The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Police

  • A rare gift for the police

    A rare gift for the police

    It was an unusual day at the Modakeke Police Station in Osun State last Monday. The policemen on duty were stunned when some students arrived at the station with gifts. One of the students, Olusola Amusan, who recently graduated from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), was marking his birthday.

    Olusola donated food items, bales of clothes, cartons of drinks and accessories to appreciate the police. He also presented a certificate of performance, which he personally signed, to the police.

    The birthday boy, who tagged the visit as Police Appreciation, said he used the gesture to laud policemen for the peace in Modakeke town.

    “We would be hypocrites if we all pretend not to see the efforts being made by the police to secure our lives and property. I admit there are bad eggs in the Police Force just like we have in other public institutions and private organisations alike. I believe the scourge of corruption does not have to do with black uniform alone; it is a general problem. There are still many good policemen, who carry out their duty with honesty, patriotism and diligence,” Olusola said.

    Stunned by the gesture, Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Yusuf Lateef, Modakeke Divisional Police Officer, was emotional. He praised the students for appreciating the police’s efforts to make the country safe. He said Olusola’s appreciation was rare given the public condemnation and criticism of the police. He said his station would do more to ensure law and order in the town.

    Olusola also donated materials to the Osun State School for the Handicapped in Modakeke.

    He started his birthday celebration with mountain climbing. Joined by his friends, Olusola climbed the historic 200 metre prayer mountain on Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) campus. After offering prayers at the top of the summit, the mountaineers descended; they were treated to sumptuous refreshment.

    Olusola and his friends also visited Modakeke High School and Foresight Group of Schools in Modakeke. They taught SSS 3 pupils on some subjects before giving them careers talks. He donate writing materials to the pupils.

    He also visited the physically-challenged homes in the town annd donated gifts.

    The week-long birthday celebrations ended with the launch of his book, Are you branded or stranded? The book launch, which was held at Cameron Hotel, Ile-Ife, was attended by Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Political Matters, Mr Ehile Manasseh. The governor advised Olusola to continue to be a change agent.

    The caretaker chairman of Ife East Local Government Area of Osun State, Hon. Wale Amusan, challenged other youths to emulate Olusola by finding solution to the country’s problems.

  • Police foil another attack in Kano

    Police foil another attack in Kano

    …Impound bomb, rifles

    Kano would have witnessed another devastating attack by suspected members of the Boko Haram sect on Wednesday, but for the swift response of the police in the state, who overpowered the gunmen and recovered several dangerous items.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Musa Daura, told reporters on Wednesday that his men, acting on information engaged a group of terrorists in a gun battle at the outskirt of Kano, recovering bomb-laden Golf 3 vehicle and arms and ammunition.

    This is coming on the heels of preparations for the Easter celebration by Christians worldwide.

    Daura said the occupants of the vehicle opened fire on sighting a police patrol van and in the ensuing gun duel, the suspects retreated after receiving bullet wounds.

    The police commissioner said his men came out of the gun battle unhurt.

    Daura listed items recovered from the car to include, AK 47 Rifle, Assault Rifle, 238 live ammunition of different caliber, Rocket Launcher, AK 47 Magazines, seven Turkey oil—stuffed with remote-control bombs, two cylinder remote-control devices, 14 hand grenades, four rolls of wire connector and 12 power source.

     

  • Attack: Police tightens security in Yola

    Attack: Police tightens security in Yola

    Following Friday’s attack in Ganye in Adamawa, which led to the death of 25 persons, the police in the state had tightened security in Yola, the state capital.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola reports that various check points have emerged on major streets of the state capital leading to traffic gridlock.

    When contacted on the development, the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Mohammed Ibrahim, said the measure was a proactive one.

    Ibrahim said, “You saw what happened in Ganye; we don’t want to take any chances.

    “We need the public support and understanding to ensure security of lives and properties.”

    NAN reports that so far no fewer than nine out of the 21 local government areas of the state had been attacked within the last one year.

  • Police confirm abduction of Briton in Lagos

    Police confirm abduction of Briton in Lagos

    THE Police in Lagos yesterday confirmed the abduction of a Briton on highbrow Victoria Island on Saturday by suspected gunmen.

    Yesterday, a statement credited to the spokeswoman of the United States (US) Consulate in Lagos claimed that a foreigner was kidnapped at about 11pm on Saturday.

    The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Manko, who confirmed the incident, identified the victim as a Briton.He said the man was abducted in front of his home by unknown gunmen as he was returning from a late night function.

    Detectives from the Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the command have been deployed in all the nooks and crannies of the city and its environs in search of the abductors and the victim.

    The police commissioner said: “We have set our dragnet and we will get the kidnappers and rescue the victim. The victim is not an American; he is a Briton and we are trying all efforts to ensure that the kidnappers are arrested and brought to book.”

    Command spokesman Ngozi Braide described the victim as a businessman and a resident of Victoria Island.

    “We have started investigation of the matter and we will get the abductors soon,” she said.

    The US Consulate said on Sunday that an expatriate was kidnapped but gave no further details.

    Its (US Consulate) spokeswoman had said in a message to US nationals: “The US Consulate General in Lagos received a report that an expatriate was kidnapped on Victoria Island on Saturday, March 23 at approximately 11 pm.”

  • Police quiz Ondo monarch for ‘murder’

    The police in Ondo State yesterday interrogated the Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, over his alleged involvement in the killing of Prince Titiola Lebi.

    Oba Odidiomo was invited following a petition sent to the Police Commissioner by the deceased’s lawyer, Chief Juwon Shemudara, who accused the monarch of complicity in Lebi’s murder.

    The police had earlier arrested eight subjects of the monarch.

    Sources said Oba Odidiomo arrived at the Police Headquarters on Igbatoro road, Akure, around 12:15pm.

    He was brought in a black Siena bus.

    Oba Odidiomo, dressed in white native attire, was reportedly led to the office of the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), where he was quizzed for several hours.

    The monarch was still being interrogated as at press time.

    A senior police officer, who spoke in confidence, said: “I do not think the man would be allowed to go home today (yesterday) because the allegation against him is serious.

    “We have to do our job properly and ensure that justice is done. We are not saying the monarch is guilty or not. His interrogation will throw more light on the issue.”

    The late Lebi and three of his friends, according to Shemudara, were allegedly seized by some palace boys at Igbokoda on March 13 and taken to Odidiomo’s palace, where they were brutalised.

    Shemudara said he reported the matter to the police at Igbokoda, who stormed the palace to rescue the boys. He said only two of them boy’s were rescued and the late Lebi was nowhere to be found.

    Lebi’s body was found floating on the Igbokoda river three days later.

     

  • ‘How police rescued kidnapped Army General’

    Delta State Police chief Ikechukwu Aduba, yesterday relived how his command rescued a retired army general from kidnappers four days after his abduction.

    He said his men trailed the kidnappers to their hideout under the guise of paying them ransom.

    Aduba told The Nation: “When last Wednesday, March 20, it was reported that Major Gen. Peter Unode (rtd) had been kidnapped along Ughelli/Warri Expressway, Ughelli, by four gunmen, we immediately moved into action and started monitoring the abductors’ movement.”

    He said the kidnappers called one of the general’s sons to demand N50million ransom, adding: “We started monitoring the call with the service provider and other intelligence reports. We traced them to a building in Akiwe village, Ozoro in Isoko North Local Government Area, where the retired General was bound, chained to a chair and blindfolded by his captors.”

    “The abductors later reduced the ransom to N450, 000 and described a place in Ekiugbo where they would receive the ransom. I told the General’s son to play along and he gave them the impression that he was bringing the money in the morning on Saturday. They were waiting for the money when my officers led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ozoro stormed the building.

    “When my men got to the hideout, the kidnappers sighted them and opened fire on them but the hoodlums could not match the superior fire power of the police operatives who killed one of them and arrested two others. The suspects are currently being interrogated and they have made useful statements. Police have also declared a manhunt for the suspects who escaped.”

    Aduba said detectives were combing the area in search of the suspects who escaped with bullet wounds, adding that the police had also advised hospitals to report to the police, if anybody with bullet wounds is brought in for treatment or risk prosecution. He added that the command would rid the state of kidnappers and other criminals.

    He said the building, which residents said, is basically used by kidnappers to detain their victims would be demolished.

    Narrating his ordeal, Unode said: “I went with one S.O Oyibo who deals in bamboo sticks, along the Ughelli/Port-Harcourt Expressway to see his stock. On getting there, we saw one Toyota Sienna parked near a Caravan car where the bamboos were kept. Then we saw the owner of the Sienna space bus defecating close to the Caravan and we expressed concern. We asked him why he was doing that there, because we were in company of another man who wanted to buy 200 pieces of bamboo from Oyibo. After a while, we saw Oyibo discussing with the man and as I moved closer, they stopped the conversation and the man zoomed off in his Sienna bus.

    “After a few minutes, the Sienna bus resurfaced and two boys emerged from it with pump actions guns, saying, “Na you say make our oga pack shit.” They were three in the car, but only two came out and that was how I was bundled away through Amekpa.

    “I was blindfolded. They demanded N50 million, saying that otherwise, they would waste me. And I said I did not have that kind of money as a retired Army General. They took me to their hideout. People in the area were speaking Isoko; the boys guarding me also spoke Isoko. I was hearing the sound of vehicles and motorcycles; the place was close to a busy road. And from that Wednesday until I was rescued by the police, I refused food. I lived on water all through.

    “Later, they reduced the ransom to N20 million; later, they settled for N5 million, but they felt insulted when my son called to offer to pay N450,000. Hence, they seriously tortured me. The mosquitoes dealt with me where I was chained to a chair. My knees, hands and mouth were tied and I was still subjected to all forms of inhuman treatment.”

    The command, he said, arrested 12 suspected cultists with the assistance of the Army in Ughelli. One of them is said to be a student of Delta State University, Abraka who went for the initiation of the others at Afisere Primary School, Ughelli.

    The arrested are: Balogun Nena, Harry Adanike, Onoriode Ekewene, Goru Oyobuwi, Ufuoma Whisky, Orukeme Onori, Ayobwe Winners, Ernest Akeware, Ezuwu Simon, Faith Ogigba, Ojokoro Felix and Tamara Pius.

    Aduba said the combined team also recovered three vehicles, two locally made short guns cut to size, three live cartridges, two black berets suspected to belong to police officers, one laptop, two sledge hammer, one chisel, one nail pincher and 30 mobile telephone handsets.

    He said efforts to arrest the fleeing suspects were on, adding that those arrested would face the law after investigation.

    Aduba urged Deltans to go about their businesses as the command is determined to reduce crime.

  • IGP directs CPs, AIGs to seize vehicles with tinted glasses

    IGP directs CPs, AIGs to seize vehicles with tinted glasses

     

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, has directed Commissioners of Police in charge of states to arrest vehicles with tinted glasses and prosecute their owners in line with extant laws.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Abubakar also extended the directive to all Zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs).

    The directive is contained in a statement issued by the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Frank Mba, on Thursday in Abuja.

    “Police officers nationwide have been directed to commence a massive operation aimed at enforcing all existing laws bordering on tinted glasses and the use of unregistered/unlicensed vehicles,’’ it said.

    The statement quoted the IGP as describing as alarming and unlawful the use of such vehicle by some motorists across the country.

    It also noted with “grave’’ concern the use of unregistered/unlicensed vehicles by some motorists on the highways in spite of repeated warnings from police authority.

    “This unbecoming attitude has the capacity not only to heighten criminal activities, but to place unnecessary pressure on security agencies and law abiding citizens,’’ it said.

    The statement noted that their indiscriminate use posed danger as security reports indicated that “criminal elements including suspected terrorists’’ hide under them to execute their nefarious activities.

     

  • Police to pay N5m for assault on pastor

    Police to pay N5m for assault on pastor

    A High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Wednesday, ordered the Nigeria police Force to pay N5 million compensation to Rev. Francis Ubong, a priest with the Roman Catholic Church, who was assaulted by a policeman in February last year.

    Rev. Ubong was allegedly slapped by a policeman attached to the anti-kidnapping unit in the state police command at Ekpo Ekpo Integrated Ventures filling station along Atiku Abubakar way, Uyo, the state capital on February 18, last year.

    Ruling on the application, Justice Pius Idiong, held that it was inhuman, degrading and embarrassing for a police officer to slap a clergy in a public place and in the full glare of members of the public.

    The judge ruled that the police officer violated the applicant’s (Ubong’s) fundamental rights as guaranteed and protected by section 34 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Article 5 of the African Charter of human and people’s rights.

    He also ordered the respondents to write an unreserved and acceptable letter of apology to the applicant and the letter should be published in the state owned newspaper (Pioneer Newspaper).

     

  • Police arrest four MASSOB members

    The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the police in Abia State to release its members.

    The group claimed that four of its members were arrested at its office yesterday.

    It decried the alleged brutalisation of another member, Onyebuchi Ukaegbu.

    MASSOB gave the names of those abducted as Stanley Ashiegbu, Oruonye Jacob, Ifeanyi John and Eze Michael.

    The MASSOB Regional Administrator for Umuahia North, Felix Ibegbulem Ezekwem, said the manner in which police were maltreating its members was worrisome.

    In a statement, the group warned the police not to kill the suspects in its custody.

    The statement signed by the Director of Information, Anselam Ogbonna, said the police invaded their office at Ajata Okwuru Ibeku, in Umuahia North and stole important documents and property worth N300,000.

    The group called on the police to release the four men or “we will make Abia uncomfortable for them.”

    “We are a non-violent organisation and we don’t see the reason why the police are detaining and killing our members.”

    Police spokesman Geoffrey Ogbonna said he was not aware of the incident.

     

  • Court awards N5m damages against police for illegal detention

    A Lagos  High Court, Ikeja  has declared as illegal and unconstitutional the continuous detention of one Ogbeide Oyakhire alleged to have stolen two vehicles imported by his cousin.

    The court, therefore, ordered the immediate release of Oyakhire who has been in the police detention since 2011.

    Justice I.O. Kasali made the declaration while in ruling on an application brought pursuant to Order 11 rule 3 of the  fundamental human rights enforcement procedures 2009 by  Oyakhire  against Lagos State Commissioner of Police.

    Justice Kasali awarded N5million jointly and severally against the respondents as general damages for the unlawful violation of the applicant’s right.

    The applicant through his lawyer, Mr Emmanuel Ogbeche had sued the Lagos State Police Commissioner and two others  after several efforts to get his freedom from police detention failed.

    Other defendants in the suit are the Deputy Commissioner of Police (SCIB), Panti, Yaba and SUPOL Bamgboshe of D7, Human Rights (SCIB), Panti, Yaba.

    The trial judge declared that the continuous detention of Oyakhire for over one year is degrading, unlawful, illegal and a gross violation of his fundamental rights guaranteed under sections 34(1) 35(1) and 41(1) of 1999 Constitution as amended.

    The judge also gave a mandatory order compelling the respondents, their officers, agents, servants or privies to produce the applicant before the court in order to be  granted  bail conditionally or unconditionally.

    She however refused to grant the applicants request for an order  restraining the respondents, whether by themselves, their officers, agents, servants or privies from further inviting, arresting  or detaining him.

    She said that the respondents are at liberty to investigate and carry on their duty as police officers without infringing on the fundamental right of the applicant.

    Ogbeche had stated in the application that the applicant was arrested and detained by the police on November 20, 2011 for an allegation of stealing two vehicles, a Jaguar and a Honda CRV Jeep inputted by his cousin brother, who is based in America.

    Ogbeche said the vehicles in question were left in the custody of Oyakhire by his cousin and when a pressing need arose for the family to take care of, it was mutually agreed for the cars to be sold to enable them offset the financial burden.

    “It was after this, he said, that our client was apprehended and incarcerated for stealing the cars, since November 20, 2011 at the Nigeria Police Station, Panti, Yaba, Lagos without being charged to court.

    He said the complainant was said to have refused to shown up after the first day he lodged the complaint.”

    He  also complained that despite court ruling that his client be release from detention, the police had refused to do so.

    Ogbeche said efforts to serve the police with the enrolment order has proved abortive as they have bluntly refused to accept the said order.