The Nation Newspaper

Tag: snatch

  • Man, 32, held for using pepper to snatch cars

    The Edo State Police Command has arrested a 32-year-old man, Peter Okpe, for allegedly using pepper to snatch vehicles.

    Okpe was held after a car he allegedly snatched ran into a ditch on the Benin-Lagos Expressway.

    The police said he and other members of his gang hired a cab and blew some ground pepper into the eyes of the driver to snatch his vehicle.

    The suspect was said to have boarded a cab at Okada Junction and asked the driver to stop.

    He was said to have blown some pepper into the driver’s eyes and pushed him out of the car.

    Luck ran out on him when the car ran into a ditch and he was arrested by a combined team of vigilantes and policemen.

    Police spokesman Stephen Onwochei, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), described the trend as new among criminals in the state.

    He said the police would probe the matter to arrest other members of the gang.

  • Thugs snatch ballot boxes in Ebonyi

    Thugs snatch ballot boxes in Ebonyi

    Suspected thugs invaded many polling booths in Ebonyi State, carting away ballot boxes and other electoral materials.

    At Onuwakpu Market Square in Ikwo Local Government Area, hoodlums wielding AK-47 rifles shot into the air to scare voters and officials away before snatching the materials.

    No police patrol or military vans were seen in the area at the time of the incident.

    The patrol vans suddenly disappeared from the roads as voting began paving the way for the hoodlums to have a field day.

    Similar incidents were witnessed at Nsokara in Ezza South Local Government Area and in other parts of the state.

    The member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Constituency, Tob Okwuru, said the attacks were perpetrated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Late arrival of materials, inadequate materials, mix-up of materials were some of the noticeable errors as the elections kicked off in Ebonyi State.

    These led to late accreditation in many polling centres.

    Labour Party(LP) governorship candidate, Edward Nkwegu, said: “The most disturbing part is that only five incident forms were provided while about 200 persons failed the accreditation by the card readers.

    “How are the rest of the people going to fill the forms?

    “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should go ahead with the card readers but to work assiduously to ensure that the challenges are solved and that all eligible voters take part in the electoral process.”

  • Confusion as armed robbers snatch bullion van in P/Harcourt

    A gang of daring armed robbers yesterday robbed a bullion van in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, leading to the death of a yet-to-be-identified person, while a large cache of arms and ammunition recovered by men of the state’s police command.

    The sporadic exchange of gunshots from the fleeing armed robbers and the policemen who chased them, made residents of Diobu, Port Harcourt, to scamper to safety to avoid being hit by stray bullets.

    Most owners of shops and other business outfits in Miles 1, 2 and 3 in Diobu, Port Harcourt, hurriedly closed, while the roads suddenly became empty, as motorists and pedestrians had to run for their lives.

    The Rivers Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muhammad Kidaya Ahmad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the robbery.

    The PPRO said: “On 06/03/2015 at about 1501 hours at Mile 3, armed robbers swooped on a bullion van conveying money belonging to a bank customer and carted the money away.

    “The armed robbers were engaged by policemen on duty at the bank and gave them a hot chase. Sensing policemen were closing-in on them, they jettisoned the operation and abandoned their operational vehicle, including unspecified amount of money in locked bags. They escaped after robbing a vehicle from a motorist.

    “Items recovered from the foiled armed robbery include their operational vehicle, a golden Toyota Highlander, one Barretta pistol, one scorpion rifle, eleven AK-47 magazines, 63 assorted live ammunition, two objects suspected to be dynamite, a charm and different vehicle plate numbers.

    “Close examination at their vehicle indicated that the armed robbers sustained gunshot wounds, as it was soaked with blood. One person lost his life.”

    Ahmad also pleaded with the members of the public to report anybody seen with wounds suspected to be gun shot to the nearest police station or call 08032003514, 08028915460, 08028915462 and 08160723892.

  • Gunmen snatch senator’s car

    Chairman of the Senate Committee on States and Local Governments Kabir Gaya (Kano South) was on Friday attacked by four gunmen dressed in military uniform.

    Gaya’s Special Assistant, Idris Afegnua, in a statement, said the senator was attacked on the Kaduna/Kano high way around 7:30 pm.

    The hoodlums snatched the senator’s official car, a Prado Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) numbered FL 16 SEN, but left him unhurt.

    The incident has been reported to the police.

    Gaya is a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

  • Motorcyclists snatch rifle from policeman

    It was like a movie scene. In a commando style, some fast riding commercial motorcyclists popularly known as Okada snatched yesterday a policeman’s rifle at a road intersection in Lagos.

    Passersby watched in awe amid the ensuing confusion as the police attempted to recover the rifle. It all happend at the Ojekunle Street junction close to the Ladipo Auto Parts Markets in Mushin, Lagos.

    The Okada riders were said to have gone after the police for allegedly impounding a motorcycle.

    Sources said the policemen who were patrolling in a vehicle marked ‘OPS Attack’, arrested one of the motorcyclists at Oshodi for plying illegal route.

    The motorcyclists were said to have mobilised their colleagues and followed the policemen to Ojekunle junction, were they dragged the motorcycle from the patrol van with the two policemen guarding it.

    The Nation learnt that one of the policemen used the butte of his AK47 rifle to hit one of the riders on the head.

    An eyewitness said: “As the policeman hit the okada man on the head, another forcefully snatched the gun and pointed it at the policemen in the patrol vehicle. The Inspector, who led the police team ordered the driver to stop, and they all disembarked and fled. The okada rider also mounted one of the motorcycles and fled with the rifle.”

    Some minutes later, the Inspector led four other policemen to plead with some social miscreants to assist them recover the rifle.

    “It was a funny scene. The policemen knelt down before some miscreants, begging them for the hideout of  the motorcyclists. The policemen, who were almost in tears, told the miscreants that they risk losing their jobs if the rifle was not found”, a source said.

    The police team were seen driving back to Oshodi, where they impounded the motorcycle, in search of the rifle.

  • I didn’t snatch microphone from Okorocha, says Charly Boy

    I didn’t snatch microphone from Okorocha, says Charly Boy

    Controversial celebrity, Charles Oputa, aka Charly Boy has debunked media reports, suggesting he had a showdown with Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, during the funeral church service for the former’s dad, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, last weekend.

    “May I use this medium to clear the air concerning news making the rounds,” Charly Boy said in a press statement being circulated by his media officer, Kazeem Popoola. “There is no ill feeling between me and His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. I did not snatch microphone from him, no such thing happened at all.”

    The former president of Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), was said to have stopped the governor from speaking at the event, because according to reports, he did not want his late father’s funeral to be used as a political campaign platform. But Charly Boy maintained that, that also did not happen. “I did not, as portrayed by these news reports; I believe I am a very cultured individual, not one to rubbish a good gesture,” he said, while thanking everyone who attended the event.

    “This is to register my utmost pleasure and appreciation to all Nigerians for the remarkable show of love to me and my family in giving my father, Hon. Justice Chukwudifu Akunne Oputa, a most befitting burial. I am very happy and indeed, very grateful to all. My special gratitude goes to the Federal Government and President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Imo State Government and Governor Rochas Okorocha, Rivers State Government and Governor Rotimi Amaechi, for their immeasurable support and participation,” he said.

  • Panathinaikos to snatch Ajagun from Turkish, French clubs

    Panathinaikos to snatch Ajagun from Turkish, French clubs

    Panathinaikos are nearing the signing of Nigeria youth international Abdul Ajagun, according to reports in Greece.

    Gazzetta.gr says Panathinaikos and Dolphins of Port Harcourt are in advanced negotiations and the transfer of the midfielder could be completed as early as next week.

    The stumbling block had been Abdul Ajagun’s transfer fee of 500,000 euros. But Dolphins have now lowered their demand.

    This summer, 20-year-old Ajagun had been on the wish list of clubs in Turkey (Samsunspor, Konyaspor and Manisaspor) and France. He netted three times for the Flying Eagles at the FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Turkey.

  • ‘I saw Boko Haram kill my husband, snatch my kids’

    ‘I saw Boko Haram kill my husband, snatch my kids’

    IT was a heart-rending session yesterday in Abuja.

    Many were in tears as victims of the Boko Haram sect relived how their loved ones were killed, leaving them with shattered lives.

    It was at an event where funds were raised to support survivors of the fundamentalists’ bloodletting.

    In a shaky and emotional voice, Mrs Deborah Shettima from Borno State recounted how Boko Haram insurgents killed her husband in her presence, snatched away her two children and returned a few days later to kill her only surviving child. All she has left are photographs of her loved ones, which she displayed.

    Pastor Serana Chinda of the All Saints Protestant Church, Hauran Wanki, Barracks in Kano spoke of how 17 members of his congregation were killed for refusing to divorce Jesus Christ.

    Former Minister of Education Dr. Oby Ezekwesili and others wept as the victims told their chilling stories – at a joint news conference by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Christian Association of Nigeria-Americans (CANAN).

    The President of CANAN, Dr. James Fadele, its Executive Director, Laolu Akande and CAN Secretary General Dr. Musa Asaki addressed the conference where N8million ($50,000) was donated to the relief fund set up by CAN for the victims of Boko Haram attacks.

    Mrs. Shetima (45), who lost her husband and three children, said: “On April 25, 2012, after work, I went home and discovered that everywhere was quiet. I met my husband sitting on a table. He was preparing to preach to the children at a prayer meeting. He asked me to get him water to bathe. So, I went outside and saw a tricycle approaching with five persons inside it. Four of them came down and went into our house. I started running but one of them blocked me while another said they should allow me in and asked me to lie down.

    “When I got in, my husband was praying and I heard him say, ‘Lord, today I’m going to visit you. I ask you to please receive my spirit. One of them said, ‘have you finished praying and you think your prayer is going to save you?’ And after that, I heard four shots of gun. I said, ‘I will be the next target and started praying, Lord they are finished with my husband, here I am, receive my spirit, but they opened the door. When my two daughters, nine and seven years old, heard me, they started crying, saying ‘they have killed our father, they will soon kill our mother and as they were crying, they reached out to them and took them away. Up till now, I have not seen them. They have not been declared dead or been seen. One of assailants hit my eye with the gun. I cannot see with the eye.

    “After three months, while marking the death of Yusuf Mohammed, their leader, they returned to my house and killed my last son. Someone came and told me to leave the house.”

    A young man held his own photograph, taken when Boko Haram assailants attempted to cut his throats. There is a gory gashes on his neck. He survived miraculously.

    Mrs. Ezekwesili, in tears, said Nigeria does not place value on human lives.

    She said: “Whatever happens to one of us happens to every one of us. So, if we have become a nation that does not put value to human lives, then we really are in a bad place. Listening to these women particularly and seeing what these women have to carry alone, you almost feel a sense of abandonment for them.

    “We must get ourselves back to a drawing table and figure what we really are; what are we and what we have become as a people and as a nation. Is it right that a mother would watch her husband killed and her two children taken away and does not know where they are up till now and nobody is concerned about it? Three months after, they came and killed her son. I know a nation where this thing happened before. It’s called Rwanda and it didn’t end well.”

    Akande urged President Goodluck Jonathan to become aggressive in fighting the Boko Haram sect.

    He said: “I think government itself has expressed hopelessness, including President Jonathan who has said on several occasions that this problem is big. We believe that Nigerian government cannot handle this problem anymore. There are instances of lack of political will on the part of the Federal Government. The cases of some supporters of Boko Haram like those senators who have been accused should be pursued.

    “Government can become more aggressive in going after members of Boko Haram and those supporting this sect. Government is not proactive. It must seek support from other countries, like the United States, to deal with Boko Haram. This is an international problem. I wish government could do more in protecting the lives of Nigerians. Some of the cases are not even reported. How can somebody be going to another person’s house to kill. If government cannot provide law and order it then becomes worrisome.”

    Fadele urged Nigerians and people of goodwill to “rise up and come to the financial and material aid of the victims of Boko Haram attacks in northern Nigeria”.

    According to him, Nigerian Christians in America have taken notice of the impact of the actions of Boko Haram. “We are concerned about the widows and are touched by the plight of the orphans. We reckon that many of these individuals are left without a source of livelihood.”

    He said: “We have heard that CAN is setting up a Relief Fund where Nigerians can donate money and relief materials to support the victims. For instance, victims’ children can benefit from scholarships taken out from such a fund. Towards such fund, CANAN is making an initial widow’s mite contribution of $50,000.

    “If backers of terrorists are raising the money to perpetrate acts of terror, supporters of and advocates for peace can no longer look the other way. We want to join with CAN today to call on Nigerian philanthropists, businesses, and captains of industry, well-to-do individuals and all people of goodwill to consider the financial plight of Boko Haram victims and lend a helping hand.

    “CANAN does not conceive itself as a political group. We are an advocate for innocent and helpless people being slaughtered in their places of worship. Christians are being killed, churches are being attacked and destroyed, health workers and doctors are being assassinated, markets are being ravaged, police precincts are being vanquished, and neighbourhoods are being tormented. This wickedness must stop. We commend the bold leadership of CAN for speaking up in a categorical, courageous and consistent manner on the Boko Haram issue.”