The Nation Newspaper

Tag: policemen

  • Gunmen kill two policemen in fresh Kano attack

    Gunmen on Tuesday killed two policemen at Kwana Hudu in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State, barely nine hours after they murdered two and injured another.

    An eye witness told the News Agency of Nigeria in Kano that the incident occurred around 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

    According to the witness, the gunmen attacked a police check-point in the area and killed their victims.

    However, the Public Relations Officer of the state Police command, ASP Magaji Majiya, told NAN that security agencies were trailing the gunmen in the affected areas with a view to apprehending them.

    “What happened at Kwana Hudu in Nasarawa Local Government Area was not an attack, but it was a search carried out by our men, which is yielding positive result,’’ said the spokesman.

     

  • Soldier, policemen killed in Kano, Yobe Boko Haram attacks

    A soldier and two policemen were yesterday killed by suspected Boko Haram gunmen in Yobe and Kano states.

    Another policeman was injured in Kano in an ambush on a security patrol vehicle.

    The soldier was reportedly killed in an attack at Ngelzarma, a satellite town on the Kano-Maiduguri highway, about 45 kilometres West of Damaturu, the Yobe State capital.

    Police Commissioner Sanusi Rufai said a policeman was injured in the attack.

    It was learnt that a soldier was still missing as at the time of filing this report yesterday.

    Rufai said: “There was an ambush, not an attack. A Joint Task Force (JTF) patrol vehicle was ambushed by some gunmen, suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect, on the road in Ngelzarma. A soldier was killed and a policeman sustained injuries.”

    Another account, however, said some soldiers were attacked at a food joint by the suspected Boko Haram gunmen on four motorcycles.

    The gunmen reportedly threw Improvised Explosive Devises (IEDs) and petrol bombs, killing a soldier and injuring two others, when the JTF patrol vehicles veered off the road at 8.30pm on Monday.

    There was no official confirmation on the destruction in the town.

    But an eyewitness, simply identified as Hamisu, alleged that 19 shops and a house belonging to a 60-year-old farmer were set ablaze by angry soldiers after the attackers had fled.

    It was gathered that many residents, who were caught in the attack, slept in nearby bushes or villages while others fled the town to neighbouring Damaturu and Potiskum.

    In Kano, the gunmen reportedly ambushed the police patrol team at Ungwar Uku Quarters in the state capital.

    It was gathered that the gunmen, who were said to be on motorbike, opened fire on the patrol team.

    The attack coincided with the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration celebrated across Nigeria.

    As at press time yesterday, no arrest had been made.

    But the area was condoned off by men of the Joint Task Force (JTF) as the police combed the area for possible suspects.

    Police spokesman Magaji Majiya, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), confirmed the death of the two policemen.

    He said the third policeman was receiving treatment for gunshot wounds.

    Yesterday’s attack came on the heels of a similar attack on Monday; two policemen were killed and two civilians were injured.

     

  • Gunmen kill two policemen in Kano

    … Injure one

    Gunmen again struck in Kano on Tuesday killing two policemen and injuring one at Yan’awaki, Unguwa Uku area of the city, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

    NAN recalls that gunmen also killed two policemen and injured two other civilians on Monday in Kano.

    An eye witness, who wants to remain anonymous, told NAN in Kano on Tuesday that the latest incident happened at about 8:20 am.

    According to the witness, the policemen were in their patrol vehicle when the gunmen laid an ambush on them, killing two of them and injuring one.

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state command, Mr. Magaji Majiya, confirmed the incident.

    He said the incident happened at about 8:00 am on Tuesday when the gunmen laid an ambush on the police vehicle at Yan’awaki, Unguwa Uku.

    He said security operatives had cordoned off the area while investigation had also commenced into the matter.

     

  • 32 policemen, 270 others murdered in Lagos

    32 policemen, 270 others murdered in Lagos

    The police released yesterday grim statistics of the crime rate in Lagos in the last one year.

    No fewer than 270 people were murdered and 32 policemen killed in gun battles with armed robbers in the nation’s commercial capital.

    Lagos State Police Commissioner Umar Manko reeled off the scary figures at the sixth Town Hall meeting on security at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island.

    The Lagos State government has spent N8.7 billion to equip the police through its Security Trust Fund.

    Manko spoke before Governor Babatunde Fashola and members of his executive, legislators, traditional rulers and members of the Fund.

    The figure of 32 policemen killed represents an increase of 13 over the 19 killed in gun battles with robbers last year.

    But the police have the upper hand in the battles.

    The statistics revealed that between November 1 and October 31, policemen killed 140 suspects. This, however, represents a shortfall in the number of suspects killed by the police between November 2010 and October last year, which stood at 164.

    Besides, there are more robbery cases – 123 incidents were recorded in the last 11 months as against 61 recorded the previous year.

    The police arrested 569 robbery suspects in 11 months. The figure is higher than the 522 of the previous year. More arms were recovered this year (371 arms) than last year’s 328.

    Armed robbers have been using more sophisticated ammunition as 26, 058 of them were recovered in the last 11 months as against 3,553 ammunition recovered the previous year.

    The statistics showed that fewer vehicles were recovered from robbers this year (954 vehicles) as against1, 187 recovered the previous year.

    Furthermore, 1,263 vehicles were stolen in Lagos this year and 1,448 last year.

    The police foiled 418 armed robbery cases this year; 426 cases were foiled last year.

    “The new trend in Lagos State is the vandalisation and attack on ATM, car jerking and the menace of commercial motorcycle operators. The command has risen up to the challenge by evolving new strategies to combat the menace but dearth of funds and logistics continue to hamper our efforts,” he said.

    Fashola decried the challenge of equipping “and resourcing our security agencies in the face of the insufficient support from the Federal Government which has continued till this day” .

    He said his administration through the Security Trust Fund (STF), has provided logistics valued at N8.7 billion for the police and other security agencies to match the increasing wave and technique of crime in the state.

     

  • Kidnappers kill two policemen, abduct businessman

    Two policemen were on Friday evening killed by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers along Mission Road in Benin City.

    The two policemen were orderly to a business tycoon, Mr. Uyi Oloton popularly known as “Uyi Technical.”

    Another policeman was said to have been injured in the attack.

    Witnesses said the gunmen abducted “Uyi Technical’ after killing the policemen at his office along Mission Road.

    Uyi Technical is a major distributor of electronics, generator and Dana motors.

    An Estate Valuer, Dan Odiete was on Wednesday abducted along Akpakpava road by kidnappers operating in two jeeps.

    A police orderly attached to Odiete and a four- year old girl were killed by the kidnappers.

    State Police spokesman, DSP Anthony Airhuoyo, said he was yet to get details of the incident.

     

  • Gunmen kill three policemen in Yobe

    Gunmen kill three policemen in Yobe

    Gunmen on Friday attacked the Divisional Police Station in Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State and killed three policemen.

    The spokesman of the Joint Task Force security outfit in Yobe, Lt. Eli Lazarus, confirmed the killings in a statement in Damaturu.

    The statement said, “in the early hours of today, gunmen attacked the Divisional Police Station at Buni Yadi and three policemen were killed with some arms carted away.”

    He said the JTF drafted its personnel to the area to beef up security to forestall further attacks in the area.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Fika, Gashua and Buni Yadi, the headquarters of Fika, Bade and Gujba local government councils, respectively, had in the week suffered attacks from gunmen.

     

  • Four policemen bag 25- year sentence for robbery

    A Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, on Thursday sentenced four policemen and an accomplice to 25 years imprisonment each for robbery.

    Justice Joseph Oyewole convicted Bestman Dennar (52), Musa Mohammed (45), Peter Enidiok (53), Godwin Williams (44) and Emmanuel Ajogbor (48) on one count of conspiracy to commit robbery.

    The sentence will run concurrently, beginning from March 3, 2005 when they were first remanded in prison custody.

    The judge said: “I hold that sufficient facts exist beyond reasonable doubt upon which the court could infer conspiracy in the present circumstances and hold all the defendants guilty accordingly.

    “I therefore find each of the defendants guilty of conspiracy as charged in Count 1.

    “In conclusion, I hold in respect of Count 1 that the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the defendants are guilty of the offence of conspiracy to commit robbery contrary to Section 403 (A) of the Criminal Code.

    “I hereby convict each of them accordingly.

    “I further hold that the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the defendants are guilty of the offence of robbery simpliciter contrary to Section 402 (1) of the Criminal Code and I hereby convict them accordingly.”

    The defendants were said to have conspired together to commit robbery on November 17, 2002 along Ikorodu and Ijebu-Ode Expressway, Ikorodu, Lagos.

    The prosecution said they robbed a lorry loaded with George and Lace textile materials.

    Justice Oyewole said the fourth defendant (Williams), though not physically at the crime scene, was part of the planning, execution and disposal of the robbery proceeds.

    “He had a common intention with the others who were physically present,” he said.

    After listening to the defendants’ lawyers’ plea to temper justice with mercy (alucutus), Justice Oyewole said the fact they were policemen was an “aggravating factor” to impose the maximum penalty.

    He rejected the request that the sentence be mitigated as the defendants have been in prison for about 10 years.

    “I’ve duly considered the alucutus. However, four of five defendants are policemen trained to protect the public and not otherwise.

    “This in itself is an aggravating factor in handing out the sentence.

    “The image of the police should not be dented to the extent that members of the public will begin to see police checkpoints as armed robbers’ locations,” he said.

     

  • Four policemen collapse at parade

    Four policemen yesterday collapsed at the Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin-City, during the pull-out parade of the Edo State Commissioner of Police (CP), Olayinka Balogun.

    The policemen were participating in the parade when they slumped.

    They were attended to and revived by the medical police personnel.

    Balogun, who clocked 60 today, bowed out at the colourful parade after 30 years of service and attaining the mandatory retirement age.

    He said he joined the Nigeria Police with the aim of serving the country and humanity.

    Balogun noted that he served in every sphere of the service and performed what was expected of him.

    He said there was need for the people to assist the police in fighting crime.

    According to him, “we have reduced crime to the barest minimum. Armed robberies and kidnappings have been tackled.”

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, said crime rate has reduced in the state since the assumption of Balogun as the police boss.

    He said the outgoing CP’s devotion to duty was unequalled and unparalleled.

     

  • Robbers kill five policemen, two others in Ogun

    Robbers kill five policemen, two others in Ogun

    Five policemen and two others were killed on Sunday by a 15-man gang in two robbery incidents in Ogun State.

    Many others were critically injured.

    It was learnt that the hoodlums attacked a filling station in Ibafo around 8.30pm, dressed in police uniforms.

    They killed two policemen, who challenged them. A 12-year-old boy hawking sachet water, simply identified as Mubarak, was hit by a stray bullet.

    Sources said he died immediately.

    It was learnt that the robbers stole an undisclosed amount of money from the filling station.

    At about 2.30am, the gang invaded the Vicarage of the Apostolic Church at Ijemo-Agbadu in Abeokuta, the state capital.

    It was gathered that members of the gang laid ambush for the Police Quick Response Squad (QRS) which was responding to the residents’ distress call, killing the driver of the patrol vehicle and two police inspectors.

    Other members of the police team were injured.

    Ogun police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said: “The gang snatched a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) and attacked a hotel on Abiola Way before heading for the Apostolic Church Vicarage at Ijemo Agbadu, where they killed three policemen and injured two others.

    “The robbers positioned themselves at vantage points and the rescue team ran into their barricade. Two of our officers died instantly while the third died on the way to the hospital. The injured are being attended to at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Idi-Aba, Abeokuta.”

    Adejobi said a suspect has been arrested.

  • 140 Nigeria policemen in Mogadishu for peace keeping

    140 Nigeria policemen in Mogadishu for peace keeping

    ONE hundred and forty officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force have arrived in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia to participate in the ongoing AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) peacekeeping operations..

    A statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Addis Ababa by the Peace and Security Department of the AU Commission yesterday, said that the Formed Police Unit (FPU) from Nigeria would join other unit from Uganda who were already in Mogadishu.

    Mr Boubacar Diarra, the Special Representative of the AU Chairperson for Somalia , said in a statement that the arrival of the second AMISOM Formed Police Unit was a clear demonstration of the AU’s commitment to support Somalia in its endeavour to improve the security situation in the country especially in the liberated areas.