The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Suspected robbers

  • Police arrest over 1,000 suspected robbers, kidnappers in one year

    The police have said they arrested over 1,000 robbery, kidnapping and cattle rustling suspects within one year of creating the Operation Absolute Sanity on the Kaduna/Abuja highways.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Force, on July 25, last year, started the operation on the highways.

    The team includes Police Mobile Force, Counter-Terrorism Squad, Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Intelligence Response Team, Special Tactical Squad, Force Intelligence Branch and police helicopters.

    The operation was to complement and augment the current Joint Police/Military operations on the ground before now.

    The Force spokesman Jimoh Moshood, an Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), addressed reporters yesterday in Abuja, the nation’s capital, on the arrest of 32 suspects for alleged robbery, kidnapping and cattle rustling.

    The spokesman said the suspects were apprehended at Tafa in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    He said the police also made arrests in Kogi, Kaduna, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Zamfara and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), among others.

    According to him, the force will not relent in its efforts to reduce crimes to the barest minimum across the country.

    Moshood noted that the operation would be sustained and extended to other parts of the country.

    The spokesman said the 32 suspects allegedly specialised in attacking travellers on the Kaduan/Abuja highway.

    He added that items recovered from the suspects included 22 AK-47 rifles, one Toyota Corolla car and 127 AK-47 ammunition.

    Moshood said the suspects, who confessed to the various roles they played in the crimes, would be charged to court on completion of investigation.

    The spokesman noted that contrary to insinuation by the public, the police did not release suspects after presenting them to the media.

    “The police do not release suspects after parading them, as alleged by members of the public,” he said.

    Moshood said the police would always ensure that suspects arrested were prosecuted according to the laws of the land.

    The spokesman, who said several convictions had been secured, added that the police and the judiciary must work together to achieve results.

    He urged appropriate authority to dispense cases to avoid the recycling of suspects by the police.

    Also, the police said they arrested 31 suspects for their alleged kidnapping, killing, armed robbery and other crimes.

    The suspects were said to be responsible for the kidnap, killing and robberies of innocent commuters, travellers and villagers in villages and towns on the Abuja-Kaduna–Birnin Gwari-Funtua–Zamfara State axis.

    The police said the suspects belonged to six gangs who were also said to be responsible for the kidnap of Sheik Mohammed Ahmed Alqarkawi in Kaduna State.

    Some of the gang members allegedly collected N12 million ransom before the Islamic scholar was released.

    The Sheik’s abduction led to the death of four operatives of IGP Intelligence Response Team: Inspectors Benard Odibo, Mamman Abubakar, Haruna Ibrahim and Sergeant Emmanuel Istifanus.

    The operations of some of the suspects, the police said, led to the death of many innocent Nigerians in the FCT, Kaduna, Niger, Zamfara, Kogi, Benue and Plateau states.

    In a statement yesterday in Abuja, Moshood said the arrests followed a repositioning of Operation Absolute Sanity with more operatives and investigators of IGP Special Tactical Squad.

    The operatives, led by Kolo Yusuf, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), were deployed to unravel and arrest those behind crimes and bring them to justice.

    Moshood said: “A total number of 31 suspects in six different gangs, including three commanders of bandits killing innocent people in Zamfara State and those responsible for the kidnap of Sheik Mohammed Ahmed Alqarkawi in Kaduna State and collection of N12 million ransom before he was released, were arrested.”

    Items recovered from them include 22 AK-47 rifles, one LAR rifle, two single-barrelled guns, one locally-made pistol and one Dane gun and 247 rounds of ammunition.

    The Police said most of the suspects confessed to the criminal roles they played in the commission of the crimes they were alleged.

    The Police also said most of the victims, some of whom were rescued from their captivities also identified them as those responsible for the kidnaps, armed robberies and car snatching.

  • Troops arrest five suspected robbers

    •One killed

    Soldiers have arrested five robbery suspects at Felele, on Lokoja-Okene Highway.

    Army spokesman Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu said in a statement the suspects were caught wearing military camouflage and robbing commuters.

    He said three of them, Saviour Dennis, 39, Isaac Donald, 35 and Joseph Isah, 35, were nabbed. Another, Atsen, was killed during an exchange of gunshots with the troops.

    Chukwu said two women accomplices, Janet Isah and Oyinoye Ochefije, were arrested during the encounter.

    He said the suspects were being interrogated and would be handed over to the appropriate authority for action.

    The spokesman listed items recovered from them as AK 47 rifle, AK 47 rifle magazine loaded with 28 rounds of ammunition and four pairs of military camouflage uniform.

    Others are a pair of police pullover, three pairs of berets, a pair of black boot, two machetes, plier and 22 phones.

    Chukwu said N16,980 was recovered from the suspects.

     

  • Police kill two suspected robbers in Warri

    Two members of a suspected robbery gang were killed on Monday in a gun duel with men of the Delta State Police Command on Odion Road in Warri.

    It was learnt that the gang, which had terrorised the Essi Layout axis of the town for a long time, was dispossessing some people of their belongings near Odion Junction.

    While the robbery was going on, the community vigilantes sent a distress call to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Warri ‘A’ Division police station, who alerted the police team on patrol in the area.

    Police spokesman Andrew Aniamaka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the suspects opened fire on the approaching police operatives.

    He said: “It’s true. What really happened was that a distress call came through from the vigilantes around the area and our men on patrol headed towards the junction. On getting there, the hoodlums opened fire on our men, but we were lucky. They eventually brought two of the suspects down in the process. They died before they could be ferried to the hospital.

    “Exhibits recovered from the suspects included: AK-47 rifle, AK-47 magazine, Infinix and Nokia handsets.

    “The bodies of the suspects have been deposit at the morgue.”

    The Nation also gathered that some members of the robbery gang escaped with bullet wounds and were being trailed.

    An eyewitness said the suspects dispossessed victims, particularly girls, of their mobile phones and other valuables at 6.30 a.m.

     

  • Police kill two suspected robbers in Benue

    Benue State Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni has said his men killed two suspected armed robbers during an exchange of gunfire in Katsina Ala-Zakibiam axis of the state.

    He said four rifles, comprising three AK-47 and one G, with 16 rounds of live ammunition and three AK-47 magazines, were recovered from suspects.

    Addressing reporters ahead of this weekend’s Eid-el-Fitr celebration, which marks the end of Ramadan fasting, the police chief said the command recorded tremendous successes in the fight against crime in the last two weeks.

    He said three Toyota cars used for robbery were recovered.

    On news trending on the social media that there was a plan attacked on Benue valley by suspects herdsmen after the end of Ramadan, Owoseni assured the residents that a Joint Task Force (JTF) comprising the police, the Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other security agencies had been deployed across the state for the safety of life property.

    The police chief urged the residents to go about their businesses without fear.

    He assured them that effort were in top gear to return Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their ancestral homes.

    According to him, most of them had started returning to their homes.

    Owoseni said the police had arrested 44 persons in connection with the bloody clash between Mbamar and Ugambe community in Konshisha Local Government Area.

     

  • Suspected robbers kill vigilance group leader

    SUSPECTED robbers have killed the leader of a vigilance group at Umusam quarters, Kwale, in Ndokwa West, Delta State, Mr. Peter Johnson.

    A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the deceased, 54, was shot dead, about 6 pm, on Tuesday while riding a motorcycle.

    Police spokesman Andrew Aniamaka, who confirmed the incident, said the deceased was shot in the right rib on Izugbe Road, Kwale.

    Aniamaka, who said the identities of the hoodlums were yet to be ascertained, added that the deceased was not on duty when he was killed.

    He said: “We have begun investigation into the incident.”

     

  • Police arrest seven suspected robbers in Ondo

    Police arrest seven suspected robbers in Ondo

    The Ondo State Police Command yesterday arrested seven suspected robbers for allegedly terrorising the residents.

    Parading the suspects at the police headquarters in Akure, Police Commissioner Gbenga Adeyanju said the suspects were arrested in various parts of Akure, the state capital.

    He gave the names of the suspects as Kayode Yakubu, a 22-year-old student who allegedly specialised in phone theft; Victor Ologun, who allegedly stole a generating set as well as Ayodeji Bamidele and Sunday Joseph.

    Adeyanju said three suspected robbers allegedly robbed a firm in Akure, adding that following police investigation, the two suspects were arrested.

    He said Bamidele and Joseph were caught with the stolen generator where they were negotiating with an intending buyer.

    The police chief added that the two suspects had confessed to be leaders of a robbery gang in the state.

    The generator was valued at N2.5 million.

    Adeyanju said the command was trailing other members of the robbery gang, who he said were on the run.

    Items recovered from the suspects included one locally-made gun, phones of various brands, charms and knives as well as other weapons.

    The police chief said a suspected robber, who specialised in stealing phones, was also arrested in Ikare-Akoko with over 10 mobile phones.

    He said the suspects would be charged to court and prosecuted to serve as deterrent for others.

     

     

     

     

  • Suspected robbers injure seven residents

    Barely three days after a seven-man robbery gang raided residents of Tells Estate, Akobo, Ibadan, Oyo State, another gang on Monday night attacked Fenwa community.

    During the operation, which lasted about four hours, belongings and money were stolen by the 15-man robbery gang.

    Seven residents of the community located in Ido Local Government were injured.

    However, members of Otunba Gani Adams-led Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), who went to the community after receiving distress calls, prevented the hoodlums from raiding more houses and apprehended one of the suspected robbers.

    The OPC Chairman in Ido Council, Alhaji Muritala Adekola Ifawale, who led his members to the scene, was reportedly shot by the suspected robbers several times, but the bullets did not penetrate his body.

    After exhausting their bullets, the hoodlums reportedly ran away. OPC members chased them and apprehended one of them, Ojo Adegboyega.

    They recovered a green colour Honda CRV registered as LAGOS LND 667 EU from the robbers.

    Speaking with reporters yesterday, Adegboyega said he joined the gang after he was sacked by a company in Ikeja, Lagos State.

    He said Mr. Roland Wisdom invited his gang for the Monday night operation in which he met his waterloo.

    One of the injured residents, Mr. Wasiu Adegoke, said the robbers stole his N208,000 and valuable items.

    Adegoke, who had deep cuts in his head and blood stains on his body, said he was hit by the gun while struggling with the robbers.

    Another injured victim, Mr. Ogun Jimoh, said the criminals used clubs to hit him in the head after snatching his phones.

    The chairman of the Landlord Association, who preferred anonymity, said some of the victims had been taken to hospital.

    He said the police had been informed, adding that the suspected robber would be handed over to them.

    The community leader alleged that the most frightening thing was that the suspected robber boasted that he would be set free, “even if the landlords take me to Agodi Prison.”

     

  • Suspected robbers kill Customs officers

    The Nigeria Customs Service, Katsina State Command, has confirmed the killing of two of its officers by suspected robbers.

    Spokesman Peter Duniya, who confirmed the killing in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Katsina yesterday, said the officers were killed on July 30 while on duty.

    He said they were shot dead by people suspected to be robbers on Daura Road, Katsina.

    Duniya said the officers were on routine patrol at Dogon-Hawa, near Shargalle, in Dutsi Local Government when they were killed.

    The spokesman named the deceased as Assistant Superintendent of Customs Babandi Nuradeen and Chief Superintendent of Customs Maidama Yabo.

    “The command has begun investigation into the circumstance leading to the shooting of the officers,” he said.

    Duniya said the command had deployed officers from the intelligence unit, to unravel the reason for the killing.

    A NAN correspondent in Katsina reports that the state has been witnessing robberies.

    Security agents recently smashed a gang of cattle rustlers, who had been terrorising herdsmen.

  • Abia police parade suspected robbers, cultists

    Abia police parade suspected robbers, cultists

    The efforts of the police and other security agencies in Abia State have led to the arrest of suspected criminals, the rescue of kidnap victims as well as the recovery of stolen items in the state.

    Abia State Commissioner of Police Adeleye Oyebade paraded some suspects at the state command headquarters in Umuahia, the state capital, saying that the suspects were those nabbed in June and July. Oyebade attributed the arrests to intelligence gathering and prompt information to the police by members of the public about the activities of hoodlums in their neighbourhoods.

    Oyebade hailed his officers for being alive to their duties, saying that they were not going to rest on their oars but remain more committed and resolute in combating crime in the state.

    He urged his men to be professional and do their work with the fear of God.

    Oyebade explained that the stop and search operation in Aba and other parts of the state is not to extort money from road users, but to checkmate activities of hoodlums. He added that any policeman found wanting will face the music.

    Giving a breakdown of the command’s activity in June and July, Oyebade said “On 01/07/2017 at about 1200hrs, sequel to information received on the missing of one Peter Alaebuonu Eseonu, a tricycle operator, 67 years ‘m’ of Ekenaobizi Umuopara Umuahia on 27/06/2017, detectives attached to Central Police Station, Umuahia swooped on one Chinonso David Ibekwe, 25 years ‘m’ of Ndiotu Ntalakwu, Bende LGA. The suspect, a 200 level Computer Science student of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike Abia State gave a lead towards the recovery of the decomposing body of the said Peter Alaebuonu Eseonu in a ditch at Amuzukwu Umuahia. He has however, confessed to the crime while the decomposing body of the deceased has been deposited in the morgue for preservation and autopsy. The suspect has been charged to court and remanded in prison custody.

    “On 09/07/2017 at about 1100hrs, information was received that someone was shot dead along Obohia road Aba. Sequel to this, a patrol team attached to Ndiegoro Division on routine patrol rushed to the scene at No. 22 Obohia road Aba where the deceased was met in a pool of her own blood. The Divisional Police Officer, Ndiegoro mobilized other patrol teams and proceeded to the scene where one Ogbonnaya Igwe ‘m’ of 22 Obohia road was arrested in his hide-out at the ceiling of the house. One Pump-Action rifle and double barrel gun with 15 live cartridges and four expended cartridges were recovered from the suspect and at the scene respectively. Corpse of the deceased later identified as Ijeoma Chibuzo was deposited in the mortuary for autopsy.

    The police released more information on the arrest of several other suspected hoodlums and the recovery of stolen items.

  • Suspected robbers raid church in Ondo

    Suspected robbers raid church in Ondo

    FIVE suspected robbers have raided Living Faith Church (aka Winners Chapel) at Itanla on Ondo-Akure Road in Ondo town in Ondo State.

    They were said to have stolen cash and other valuables estimated at several thousands of naira.

    The hoodlums reportedly ransacked the church immediately they arrived at 2 a.m in a Toyota Prado Jeep.

    Residents said the suspected robbers shot severally into the air and locked up the security men in a room as they headed to the computer room of the nursery and primary school in the church.

    One of the security men said he and his colleagues saw the hoodlums as they suddenly drove into the church premises and started shooting into the air.

    He said the suspected robbers disposed the security men of their guns and mobile handsets.

    But normalcy has returned to the area, while religion activities had picked up in the church.

    Police spokesman Femi Joseph, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said he had not been briefed on the incident.

    He promised to contact the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Bolorunduro for details on the matter.