The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Suspected

  • Two suspected kidnappers held

    Two suspected Kidnappers were yesterday seized by men of the Odukpani Division of the Nigeria Police in Cross River State. They were alleged to have attempted the kidnap of three children of the same parents.

    The children, six-year-old Jeffer Effiong, Destiny Effiong, 4, and Dora Effiong, a toddler, were said to have been abducted at their residence in the Odukpani/Akamkpa axis of the Calabar/Ikom Highway, by a man who name was given as Dominic.

    It was gathered that the man was leading the children towards Odukpani Junction to board a bus when he was accosted by their mother, Eno, who had left their home earlier to sell oranges at the junction.

    She demanded to know where the stranger was taking her children to. He reportedly replied that he was going to buy bread for them.

    “How would you buy bread for children you don’t know?” She reportedly queried the suspected kidnapper.

    The mother immediately called for help and a team of policemen on duty at the junction promptly came to her rescue and arrested the suspect. An accomplice, Clement, who it was learnt, had made arrangements to receive the kid, was also arrested.

    The Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) of the Odukpani Division, Olatise Stephen, who led the team, called on the public to always give useful information to the police to help fight crime.

  • SSS, soldiers arrest seven suspected kidnappers in church

    SSS, soldiers arrest seven suspected kidnappers in church

    A cleric in Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State is now on the run after a combined team of operatives of the State Security Services (SSS) and soldiers smashed a kidnapping gang allegedly led by him.

    The security agents, however, arrested seven members of the gang -five men and two women- at the church during a raid.

    The pastor’s yellow Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), which he apparently abandoned while fleeing, was recovered by the security agents close to his church.

    Also seized were four motorcycles, one generating set, a dane gun, international passports of kidnap victims and assorted materials from the church turned shrine.

    Four kidnapped persons were rescued during the operation.

    Freed are 33-year-old Solomon Nwanna Okonkwo from Obosi in the Idemili South Local Government Area of the state; Monday Osagie, 50, from Edo State; Udenna Ikedigwe from Unukwu in Anam, Anambra West Local Government Area; and Amechi Oraekie from Awkuzu.

    The four were kidnapped between Friday last week and Tuesday this week and taken to the church which serves as detention camp of the gang.

    The State Director of SSS, Mr. Alexander Okeiyi, said preliminary investigation showed that the gang masterminded the February 2,2013 abduction of the Rev. James Goziem Achugbu of Saint Paul ’s Anglican Church, Umunachi in the state.

    He said efforts were in top gear to arrest other members of the gang that escaped during the raid.

    Before the rescue operation, the kidnappers had demanded a ransom of N20million for Solomon Okonkwo, N50million for Monday Osagie and N10million for Udenna Ikedigwe.

    Some people were said to have paid N2.5million to the gang to eliminate Amaechi Oraekie as a fallout of a squabble over property.

    The raid also led to the recovery of a Nissan Sunny car, belonging to another victim, Princewill Emmanuel Abian, described as a tipper driver from Cross River state.

    Okeiyi said Abian was released by the gang on February 20, after paying N100,000.

  • Police arrest suspected terrorists

    The police said in Abuja yesterday that they have dislodged a suspected terrorists’ cell in Minna, the Niger State capital.

    The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 7 Command, Mr. Suleiman Abba, spoke to reporters after presenting cheques of various sums to the families of the deceased officers in the zone.

    He said some of the terrorists have been arrested.

    The AIG, who did not give details, added that security in the zone (FCT, Niger and Kaduna) has improved, following the measures taken by the command.

    He said: “A cell of terrorists was to be operated in Minna, but we arrested the terrorists before they could carry out their heinous act.”

    Abba said weapons were recovered from the gang.

    Speaking after presenting the cheques, he urged them to use the money well by investing it in profitable ventures.

    He also enjoined them to be wary of fraudsters, saying they should seek assistance from the police whenever the need arose.

    The families of the 33 deceased officers, including serving four policemen, who sustained injuries, benefited from an insurance scheme.

    Some beneficiaries received N350,000. Others got N500,000.

    The AIG decorated eight senior officers from the Zone 7 headquarters, who were recently promoted.

    Four Chief Superintendents of Police (CSPs) and four Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) were decorated with their new ranks.

  • Police arrest suspected mastermind of Lagos blast

    A man suspected by the police to have planted the explosive device that killed a sand dredger, Oladele Pius, under the Amowo-Odofin/FESTAC link bridge on Monday, has been arrested.

    Police sources said the suspect was arrested early yesterday by undercover policemen who had been keeping watch over the blast scene since Monday.

    Sources at Area ‘E’ Police Command, FESTAC Town, Lagos disclosed that the suspect was arrested when he came to remove power cables from the scene. The police, The Nation learnt, are investigating the cable’s connection with the explosion as it was passed through the canal to the fence where the device was planted.

    It was gathered that the suspect who is currently being interrogated at the Police Area Command had made useful statement.

    Sources disclosed to our reporter that the suspect is an Ijaw man from Delta State, who was said to be an employee of the late Pius.

    The suspect, it was learnt, had mentioned the names of nine others who were involved in the explosion.

    On Tuesday, The Nation reliably gathered that the police had arrested those who spoke with the deceased shortly before the explosion occurred.

    Attempts to get an official comment on the arrest failed as the Area Commander, Mr Dan Okoro, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), did not answer calls put through to him.

    Lagos Police Commissioner, Mr Umar Manko confirmed that his men were holding somebody in connection with the incident. He, however, said he could not say that the person is the mastermind of the explosion as investigation is still ongoing.

    Manko, after his visit to the scene, told reporters that the explosion was not caused by a bomb, but as a result of an electrical fault.

  • Suspected kidnapper’s girlfriend states case

    Suspected kidnapper’s girlfriend states case

    The girlfriend of a kidnap suspect was yesterday paraded with her man by the police in Lagos. They had, for days, been guests of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos State Police Command for allegedly kidnapping a 13-year-old boy, Daniel Oke, in Lagos.

    The man, Raymond Quadri, 24, a native of Auchi, Edo State, operates a film-viewing centre in Lagos, while his co-suspect, Miss Bolanle Fasasi, 19, is a hair-dresser hails from Abeokuta, Ogun State.

    The state police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, a deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said Quadri was arrested after a complaint was lodged at Ikotun Police Station by the kidnapped child’s parents. The policemen at the Ikotun Police Station arrested him and he was later transferred to SARS. The SARS’ Special Squad led by Abba Kyari stormed Bolanle’s home, arrested her and rescued Daniel.

    Defending herself, Fasasi said: “Uncle Raymond told me that he was coming with somebody to stay with me for some days. I said I would tell my sister because I was living with her and my mother. The next day, he came with the child and left after dropping money to take care of him. The following day, I became worried and called him on phone and asked: ‘Why is the child not going to school and he is of school age. Will the parents not get worried?’ Even my mother who is living with us became worried.

    “ It was on Monday morning that I called Raymond to come and take the child back to his parents. I did not know that he kept the child for kidnap deal.”

    “Raymond is my boyfriend. I did not know that he could go into kidnapping until I was arrested. Even when I asked the boy when police were arresting me, the child claimed he planned it together with Raymond,” she said.

    Quadri confessed his involvement, saying: “I was the one who kidnapped the child.”

    He added: “Both of us lived at 51 Lasisis Ige Street, Ikotun. I have a viewing centre there. I needed money to buy more equipment for centre because expanding the centre would cost between N500,000 and N2 million and the cheapest way to get it is to kidnap the boy whose parents I knew, were capable of producing the money. I only wanted N2 million from the parents.

    He spoke further: “I later took the child to the house of my girlfriend at Ikorodu to keep pending the time the parents would pay the ransom. I kept the boy there for three days. I used to spend N2,000 for the child every day because I instructed my girlfriend to be giving him anything he liked to take so that he would be comfortable. I told my girlfriend that we would get millions of naira when the parents pay ransom.”

    Braide said they would soon be charged to court.

  • JTF arrests suspected kidnap kingpin in Delta

    JOINT Military Task Force, JTF has arrested suspected kidnappers kingpin terrorizing Ughelli and its environs in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State.

    The suspect who was identified as Kennedy Itoje, 37, a native of Iyede in Isoko North Local Government Area of the Delta State was arrested by men of the JTF on a routine stop and check along the East/West road at about 6pm in his Mazda car on the direction of Yenagoa.

    It was learnt that the kidnap kingpin and his group were responsible for most of the kidnap incidents in the area, alleging that the group was said to have been responsible for the kidnap of Mrs Kate Okogu, Mrs Ighoroje, Madam Ovibi, Revd Israel Unutame and other personalities in the area.

    The Commanding Officer of the 222 battalion, Ughelli, Lt Col Attahiru Rasheed who briefed journalists on the arrest said the suspect Kennedy Itoje has been on their wanted list, adding that the JTF was out to wipe out all forms of criminality in the area in collaboration with other security agencies and the local vigilante.

    Rasheed said the arrest of Kennedy Itoje would help in the arrest of other members of the notorious group, explaining that he has made some useful information that would help the JTF in the tracking down of hoodlums in the area.

    On interview with newsmen, Kennedy Itoje said he was working with Daewoo, an oil servicing company as a welder before he lost his job and that he has a wife and one child.

  • STF: we’ve arrested Dantong’s suspected killers

    The Special Task Force (STF) on Jos crises, code named Operation Safe Haven, has arrested the suspected killers of the late Senator Gyang Dantong, James Gyang Fulani and 65 others who died during gun attacks in Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local Ggovernment Areas of Plateau State last July.

    The late Dantong was the senator representing Plateau North. The late Fulani represented Barkin Ladi Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly.

    They were killed during a mass burial for 65 victims killed in Mase, Riyom Local Government.

    The STF had been on the trail of the killers.

    Addressing reporters at the STF headquarters in Jos yesterday, STF spokesman Capt Salisu Mustapha said: “On July 7, 2012, some gunmen carried out coordinated attacks on some villages in Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local Government Areas of Plateau State. These led to loss of lives and properties. The incident precipitated a lot of rumours as regards the number of casualties and the extent of damage.

    “In a swift reaction, the STF conducted series of operations in the areas. Several arrests were made and arms were recovered.

    “The weapons recovered include three AK-47 rifles, 14 locally made pistols, a sub-machine gun, six locally made shotguns, a locally made single barrel long gun and 516 live rounds of 7.62mm NATO firearm.

    “Other weapons recovered are 534 live rounds of 7.62mm (SP), 170 live cartridges, four AK-47 magazines, seven locally made magazines, a Browning pistol magazines, expended cartridges, an empty Bondalier, four spears, 22 arrows, a sword, a dagger and three cutlasses.

    “Following the operation carried out to apprehend the perpetrators of the attacks, new strategies were introduced to enhance the operational capabilities of the STF troops with a view to enhancing security in Riyom and Barkin Ladi Local Governments. This led to the arrest of 21 suspects. Some other arrests were made by the operatives of the Nigerian Police and other security agencies.

    “After preliminary investigations by the STF, three of the 21 suspects arrested by the STF were handed over to the Plateau State Police Command while one other was handed over to State Security Service (SSS) for further action. The remaining 16 suspects arrested by the STF are on open arrest while investigation to ascertain their level of involvement is still ongoing.

    “In the meantime, the three suspects, who were handed over to the police by STF, are currently undergoing trials at the Plateau State High Court in Barkin Ladi. Also, two others arrested in separate operations by the police are equally being tried at the same court.

    “Meanwhile, the suspect we handed over to the State Director of the SSS has equally been charged to court. The suspects were arrested at Botto village in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State following intelligence report…”

  • 20 suspected Internet fraudsters held

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said it has arrested 20 suspected Internet fraudsters.

    The commission, which announced in a statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the suspects were arrested in Benin.

    The statement reads: “The arrest, carried out in a joint operation with officers of the 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Benin, followed intelligence report on their activities.

    “They were nabbed during a surprise raid on their cyber office in an old building located on Siluko Road, Benin City.

    “At the point of arrest, the fraudsters had in their possession 45 laptops of different brands, 28 mobile telephone sets, eight Internet mobile modems and one Nissan car with registration number USL 375 AG.

    “The suspected fraudsters, who are mostly in their 20s, include: Idehen Obabueki, Adesa Lucky, Usuagu Uche, Eloghosa Olikiabor, Larry Edomwonyi, Amowie Maike, Francis Ezegbede, Itua Samuel and Endurance John Egbeifo. Others are: Amego Ovenseri, Iyen Ighodaro, Philip Agbodori, Lucky Robinson, Nnadi Obinna, Osabuohien Osahon, Chinenu Eze, Peter Sunday, Solomon Ogu, Niyi Femi and Osagie Aghedo.

    “The suspects have made useful statements. Most of them confessed to be engaged in online dating of foreigners, particularly widows.

    “They also confessed to using different pseudo names and faces to deceive their prospective victims.

    “They will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.”

  • Arepo fire: Four suspected vandals nabbed

    Following Wednesday fire outbreak at Arepo in Ogun State, the Anti-Pipeline Vandalism Task Force constituted by the Inspector General of Police has arrested four suspected vandals.

    They were caught in the early hours of Wednesday while returning from the creek where they had gone to carry out their nefarious activity.

    The suspects, who were identified as Wale Onana, Owekeware Olusor Ekperemor, Ebimiru Yeyha and Truce Iroju, are currently being held at the Force Headquarters Annex, Obalende, Lagos.

    Assistant Commissioner of Police, Friday Ibadin, who is in charge of the Task Force, confirmed the arrest, adding: “Shortly after the explosion, some policemen led by Lagos Sector Commander, Mr Onaghise Osayande, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), cordoned off the area, awaiting the arrival of fire fighters. They extended the search to Konu and Majidun area, an alternative route to the spot. Some vandals were spotted and ambushed, while others fled. Four were arrested.”

    At the police station, one of the suspects, Onana, said they had simply executed the orders of one of their leaders whom he identified as ‘Igbekorowa’.

    In his words: “We learnt that NNPC was mounting a platform close to the creeks and that would be bad business for us. It was agreed that we should try and stop them pending when we must have gotten enough supply that we could manage before another spot was discovered.

    “On the January 22, we sneaked in through the river at about 12am and fetched few gallons of PMS and while we were leaving, Yukun lighted a cigarette and threw it at the ruptured part and the fire started again. On our way back, Igbekorowa asked us to move ahead of him that he and Yukun would follow us from behind. Unknown to us, some police officers were hiding in the bush; they arrested us.”

    It was gathered that Igbekorowa is a notorious vandal and is suspected to be one of those that killed an official of the NNPC staff, while trying to repair a pipeline at Arepo last year. Igbekorowa and another vandal, popularly known as Togo, have been on the ‘wanted list’ of the police.

    When asked about Togo’s whereabouts, Wale said: “He was badly burnt during the last fire incident but was lucky to escape alive. His girlfriend quickly smuggled him to Ondo State where he is receiving treatment. We were told that he is still alive but nobody knows where exactly he is hiding. We were only obeying instruction because if you don’t obey, Togo would order your execution”.

    Another suspect, Owekeware said: “Shortly after that fire outbreak, it was agreed that we should stay away from that spot and look for another area. I was surprised when Igbekorowa called and asked me to meet him at the water side. He convinced me to join them. When we were about leaving, Yukun threw a cigarette back to the spot. I was shocked and they explained that NNPC wanted to mount a permanent security post in that area. They said that once the fire is on, those engineers cannot erect any structure because of the heat. I never knew that this was their plan. That was how we got into into police trap.”

  • Police parade suspected house help robbers

    THE Lagos State Police Command has smashed a syndicate which specialised in using house helps, and other domestic servants to seal their employers’ properties.

    It was gathered that the domestic servants, who are also members of the gang, are planted in the houses of wealthy clients. They monitor and dispossess of their valuables estimated millions of naira.

    Three of the suspects Freedom Maddy James (25,) her husband Maddy James (30) and Hassan Bawa (55) who allegedly stole jewelries worth over N20million have been paraded by the police.

    Command spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), who paraded the suspects said they were arrested following a victim’s report at Area ‘F’ Ikeja.

    She said: “On the October 3, 2012, at about 2pm, one Mrs. Monday David (not real name) reported at Area ‘F’ Command Headquarters, Ikeja that on September 20, 2012 while she was looking for a house help, one John and Joseph Obong brought one lady simply identified as Rejoice to work for her. The complainant alleged that Rejoice only worked for two days and disappeared.

    “She complained to John and Joseph who brought another house help whose name was given as Comfort. She worked for only a day, ransacked the complainant’s house and stole her gold jewelleries worth about N20million and vanished. The case was transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Command Headquarters, Ikeja on October 5, 2012 for further investigation”, Braide explained.

    She said with the assistance of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ikoyi Police Station, Aisha Haruna, a Superintendent (SP), James was arrested for allegedly stealing and selling jewelleries worth over N20million to Hassan Bawa for N1 3million.

    Braide said the group and others at large specialised in gaining employment as house help or driver with fake names, addresses, fake guarantors and phone numbers to rob their employers.