The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Policeman

  • Dismissed policeman to face trial

    The Delta State Police Command says it set to arraign ex-Sergeant Habila Samaila in court on grounds of professional misconduct and murder of a 32-year-old man Ejovwoghene Igueride.

    It will be recalled that on August 19, 2017, at about 7:10 a.m, the deceased was allegedly shot by a mobile policeman at Emede community and was rushed to General Hospital Olomoro where he was confirmed dead

    The ex-policeman who is attached to 33 PMF in Ado-Ekiti State was on escort duty with the Director of Johnnesco (Nig) Enterprises Ltd when the shooting occurred in Emede Community, Isoko South Local Government Area..

    The spokesman of Delta State Police Command, Andrew Aniamaka,  in a press statement yesterday said: “In line with its avowed commitment to serve with integrity and be guided by the best democratic principles and practice at all times, no matter whose ox is gored, the Delta State Police Command ,Tuesday 29th,August 2017,dismissed and is in the process of arraigning Sergeant Habila Samaila “M” 36 years in court on grounds of professional misconduct and murder of Ejovwokoghene Igueride, 32, of Emede Community, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State.”

  • Siblings ‘assault’ policeman

    An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court yesterday granted N200,000 bail each to  two siblings who allegedly beat up a policeman and tore his uniforms.

    Magistrate O.A Layinka also ordered each of the accused – Michael Oladunjoye, 28 and Sephia Oladunjoye, 26 – to produce two sureties each with evidence of two years tax payment.

    The accused, who reside at Church Street, Ayobo in Ipaja, Lagos, however, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of assault and unlawful damage.

    Earlier, the Prosecuting Sergeant, Donjor Perezi, had told the court that the accused on July 16 assaulted a policeman, Isaac Akam, at Allen Avenue, Ikeja.

    According to the prosecutor, the duo beat up the policeman and also tore his uniform while performing his lawful duty.

    He said that a fight ensued between the policeman and the duo after the police stopped their car for a routine search.

    According to him, it was the intervention of other policemen at the scene that saved their colleague from the duo.

    Perezi said that the two siblings were subsequently arrested and taken to the police station for further questioning.

    The case was adjourned until August 28.

  • Gunmen kill policeman, civilian in Anambra

    Some people suspected to be gunmen yesterday shot dead a policeman and a civilian near Assemblies of God (AG) Church on Oguta Road at Onitsha in Anambra State.

    An eyewitness said the gunmen stopped near the church, adding that on sighting some policemen nearby, they opened fire on them.

    The source also said the attackers took away the rifle of the slain policeman.

    The eyewitness said: “When the firing became too hot, the policemen abandoned their patrol vehicle and ran away for safety.

    “The gunmen moved to their patrol van and took a gun belonging to the policeman they killed.”

    The eyewitness said he could not identify the number of armed men involved.

    Another eyewitness said: “Gunmen on Okada (a motorcycle) shot a policeman and collected his rifle.

    They also shot dead an Okada man while escaping; the passenger he was carrying was injured.

    The policeman was the one armed among his colleagues. They were providing security while church service was going on at Assemblies of God Church on Oguta Road at Onitsha.

    Police Commissioner Garba Umar confirmed the incident to journalists.

    Umar said it was not an attack on the church, adding that the gunmen took away a rifle belonging to the slain policeman.

    He said: “My men were on patrol near the church when they were attacked by some gunmen. It was not an attack on the church in the real sense of it.”

  • Riot policeman killed in Akwa Ibom

    Riot policeman killed in Akwa Ibom

    The Police Command in Akwa Ibom on Tuesday confirmed the killing of a mobile policeman by armed robbers in the early hours of Tuesday in the state.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Chukwu Ikechukwu, who confirmed the incident said, “it is unfortunate that we lost one of our men today to armed robbers.”

    Ikechukwu said the policeman was shot dead by armed robbers who swooped on a van carrying expatriate construction workers in Uyo.

    He, however, said details of his death were still unclear.

    “I cannot tell you the identity of the policeman because I have yet to get the details.

    “I promised to explain the details and circumstances surrounding his death as soon as I am fully briefed,” the police spokesman said.

    An eye witness who claimed anonymity, said armed robbers on Tuesday pounced on a van carrying expatriate construction workers in Uyo and shot dead a mobile policeman.

    He said the incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday along Mbierebe junction close to the Goodluck Jonathan Boulevard.

    “They accosted the Hilux van and instantly shot and killed the Police Orderly guarding the expatriates.

    “They also carted away huge sums of money from the vehicle before speeding off firing gunshots in the air to scare away people,” he said.

    He, however, said that the identity of the construction firm could not be immediately ascertained.

    “It was learnt that the affected firm is one of the construction companies fixing roads for the State Government,” he said.

  • 13 arrested over death of policeman, 3 others

    THE Anambra State Police Command has arrested 13 persons in connection with the Thursday murder of a policeman, a pregnant woman and her two children by over 100 alleged hoodlums in Onitsha. The AK-47 rifle of the deceased policeman was recovered from one of the arrested suspects,the police said.

    The command warned against a repeat of such violence, vowing to deal with any person or group that tries to take laws into his hands in the state. Spokesperson for the command, Nkeiruka Nwode, said “enough is enough” of unruly behaviour. The rampage was triggered by an attempt by policemen at a checkpoint on the Onitsha/Owerri highway in the commercial city to stop a tipper for a routine check.

    The driver of the vehicle was said to have lost control when he was flagged down,and then ran over the pregnant woman and her two children. Angered by the development, youths numbering over 100 stormed the check point and pursued the policemen who fled immediately after the incident and killed one of them. Some property of a motor company close to the scene were destroyed by the irate youth.

    Only the intervention of the Police restored normalcy. According to Nwode, the bodies of the four persons who lost their lives during the fracas had been deposited at the mortuary for post mortem examination. She equally said that the commissioner authorities had ordered a full scale investigation into the matter with a view to fishing out the culprits.

    She said: “Anambra state police command received a distress call that misguided elements numbering over 100 went on the rampage and attacked a police check point at Km 4/6 along Onitsha-Owerri road manned by visiting police mobile unit attached to 3 PMF Enugu.” She said the rioters killed Sergeant Uchenna Ezike, took away his AK-47 rifle, set ablaze four vehicles and destroyed the motor company “Following the distress call, police patrol teams led by DPO Okpoko rushed to the scene, restored normalcy in the area and arrested 13 suspects including one Paul Igwe whose custody the deceased police rifle was recovered” the command said.

  • Driver ‘slaps’ policeman

    A 35-year-old commercial bus driver, Amos Alade who allegedly slapped a policeman and threatened another with a wheel spanner, yesterday appeared in an Apapa Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    Alade was brought before the court on a two-count charge of assault and threatening violence.

    The accused, a resident of Ajegunle area of Apapa, Lagos, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Olusegun Kokoye told the court that the accused committed the offences on June 15 at Bakare Garage, Cardoso Street, Kirikiri Town, Apapa, Lagos.

    He said that Alade assaulted one of the complainants, Augustine Odey, by slapping him and tearing his uniform while performing his lawful duty.

    Kokoye said the accused also threatened to use a wheel spanner to hit another police officer, Edwin Ugwugbo who tried to settle the dispute.

    The prosecutor said the accused got angry because the policemen stopped him for driving in a reckless manner.

    He said the accused was apprehended by the complainants and taken to the police station.

    Kokoye noted that the offences contravened Sections 57 and 173 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 173 prescribes three years jail term term for a person convicted of serious assault.

    Senior Magistrate M.A Etti granted the accused N100,000 bail, with one surety who must be  gainfully employed.

    He said t the surety must show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The case was adjourned till June 28.

  • Policeman shoots wife, maid, kills self in Nasarawa

    Policeman shoots wife, maid, kills self in Nasarawa

    Nasarawa State Police Command said on Sunday that a policeman, Sgt. Thomas Agada, had in the early hours of the day, shot and killed himself at Masaka in Karu Local Government Area of the state.
    The command’s spokesman, DSP Kennedy Idirisu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia that late Agada served at the Police command in the FCT, but resided at Masaka, where the incident occurred.

    Idirisu explained that before killing himself, the deceased had shot and injured his wife and maid at their shop around De Memories Hotel in Masaka.

    He said the wife and maid were currently receiving treatment at the Asokoro General Hospital in the FCT, adding that investigation had begun to ascertain the motive behind the shooting.

    “We cannot say for sure now what could have led to the dastardly act but we believe that the wife, currently being treated would, be of great help to our investigation, once she stabilises,” Idirisu said. (NAN)

  • Man allegedly assaults policeman

    Man allegedly assaults policeman

    A 32-year-old man, Saheed Alowonle, who allegedly assaulted and willfully destroyed the reflective jacket of a policeman while on duty, on Monday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.
    Alowonle, whose address was not provided, is facing two counts of assault and malicious damage.
    The defendant, according to the prosecutor, Sergeant Babaji Ishaku, committed the offence on April 7, at Aguda, Ogba, opposite Excellence Hotel.
    He said the defendant assaulted Sergeant Omege Folusayo, who was performing his lawful duty by holding his jacket. “The defendant destroyed the officer’s reflective jacket in the process.”
    In his ruling, the Magistrate, Mr J.A. Adegun, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum. Adegun said the sureties must be blood relations of the defendants and should provide evidence of tax payment to the state government.
    The court adjourned the case till May 22 for mention.

  • MELAYE: POLICE ARREST KOGI LG CHAIR, 5 OTHERS

    MELAYE: POLICE ARREST KOGI LG CHAIR, 5 OTHERS

    •Senator stage managed attack, suspect alleges

    The police yesterday paraded the local government chairman of Ijumu, an ex-policeman and four others for allegedly attempting to kill Senator Dino Melaye

    The Senator’s residence was attacked by unknown gunmen at Iyara, Ijumu LGA in Kogi State on 15th April at about 0030hrs.

    One of the suspects paraded admitted to reporters he informed police operatives about the gang and its activities.

    To avoid suspicion, the police said the gang conveyed its members in an ambulance with the inscription General Hospital Iyara to the Senator’s residence.

    Those paraded are: 54-year-old chairman of Ijumu, Taofiq Isah ; Ade Obage, 29; Abdullahi Isah aka Eko, 32; Ahmed Ajayi, 45; Michael Bamidele26 and ex- Sgt Ede James, the 35-year-old orderly to the chairman at the time of the attack.

    The police also revealed that other suspects linked to the operation are still at large.

    They include  Abdulmumini  aka Iron; Osama  (SNU); Lukman aka General/Commander, China aka Lie down flat and Adamu Aloha according to the police.

    Items recovered from them include one ambulance Hyundai bus, five AK 47 rifles, one Berreta pistol,  two locally- made single barrel shot gun, 25 expended shells of 7.62 mm ammunition, 13 expended shells of 9mm ammunition and twelve expended shells gauge cartridge

    The police also displayed certificate of the ballistic expert examination, test and analysis carried out at the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Lagos.

    Pictures from the scene of the attack were also revealed to reporters.

    Some of the pictures showed several bullet holes on walls and cars.

    Briefing reporters in Abuja, the Force Spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood highlighted the various roles played in the failed assassination of Melaye.

    He said: “Taofiq Isah, according to the investigation so far, is the mastermind of the executed attempted assassination/murder of Senator Dino Melaye.

    “He was alleged to have directed one Abdulmumini aka Iron, now at large (who was said to be his Personal Assistant) and who in turn recruited other members of the vicious and notorious hired assassins’ gang.

    “Ade Obage voluntarily informed the Police that he has the knowledge and information about the attempted assassination/murder attack of Senator Dino Melaye after the attack was carried out.

    “He further informed the investigators that he was contacted to join the gang by Abdullahi Eko a principal suspect now in Police custody.

    “Abdullahi aka Eko, a native of Adavi town in Adavi LGA of Kogi State was arrested and he confessed to the crime and admitted to the criminal roles he played along with the other suspects in carrying out the attempted assassination/murder of Senator Dino Melaye.”

    On the role played by the dismissed policeman, Moshood said: “Ex- Sgt Ede James is the police orderly to the principal suspect whose phone was used for communication for the planning of the failed assassination/murder of Senator Dino Melaye.

    “He was arrested with a serious criminal link to another principal suspect Abdullahi aka Eko who is an active member of the gang.”

    But Isah said the whole attack was stage managed.

    He admitted having political issue with Melaye but denied involvement in the attack.

    According to him: “This is a stage managed show. This interrogation has been on for long and when they brought me here today, I thought they wanted to take my statement again because I have written over seven statements since the commencement of the case.

    I have never seen the suspects paraded with me. There is so many political situations going on around in Kogi State and you can see that most of the people involved are Ebira people.

    “They have problems linked to the political situation in Kogi State.

    “This is just blackmail against the people of Kogi. I was shocked that I was linked to this because I am the Chief Security Officer of Ijumu LGA and the ALGON chairman of Kogi State. I will never involve myself in this kind of shabby deal.”

    On the allegation that the ambulance was found in his house, he said: “I was called when I travelled to Ilorin for APC membership registration and we went to purchase some items for the registration but I was called that my uncle was sick.

    “I told them that they should use the ambulance to take him to the hospital because he was an old and needed to undergo surgery. Before I returned, they did the operation but my uncle still died.”

    Isah maintained he had nothing to do with the attack.

    According to him: “It is a charade show because a statement by someone who went to the Commissioner of Police claimed that Dino brought in thugs to the village and he went and lodged them in a hotel.

    “It is the responsibility of the police to balance their investigations. He mentioned four names and the hotel they were lodged but they are yet to be arrested. This is a planned work.”

  • Mobile policeman ‘kills’ youth

    Mobile Policeman yesterday allegedly shot dead a man, Adeniyi Para in Akowonjo, Lagos.

    The incident sparked a protest during which a mob nearly torched Erico Belisima Hotel on Olowologbon Street, Akowonjo, after vandalising it.

    The policeman, said to be attached to the hotel, allegedly opened fire on Para, who came to recover N5million debt from a guest.

    Para, whose wife had just put to bed, and his friends were said to have laid siege to the hotel to prevent the guest from going out without paying the money.

    But they allegedly assaulted a worker, who queried their action. The worker’s cry attracted the policeman and his colleague, it was learnt.

    “It was the worker’s cry for help that attracted the two policemen. The employee was beaten severely. When the policemen got to the scene, they had serious argument with the youths.

    “It was in the course of the argument that one of the policemen fired at Para. The bullet hit him on the leg. As people were running, including Para, the policeman pursued him and shot him on the chest. He died before reaching the hospital,” said a source.

    The mob swooped on the hotel blocking its entrance and exit.

    It damaged some customers’ vehicles as it moved from one part of the hotel to the other.

    Traders quickly shut their shops. It took the intervention of heavily armed policemen to restore order.

    The policemen, led by the Area M Commander, Austin Akika, an Assistant Commissioner (ACP), were said to have secured a nearby filling station.

    Lagos Command spokesman Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent (ASP) said the policeman and his colleague have been arrested.

    He said they were being interrogated, promising that justice would be done.

    Some of the youth, Famous-Cole said, have been arrested.