The Nation Newspaper

Tag: robbery

  • Pastor remanded in prison for ‘rape, robbery’

    An Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos yesterday ordered one Korede Olamide, 37, a pastor, to be remanded in prison custody for allegedly raping and robbing a woman.

    Korede is also accused of unlawfully detaining the victim and putting a hard substance, known as ‘Vilium 5’ in her drink, making her to sleep till the next day.

    He was arraigned before Mrs O. Sule-Amzat on a six-count of unlawful detention, maliciously administering poison, rape, causing a person to engage in sexual intercourse, provoking breach of peace and stealing.

    The Prosecutor, Sgt. Lucky Ihiehie, told the court that the accused committed the crime on Aug. 20 at Popoola Guest House, Alapere-Ketu, near Lagos.

    He explained that the victim met the accused some time ago and told her that he was a pastor, giving her some messages about herself.

    “The accused told her some of her problems and the barriers she was facing in life, saying that he would help solve her problems with prayers.

    “The accused, after their meeting the first time, followed her up with phone calls and asking her the kind of dreams she has been having of late.

    “He asked her to buy items like Bible, coconut, honey, salt and then told her to meet him for a spiritual bath at an undisclosed address.

    “The last incident was when the accused told her to buy a sponge, drink ginger and water before coming to meet him at Popoola Guest House, Alapere- Ketu in Lagos State, where the incident happened.

    “He gave her a liquid substance in a cup to drink and she passed out and found herself alone the next day with her money gone.”

    Ihiehie said that during police investigation, a video of the illicit act was found on the phone of the accused with other previous videos of similar treatment of victims.

    The accused, however, pleaded guilty to unlawful detention, maliciously administering poison, rape and stealing but denied causing a person to engage in sexual intercourse, provoking breach of peace.

    Sule-Amzat adjourned the case till Oct. 6 for sentencing and for bail of the accused on the fourth and sixth counts.

  • Fleeing robbery suspect dies in road crash

    Fleeing robbery suspect dies in road crash

    An armed robbery suspect was at the weekend knocked down by a vehicle at Ijanikin, Lagos while fleeing from policemen.

    The suspect was said to have died on the spot. One of his alleged accomplices, Bassey Eyo, 22, was arrested by policemen attached to Ijanikin Division.

    It was gathered that the incident occurred around 9:30pm by Ojo Lowo Bus Stop on Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

    The police allegedly caught the suspected armed robbers robbing road users but while their accomplices escaped, Eyo and the deceased were not that fortunate.

    Police spokesperson Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP), said the corpse has been deposited at the mortuary.

  • I wanted to save my sick daughter, says robbery, rape suspect

    I wanted to save my sick daughter, says robbery, rape suspect

    A father of two arrested for allegedly luring women through social media to rob and rape them has said he took to the act to raise money for his daughter’s treatment.

    The suspect, Oluwole Falushe, was arrested by operatives of the FESTAC Police Division on Monday while attempting to rob, rape another victim.

    Falushe, who opened a Facebook account, using a fake name, Nifemi Ajanaku, has allegedly lured his victims to hotels in Lagos only to drug, rape and steal their valuables.

    He was exposed by a victim, who met him through her cousin.

    Although the suspect denied raping the women, he said he lured them to the hotel so that he can steal their valuables, sell them and send the money to Ilesha where his daughter was being treated.

    “I do not rape them. I don’t also drug them. We usually have sex but I steal their things and run. I was desperate in need of money to send to my wife so that one of my daughters who is sick can be treated.

    “It is not true that I drugged anybody. I invited Mercy’s sister to Oprah Hotel in FESTAC because Mercy, who was my friend on Facebook said she was out of town. We have been friends for over a year. And so, when I told her I wanted a lady to have good time with, she told me she went for a burial in Edo State but she sent her cousin’s number.

    “So, I called her and she agreed to come on the condition that I will pay her N30,000 after everything. I stay in Egbeda but I took her to FESTAC. When she came, we had fun and then I stole her two phones and wristwatch. I sold one of the phones N20,000 and sent the money to my wife in Osun State for my daughter’s treatment.

    “I also collected her Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card and asked her to give me her pin that I was a banker and wanted to transfer money to her, which she did. But I did not collect any money from her account because she only had N1, 500 in the account,” he claimed.

    The victim’s cousin, Mercy Nwang, 21, said the suspect invited her for his birthday party but since she was not around, she asked her cousin to go.

    “I have known him for over a year on Facebook but I have never honoured his invitation. He claimed to be a bank manager at Festac. That day he said it was his birthday and since I was not around, I told him my cousin will attend.

    “But I was surprised after my cousin came back and narrated that she was drugged and raped by him and that he stole her phones and ATM card. He only left her with N50, which could not even take her back to Iyana-Ipaja where she came from to attend the supposed party.

    “I then searched on Facebook but discovered that he has blocked me. My cousin signed in with her account and we saw that we have mutual friends, one of them is my good friend, Vivian, who agreed to help us after I told her what happened. She started chatting with him and he planned to do the same thing to her. He invited her but she now alerted the police and he was arrested at the Zenith Bank where he claimed he was working.”

    The victim (name withheld), who said she woke up to discover that she has been raped, stated that she became unconscious after he offered her a non-alcoholic beverage.

    She said he begged for forgiveness that same night and told her that they should go to the restaurant to eat, only for him to leave her there in the guise of going upstairs to speak with his manager.

    “I was still at the restaurant waiting when the receptionist brought my food. But I told her to take it to the room that I want to eat there. She refused that she won’t go to the room unless I followed her. Since I had the key to Room 103 with me, I followed her only to see the room open and my phones and everything gone. He took everything and withdrew the N172, 000 I had in my account,” she claimed.

  • Court remands LASU prof’s driver, others in prison for robbery

    Court remands LASU prof’s driver, others in prison for robbery

    olalekan Adelaja, a 33-year-old driver  of Computer Science teacher at the Lagos State University (LASU), Prof Benjamin Aribisala, has been remanded in prison custody for allegedly leading his gang to rob his employer.

    Adelaja, alongside his accomplice, Onouwari Daniel and Ifeanyi Odimba, will remain in Kirikiri prison pending release of Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) advice.

    The defendants were arrested by the police last year over the offence and charged on a one-count offence before an Ikeja Magistrate Court on July 23, 2015 presided by Magistrate Bola Osunsanmi.

    Yesterday, Prosecuting Inspector Simeon Imhonwa told the magistrate that the police have filed an application before the court seeking for the remand of the defendants pending the release of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) advice.

    Magistrate Osunsanmi adjourned the matter till October 24.

  • RRS arrests vulcaniser, three others for ‘robbery’

    RRS arrests vulcaniser, three others for ‘robbery’

    Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives have arrested a vulcaniser along with three other suspected robbers.

    Oluwatimileyin Okunade, 21, from Ogbomosho, Osun State was arrested on Wednesday around 8pm in traffic by the police after snatching an Infinnix Hot Note from a woman driving a white Sienna bus.

    RRS also arrested a three-man gang – Bola Adenuga, 39, Kehinde Oladipupo, 32 and Afiz Sulaiman, 27, for allegedly stealing an hydraulic jack and vehicle part from a lorry driver for failing to give them money.

    Police spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP) said the suspects were arrested at different locations in the metropolis.

    “The operatives had around mid-day arrested a three-man gang, who robbed their victim, a lorry driver, of a hydraulic jack and other vehicle spare-parts,” she said.

    Badmos added that further investigation into the case was ongoing.

    Okunade told RRS that he ventured into robbery to raise money for food and graduation.

    RRS quoted him as saying: “I went to Ojodu-Berger Bus Stop early in the morning to look for work. I was there till evening, yet there was no work. I decided to trek home. I got to Otedola Bridge, there was traffic and I realised that I had not eaten anything since morning.

    “The thought of going to bed without food was scary to me, so I saw a lady holding an Infinnix Hot Note and I snatched it from her. She was so scared, she drove off but I was surprised later when RRS men chased and apprehended me few minutes later. What I was looking for was money to do my graduation. I have spent eight years with my boss. And, he has told me openly to go and source for money for my graduation.”

    Adenuga, the leader of the gang, said “they assisted the truck driver to repair his broken down vehicle but when his truck started working, he declined to give us money, so we took his hydraulic jack and lorry bumper.”

  • Police arrest robbery, kidnap suspects in Rivers

    The Rivers State Police Command has again recorded some significant breakthroughs in crime fighting as are shown below:

    On Akokwa Street at Mile I, Diobu, Port Harcourt, the state capital, the police arrested robbers who had been terrorising the residents.

    This followed ze people and rob them of their belongings within Diobu were arrested through information as our operatives swiftly responded and in its wake, two persons were arrested, they are: Martins Binnan ‘m’, Zorbari Samuel ‘m’. Exhibits recovered from them include: one locally made Revolver pistol, four Rounds of live Ammunition. They are helping the police. Confessions made revealed that they are responsible for the attack of market women at the Education bus-stop, Mile 1 and Mile 3 Market axis. Meanwhile investigation is currently on going at the Command’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Port Harcourt.

    Again acting on credible information, the Command’s Crack Team, smashed a kidnapping syndicate at a Bush in Rumuji where a kidnap kingpin by name Emmanuel ‘m’ alias Obirikon was arrested while others took to flight. He is helping the Police. Investigation is on-going.

    Three Hostages namely: Hart Moth ‘f’, Akintoye Ajala ‘f’ and Awo Allison ‘m’ who were travelling in a Boat from Port Harcourt to Bonny were rescued by the Command’s Crack Team. They were said to have been abducted by Sea Pirates at the Dutch Island Bonny. Diligent search and rescue operations of our men led to their release from the kidnappers’ den in Abonnema Creek. Again Investigation is on-going.

    At Obagi/Obite Gas Plant in ONELGA, Rivers State, the Command’s Operatives, foiled a Robbery attack on Policemen on duty. In the same operation, the combined Team of 48 PMF smashed the robbery gang where one long Assault Rifle (LAR) 19 rounds of live Ammunition were recovered including two motor cycles that were abandoned. The Police are on their trail as Investigation is on-going at the Command’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Port Harcourt.

    At Aluu Community, acting on Information our men intercepted a Toyota Camry with Reg. No. KKE 432 AA colour Red with two occupants inside, they had serious injuries all over their bodies and were said to have been battered by angry mob. On searching the car, one English Berretta Pistol and some charms were found. However, the men were certified dead at the UPTH while Investigation is on-going.

    Operatives of the Command’s Tactical Unit rescued a kidnap victim by name Ebenezer Okpara who was abducted at the early hours of 25/7/2016 and taken to Ubimini. The victim was rescued after a fierce gun battle with the kidnappers, but had minor bruises. Items recovered from them include:

    One locally made gun, Nissan car with Reg. No. KNN 311 HW.

    Investigation is on-going at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Port Harcourt.

    The Command’s Anti Cultism and Anti-Kidnapping Units on a tip-off, stormed a criminal hideout at Buguma,  a place said to have been overrun by criminal elements, arrested 7 persons and recovered one locally made Revolver Pistol and a large quantity of weeds suspected to be Indian Hemp. They are currently helping the police as Investigation is on-going.

    The Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Command through Intelligence arrested one Chukwuemeka Nwokogba ‘m’ alias Ota Bread who is said to be a notorious kidnapper, Armed Robber and murderer, terrorizing the Etche axis of the State. The suspect upon interrogation confessed to the murder of the following persons: (1) a Pastor name not yet known but from Umuda Etche (2) Daughter of Munaonye and (3) Mr. Chimene former CDC Chairman of Obibi Community. He also confessed to the kidnap of a lady who is still being held in their camp by his gang. Other members of his gang include: Samuel Chika, (2) Ojemba Ikechukwu alias Isiewu and (3) Ogochi. The team acting on his confession, mobilized to their camp but on arrival they had relocated. Meanwhile the camp was destroyed. Investigation is still on-going at the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU).

    The Command’s Tactical Unit while on stop and search at the Polo Club GRA, Port Harcourt intercepted a metallic Gray Volkswagen Jetta car with Reg. No. 140 RD with six occupants on board. During search one locally made Revolver Pistol with 3 live .9mm Ammunition, including four Nokia Phones and two Tecno Ipad. Suspects have been arrested and are cooling their heels at the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit.

     The Command wishes to reiterate the need for continued public support and assistance to the command in the onerous task of ridding the entire state of criminal elements. While reassuring the good people of the State of their safety and security as they go about their lawful business.

  • NSCDC arrests undergraduate for robbery

    Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ogun State Command, have arrested a 300 level student of the National Open University (NOUN) for alleged robbery and illegal possession of firearm.

    The suspect, Alajo Kehinde Adediran, was apprehended last Friday in the Tekobo area of Idiaba, Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.

    The suspect and two other accomplices were said to have removed the battery of a Toyota Camry marked Lagos FFF 593 AA, belonging to one Rabiu.

    A statement signed by the spokesman of Ogun NSCDC, Olanrewaju Kareem, said that Kehinde was arrested with a gun in his possession, while the two members of his gang, Adelanwa Seun and Adelanwa Damola, are now at large.

    It was learnt that the suspect denied ownership of the pistol found on him, saying that it belonged to his friends who squat with him.

    Mr Kareem, however, disclosed that thorough investigation would be carried out to arrest Kehinde’s accomplices.

  • Two in court over robbery, unlawful possession of arms

    Two male suspects identified as Jeremiah Kalu, 24years and Onuoha Okpani, 27years amongst others now at large have been arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court sitting at Agalaba, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia for allegedly possessing firearms unlawfully and conspiring to carry out a robbery operation.

    Kalu and Okpani who were arraigned before the court on a five count charge, Nation gathered were arrested by the Ohuru Isimiri Police Division, under Aba Area Command by a team of Police detectives led by the DPO, Superintendent of Police (SP) Titus Anayo Ugwuoke on a tip off stormed on May 28, Osusu Umuikpeghi, Umukalika communities and Glass Industry roads where their gang was operating on that fateful day, leading to their arrest.

    Other members of the gang are currently under at large as police operatives have launched manhunt on them.

    The Prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Emmason Okoroafor in the charge sheet with registration number, MAG/21C/2016 told the court that security operatives from Ohuru Isimiri were able to recover two Itel android handsets valued at fifty thousand naira, blackberry handset valued at sixty thousand, and Samsung Android phone valued at fifty thousand naira, and the sum of four thousand naira cash from Jeremiah Kalu and Onuoha Okpani said to be property of their victims identified as Helen Eze, Onyeka Ezugha, Chinyere Nwadinma and one Madam Joy Samuel respectively.

    According to ASP Okoroafor, the sum of thirty thousand naira cash suspected to be money they snatched from their victims were equally recovered by the police team.

    The Prosecutor claimed that the five count charges against the suspects contravened sections 5(6), 1(2) of the robbery and firearms (Special Provision) Act Cap. 398 laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004 as applicable in Abia State.

    The suspects did not take plea while the trial magistrate who said that the court doesn’t have the jurisdiction to try the matter and ordered that the accused be remanded at the Aba Federal Prison.

    The Magistrate ordered that the case file be transferred to the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP), Ministry of Justice and also directed the prosecutor should report back to the court on July 14 for compliance.

  • Police arrest notorious cult leader in Rivers

    Police arrest notorious cult leader in Rivers

    The Rivers state Police command Friday paraded a notorious cult leader Mitchel Tamuno and two of his gang members for alleged cult activities and kidnapping of a 14 year-old JS2, female student of a Unity School in the state.

    The victim, (name withheld), was reportedly abducted on her way from evening service, April 14, 2016 around her Abuloma residence in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of the state, and was taken to Elimgbu Community in Obio/Akpor LGA of the state and where she was detained for four days.

    Her captors demanded N10 million ransom from her father who is a Pastor, the sum was yet to be raised before she escaped from the kidnappers’ den, and was taken to a nearby Police station.

    Her abduction and escape led to the arrest of the criminal gang which allegedly holds sway within the Trans-Amadi and Abuloma areas of the state.

    Parading the criminals, spokesman of the command, Ahmad Muhammad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said Tamuno, leader of the dreaded Iceland cult group and his members have long terrorised the area with their criminal activities, including kidnapping and collecting of huge ransom from  innocent residents,  including their own relatives.

    He said one of the suspects Godwin Pina, who is also the informant in several kidnap cases in the area as well as the student’s was arrested when he went to cash the sum of N50, 000 paid into their(kidnappers), account for the feeding and upkeep of their victim, pending when the ransom money would be raised and paid.

    According to Muhammad four AK-47 rifle and hundreds rounds of live ammunitions were recovered from them.

    He assured that peace and tranquility have returned to the area since their arrest and residents could now sleep with their two eyes closed.

    He said, the Police last month arrested 70 suspected kidnappers, cultists and armed robbers across the state. A total of 25 of them were killed in a shootout with the Police, and 11 AK 47 rifles, 17 other assorted firearms and 480 different live ammunition recovered from the suspected criminals.

    He assured that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as possible.

    The three suspects admitted they committed the crime and expressed regrets for their negative lifestyle.

    Earlier in the briefing, the Police narrated, “On April 14, 2016, a young girl of about 14 years was kidnapped while he was on her way back from Church and was taken to an uncompleted building in Elimgbu, Port Harcourt. Her captors kept her there for about four days while they were calling for ransom from her parents.

    “While the kidnappers were fast asleep in the day time, the girl saw a ladder and used it to scale through the fence and escaped. She walked through the forest till she began to hear sound of vehicle and traced it to the road where she waved a vehicle to stop.

    “The driver stooped and she told the driver that she escaped from kidnappers’ den and would want to contact her father, who is a pastor in Bayelsa State.

    “The Good Samaritan called the victim’s father who directed that she be taken to any nearby Police station. Before then, the kidnappers had already called the victim’s demanding N10 million ransom. They equally forwarded an account detail to the victim’s father.

    “One of the kidnapers (Godwin Pina) went to the bank immediately he noticed that the sum of N50, 000 had been paid into the account for the upkeep of their victim, pending when the ransom demanded would be raised. Before then, the police ensured that the account was blocked. He was arrested at the bank.

    “When the suspect was arrested, he then opened up that their boss, Mitchel was staying in Okrika. Then the Anti-kidnapping unit moved to Abam in Okrika and arrested Mitchel and 10 other boys in his house. Two AK 47 rifles were recovered from him. On interrogation, he (Mitchel) said he had other two AK 47 rifles with one Iyalla Appolos somewhere in Ozuboko area of Abuloma, in Port Harcourt City local Government Area of the state. We moved in there and Iyalla was arrested and the two AK 47 rifles were recovered from him.

    “Iyalla does not participate in kidnapping, but his only task is to release the guns to the gang for operations, but whenever they embark on any successful operation and are back, they give him (Iyalla), part of the ransom.”

    “Muhammad continued, Pina confessed that the kidnap gang also planned and executed a female oil mogul in the same Abuloma area and collected N9 million ransom.

    “They also disclosed that Mitchel’s Toyota Camry was always used to move their kidnap victims, including one Chief Ajie from Abuloma and Pina’s Uncle’s wife also. Pina gave information to kidnappers for his uncle’s wife to be kidnapped. N5 million was paid before she was released,” he said.

     

  • Police re-arrest ex-convicts for robbery

    The police in Oyo State have re-arrested three ex-convicts for robbery.

    Kamaru Ganiyu (28), Muili Taofeek (21) and Azeez Muyideen (22) were among the 17 suspects paraded at the Police Headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan by the Commissioner of Police, Leye Oyebade.

    Oyebade said Ganiyu, who was released from Oyo prison in February, was arrested with his gang and stole David Abel’s car on April 26.

    “Kamaru was arrested with his gang, following intelligence report. They confessed to have carried out the robberies in some parts of the state,” he said.

    Also paraded were Agu Onyeka (21); Biodun Jamiu (34); Dare Azeez (21) and Nurudeen Bilawu (28).

    In an interview with The Nation, Ganiyu said he was only finding a means of livelihood as his family does not want to see him again.

    The police commissioner said  Taofeek, released from Agodi prison, was rearrested when he broke into  Desola Yusuf’s house.

    He said the suspect while escaping snatched a purse containing assorted phones and N25,000.

    “Muyideen, also released from Agodi prison, went back the following day to steal a Bajaj motorcycle, where it was parked.”

    The police boss said the ex convict was arrested on April 22 through the effort of the public.