluck Jonathan failed to get re-election in 2015.

    He went further to challenge the nation’s security agencies to arrest him if they could, threatening national economic havoc in the oil producing areas.

    The Defence and Security Information Managers is made up of the Director of Defence Information, spokespersons of the Army, Air Force, Navy, State Security Service (SSS) and the police.

    The Duputy Force spokesman, Mr. Frank Mba, who represented the police, said out of the 47 police officers sent to Nasarawa State in the operation to dislodge members of an ethnic militia cult, 46 of them were killed.

    SSS spokesperson, Ms. Marilyn Ogar said all the 10 officers of the Service who went on the mission were also killed by the ethnic militia group.

    Mba added that 32 bodies had been released for burial; while Ogar said the SSS had only recovered bodies of four of its 10 officers killed.

    Mba and Ms Ogar attributed the high security casualties to what they described as the decision of the police and the SSS to exercise restraint by applying minimum force during the operation.

    According to them, it was a low profile civil operation that should be deployed while dealing with unarmed members of the public, stressing that it was not a security onslaught as being seen by a section of the public.

    The spokespersons dismissed reports that 10 local government areas in Borno State had been taken over by Boko Haram insurgents, insisting that the state has not lost any of its council areas to the sect members.

    Defence spokesman, Brigadier Chris Olukolade, who chaired the briefing, said troops were deployed in flash points across the nation, including oil installation facilities.

    He added that security surveillance was also ongoing, covering the land, air space and water ways.

    The statement jointly signed by the information managers said: “Accordingly, the operational designs for restoring peace, law and order have involved the deployment of the assets of Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police, Department of State Security and other security agencies in the country.

    “Internal security operations in the form of vigilance and patrols on land, sea, and air are being conducted regularly in order to deny militants and criminal gangs any freedom of action as they desire.

    “Troops and operatives have been physically deployed in various flash points all over the country and on critical oil and gas facilities to protect them from attack. Cordon and search operations are also regularly undertaken to check the capacity of the gangs and checkmate their activities.

    “Jointly, the Services have been conducting anti-kidnapping operations cordon and search, destruction of militant camps, security for oil and gas facilities, anti illegal oil bunkering patrols as well as anti banditry, anti piracy operations and arrest of terrorists of all shad among others.”

    They, however, admitted the frightening dimension in the nation’s security challenges, saying it is a clear threat to safety and national security.

    They pleaded for cooperation from members of the public in terms of providing useful security information that could aid the operations of their men in the fight against terrorism and other criminal acts.

    Present at the briefing were spokespersons for Defence (Olukolade); Navy (Aliyu); Air Force (Yusuf Anas); Police (Mba); and SSS (Ms Ogar).

     

  • Obi gives N10m to police

    Obi gives N10m to police

    Anambra State Governor Peter Obi yesterday handed over a cheque of N10 million for the construction of fence in police formations.

    He promised to look into their other demands for the police to continue to serve the people better.

    Obi said the government will soon provide patrol vehicles in all the towns.

    He said the government would continue to support all the recognised security agencies in the state.

    The governor spoke yesterday when he visited some security formations –the office of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Awkuzu in Oyi Local Government Area and the State Police Command at Amawbia.

    Obi promised to look into their requests of accommodation, servicing of vehicles, including APC, procurement of tracking equipment, bullet proof vests, renovation of their complex, provision of water, paying compensation to informants, among others.

  • Court orders police out of Obio/Akpor Premises

    Court orders police out of Obio/Akpor Premises

    A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, has ordered Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar, to withdraw his officers from the Obio/Akpor council secretariat and dismantle the blockade at the gate.

    Justice H.A Njiangiwa gave the order yesterday while ruling on the application by the chairman of the seven-man Caretaker Committee (CTC), Chikaodi Dike, seeking an interim injunction on the police to vacate the premises.

    Policemen barricaded the council gate on May 3, shutting it off from all workers and political appointees.

    The Commissioner of Police, Mbu J. Mbu, said at a news conference in Port Harcourt that the takeover of the premises by the police was informed by a tip-off on a likely bomb attack.

    Dike urged the court to restrain the police from intimidating either the applicants or the workers in performing their duties.

    Besides, they (the police) should not prevent any person going into the compound for his/her lawful businesses.

    The court granted one of the six prayers. One of the appellant’s counsel, Emenike Ebete, said the other prayers, which were not granted, are inter-related with the first prayer (order to vacate and dismantle blockade at the gate), which according to him was the major request.

    Justice Njiangiwa condemned the invasion of the council premises by the police, saying that it had posed irreparable injuries to the workers and those appointed by the government to run the place.

    He said if the court refused to grant the prayers of the plaintiffs, it would continue to inflict injuries that could not be compensated on the people. He regretted that the development affected the April salaries of workers.

    According to him, the purpose of the interlocutory injunction is to protect the applicants from further injuries from the defendants.

    Said Justice Njiangiwa: “After careful consideration of the facts before the court and going through the submissions of the councils I came to the conclusion that the former council chairman Timothy Nsirim and his group were suspended by the Rivers State House of Assembly on alleged financial recklessness, which is being investigated.

    “The state governor inaugurated the applicants to run the affairs of the LGA, pending the resolution of the investigation.

    “The CTC has since their inauguration been performing their duties and maintaining law and order in the council.

    “The purpose of interlocutory injunction is to protect the applicants from injuries by the first and second defendants (IGP) and (Attorney-General of the Federation), respectively which cannot be fully compensated.

    “The action of the police has posed serious suffering on the applicants and a worker since the premises was shut, over one week ago, among others.”

    The judge urged the government to resort to the rule of law in addressing these problems.

    Earlier, the court had overruled the submission of the defence counsel Donald Denwigwe (SAN) on the court’s jurisdiction to hear local government matters, saying that the issue has nothing to do with the application.

    DENwigwe said political appointees had no right to ask for any form of injunction, insisting that the application was an invitation to the court to dabble in matters it has no powers over.

    He was overruled. The judge said: “I disagree that the application to ask the police to vacate the premises is an invitation to dabble in Local Government Law.”

    The judge noted that should the court refuse to grant the application, the people would continue to suffer.

    The CTC chairman described the ruling as justice to the people of the local government and pledged the people’s continued respect for the law.

    Earlier, the applicant lawyer, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), had submitted that the injury they suffered and would continue to suffer should the order not be granted could not be quantified or fully compensated.

    He noted that workers and their dependants had been subjected to hardship in that their salaries and allowances had not been paid.

    “I urge the court to make a preservative order to maintain the status quo at the council, pending the determination of the substantive suit,” Ikwueto pleaded.

    The court had earlier struck out the application for joinder by the former council chairman, Timothy Nsirim, his deputy and 17 councillors that were suspended by the House of Assembly for lack of merits.

    The case was later adjourned for hearing on the substantive case on right of occupancy.

  • ‘Illegal’ police quarters demolished in Abuja

    An instruction from the Office of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to the Development Control Department of the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) has led to the demolition of an “illegal police quarters” in Jibi, Kubwa area of the FCT.

    The Development Control Department said the “illegal settlement” posed a security risk to Abuja residents.

    But owners of the demolished structures said it was unfair for the department to demolish their homes when the government had not provided an laternative accommodation for police officers.

    They said the demolition showed that the government was insensitive to the plight of police officers.

    A resident, who spoke in confidence, said: “The condition of living in this police barracks is unhealthy. We have as many as three families, each with children, sharing a two-bedroom apartment. We share one toilet, a bathroom and a kitchen.

    “Most of the people you see erecting attachments are people who are trying to create more room for their families. Instead of building more houses so that people can live in a healthy condition, the government has brought bulldozers to demolish the ones we managed to build. This is inhuman.”

    The residents complained that instead of the government tackling their accommodation challenges, it has worsened it.

    “I’ve been living here for 12 years. Since I moved in, we’ve not had an access road or electricity. Instead of providing us with these basic amenities, the government has come with its bulldozers to remove what we struggled to build,” he said.

    The District Officer in Charge of Kubwa and Jibi, Mr. Abdul Sodangi said the department was invited by the Office of the IGP to restore the original plan of the area.

    He said: “We have a letter from the Force Headquarters to restore the master plan of the neighbourhood. We had to step in promptly to restore the concept of the area before it turned into a slum.”

     

  • New police commissioner for Enugu

    A new Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Adamu Mohammed, has resumed in Enugu State.

    In a statement by police spokesman Ebere Amaraizu, Mohammed replaces Tonye Ebitibituwa, who has been redeployed to Bayelsa State.

    Mohammed has served at the Interpol Headquarters in Lyon, France as a specialised officer in Economic and Financial Crime Directorate, where he rose to become the first African Assistant Director.

    He was also the Director of Nigeria Police PeaceKeeping Directorate.

    The commissioner also served as deputy commissioner in Ekiti State and in Kaduna as deputy commissioner in charge of Criminal and investigations Department from where he was deployed to Enugu.

     

  • Police deploy 1,000 men to rescue Rhodes-Vivour’s wife, daughter

    Police deploy 1,000 men to rescue Rhodes-Vivour’s wife, daughter

    The Edo State Police Command yesterday extended its search for the abductors of Mrs Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour, wife of the Supreme Court Judge, Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour and her daughter, whose name was not disclosed.

    It deployed over 1000 of its men drawn from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), anti-kidnapping and Mobile Force units to comb the nooks and crannies of the forest.

    The development followed a marching order given to Police Commissioner Foluso Adebanjo by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, to rescue Mrs. Rhodes-Vivour and her daughter alive.

    The police commissioner, who declined to give details on what his command has done for security reasons, told reporters that his men are not unrelenting in carrying out the IGP’s mandate.

    Adebanjo said: “I can tell you that we are working very assiduously to locate the victims and then arrest the criminals.

    “Believe me, all our striking units– SARS, anti-kidnapping, mobile force– have been in that area since Friday. I am just coming from there.

    “I will not want to say much because so far, they have not been released. But we are in contact with the family.

    “We don’t want to jeopardise what we are doing because they (kidnappers) too, read papers. So, it will not be nice to tell you what we are doing.

    “We don’t want to jeopardise their safety which is paramount, their family would want them to be brought back safe.”

    On the area they were actually kidnapped, the commissioner said: “It is in Edo State near Okada.”

    According to him, officers have been combing the forest.

    “I have been there with about 100 men, comprising mobile policemen, SARS, anti-kidnapping and other officers.

    “For Iruekpen axis, I was there about a week ago and we have mapped out strategies. If you have been following us, last week, we killed two robbery suspects in a gun battle with our men.

    “There was a distress call and our men killed two of them. And we have arrested many too. We have our CIB men around, I think they always come from Aduwawa, that is where the population of these people committing these atrocities come from, but lately, you have not been hearing so much of it and we are strengthening patrol in that area.

    “We are repairing some vehicles too so that there will be enough patrol vehicles.”

    Unknown gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on Friday night abducted the trio of Mrs Rhodes-Vivour, her daughter and their driver on their way to Edo State.

     

  • Crisis: Court orders police to vacate Rivers’ council premises

    Crisis: Court orders police to vacate Rivers’ council premises

    A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has ordered the Nigerian Police Force to withdraw its officers and men from the premises of Obio /Akpor Local Government Council pending the determination of the case.

    Justice H .A. Nganjiwa gave the order in Port Harcourt on Monday when he ruled on the matter which was brought to him by the new council Chairman, Hon. Chikodi Dike.

    Dike is seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the police from further barricade of the council premises.

    He ordered that the police should vacate the premises which it barricaded since May 3 and provide only “minimal security” in the council.

    Justice Ngajiwa, who described the barricade as “using a sledge hammer to kill a fly” also, said the order to vacate the police from the council headquarters would enable the caretaker committee (Plaintif) to do its job and pay the salaries of workers of Obio/ Akpo council.

    The Counsel to the Police, Donald Dee Nwigwe, had argued that the Federal High Court had no jurisdiction in hearing the case, maintaining that the police moved into the council to preserve law and order following a report of planned security breach.

    But this was over ruled by Nganjiwa who stated that the court has jurisdiction to decide on the issue.

    This ruling was greeted by a loud cheer by supporters of the caretaker committee chairman.

    Commenting on the ruling, Dike said that he is satisfied with the judgment which will give them the opportunity to sign vouchers and pay the groaning workers of Obio/ Akpo council.

    Also speaking, the counsel to the caretaker committee, Mr. Emenike Ebeta, described the judgment as kudos to the Judiciary who stood up for the rights of the common people and workers of Obio/ Akpor council.

     

  • Police chief among ambush victims as death toll hits 47

    Police chief among ambush victims as death toll hits 47

    MORE deaths were recorded yesterday in the ambush of policemen and other security agents at Alakyo, a village near Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

    Their bodies, brought into a hospital in 10 ambulances, were burnt beyond recognition.

    Family members were confronted with the reality of the death of their loved ones as they thronged the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia, to identify the bodies.

    The death toll in the Tuesday ambush of policemen and State Security Service (SSS) operatives has risen to 47. It was initially put at 23. A BBC report said 17 were declared missing, presumably dead.

    An Assistant Commissioner of Police is among the dead.

    Nasarawa Police Commissioner Abayomi Akeremale told reporters that the casualty figure had increased to 30.

    An on-line news publication, quoting top security sources, gave the name of the Assistant Commissioner of Police as Mohammed Momoh.

    The Nasarawa police spokesperson could not confirm Mr. Momoh’s death but said he was missing.

    The Directorate of State Security also said it had deployed a search and rescue team to determine fatalities of its operatives involved in the operation.

    Akeremale told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Lafia that nine police patrol vehicles were burnt. He said some officers on the patrol team were still missing.

    He said no arrests had been made, adding: “But efforts are being made to bring the perpetrators of this dastardly act to book.

    “We believe that members of the group are still in the bush around the area, and we would do all we can to smoke them out.”

    Nasarawa State Governor Tanko al-Makura condoled with the families of the slain policemen.

    He described the killing of security men as “disheartening and disturbing”.

    A resident, Sani Musa Mairiga, said the cultists were forcing local villagers to swear an oath of allegiance to the group.

    The state police chief said 17 officers were still missing.

    A source at the hospital where the bodies were taken told the BBC dozens more policemen were killed in the attack.

    Akeremale said about 60 police officers came under attack.

    “We decided to send our men to the area to arrest members of Ombatse, including their priest,” he told the AFP news agency.

    “[They] have been going to churches and mosques initiating people into their cult by forcibly administering an allegiance oath to unwilling people.”

    The police were attacked near the shrine to the traditional deity of the Eggon people, in the village of Alakyo, near the state capital, Lafia.

    The Ombatse, which means “the time has come” in the Eggon language, say they are fighting against social vices such as alcohol and adultery.

    The manhunt for the suspects yesterday paralysed the Akwanga Lafia – Makurdi highway. Security agents combed the area for suspects.

    Also yesterday, President Goodluck Jonathan aborted his state visit to Namibia, following security challenges in Borno, Nasarawa and Benue states.

    The President will meet with security chiefs on his return to Abuja tonight.

    There was tension on the Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi highway as security agents combed Nasarawa Eggon for members of the Ombatse cult group.

    There were fears that the cult group might have killed scores of policemen and security agents who went to raid the shrine in Alakyo, a village, which is about 10 kilometres to Lafia, Nasarawa State capital.

    A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said: “In view of recent developments at home in Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan has cut short his visit to South Africa and aborted his state visit to Namibia which was due to start today.

    “The President is returning to Abuja immediately to personally oversee efforts by national security agencies to contain the fresh challenges to national security which have emerged this week in Borno, Plateau and Nassarawa states.

    “President Jonathan will on arrival, meet with the Chief of Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and heads of national security services on arrival to review the security situation in the country.”

    After a five-hour siege along the highway, thousands of commuters heading to Makurdi, Cross River State, Ebonyi, and many places in the Southsouth were stranded.

    A source, who was caught in the blockade, said: “I am on my way to Makurdi, but I have been stranded along with thousands of commuters in Akwanga for about five hours now(3pm).

    “Security agencies have advised us against proceeding with the journey to Lafia, Benue, Southsouth and Southeast because they have moved in to curtail the Ombatse militia.

    “The militia group has a base in Nasarawa Eggon where we will all pass through to get to Lafia and other destinations in Benue, Southsouth and the Southeast.

    The source added: “We are suspecting a gun duel between the militia and security agencies. We can not move an inch outside Akwanga.”

    Another source said the death toll in Tuesday’s ambush of police and other security agents many have been understated.

    The source added: “Many decapitated bodies of policemen, security agents and locals were still being mopped up on Thursday in Alakyo village.

    “The Everyone is living in fear in all parts of the state, especially Lafia which the militia could overrun with their mystical powers.

    “The head of the militia, Baba Alakyo, is reputed to have mysterious powers which could make him vanish into thin air within seconds.”

    Another source said: “The countdown to 2015 might have aggravated the clash with the militia. They are demanding that power should shift to Nasarawa Eggon in 2015 following fears that Al-Makura may want to seek re-election.

    “This is why it is necessary for the Federal Government to ensure a full-scale investigation into the militia crisis in Nasarawa.”

  • Brutalised lawyer: Police get seven days to file process

    An Oyo State High Court yesterday gave the Inspector-General of Police (IGP); Oyo State Commissioner of Police; an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mrs. Sola Olanrewaju and other respondents seven days to file their process in the N500 million suit filed against them by an Ibadan lawyer, Mr. Joshua Olaniyan.

    Olaniyan was allegedly brutalised by policemen and officers, led by Mrs. Olanrewaju, at the Kajorepo Police Division, Ibadan, on April 3.

    The other respondents are the Divisional Police Officer; Crime Officer; an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Stephen Owolabi; an Inspector, Etim Ebighe and Egunnusi Dominic, a corporal.

    Justice Muktar Abimbola gave the directive after the Officer in Charge (O/C) of the Oyo Police Command’s Legal Department, Mr. Promise Akanwa, told the court that his office received the notice on Wednesday and pleaded for time to reply.

    The claimant, whose legal team was led by Chief Makanjuola Esan (SAN) and Mr. Richard Ogunwole (SAN), did not oppose the plea for adjournment, but said the notice was served on the defendants on April 30.

    Justice Abimbola warned the defendants to reply within the stipulated time and adjourned the case till May 23.

    Members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ibadan branch, were in court to support Olaniyan.

    Olaniyan is demanding N500 million damages from the police. He is praying the court to declare that the police violated his rights by allegedly beating him up, damaging his clothes, detaining him and vandalising the car that took him to the station.