The Nation Newspaper

Tag: policemen

  • Policemen detained for killing 17-year-old in Bayelsa 

    Policemen detained for killing 17-year-old in Bayelsa 

    About four policemen have been arrested and detained for the alleged extra-judicial killing of 17-year-old boy, Innocent Kokorifa.

    The victim, first out of five children of Mr. Daniel Kokorifa, an official of the Federal Road Safety Corps, was shot dead in a mysterious circumstance by the police Anti-Vice/Anti-Kidnapping team along Airforce Road in Yenagoa, on August 18, 2016.

    Innocent was reportedly running an errand for his mother, Pere, when he was allegedly killed by the police about 11am on the fateful day.

    The victim’s father accused the police of shielding killers of his son and demanded transparency in the handling of the matter.

    But a police source, who spoke in confidence, said some policemen were detained in a cell at the Bayelsa State Command headquarters.

    The source said: “I am not authorised to speak on the matter. But I know those men are in detention and the police authorities are investigating the incident.

    “I do not know the exact number of policemen that are detained but they are between three and four.”

    Efforts to get reaction from the Police Public Relations Officer, Asinim Butswat,  were futile as his mobile phone did not connect.

    The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ogunjemilusi, has remained mute over the matter.

     

  • Policemen die as robbers attack bullion van

    Policemen die as robbers attack bullion van

    Two policemen died yesterday in an attack on a bullion van belonging to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at Hawan Kibo hills in Plateau State.

    Police spokesperson Terna Tyopev told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that three officers attached to the van were injured.

    He said the van was carrying money from Jos to Lafia in Nasawara State.

    “It was a clear case of ambush; they were attacked unexpectedly. Policemen escorting the bullion van repelled the attack but unfortunately we lost two of our men on the spot. Three others were badly injured,” Tyopev told NAN.

    He, however, said the robbers could not cart away the money, “because our men responded vigorously; they reacted firmly.”

  • Police uncovers fresh plot to attack Ogun community

    Police uncovers fresh plot to attack Ogun community

    Armed policemen have taken over the whole of Sagamu, Ogun State, blocking both remote and strategic entrances to the boisterous town, following plans by suspected cultists to wreck further violence on residents.

    Rampaging cultists are said to have perfected plans to visit Sagamu and neigbouring villages with sustained violence in a cult – war – driven reprisal attack, the Police hinted, but assured that they would be tackled.

    It was learnt that the cultists had planned to storm Sagamu from Ago – Iwoye between Friday or Saturday.

    The spokesman of Ogun Police Command, Mr.Muyiwa Adejobi, who made this known to reporters, hinted that the Command have also got information that some prominent chiefs in Emuren in Sagamu Local Government Area  of the state were harbouring and promoting the cult groups.

    Adejobi, a Superintendent of Police blamed the incident on a cult group which went to Emuren and killed the goat a rival group had planned to slaughter in celebration of its anniversary leading to a reprisal attack.

    According to him, 17 suspected cultists have been arrested in Ago – Iwoye while 23 others were arrested in connection with violence in Emuren and two other communities.

    It should be recalled that on Thursday, the cultists unleashed mayhem in Igbosoro, an Ogun community, allegedly killing at least eight persons, including a pregnant woman.

    The pregnant woman was said to be married to a cultist who disappeared when the hoodlums came looking for him his Igbosoro residence.

    Earlier, some suspected hoodlums had also struck at Fakale, Emuren and Igbosoro communities, leaving no fewer than seven persons dead in the aftermath of the raids.

    It was gathered that among the victims of the latest attack was the son of the Baale (community leader) of Fakale.

    The cultists, suspected to be members of the Black Axe confraternity, who were said to be celebrating their annual orientation known as 7/7 (July 7) shot and injured residents.

    Adejobi said:”On Wednesday, the cult group went to Emuren and killed the goat of other rival group for celebration and they went angrily to attack them back but they have their target. The command did not have the record of those killed, they are hurting themselves and they have their targets and at least to an extent we thank God they have not been killing.

    “But today (Friday) we have information that some of them are from that community, they are been invited into Emuren community. We have allegation that some traditional chiefs are harbouring and promoting them.We are going to spread the scope of our investigation to unravel this and if it is true, any community leader that is involved in promoting cultism will be dealt with accordingly or face the wrath of the law.

    He added: “We have 12 suspects from that angle. In Emuren alone we have arrested  three suspects, they said one of them is a son to a Chief, we are still investigating, we have another one arrested in other community, we went on all round operation, we have additional 12 just for today(Friday), making 17 suspects. In Emuren specifically which is the conflict theatre, we have three persons. We are working on them and we are going to subdue them, is not only in this place, all together in the State now we have 40.

    “In Ago-Iwoye we have 17 persons arrested and as I speak with you we have information that they are coming again with their new boss to attack Sagamu, the Divisional Police Officer of Sagamu is on the express now.They (the Police) have block all the entrances into Sagamu. They want to cause problem and unrest for us in Ogun State and we are going to tackle them and we are going to puncture their tyres.”

  • Policemen, thugs invade Oshiomhole’s aide’s home

    The Director of the Edo State Poverty Alleviation Agency, Mrs. Evelyn Igbafe, has said that her life is in danger, following the invasion of her residence in Benin City by suspected thugs.

    She complained that hoodlums were after because she had criticised the party primary thatb produced Godwin Obaseki as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Igbafe alleged that Governor Adams Oshiomhole was behind her travail.

    The governor’s aid, who expressed surprised that the security personnel attached to her were withdrawn the day before the unfortunate incident, said she received the shock of her life when when she noticed the presence of strange persons around her compound.

    Igbafe said:” I was just sitting inside the room. I saw people from my Close Circuit Camera Television (CCTV) moving round my compound. I said where are those one coming from and they said they were opening the gate for my friend. A retinue of thugs mixed with policemen.

    “I interrogated the policemen. They said the Commissioner of Police said the governor said that they should come and pick my official car. I said official car? I replied by saying that the official cars were purchased by the tax-payers money. And all the structures he is going about with were bought with tax-payers money and I can never give you the key to the car.”

    Igbafe  wondered why the government had to engage the services of thugs to harass her, adding the governor has been misled to believe that she was against his succession plan.

    She vowed to take a legal action against the governor and the flag bearer for an allegedly violating his fundamenrtal rights.

    Igbafe said: “I am taking a legal redress and I’m going to get a powerful lawyer that would stand for me. Then, he will know that the state is not calm for him. You could imagine a man who is preparing for an election, yet, he is looking for people to sack. Is he prepared for the election? He is not prepared for the election. Why are we deceiving ourselves?”

    She said she has no confidence in the APC reconciliation committee, although she said the chairman, Anselm Ojezua, is a good man.

    The Director -General of Godwin Obaseki Campaign Organization,  Osarodion Ogie said the rift is a family matter that will be resolved.

    He said the reconciliation committee will pacify aggrieved aspirants and chieftains and unite the party, ahead of the poll.

  • Policemen beat graduate to coma in Adamawa

    Policemen beat graduate to coma in Adamawa

    •Lawyer petitions IGP, demands compensation

    Policemen attached to the Doubeli police station in Jimeta, Adamawa State, have beaten a polytechnic graduate, Kabiru Ahmed, into a coma.

    Kabiru, who is on admission at the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, has been unconscious since he was beaten on May 16. The police are threatening to deal with his family and friends.

    He has been at the mercy of good Samaritans.

    But a lawyer, M.A. Attah, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, demanding justice for Kabiru.

    The petition, dated June 17 reads: “Our client’s father informed us that on May 16, his son was in front of their Falluja home, at about 10am, when three men, (one of them later identiied as Inspector Mohammed Bello), arrived on Keke NAPEP and sought to arrest some young men for allegedly indulging in hard drugs.

    “In a bid to curtail the commotion that ensued at the scene, our client, who is a member of the community vigilance group, inquired what the problem was and tried to explain to the officers that those arrested were responsible people, but he was arrested and detained.

    “The next day, at about 1am, some persons believed to be policemen came to our client’s father’s home and shouted that he should come and receive his son.

    “Afraid of the unknown, Mallam Ahmed refused to open the gate. When he later came out, they took Kabiru to Yola Specialist Hospital but he was referred him to the Federal Medical Centre.

    “Our client has been in coma since then and unable to move any part of his body. His father was informed by the hospital management that he has a problem with his spinal cord and might not walk again, except if hurriedly operated upon.”

    The petition added that Kabiru’s friends, six of them, were harassed and detained for raising the alarm on facebook.

    “It is our further belief that as a result of the aforementioned incident, on June 13, policemen from Doubeli police station ambushed six of our client’s friends – Ahmed Vokna, Nibras Mamman, Muhammed Sulei, Abduraham Nasir, Moh’d Kabir, and Umar Baba Ahmed, on their way from the hospital. They were arrested for posting Kabiru’s pictures on facebook.

    “Bail was denied them and they were forced to break their fast in the cell; it took important persons from the community to intervene before they were released on June 15, after having being cautioned and instructed to post a contrary statement on facebook and report to the station next day with proof of same.”

    Attah asked Arase to probe the brutality meted to Kabiru Ahmed, even as he sought justice for him.

    “We hereby demand the following on behalf of our client, within three days:

    • Arranged proper and adequate medical treatment, whether within or outside the country;
    • payment of damages in the like sum of N50 million;
    • to cause an investigation into the incident and bring culprits to justice.”

  • Youths attack policemen, electricity workers with machetes

    Three policemen and six employees of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) escaped being lynched at the weekend following attacks on them by angry youths in different parts of Yenagoa, the state capital.

    The youths were said to be angry that amidst darkness for many days in their various suburbs, the workers under the protection of the policemen stormed their areas to recover debts and disconnect wires.

    It was gathered that the Business Service Manager, PHED, Pere Alazigha was cut with machete and left in the pool of his blood by the youths.

    One of the workers identified as Christian Umegbewe ‎was reportedly pushed down from the ladder during the disconnection process.

    ‎The Chief Operating Officer, PHED, Engr. Kingsley Achife,‎ confirmed the development in a statement issued by the Protocol Officer, Corporate Communication, Sophilia Obire.

    He said that the security operatives attached to them were attacked by some residents of Epie community in Yenagoa.

    He said: “The attack, which was spearheaded by youths, resulted in injury to three policemen, the Business Service Manager, Pere Alazigha, a linesman, Christian Umegbewe and other staff members involved in the disconnection exercise.

    “While Alazigha was left with a machete cut on his body, Umegbewe was pushed down from the ladder by the youths during the disconnection process. Both of them were immediately hospitalized.‎”

    Achife condemned the violence but said the attitude of the youths would not deter the commitment of PHED to service paying customers.

    He said the company would continue to ensure that all customers pay for energy consumed appealing to members of the public to stop attacking workers willing to render quality service to them.

    Speaking on the development, the Head, Glory City Main Integrated Business Centre, Yenagoa, Mrs. Ngozi Manafa, said the vehicle that conveyed workers to the community was also damaged with its windscreen shattered.

    She said: “The Epie community has an outstanding debt record of over N60million and a current bill of over N2million to which they paid N70,000 and N50,000 respectively.‎

    “The incident was the second in a week. Two days before then, disconnection team of PHED was also beaten up at Airtel Road.

    “Only last month, some residents of Akemfa community attacked PHED staff on collection drive with the Business Service Manager, Mr. Festus Owi taken to the bush by some angry residents, a situation that led other PHED staff running for cover.

    “Several other attacks have also been witnessed in Koroma in Gbarain clan of Bayelsa state, where one PHED staff was held hostage and the pick-up van was also damaged.”

  • Two policemen feared killed

    Two policemen feared killed

    Two police constables were reportedly killed on Tuesday morning as 12 gunmen invaded Osara Police Station in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State.

    Accounts have it that the yet-to-be identified hoodlums invaded the police station about 2am, shooting sporadically and throwing the sleepy community into confusion.

    A source said the hoodlums, on gaining entry, went to the armoury and carted away arms and ammunition.

    He said they opened the cells and released detainees.

    It was learnt that two policemen, who tried to confront the gunmen, were gunned down, while two others that were injured, have been hospitalised at the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja.

    The hoodlums, who operated for over two hours, were said to have torched a vehicle parked at the station.

    A source living close to the station, said the attack might not be unconnected with the arrest of hoodlums on Monday, who allegedly confessed to be working for an unnamed ex-local government chairman.

    Police spokesman Willy Aya confirmed the incident.

    He said nobody died, adding that two injured policemen were taken to hospital, and are responding to treatment.

  • Gunmen kill four policemen in Rivers

    Unknown gunmen on Monday killed four policemen in Ahoada area of Rivers State.

    The policemen, who were attached to 30 Mobile Police Force (MPF) of the Nigerian Police, Yenagoa , Bayelsa State, were killed in the early hours of Monday at Okobie, Ahoada West local government area of Rivers State.

    The state police spokesman, Ahmad Muhammad, described the incident as “sad and senseless.”

    Mohammad said the slain policemen were on their way to Yenagoa when they were ambushed by the gunmen.

    He said “We are deeply pained by the senseless and barbaric killing of our colleagues attached to 30 PMF, Yenagoa, who were ambushed in the early hours of Monday at Okobie enroute Yenagoa.”

    “Today’s tragedy again highlighted the enormous calamity we face and witness in the course of our job. We put our lives on line everyday to confront crime and violence in our communities.”

    He added that the command will stop at nothing to bring the policemen killers to book.

  • Inadequate policemen

    Inadequate policemen

    •Decentralisation is the answer

    The assertion by Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase that the Nigerian Police as presently constituted cannot protect all Nigerian citizens is a self-appraisal that deserves attention. The IGP spoke at a public forum at the University of Jos, on the topic: “Police and Public Partnership in Prevention and Control of Violent Crime and Conflicts in Nigeria”.

    We have severally promoted the need for a new approach to the increasing challenges of policing in Nigeria. Indeed, we are surprised that despite the grave security challenges facing our country, and the glaring inadequacy of the federal police, there is still no agreement to decentralise policing, as applicable in other federations.

    Yet, all across the country, it is the state governments that now provide most of the infrastructure needs for police operations. Evidently, every other day, the IGP visits one state or another to commission vehicles, communication equipment, or police offices, built and donated by the state governments to the police. In many states also, you have several variants of agencies that approximate to either a traffic police, environmental police or revenue police. Again, there is a proliferation of private guards or policemen, engaged in policing, for those that hire them.

    As now confirmed by the police helmsman, the present police as constituted, is obviously not enough to secure our country. As noted by the IGP: “The organisational structure of the force consists of the Force Headquarters, 12 zonal commands, and 37 state commands, including the Federal Capital Territory”. He further said: “Nigeria Police Force’s staff strength by 31st December 2015 was 305,000. This is inclusive of 1,331 Cadets currently on training at the Police Academy, Kano, as well as specialist branches and civilian supportive staff”.

    The fundamental challenge no doubt is inadequate manpower, and understandably the Federal Government does not have the resources to employ enough personnel to meet standard police-population ratio. This much was confirmed by the IGP when he asserted: “The work of the police in any society is a very difficult, complex and dangerous vocation. The expectations of members of the public in Nigeria are many and varied and exceed the resources and support given to the police.”Understandably, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is making efforts to recruit additional 10,000 personnel.

    But, we are however worried that despite the president’s effort, the gap in our country is still far behind the need, as Lagos State, with its ever-growing population, could need that much addition, all by itself. What is therefore needed, is to allow states and even local governments that can afford it, to have their own police. Indeed, universities and specialised institutions elsewhere have their own police. So, what we need are laws, firm guidelines, rules and regulation, providing for the roles and responsibilities of the different cadres of police. That would also include the types of arms and ammunition available to them.

    With low manpower, the infrastructure is yet inadequate. Take the police stations across the country for example; most of them are completely deprecate. In fact, it is common practice to see Divisional Police Offices and Area Commands use monies extorted from detainees and accused persons to maintain the stations. It is also common to hear those who run or call the police for emergency services being asked to buy fuel for the vehicles or the generator that was bought privately by the police. Also, other essential needs like borehole, desks and chairs and even stationary are not provided by the authorities.

    In our view, it is unrealistic to expect the police as presently structured and constituted, to live up to the high expectations of Nigerians.  The earlier we faced reality by decentralising the force, the better.

  • No more arms for drunk policemen

    No more arms for drunk policemen

    No avoid the killing of people through accidental discharges, policemen, who abuse alcohol and drugs, will no longer be given arms.

    The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2, Bala Hassan, made this known yesterday at the Police College, Ikeja, during the launch of medical kits for urine drug test, and mass screening for hypertension and diabetes.

    He said such officers would be rehabilitated before entrusting them with the duty of protecting lives and properties.

    “These officers and men need to be very healthy, fit and safe in order to be able to carry out these statutory duties,” he said.

    Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of Medical Dr Modupe Obembe said every police officer was expected to be physically, mentally, emotionally and socially fit.

    Dr Obembe warned policemen to avoid self medication; to be faithful to their partners and avoid unprotected sex; have regular exercise, among others.