The Nation Newspaper

Tag: robbery

  • Police parade former DSS personnel for ‘kidnapping, robbery’

    Police parade former DSS personnel for ‘kidnapping, robbery’

    The police in Abuja yesterday paraded a former personnel of the Department of State Service (DSS), and ten others, for alleged kidnapping and robbery.

    The suspects were arrested after they kidnapped Managing Director of Nigeria Paper Mills, Jebba and Chairman, Gateway Insurance, Alhaji Isa Salami.

    The victim was rescued from the kidnappers’ hideout, a two-bedroom apartment in the remote side of Suleja, Niger State.

    Those paraded are Kelvin Emeka, Ndubushi Prince Uzor, Abdulraheed Maigari, Sunday Travnor, Zayor Alfred, Avah Joseph, Gabriel Friday, Rajab Baba Ishiaka, Ali Sani, Nuhu Sule and Mohammed Abubakar.

    Items recovered from them included one AK 47 rifle, three AK 47 magazines, 90 rounds of 7.62 live ammunition, two pistols, 14 rounds of 9mm live ammunition and two bedroom flats at different locations in Suleja.

    The police said the former DSS personnel was dismissed for his alleged involvement in a N310 million foreign exchange scandal, belonging to the Senate President Bukola Saraki.

    Force spokesman Jimoh Moshood said operatives of IGP’s Intelligence Response team, together with the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of FCT Police Command, swung into action following Salami’s kidnap.

    “Kelvin Eemeka, 28, is the overall gang leader. He was earlier charged to Gwagwalada High Court in October 2016, with three others, for kidnapping and robbery. They were released in August, less than eight weeks after their arraignment.

    “Ndubisi Prince Ozor, the second-in-command, was also charged for robbery in November 2016 and was released in January.

    “Abdulrasheed Maigari, 35, native of Donga council in Taraba State, a 2006 Political Science graduate of Bayero University, Kano,  recruited into DSS as a Graduate Officer, dismissed and charged to court for stealing  N310 million with some dismissed Army officers in Abuja.

    “He was also released and he immediately joined the gang. He rose to become the coordinator and rented the two houses where victims are kept,” Moshood said.

    Others paraded are Sunday Tyavnor, the arms dealer who sold the AK 47 Rifle for N470,000 and the two pistols for N60,000 each. He was arrested in Nasarawa State.

    “Mohammed Abubakar, 21, native of Mokwa council in Niger State, supplier of pre-registered sim cards to the kidnappers”.

    Other members of the gang were guards responsible for guarding and securing victims from escaping.

    Moshood said the suspects will be prosecuted after investigation.

  • Court remands two for robbery in Ibadan

    An Oyo State Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Iyaganku, Ibadan, on Monday remanded two men, Uba Opara, 35; and Tunde Adepoju, 27; in prison for alleged armed robbery.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Kehinde Durosaro – Tijani, said the accused should be remanded in Agodi Prisons and the case file sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.

    Durosaro-Tijani adjourned the case till May 22.

    The accused, whose addresses were not given, are facing a two -count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery.

    Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Adewale Amos, had told the court that the accused committed the offences with others still at large on Jan.  14, at about 2 .p.m.  at Taye Soyege Street, New Bodija, Ibadan.

    Amos said the accused, who were armed with a double barrel gun and a cutlass, robbed one Jekayinfa Olayinka of his Toyota Camry car valued at N11.5 million.

    “They were, however caught by some policemen on duty,’’ he added.

    The offences, he said,  contravened Sections  1 (1) (2) (a) and 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act Cap RII,Vol. 14,  Laws of the Republic of Nigeria,  2004.

     

  • RRS smashes highway robbery syndicate

    RRS smashes highway robbery syndicate

    Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives have smashed a 12-man syndicate which specialises in hijacking trucks and tankers.

    The gang was arrested following its botched attempt to kill an escort, Tunji Ajayi, aboard a tanker laden with 45,000 litres of diesel on February 1.

    It was alleged that the gang hijacked a truck conveying 410 bags of Dangote flour, which was diverted last week to Sagamu in Ogun State and sold to Rabiu Bello, who is now in police custody.

    A statement by RRS yesterday said the syndicate allegedly contracted Gbenga Akinboyewa, 33, and Obinna Ofunue, 29, to work with the truck driver, whose name was simply given as Amara, to kill Ajayi.

    The trio were said to have hit the escort, who works for an oil firm, on the head with hammer, threw him inside a ditch, and diverted the diesel tanker marked ENU751XH.

    The hired killers were said to have been promised N800, 000 for the job.

    According to RRS, the tanker was loaded at Optima Depot in Koko, Warri, Delta State but was hijacked in Ondo State on its way to Sango in Ogun State.

    Also in RRS net are Sadiku Ganiu, Oluchukwu Onyema and Gbenga Aliyu.

    According to the RRS, the syndicate leader, Chibueze Nnamdi, a building material dealer in Ore, Ondo State, identified others as Edwin Ozor and Shedrack.

    It quoted Nnamdi as saying: “I invited Akinboyewa into the deal. I briefed him and he in turn invited Ofunue. The instruction we gave them was to tie the hands and legs of the escort and hide him somewhere so that within an hour, we would have closed the deal before he could set himself free. I didn’t say they should kill him. Biggy (Ozor) and I raised N800,000 to settle the boys, lodge them in a hotel, feed them and take care of other emergencies in the course of the job. We promised Akinbiyewa N500, 000 for his own aspect of the job.

    “When we were in control of the truck, we drove to Ijebu Ode, where we discharged 2,800litres. We proceeded to Lagos and offloaded 19,200 litres in one station, 14,000 litres in another and 8,400 litres in the last filling station.”

    Besides, 10 others, it was learnt, have been caught in Ondo, Edo, Lagos and Ogun states for receiving stolen items from the hijackers.

    The complainant, Mrs Nafisat Osinowo, according to RRS, said the diesel was to be delivered at her firm in Sango.

    She said: “Our representative escorting the truck called me in the afternoon when they got to Benin that the tyre of the truck was not good. He called again at 11pm that the truck has been parked in Ore.

    “It is our tradition not to travel at night. Our discussion was that they proceed on the journey at 5am the next day. That was the last time we spoke. Efforts to get him the following day proved abortive until few days later when we were called that he was in intensive care unit at the hospital”.

    Police spokesperson Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP), said the suspects would be charged after investigation.

    The suspects, she said, had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, (SCID) Panti.

  • Two to die by hanging for robbery

    Two to die by hanging for robbery

    An Osun State High Court, sitting in Iwo, yesterday sentenced two armed robbers, Sunday Ishaih and Akeem Lamidi, to death by hanging.
    They were arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy to commit robbery and armed robbery.
    On May 2, 2012, a gang of four robbers was said to have invaded the home of Mrs. Aladete at Asabi Okin, Iwo Local Government. They dug a hole in the wall into her sitting room.
    The victim was beaten and threatened with guns. Her official vehicle was taken away but two of the robbers were arrested at Ibafo while trying to sell the car.
    When the convicts were first arraigned on May 21, 2014, and the charge read to them, they pleaded not guilty.
    Prosecuting Counsel from the Ministry of Justice, Bamidele Salawu (Principal State Counsel), called three witnesses and tendered some exhibits which were admitted without any objection.
    Defence counsel C.N.N. Okwusidi pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.
    Justice Moshood Adeigbe found them guilty on the two-count charge and sentenced them to death by hanging.

  • Court remands teenager in prison for ‘robbery’

    An Asaba Magistrates’ Court in Delta State has ordered the remand of a teenager (name withheld) at the Ogwashi-Uku Prison for alleged robbery.

    The accused is facing one-count charge of robbery.

    The Magistrate, Mrs. Okonkwo Aknume, who gave the order, adjourned the case till February 27.

    The prosecutor, Mr. Ali Samson, told the court the accused allegedly committed the offence on December 5 at Agbagana Street, Jarret, Asaba.

    He said the accused allegedly robbed Mr. Chibiuke Nnwite of his Techno phone, wallet and N34,000 while armed with an iron rod.

    The prosecutor said the offence contravened sections 6(b) and 2(a) of the Robbery and Fire Arms (Special Provision) Act Cap R11 Vol 14 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2006.

    The plea of the accused was not taken.

  •  Two suspects arrested over alleged robbery of bishop

    The Nasarawa State Police command has arrested two men, Mohammed Abdullahi and Abdullahi Ibrahim, for allegedly robbing the Anglican Bishop of Nasarawa Diocese, Rev. Miller Maza.

    Maza was robbed alongside 17 other clergymen on JAN. 27.

    The Spokesman of the command, Mr Kennedy Idirisu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lafia that the suspects were arrested at a military check along the Keffi-Gitata highway.

    He said the suspects were arrested while driving a Toyota Highlander jeep belonging to the bishop.

    Kennedy said that the suspects and four others still at large had on Jan. 27 robbed the bishop and other clergymen at about 3 a.m. at Star Guest House in New Karu, Nasarawa State where they lodged.

    He said the suspected armed robbers dispossessed the clergymen of their valuables, including cash, mobile phones and the vehicle.

    The spokesman said that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects were taking the vehicle to Kaduna State for sale before luck ran out on them.

    According to Idrisu, the suspects have confessed to the crime and have given useful information to the police regarding their operations along the Mararaba-Karu highway.

    He said that the police were on the trail of the fleeing suspects, noting that the suspects would soon be prosecuted.

    Idrisu also disclosed that one of the suspects had been arrested for a similar crime last year and was granted bail by a court

  • Soldiers nab two robbery suspects in Aba

    Soldiers of the 14 Brigade, Ohafia, Abia State, have arrested two suspected robbers accused of terrorising motorists on the Opobo-Azumini highway.

    It was gathered that the robbery suspects named Victor John and Nsikak Johnson were nabbed by soldiers at a checkpoint along Azumini Road and handed them over to the Abia State Police command.

    Abia State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Leye Oyebade confirmed the handover of the suspects to the police.

    Oyebade, said, “The robust synergy of the Abia State Police Command with other sister agencies paid off when officers of the Nigerian Army, 14 Brigade, Ohafia, on checkpoint at Azumini Road in Ukwa East, arrested the suspects and handed over to the operatives of the anti-kidnapping section of the State Criminal and Intelligence Department. They confessed to the crime and effort is being intensified to arrest other members of their gang.”

    The CP added that the suspects are among notorious criminals who have been robbing motorists along Azumini highway and listed items recovered from them to include a locally made single-barrel pistol, two live cartridges and a small bag.

  • Man to die by hanging for robbery

    Man to die by hanging for robbery

    A High Court in Abeokuta yesterday sentenced a man, Kola Akanji, to death by hanging for armed robbery.
    Akanji, whose address was not given, was found guilty of a two-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery.
    Justice Abiodun Akinyemi said the court was convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the accused committed the offence.
    “According to Section 1(2) (a&b) and 6(b) of the Act, the punishment is death and the court has no discretion in the matter.
    He held that the evidence presented by the prosecution was tenable and, therefore, sentenced the accused to death by hanging.
    The convict had been on trial since December 2010, when he was arrested and charged for robbing Fashola Moses of his motorcycle, phone and money.
    The accused was said to have injured Moses with a bottle during the robbery, which took place in Onigbedu area in Yewa North Local Government.
    The prosecutor, Mrs O.S. Ogunbode, told the court that the convict committed the offence on December 16, 2010 at 7pm at Onigbedu.
    According to her, the convict and two others boarded the victim’s motorcycle at Ijaka Isale in Yewa North and told him they were going to Ishaga Olowu.
    “On their way, the accused switched off the ignition. When the complainant came down to check what the problem was, the accused hit him on his head with a bottle.
    “Immediately, the convict and two others took the motorcycle, phone, money and rode away. Unfortunately for them, they had an accident on their way, they abandoned the motorcycle and fled into the bush.
    “The complaint recovered and pursued them with the help of another cyclist. They found his motorcycle on the scene of the accident.
    “They went to the nearest village where the accident occurred and narrated what happened to the villagers.
    “The villagers followed them to search the bush and caught the accused, while his accomplice escaped,” she said.

  • Two robbery suspects held for operating on rail lines

    Two robbery suspects held for operating on rail lines

    The Lagos State Police Command has arrested two persons for terrorising people along railway lines in Mushin and Agege, Lagos.
    The command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP), told reporters in her office that the suspects were arrested on Friday, while attempting to rob some persons along the railway lines.
    She said the gang always attacked people along the railway line by Moshalasi-Alhaja area of the state.
    “At about 4.15 a.m., the command received a distress call from a resident alleging that armed men were terrorising inhabitants along the railway line by Moshalasi in Agege.
    “The patrol team was mobilised to the scene. Immediately the miscreants sighted the policemen, they opened fire on them, while the police responded, leading to the arrest of two of the suspected armed robbers,’’ Badmos said.
    “The suspects had robbed various victims at gun point but with the swift response of the police operatives, some stolen items were recovered and taken into custody as exhibits.
    “A cut to size locally-made double barrel, six rounds of ammunition, 11 handsets of different brands, laptops, two television sets and wraps of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered from the suspects, ‘’ she added.
    Badmos said efforts were on to arrest other gang members, who are at large, adding that those arrested had confessed to the crime.
    “The two suspects with us have told the police their modus operandi, saying that they rob and dispossess victims of their property, which they usually sell.
    “As I brief you, we have transferred the suspects to the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for further investigation, ’’

  • Jungle justice: Mob set robbery suspect ablaze in Aba

    A yet-to-be identified young man in his late twenties have reportedly died after a mob beat him to pulp before setting him ablaze in Aba, Abia State.

     The incident, Nation gathered happened at Amucha off Ngwa road, one of the ever busy roads in Aba South Local Government Area.

     A source at Amucha that gave her name as Chidinma said that the suspected robber had came to the area to rob, but the residents of the yard they entered resisted and over powered the gang.

     Chidinma said that while other members of the gang escaped with injuries inflicted on their bodies, the suspect was however unlucky as the occupants of the residence held him firmly and raised alarm which attracted the presence of other members of the area.

     She said that the mob, apparently angry over the spate of robbery and other violence in the area descended heavily him with dangerous weapons and inflicted bodily injuries on him.

     She said that the crowd after beating the suspect to pulp later set his body ablaze with used tyres and other materials that they (mob) could lay their hands on.

     Another source within the area told our correspondent that the incident forced a lot of people to scamper for safety to avoid an anticipated police arrest.

     Another respondent that gave his name as Godwin lamented the rate of robbery incidents at Ngwa road especially Umuogele area where robbers come to rob the residents and go home freely without being confronted by the police and other security agencies.

     Investigation by our correspondent reveal that the deplorable nature of roads leading to Amucha and Umuogele including some parts of Ohanku and Ngwa has made the terrain to be impassible using cars which gives the robbers and hoodlums the leeway to operate without the fears of being apprehended or confronted by security agencies in Aba.

     The residents of Ngwa road, however appealed to the Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu led administration to come to their rescue by fixing the Ohanku road and adjourning roads and streets.

     They said that if the state government fixes their roads, it would make the people to sleep with their two eyes closed and also help police and other security agencies to have access their area and respond to distress calls promptly.

     The State Police Spokesman, ASP Ogbonnaya Nta could not be reached for comments as at the time of filing this report as his phone numbers were not reachable.