The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Suspected

  • JTF demolishes suspected Boko Haram leader’s home in Benue

    A military Joint Task Force (JTF) from Abuja at the weekend demolished a bungalow it alleged was the hideout of a suspected Boko Haram commander in Gboko, Benue State.

    Gboko is the ancestral headquarters of the Tiv.

    It is located in Benue Northwest Senatorial Zone and is an hour’s journey (about 22 kilometres) from Makurdi, the state capital.

    Armed soldiers in six operation vans stormed the bungalow in Gboko South, near a primary school, and arrested a woman and a landlord living there.

    A member of the JTF, who spoke in confidence, explained that the suspect was traced through his handset to Gboko.

    It was, however, learnt that as the security men closed in on his hideout, the suspect escaped through the back door.

    He reportedly left his “girlfriend”, who sources alleged he kidnapped from Abuja.

    There was a heavy exchange of gunfire between the JTF and the suspect.

    Bullets from the JTF hit nearby buildings.

    The suspect was said to have escaped with bullet wounds.

    There was confusion and panic among the residents.

    Some residents watched from the distance as the operation lasted.

    Officers and men of Benue State Police Commanded were reportedly taken unawares.

    When armed soldiers stormed the compound, they discovered that their target had escaped.

    They went away and returned shortly with a bulldozer with which they demolished the bungalow.

    The first bulldozer broke down. This reportedly annoyed the JTF men, who allegedly beat him up before getting another to complete the demolition.

    The suspect’s “girlfriend” and the landlord were reportedly moved to Abuja for interrogation.

    Gboko residents have since tightened security around churches following the exercise.

    The Nation gathered that the suspect has been on the wanted list of security agencies because of his alleged involvement in bombing of churches in the North.

    Police spokesman Daniel Ezeala, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (DSP), told The Nation that the operation was carried out by a combined security team from Abuja.

    He, however, directed our correspondent to the State Security Service (SSS) command for further reaction.

  • Three suspected kidnappers nabbed

    Three armed robbery and kidnap suspects have been arrested in Uli, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State in a joint operation carried out by the police and the local vigilante in the community.

    Items recovered from them were one pump action gun, one loaded cartridge, two GSM handsets, and one high capacity motorcycle allegedly used for their operations as they concealed their arms in sacks.

    Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Ralp Uzoigwe confirmed the incident but said details would be made available to newsmen shortly even as they are already making more arrests and investigations.

    The alleged suspects, Ralph Ibe 24, from Umuoma Uli, Onyeka Onwukwalu, 20, from Amichi in Nnewi South Council Area and Chinedu Hez, 21, from Umuebuke Umuaku Uli were arrested during a robbery operation on a day after Christmas at Ndiakaba-Umuaku Junction in Eziama Uli.

    The Nation gathered that the suspects were arrested on a tip off about 5:00pm on Boxing Day. They opened fire on the team but were later over powered.

    The hoodlums were said to be terrorising Uli Community for a long time and before their arrest, the gang was notorious for kidnapping infants for rituals and adults for ransom apart from armed robbery and other heinous crimes.

    A victim who pleaded anonymity told newsmen that the arrested gang members robbed his home twice in August this year as the entire family took refuge in a nearby bush.

     

  • Suspected oil bunkerers held in Ondo

    A truck loaded with 33,000 litres of adulterated diesel and two cars conveying 4,000 litres of the same product have been impounded by men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Ondo State.

    The drivers of the vehicles – Bashiru Koko, Mohammed Danliti and Useni Mohammed, were arrested.

    The command’s spokesman, Mr. Balogun Kayode, said the suspects were arrested near the toll gate on the Ore-Lagos expressway. Kayode said the truck is marked, XB 6038 BGD; the Volvo, FF 129 AAA and the Toyota Carina, BE 399 KSF.

    He said the suspects would soon be arraigned.

  • Navy arrests four suspected oil thieves in Kogi

    The Nigeria Navy Command, NNS Luguard Lokoja, has arrested four suspected crude oil thieves on the coastal waters of Kogi State.

    The Commander, Innocent Yinfaowei, broke the news to reporters yesterday in Lokoja, the state capital, at the beginning of the command’s security patrol on River Niger.

    He said the suspects were arrested with crude oil.

    The Navy Commander said the Chief of Naval Staff has kick-started security patrol on the coastal area to ensure safety on the waterways and directed all commands across the country to initiate their patrol. The Central Naval command is also participating in the exercise.

    Yinfowei gave the code name of the outfit as Operation Rid Kogi of Criminals and Criminal Activities on the waterways.

    The Navy Commander said the exercise would ensure that the waterways are safe from pirates and oil thieves, who operate on the rivers.

    He said criminals, whose activities were being hampered on the land, have resorted to using the waterways.

    Yinfowei said: “We have been arresting people who vandalised pipelines to steal crude oil. One of the boats with tanks of crude oil, which was arrested during the course of our patrol, capsized after hitting a rock. We patrol from Lokoja to Jamata, Itobe and Idah.

    “The crime rate on the waterways has been on the increase as the land is no longer safe for their activities because of task force operation. This is why they have resorted to the water ways.”

  • Five suspected vandals arrested

    Five persons suspected to be involved in vandalising pipelines in Orhionmwon Local Government of Edo State have been arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

    They were arrested when men of the NSCDC carried out a raid on a warehouse at Abudu, headquarters of Orhionmwon local council.

    NSCDC State Commandant Chike Ikpeamu said yesterday that over 5,000 litres of petroleum products found at the warehouse were destroyed.

    Chike said a power generating set and an additional 1,000 litres of petroleum products were recovered.

    He said the suspects fled on sighting his men but that five were arrested.

     

  • JTF parades five suspected fraudsters in Yobe

    •Govt imposes curfew on four towns

     

    The Joint Task Force (JTF) on Yobe State security yesterday paraded five suspects for allegedly defrauding some residents with a promise to help them release their relaitions in JTF custody.

    Addressing reporters in Damaturu, the state capital, JTF spokesman Lt. Eli Lazarus said the suspects, who formed a syndicate, collected money from unwary people with relatives in the task force’s custody and promised to get their bail.

    He said some people were convinced that the suspects facilitated the release of such suspects as many of them in custody were coincidentally released.

    Lt. Lazarus said luck ran out on the suspects after one of their attempts failed and the family alerted the JTF.

    The military officer said this led to the arrest of members of the syndicate.

    Lt Lazarus urged the public to stop offering money for the release of suspects in JTF custody.

    He added: “JTF does not grant bail to anybody. We normally release people unconditionally after screening.”

    The Yobe State Government has re-imposed curfew on four major towns.

    In a statement in Damaturu, the state capital, by Abdullahi Bego, the Special Adviser on Information and Press Affairs to Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, the government listed the towns as Damaturu, Gaidam, Gashua and Buni Yadi.

    The statement said the curfew is from 6pm to 7am daily, beginning from November 11.

    Lt Lazarus confirmed the imposition of the curfew, adding that it would enhance security.

     

  • Suspected ritualists kill woman in Cross River

    A Primary Health Care Coordinator in Bekwarra Local Government Area of Cross River State, Mrs. Helen Ilonge (51), has been murdered by suspected ritualists.

    The victim, who lost her husband 12 years ago, has five children.

    It was learnt that a commercial motorcyclist, simply identified as Ifeanyi, a.k.a. Koboko, was given N10,000 by ritualists to provide them with a woman.

    Sources said the late Mrs. Ilonge, who was returning from a church programme in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, to Ukpe, a village on the Ogoja–Ikom highway, boarded Ifeanyi’s motorcycle and was taken to the ritualists.

    A neighbour said: “She deceased phoned her daughter, Victoria Agah, at about 9pm that she was at Okpogrinya Junction and was taking a motorcyle to Igoli.

    “After that call, the phone was unavailable until a couple of days later, when the kidnappers phoned demanding N50,000 ransom, which they said should be sent through MTN and Glo recharge cards.

    “The caller, who said they were at Ishi Eke near Abakaliki, claimed that he needed money to run away from his master, who he said was a ritualist. He said once he gets the cards, he would release Mrs. Ilonge.

    “Her daughter could not raise the money for the recharge cards and she went to the Bekwara Council Headquarters, where the Head of Aadministration, Mr. Bisong Bogbo, and the Council Chairman, Mr. Linus Edeh, provided the money and sent the cards to the kidnappers online.

    “After receiving the cards, the kidnappers stopped calling. Ifeanyi was located by the police through a tracking device on the phone. He was arrested in Abuochiche, where he was selling the recharge cards.

    “Ifeanyi led the police to the mastermind of the kidnap and he too was arrested. They confessed that as at the time Ifeanyi demanded the recharge cards, the woman had been butchered and her remains buried in a swamp.

    “They said the woman was wasted because the oracle they took her head and private parts to rejected them and they were thrown away.”

    Commissioner of Police Osita Ezechukwu said: “We have made several arrests and those found guilty would be prosecuted.

    “Those involved in her abduction have been picked up and detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). Investigation is methodical and we have to use scientific equipment and other means to establish the truth. We will soon conclude our investigations and arraign the suspects.”

     

  • Army parades suspected UNIPORT students’ killers

    Army parades suspected UNIPORT students’ killers

    The Nigerian Army has arrested three men suspected to be members of the six-man syndicate that shot dead two students of the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    Spokesman of 2 Brigade/Sector Two Joint Task Force, Maj. Mike Etete, spoke while parading the suspects before reporters yesterday in Port Harcourt.

    Maj. Etete said the suspects had also been fingered as those who assassinated a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, believed to be serving in the state.

    He said that the suspects, (names withheld), were arrested after a stop and search operation was carried out by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Task Force at Rumuochara Village in Choba, near Aluu Community in the state.

    “Following the killing of three persons at Rumuochara Village in Choba on Oct. 18, a manhunt was launched for the arrest of the gunmen.

    “At about 1:45 a.m. (yesterday), troops of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Joint Task Force intercepted four gunmen at Choba Junction.

    “An exchange of gunfire ensued between the soldiers and gunmen; consequently, one of the gunmen was killed instantly, one was injured and two others escaped with injuries.

    “Our soldiers did not sustain any injury in the course of this operation,” he said.

    Maj. Etete said after the gun duel with the four suspects, soldiers cordoned-off the area and apprehended two other suspects who allegedly came to support their gang members.

    He said the suspects were quickly arrested while investigation revealed that the two suspects were supplying arms and ammunition to reinforce their gang members.

    The spokesman said that three AK 47 rifles, 272 rounds of 7.2mm live ammunition and 16 magazines were recovered from the suspects.

    He named other items recovered from the suspects as an ash coloured Toyota Avalon car with registration numbers Kano AG 320 MDG, four Nokia phones, one Blackberry phone and identification cards.

    Maj. Etete called on the public and hospitals to report persons with gunshot wounds to security agencies in the state.

    He, however, declined attempt by reporters to speak with the suspects, saying that such move could jeopardise investigations being carried out to arrest two other suspects who escaped.

  • SSS invites Senator over suspected Boko Haram commander

    SSS invites Senator over suspected Boko Haram commander

    The State Security Service (SSS) has invited Senator, Alhaji Ahmed Khalifa Zanna, in connection with the arrest of a suspected Boko Haram Commander, Shuaib Mohammed Bama.

    But the Senator said although the suspect is his nephew, he has no link with the sect in any way.

    He said the house where the suspect was arrested belongs to a former Governor of Borno State, Senator Modu Ali Sheriff, whom he defeated to win Borno Central Senatorial seat in the Senate.

    He accused the JTF of burning 300 houses in the last one and a half months and killing 500 people.

    Zanna, who spoke on his experience in Abuja, said he suspected an attempt to frame him up by the JTF.

    He said: “Since my house was searched and the JTF made the announcement, I have not been contacted by security agencies. But it was only this morning (Sunday), I saw a text that the SSS DG will want to see me on Monday. I will honour the invitation .What I am suspecting is that they want to frame me up.”

    On his relationship with the Boko Haram suspect, Zanna said: “Yes, he is my sister’s son.

    “As for his behaviour, he is a … He beats up my children; he abuses my friends. He came to my house, so I sent him away. That was about a year ago. And for whatever reason I don’t know, he came to my house last week and I said he should leave the house.

    “Sometime ago, he even threatened to kill his mother. So, the mother was not even feeling comfortable living with him. And he narrated that to me. That is why I also do not want him to be near me.

    “I don’t know him to be a Boko Haram member. Never, never, I do not know him to be a member of Boko Haram.”

    The Senator gave an insight into how the JTF raided his house last Thursday.

    He said: “On Thursday, they went to my house. I was in Warri at that time; I went for an oversight function. My wife called me; she said the army people were at our gate. Actually, they went with four armoured vehicles and about 40 of them came to my house.

    “They searched all the rooms and when they went to the children’s room, they broke all their cabinets and searched everywhere. When they could not found anything, then they assembled all the boys in my building, took them out and put them under the scorching sun. Actually, before doing that, they beat them up. We had to take them to hospital later.

    “Under this traumatized condition, they asked them whether they know one Shuaib Bama. They said, of course, they know when they see him.

    “One of them was asked to go and show them where he is living. As they were going, when they were about to reach the house, they stopped. In fact, they blindfolded the boy. And one of the officers asked one of the personnel to come down so that they should follow him to the house without the boy telling them where the house is.

    “So, as they started going, the other officer sitting down asked him: ‘If you know the house, then why should we pick this boy?’ And after some arguments, they went to the house and arrested the boy.”

    He added: “Contrary to the claim of the JTF, the boy was arrested in Rabi Street, off Damboa Road. And the, the house belongs to Senator Ali Modu Sheriff. Before, the house belonged to one Abba Mala, a Cameroonian. And later, he sold it to late Tijjani Banki and Sheriff bought from Tijjani Banki.

    “I reacted because they said they arrested the boy in the house of a serving Senator along Damboa Road and I am the one living along Damboa Road.

    “I really do not understand why they did all these. I am confused. If they want to frame me up, they have failed in that one because they did not get that boy in my house. I have nothing to do with it. Let them go and ask the person where the boy was staying. So, they should not have mentioned my house.”

    Zanna explained that the JTF went after him because he demanded withdrawal of soldiers from Maiduguri during an interview with BBC.

    He said: “This story emanating from the JTF is actually as a result of an interview which I carried out(granted) in BBC last week – asking for their withdrawal from the state because they are not working according to the rules of engagement.

    “I noticed that they are just killing innocent people, killing them unnecessarily, harassing their families, extorting money. All these have been going on and I became so concerned.

    Particularly, the killing and burning of houses became the order of the day.

    “At least, 300 houses were burnt within the last one and a half months. And it will not be an exaggeration for me to say that up to 500 people have been killed by the bullets of the JTF.

    “I called for their withdrawal because even Boko Haram cannot do more than that. If they have come to protect us, they are not supposed to eliminate our young ones. Most of the people affected are young ones.

    “According to the information I got yesterday, they have started even killing old men. Somebody who was about 70 years old was killed. He was sitting down, listening to a radio and a JTF man came and he said: ‘Baba come’. They just took him to a certain distance and shot him. This is the type of things happening. So, my people are helpless. This warranted me to react.”

  • Police arrest 10 suspected terrorists in Kano

    The Kano State Police Command yesterday arrested 10 suspected terrorists who are said to be fleeing members of the group that killed two police officers and two members of the Kano State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

    The suspects were arrested in the city following an extensive raid of hideouts of suspected terrorists.

    In a statement by Police Commissioner Ibrahim Idris, the command said the suspects have confessed to committing the crime.

    Idris said of the 10 suspects, eight were being quizzed over the killing of two policemen in Dawanu area of the city while the other two were masterminds of the killing of the FRSC officials in Madobi area of Kano. The statement explained that three rifles stolen by the suspects were recovered in an uncompleted building in Dawanu, while two of the AK47 rifles belonged to the slain policemen.

    All the suspects, the police chief said, have made confessional statements.

    According to him, one of the suspects had gunshot wounds when the police wanted to arrest him and later died in a hospital.

    Idris said: “The second suspect, Ibrahim Inusa, of Sudanese parentage and no fixed address, is in police custody. The two were involved in the killing of the two FRSC men.”

    The statement added: “One of the suspects, Ibrahim Inusa, together with others at large, specialised in the killing of innocent citizens in the state. During investigation, he confessed to have organised and participated in various killings of civilians and security personnel at Gaida, Sheka, Gwale and other parts of Kano, including the recent killing of some Federal Road Safety Commission workers on the Sabon Titi Madobi Road in Kano.

    “He claimed that the slain FRSC men impounded their motorcycle and said that was the reason they attacked him and his colleagues.

    He also confessed that his gang members deceived their victims with a GSM call that there was an accident on Madobi Road, which needed their intervention. They then ambushed them on their way to the phony accident scene and they were killed.”