The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Policeman

  • Calabar: Soldier, policemen fight in banking hall

    Calabar: Soldier, policemen fight in banking hall

    Customers who went to a new generation bank  in Calabar got more than they bargained for when a fight broke out between a soldier and some four mobile policemen inside the bank at about 11 am Tuesday.

    It could not be ascertained what the cause of the squabble was, but a canister of tear gas was shot inside the filled banking hall, leading to pandemonium as customers fled the burning sensation.

    A couple of the policemen and the soldier sustained injuries. The uniform of the soldier was torn.

    Soon after more armed mobile and regular policemen arrived the bank in trucks demanding for the soldier who was inside the bank.

    A few moments later a deployment of soldiers in trucks also landed leading to sporadic shooting into the air, as on looking bystanders and passersby scampered for safety.

    After a while they all got inside they bank, to sort themselves out, after which they got out and left in their vehicles.

  • Army lied over the death of policeman

    Army lied over the death of policeman

    The Bauchi State Police Command has said the 33 Artilery Brigade of the Nigeria Army in Bauchi was economical with the truth over the death of a policeman.

    Spokesperson Haruna Mohammed, while reacting to the incident, said the victims stopped at the checkpoint and contrary to the Brigade’s statement, they were permitted to proceed by the soldiers and not as claimed by the Army that the shooting was triggered by their refusal to stop for checking.

    His words: “The vehicle was searched and allowed to proceed but all of a sudden, one unidentified soldier attached to the 33 Artillery Brigade Bauchi, opened fire and shot at the bus from the rear glass and ran away.

    “As a result, F/N PC Bwala Mohammed died on the spot while three others sustained injuries.”

    They alleged that it took the intervention of combined security forces to restore normalcy in the area as other motorists and pedestrians went on rampage and blocked the road to protest the shooting.

    Haruna added that the scene was visited by a police patrol team to ascertain the cause of the incident.

    Meanwhile, the body of the policeman has been deposited at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital mortuary for post-mortem examination, while the wounded are receiving treatment.

    It was learnt that the soldiers at the checkpoint have been deployed to their office due to the incident and there has been no witness to support or refute either party’s claim.

     

  • Man allegedly assaults policeman

    Man allegedly assaults policeman

    A 50-year-old man, Bukola Okeowo, yesterday admitted before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos that he and two others assaulted a police officer and stole his phone and cash worth N25,000.

    Okeowo was arraigned before Mrs A. O. J. Adepeju on a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and assault.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Nicholas Akpene said Okeowo and the others at large committed the offence on May 14, at about 5:45am, on Marina Expressway, Lagos Island.

    He alleged that they assaulted Mr. Joshua Ogwo, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) attached to the Central Criminal Registry Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Annex at Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    “The defendant and the two others swooped on the officer and punched him all over his body, before dispossessing him of N10,000 cash and a Samsung Galaxy phone with two SIM cards, valued at N15,000.

    “The total sum of the items stolen was N25,000, property of ASP Ogwo,” the prosecutor said.

    The Nation learnt that the defendant was found hiding under the bridge at Marina with a large cloth thrown over his faces, head and shoulders.

    When the three counts on the charge were read to him at first in English and then in Yoruba, the defendant replied in Yoruba, Mo je’bi pelu alaiye meaning, “I am guilty, but I have an explanation.”

    He failed to give his explanation and Magistrate Adepeju adjourned the case till tomorrow, for facts and sentencing.

  • Expectant wife, kids watch as policeman slaps estate agent

    Expectant wife, kids watch as policeman slaps estate agent

    It was a smooth family ride until the Thompsons ran into the police at Owode-Onirin on Ikorodu Road.

    Time was 6.45 and the family head, Okiki Thompson, an estate agent, was driving when the police stopped him at Owode-Onirin around 6.45 on last Monday.

    Thompson, who was returning from his father’s home in Ikorodu with his expectant wife and children, was asked to park and open his car trunk.

    An officer also asked for his driver’s licence.

    He presented a photocopy of the driver’s licence which allegedly infuriated the policeman.

    The officer whose tag bore the name Chike and number 372308 allegedly slapped him.

    A superior officer intervened and told Thompson to go.

    Speaking with The Nation yesterday, Thompson described the officer’s action as uncivil.

    “Even if one committed an offence, must the person be assaulted?” he asked.

    Reliving the incident, Thompson said: “I was coming from my dad’s house in Ikorodu. On getting to Owode-Onirin at about 6:45pm, four policemen stopped me and I stopped. They had also stopped about three cars also. One of the officers (Chike, his tag name) first asked me to open my booth which I did after which he asked for my driver’s license and documents, I showed him. When he asked for it again, I told him that a photocopy of my license was among the documents with him but he said he wanted the original copy. I told him it had been collected from me by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officials because I was driving with my little boy in the front seat. I also showed him evidence of the fine I was asked to pay. He then asked why I should put the photocopy with my documents and I asked him what he was trying to insinuate. Even his boss called us and asked what the matter was.

    “My wife was trying to beg and I told him to look at her condition that she is heavy; her pregnancy is eight months plus. He said, No, he would detain me because I have been given a fine since March 3 and I asked him what he was trying to say. I was annoyed because I knew that he wanted me to bribe him but I was not going to give him anything. I don’t bribe policemen. The next thing he did was to start shouting: ‘Who wants to collect your money? You are a poor man.’ He said a lot of things and I told him I would take it up because I am a law-abiding citizen and all my car documents were complete and that it was people like him that make the police look bad.

    “The next thing I knew was that he slapped me. I told his boss to see what his officer did.  My wife was there and my children were also in the car. They all witnessed it. I got back into my car and told him that since he does not want to give me my documents, I would leave. He said I didn’t have manners and called my wife to give her the documents and I told him that I would not allow this to go.

    “I even went to the mediation centre to lodge a complaint. They told me to write a letter and I told them that they needed to deal with these people because the guy was temperamental. The way he was talking was rude. He said his first son was not my mate and I told him that I am 48 years old and the way I was seeing him, he was not up to 50.

    “His name tag read, ‘Chike 372308’. He told me that there was nothing I could do to him and said I should look at his number and name.”

    Police spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP), urged the victim to report the matter to the nearest command for investigation, adding: “We need to verify if the person that slapped him is actually a policeman. But driving without licence is an offence. So, why is he driving without driver’s licence?”

  • Two brothers arraigned for ‘assaulting’ policeman

    Two brothers, Darlington Ani and Daniel Ani, were on Friday arraigned for allegedly assaulting a police officer.

    Darlington, 28 and Daniel 21, are facing a-six-count charge bordering on assault and breach of peace before an Apapa Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    Prosecuting Inspector Tony Elibeh, said the accused committed the offences between April 21 and April 29, in Olodi-Apapa area of Lagos.

    He said the accused assaulted a police officer by obstructing and resisting arrest and, thereby, perverting the course of justice.

    “`The accused men, on the said date, did conspire to commit felony, to wit, assault and occasioning harm on one Mr Jude Nweka, thereby inflicting injuries on his head and face.

    “The brothers did incite acts of violence, intimidate and cause a breach of the peace to the environment,” he said.

    He said when the case was reported to the police, the brothers refused to allow the security men carry out their duty but assaulted them instead.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate Titus Abolarinwa granted them N100,000 bail with one surety in the like sum.

    He directed that one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the accused.

    He added that they must present evidence of payment of two years’ tax to the Lagos State Government.

    He stressed that the sureties, whose addresses must be verified by the prosecution, must also present evidence of evidence of means to the court’s registrar.

    Abolarinwa, then, adjourned the case to May 18.

  • Policeman, three others arrested for ‘robbing’ 20-foot container

    Four persons, including a police Sergeant, Victor Omorokai, have been arrested for allegedly hijacking a 20-foot container in Sagamu, Ogun State, last weekend.

    The suspects were nabbed at Okokomaiko in Lagos by a joint team of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Safer Highways operatives and men from the Okokomaiko Police Division.

    It was learnt that four policemen attached to the Strike Team of SARS, Ikeja, on Saturday night blocked a trailer laden with auto spare parts, with their Lexus Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV).

    The team led by Inspector Durojaiye Taiwo was said to have pretended to be on duty and flagged the vehicle down.

    When the driver stopped, they allegedly pointed a gun at him and his conductor; tied them up and bundled them into their SUV’s trunk.

    It was gathered that some of the suspects dumped the driver and his conductor in the bush and sped off to join their accomplices who were driving the trailer towards Agege.

    The suspects were said to have stopped at abbatoir in Agege, where they contacted a prospective buyer who came and inspected the goods but did not have the N30 million they asked for.

    The victims were said to have out of the bush and reported the incident at the nearest police station.

    A police source said the trailer’s owner, on being contacted, told the police that the vehicle has a tracking device.

    The vehicle was tracked to abbatoir and the Lagos Police command was contacted.

    “The police then started monitoring their location as they were moving and tracked them to Agege. Three police units made up of the SARS, Safer Highways and the Okokomaiko Police Division were deployed.

    “The teams blocked the various entry and exit points. The suspects contacted another buyer and were moving towards Okokomaiko when the police stopped the container.

    “At first, they pretended they were policemen who arrested the truck but when they saw that they were in trouble they started shooting. While three of them managed to escape, Sergeant Omorokai was arrested. Three civilians have also been arrested in connection with the crime,” said a police source.

    The Nation gathered that Inspector Taiwo and the other two officers, who shot sporadically when they were intercepted, escaped because they were inside the Lexus SUV; Omorokai was in the trailer.

    After their escape, the suspects were said to have returned their guns, which they collected from exhibits retrieved from armed robbers.

    “The guns they used were exhibit guns. They returned them that very night, when no one knew what has happened. They would not have been able to return them if they were signed from the armoury because they would have been asked why they were returning their guns in the night.

    “It is not the first time they are doing it. Inspector Taiwo has been named in several operations like that and the mallam that they were going to meet at Okokomaiko claimed that the Inspector took his N30 million.

    “Those inside the Lexus were able to escape because they were firing. But the Sergeant was arrested because he was the one inside the trailer. The Commissioner of Police (CP) is very angry over this issue and he has given us one week to look for the fleeing suspects.

    “They are disgracing the police. It is a very shameful thing,” said another source.

    Confirming the arrest, the state command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos said: “They (suspects) were trailed to Okokomaiko where they were arrested. The case is still under discreet investigation.”

  • Policeman kills suspected armed robber

    Mobile Policeman guarding a company, Micura Services Ltd, yesterday shot dead a suspected armed robber in Apapa, Lagos.

    The suspect was killed during a shootout around Coconut Bus stop, Trinity, while attempting to snatch a woman’s handbag.

    It was learnt that the deceased, who was on a motorcycle with his accomplice, opened fire when he saw the policeman moving towards them.

    The policeman, Corporal Ayeni Adetayo, was injured, but he returned fire, killing the suspect. The other fled on their motorcycle.

    The command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said a pistol and seven rounds of ammunition were recovered from the deceased.

    The suspect, she said, had been under watch.

    Badmos said: “Corporal Ayeni Adetayo posted to Micura Service Limited, Apapa, while on duty noticed two men on motorcycle trying to snatch a bag from a woman.

    “On sighting the situation, the policeman moved towards the scene but the armed robber at the back of the Okada opened fire on the policeman and in a shootout that ensued, the robber died, while the rider of the Okada fled.

    “The policeman sustained gunshot injury at the abdominal area. the suspect has been on the watch list of the command in the last two months. The deceased specialised in snatching bags from women mostly those from banks.

    “Effort is on to track the rider who is at large, while the policeman is receiving treatment in the hospital.”

  • Policeman, civilian killed in Rivers

    Policeman, civilian killed in Rivers

    Suspected gunmen yesterday killed a Police Sergeant, Sunday Adoga, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    The police command confirmed the death.

    Police spokesman Ahmad Mohammad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the hoodlums ambushed the policeman and opened fire on his patrol van, killing him on the spot.

    An eyewitness said a civilian also died in the attack.

    But the police could not confirm the death of the civilian last night.

    The incident happened between Garrison and Waterlines junction between 9 and 10 am.

    The police pledged to apprehend the killers and bring them to justice.

    The statement said: “We are deeply saddened by the senseless killing of Sgt. Sunday Adoga, who was ambushed in a police patrol van today (yesterday) on Garrison, Waterlines junction.

    “Sadly, today’s event once again demonstrated the profound danger our men face and witness daily. Police officers put their lives on the line everyday to confront crimes and violence in our communities and the society.

    “As for the criminals, they can run but it’s just a matter of time; we will catch up with them and bring them to justice.”

    The incident forced commuters and motorists to scamper for safety as the gunmen shot sporadically.

    Motorists were said to have abandoned their vehicles and ran for their lives.

    Several passengers near the scene jumped through bus windows; some of them were injured.

    The residents were said to have panicked because they thought the gunmen had invaded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office, near the Waterline junction, where the police officer was reportedly killed.

    A passenger said: “We boarded the Coaster vehicle at the park; we were going to Eleme Junction. When we got close to Garrison Junction, we began to hear gunshots. Before we got there (Garrison), we noticed that vehicles ahead of us had parked; none was coming from Waterline area. We also parked. After a while, the sounds subsided and movements continued.

  • Policeman remanded for defiling minor

    Policeman remanded for defiling minor

    A 37-year old police officer, Umar Babatunde has been remanded in prison custody by an Egor Magistrate Court for having unlawful carnal knowledge of a 9-year-old girl in Benin.

    Babatunde was alleged to have committed the offence on November 2 at No 12,  Omokaro Street off Siluko road in Benin.

    Investigating Police officer (IPO), Sergeant Vivian Akhionbare told the court that the accused has been dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force since November last year when the case was reported.

    The accused pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge on unlawful carnal knowledge preferred against him.

    State Counsel, Mrs O.R. Ewemade, said the offence contravened section 218 of the criminal Code Cap. 48 Vol. ll laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria 1976 as applicable in Edo.

    Presiding Magistrates, Mrs Igho Braimoh, remanded the accused in prison, and ruled that bail would be considered in the course of trial.

    She adjourned the case till May 11 for hearing.

  • Lagos sex workers beat up policeman

    Two sex workers were yesterday arraigned before an Apapa Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly beating up a policeman.

    Dominica Paul, 22; and Chioma Aneka, both residents of Ajegunle area of Apapa, Lagos are standing trial on a three-count charge of breach of peace, unlawful damage and assault.

    According to prosecuting Inspector Tony Elibeh, the accused beat up a policeman simply identified as Sergeant Usang and also tore his uniform while performing his duty.

    He said the accused committed the offences on January 20 at New Road, Olodi-Apapa. The complainant (Usang) saw the accused roaming the street at about midnight and decided to confront them.

    “When Usang asked them where they were going, the accused could not give a satisfactory answer and he decided to take them to the police station. Paul and Aneka, who did not want to follow the policeman to the station, conspired to beat him up and also tear his shirt,” Elibeh told the court.

    The offence contravened Sections 166, 172 and 337 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 166 provides a N15, 000 fine or imprisonment for three months for disorderly act, while Section 172 stipulates a three-year jail term for serious assault.

    The accused, however, denied the charge. The Chief Magistrate, Mr Titus Abolarinwa, granted the sex workers bail in the sum of N50,000 each with two sureties each in like sum.

    Further hearing in the case was fixed for February 24.