The Nation Newspaper

Tag: robbery

  • Policeman, two others killed in Port Harcourt robbery

    •Police: only one died

    A policeman and two others died yesterday in a robbery on the Olu Obasanjo Road in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    The identity of the policeman could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report last night.

    But he was said to be a mobile policeman on a private escort.

    Eyewitnesses said the way the robbers operated indicated that they targeted the policeman “because they shot him dead before killing the driver and their principal”.

    They said the victims left a new generation bank on the traffic-prone Olu Obasanjo Road, unaware that they were being trailed by four robbers.

    The victims reportedly rode in a Toyota Tundra car and the robbers in a Toyota Camry car, taking advantage of the busy traffic.

    The hoodlums were said to have parked a few metres away from the Rivers Transport Company (RTC) and trekked towards their targets.

    It was learnt that the policemen nearby abandoned their duty posts and fled, after witnessing the way the occupants of the Tundra jeep were shot.

    A resident, who spoke in confidence, said: “They (robbers) parked at the back because of traffic. They trekked to where the Tundra car was parked and attacked its occupants. They killed the main man, the policeman and the driver instantly. Then, they took away an undisclosed amount of money the people withdrew from the car and drove away immediately, because the traffic had cleared.”

    It was learnt that after the incident, the police took away their dead colleague and the body of the car owner.

    They were said to have returned later to remove the dead driver from the road.

    Police spokesman Ahmad Muhammad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said he was aware that only one policeman, Sergeant William Relomer, was killed in the incident, not with two other persons.

     

  • Three corps members detained for alleged robbery

    Three Batch “A” National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members have been detained since Friday by security agencies in Niger State for alleged robbery.

    The corps members, who are serving in Suleja Local Government Area, were detained last Thursday by the local government’s security men, usually called the Yabanga, following allegations that they resembled some wanted robbers.

    Fellow corps members, who witnessed the arrest, told our reporter that the three corps members were beaten up by the security men and detained by the police.

    An eyewitness said the corps members bought some drugs at a mall near Stadium, Kwamba.

    Two women allegedly raised the alarm that the corps members looked like those who robbed them a few weeks earlier.

    The people nearby apprehended them, including the Yabanga, and started beating them up before the police took them to the station.

    They were accused of robbery at an unspecific location.

    The corps members were detained since Thursday and denied visitation by their fellow corp members.

    The state code numbers of the corps members are: Oscar Owolabi (NG/15A/2225), Jimmy Sodiq (NG/15A/3258) and Dore Sola (NG/15A/2226).

    They have been transferred to Minna, the state capital, for further investigation without the intervention of the NYSC authorities.

    The NYSC Zonal Inspector in the local government area, Mrs Mederia told our reporter that she could not speak on the matter because the corps members were at their various places of primary assignments and doing very well.

    She said: “I am a civil servant; I cannot talk. Please, talk to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO). As far as I am aware, I am sitting in my office and all corp members are at their various places of primary assignments. There is nothing of such.”

    A friend, who visited them yesterday in Minna said he was also detained at the police.

    According to him, he was released after the suspects said he was innocent.

     

  • ‘Madman’ invades kogi bank

    ‘Madman’ invades kogi bank

    An unidentified young man who was declared insane stormed a first generation bank located along Ganaja road, in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, damaging two Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

    The incident which happened during the early hours of Tuesday took many of the bank customers by surprise as the man was mistaken for a robbery suspect out on a mission to rob the ATM.

    The attack by the ‘madman’ rendered the two ATM machines useless and the customers frustrated.

    The branch manager, Mr. Emmanuel declined speaking with the press on the matter, saying he is not in position to comment on such issues.

    An eyewitness said that the incident happened at about 9.30am when a young man stormed the bank with a wooden hammer, in an effort to access in the ATMs.

    Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Collins ‘Sola Adebayor, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said the unidentified suspect was shot on the leg.

    He promised to make available details of the incidence as soon as investigation is concluded.

  • Nsukka masqueraders held for alleged robbery

    The Police in Nsukka, Enugu State, have arrested two masqueraders for allegedly robbing a trader on Nsukka-Obollo-Afor Road.

    The masqueraders were arrested in Ovoko community, Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area of the state.

    It was gathered that in the past few weeks, masqueraders had continuously mounted road blocks in such areas as Eha-Alumona, Ovoko-Obollo-Afor, among several other public roads, inflicting heavy wounds on motorists and dispossessing them of their valuables.

    The police moved into action when the victim, Mr. Chinonso  Ezewaji reported the matter at Nsukka Police Area command.

    He said when two of the masqueraders were arrested, others ran away.

    He said, “When the police team reached Ovoko along Nsukka–Obollor-Afor Road, where the masqueraders were operating, two of the policemen on a bus pretended to be giving the two masqueraders money; they stretched their hands to collect it and that was how we hand-cuffed them and others ran away.

    “Eight masqueraders have been on that road since morning tormenting road users; the two of them we arrested have denied involvement in robbing the trader, but they have given the names of the culprits.

    “When we searched one of the arrested masqueraders, we saw Indian hemp in his pocket”.

    Spokesman for Enugu State police command, Ebere Amaraizu confirmed the incident, noting that the police has commenced investigations into the matter.

    Amarizu urged communities to regulate and monitor those who wear masquerades as some of them were hiding on it to harass, intimidate and rob innocent members of the public.

    “Police is not against any culture but community leaders must know the character of people they allow to wear masquerades in the name of culture.

    “A masquerader has no right to mount a roadblock on busy roads where motorists, motorcyclists and other road ply on daily basis.

    “The police has commenced investigations and must get to the root of this matter as issue of masquerades disturbing people has become a recurring decimal”, he said.

    Narrating his experience, the victim (Ezewaji), a trader, said he was on his way from Nsukka to Obollo-Afor when the masqueraders in Ovoko stopped him, gave him the beating of his life, after which “they searched me and collected N57, 000 from my pockets”.

    Meanwhile, the two masqueraders, who identified themselves as Kenechukwu Eze, a carpenter and  Ejiofor Eze , bricklayer alleged that they were not part of the team that robbed the victim. They gave the name of the masquerader involved as Chima Mamah.

    “We only collected N20, N100 and N500 from people; we didn’t participate in collecting the N57,000″, one of them claimed.

    However, Kenechukwu Eze, while admitting that the police recovered India Hemp from him, said “If police will release me, I will not wear masquerade or smoke Indian hemp again. It is the left-over of the one we smoked before coming out”, he said.

     

  • Two policemen paraded for alleged robbery in Anambra

    The Anambra State police command has paraded two policemen, Corporal Peter Ilo and Nicholas Ogbuanu, for suspected robbery.

    Twenty five others, said to be involved in crime, were also paraded.

    Ilo, who is of the Imo State police command, denied being a robber.

    He said his friend, who resides in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire, lured him into car-snatching.

    Ilo said: “He lured me into robbery and car–snatching.

    ‘’We organised some robberies and snatched two cars, including a Lexus and sold the plasma television we saw inside it.

    “Along the line, we disagreed on the sharing formula and he sent the police after me, after revealing our acts.”

    Ogbuanu, allegedly sacked in 2005, was arrested on August 17 while chasing a commercial motorcyclist. He said he was dismissed 10  years ago.

    Ilo said he was recently recalled, though he was yet to resume work.

    Parading the suspects yesterday Police Commissioner Hosea Karma warned criminals to leave Anambra because the state would be too hot for them.

    Other suspected robbers, kidnappers and cultists were also paraded.

    Karma said they would be charged after their cases were investigated.

    The commissioner also hinted that the command would arrest illegal siren users, as directed by the Inspector General of police, Solomon Arase.

    Karma said some sirens had been confiscated and the owners charged to court.

    “Sirens should only be used in emergency and by governors,” he said.

  • Police arrest ‘robbery kingpin’

    An alleged armed robbery kingpin, Bolaji Oyekanmi has been arrested by officers of the Lagos State Police Command.

    Foreign currencies were recovered from his hideout.

    Police detectives attached to Ilupeju Police Station led by Olayinka Egbeyemi, a Superintendent of Police (SP), swooped on the kingpin whose gang specialises in attacking bullion vans.

    It was learnt that the kingpin was nabbed after his gang successfully robbed a bullion van conveying cash.

    According to a police source, $118,000 and £50,000 totalling  N177, 246, 000 were allegedly recovered from a native doctor’s residence at Mushin, which served as the gang’s hideout.

    The foreign currencies which were said to have belonged to the Bankers Warehouse had been returned to the owners.

    Confirming the development, the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni said the suspect is under interrogation.

  • Robbery kingpin arrested, foreign currencies recovered

    An accused armed robbery kingpin, Bolaji Oyekanmi has been arrested by operatives of the Lagos State Police Command with foreign currencies recovered from his hideout.
    Police detectives attached to Ilupeju Police Station led by Olayinka Egbeyemi, a Superintendent of police (SP), were said to have swooped on the kingpin whose gang specialises in attacking bullion vans‎.
    It was learnt that the kingpin was nabbed after his gang successfully robbed a bullion van conveying cash.
    According to a police source, $118 thousand and £50 thousand were allegedly recovered from a native doctor’s residence at Mushin, which serves as the gang’s hideout.
    ‎The foreign currencies had been returned to the owners.
    ‎Confirming the arrest, the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni said the suspect was being interrogated and would soon be charged to court.

  • Robbery: FERMA, IGP partner on highway safety

    Robbery: FERMA, IGP partner on highway safety

    The Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and the ?Nigeria Police Force (NPF) will deploy 90 patrol vehicles to ensure safety of commuters on federal highways across the nation.

    The partnership will also include clearing of vegetation in dangerous locations along the Abuja-Lokoja express road.

    The Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase during an inspection visit with FERMA Managing Director, Gabriel Amuchi at the weekend disclosed that the partnership became very important to prevent activities of hoodlums.

    He said the Police officers were ready to partner with other relevant stakeholders, adding that the second phase of the collaboration will be on Auchi-Iruekpe road.

    “This stretch of the road has become a source of security concern to us due to armed robbery and kidnappers.

    “So I decided to seek the assistance of FERMA to see how we can open the space here as part of our security prevention to ensure that the

    place is safe.

    “I have always said it that security cannot be left to police alone, all other stakeholders are crucial to ensure that we have a secure environment and you could see that what they are doing is crucial to ensure that the highways are safe.

    “It is going to be a continuous process but you know that the cost implication would be taken into consideration. Once we are able to

    take of this axis we would face Auchi- Iruekpe and Ehor black spots where hoodlums are also notorious and we would also appeal to FERMA to intervene in those areas to address the security challenges.”

    Amuchi said aside from safety of travellers, clearing of the roadside vegetation will aid better visibility of drivers.

    He said the agency had commenced monitoring of the right of ways through a committee which includes the Nigeria Security and Civil

    Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) among other Para-military bodies.

    “What is happening here is a very strong collaboration and because of these hoodlums, we need serious security presence and patrol.

    “At the end of this clearing we would improve visibility and sight scene so it is going to be a continuous relationship and in other flash points we would also need collaboration to commence work in your place for safety.”

    The Kogi State Police Commissioner, Samuel Ogunjemilusi, described the partnership as prompt, stressing that there would be no hiding place for kidnappers on the road because motorists can see criminals far apart and inform the police or make u-turn.

    “We were given 90 vehicles to patrol the high way and we are everywhere on the road. So once we are able to create this visibility, there would be no hiding place for criminals in Kogi state.

    “We have already flushed them out of the town and we are moving to flush them out of the highway.

    “The beauty of it was that our response time would be fast and we would savage the highway together with FERMA,” Ogunjemilusi added.

     

  • Four undergraduates held in Rivers for ‘fraud, robbery’

    The Rivers State Police Command has paraded three students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) for alleged involvement in armed robbery in Choba/ Alakahia, Port Harcourt, the state capital, last month.

    Nwachinemere Benjamine (24), Osaki Bob (22) and Reginald Sekibo (21) were reportedly arrested by men of the State Armed Robbery Squad (SARS) during an operation on July 28.

    They were among the over 30 suspects the command paraded recently.

    Also being held by the police is a 300-Level Computer Science undergraduate of the University of Lokoja, in Koji State, Precious Okwudili (26).

    He allegedly defrauded a retired female teacher of N3 million under the pretence of ill-health.

    Okwudili was said to have lied to his victim, a family friend, that he was diagnosed with a life-threatening heart disease and needed the money for an urgent surgery abroad.

    The student confessed to the crime, saying the woman is his mother in the Lord.

    He blamed his action on the devil.

    The police said N812,000 was recovered from him.

    Also, a monarch in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area and two other leaders of the area were paraded for allegedly sponsoring cultism.

    The Rivers community has been enmeshed in cultism in the past years.

    Many people have been killed in cult-related activities.

    The monarch and his suspected accomplice were arrested in their homes on August 1 and 3 and have been in police detention.

    Parading them with over 30 others suspects arrested for various offences, Police Commissioner Chris Ezike said the community leaders organised and taxed members of the community N1 million, which was donated to a “notorious” cult leader, Don-Wali, of the Icelander group.

    Ezike said the arrest of the community leaders had “opened a new chapter in the connivance, involvement and sponsorship of community keepers in cultism”.

    The police chief said the onslaught against criminals and their sponsors was part of the command’s “Project Rescue Rivers State” aimed at “restoring sanity and security to the state”.

    He said the suspects would be charged to court.

    On a police sergeant who killed a commercial driver in Port Harcourt, David Lagbaara, last Friday, Ezike said the killer cop had been dismissed and charged to court for murder, after being found guilty in an orderly room trial.

    He said: “We are in touch with the family of the deceased driver, the National Union of Road Transport workers (NURTW) and other stakeholders, who have calmed the situation.

    “The Force has taken actions pursuant to ensuring that justice is served. We know that these actions may not be enough to bring back their breadwinner but it will serve as a deterrent.”

  • Court remands three in LASU lecturer’s robbery

    Court remands three in LASU lecturer’s robbery

    An Ikeja Magistrate’s Court in Lagos yesterday remanded three men in prison for allegedly breaking into the house of a lecturer at the Lagos State University (LASU) staff quarters.

    Magistrate Bola Osunsanmi ordered that the men should remain behind bars pending an advice from the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    “The case file should be duplicated and forwarded the DPP for advice,’’ she said.

    The accused – Adelaja Olalekan, 33, Ifeanyi Odimba 19 and Onouwari Daniel, 18 – all residents of LASU, Ojo, are facing a three-count charge on robbery.

    Earlier, Prosecuting Inspector Thomas Nurudeen told the court that the men had on June 22 burgled the home of Prof. Benjamin Aribisala at LASU staff quarters.

    Nurudeen said the accused, armed with some dangerous weapons, carted away cash and various items valued at N1.09 million.

    He said: “The accused were armed with knives and other weapons as they ransacked the home of Prof. Aribisala. They stole various electronic items such as an Apple iPad, Samsung tablet, an iPhone, four blackberry phones and three units of computer. They also stole 200 pounds and 200 dollars.’’

    Nurudeen said the offence contravened Sections 279, 285 and 295 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    Osunsanmi adjourned the case to August 24.