The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Suspected

  • Suspected foreign voters invade Bayelsa

    Suspected foreign voters invade Bayelsa

    There was tension in Bayelsa State yesterday, following the invasion of the state by suspected foreign voters ahead of Saturday’s election.

    The strange-looking people, it was learnt, were ‘imported’ to rig the poll for one party.

    The Nation gathered that politicians working for the party adopted the strategy of bringing voters from other states, especially from the North, to rig.

    Fear heightened, following a discovery that the persons were brought into the state a month ago and were registered as bona fide voters.

    Residents said they were worried about the presence of the ‘foreign voters’, who were reportedly brought to the state in trucks under the protection of mobile policemen.

    It was learnt that the ‘foreign voters’ were taken to local governments and lodged in hotels.

    “Their presence is generating crisis in Nembe, the council of Deputy Governor John Jonah. We notice that they are strangers. We don’t know them and we won’t allow them to vote.

    “This is provocative. We advise them to leave in their own interest. We will make the place hot for them and we will beat them up if they come out to vote on Saturday,” a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who spoke in confidence, said.

    Our correspondent saw some of the suspected foreign voters in Yenagoa and learnt that over 5,000 of them were lodged in hotels in the capital city.

    A resident, who preferred anonymity, said: “Some of the men, who came in trailers, are in Swali town, while some of them are in Sagbama. The women are lodged in hotels near Imgbi Road. They are monitored by elderly men.

    “They told me that they are from Niger State. Based on my interaction with them, I noticed that some of them are educated. Most of them are civil servants.”

    Police Commissioner Nasiru Oki said his command was aware of the presence of the strangers.

    He said: “We are mounting roadblocks. We will use intelligence reports to fish out the people.

    “We warn residents not to take the law into their hands. They should not involve in acts that will undermine the efforts of the stakeholders to ensure a free, fair and peaceful election.”

  • Suspected cult members shootpoly student dead

    A polytechnic student in Abeokuta, Ogun State has been shot dead by members of a rival cult group in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

    Sources said the incident occurred penultimate Tuesday minutes after the student, identified simply as Seun, wrote his final year examination.

    The late Seun was said to have been felled by bullets during a shootout between two rival cult gangs in Onikolobo area of the Ogun State capital.

    He was alleged to have led the members of a cult known as Buccaneers in the violent confrontation.

    The late Seun, popularly called Nigga, was said to have led his group on a reprisal against members of another unidentified cult group when he met his untimely death.

    A source who spoke in confidence said: “Seun and his men wanted to avenge the death of another member of their group who was recently killed by a rival cult group.

    “They stormed the Onikolobo area on a revenge mission and engaged their rivals in a shootout during which Seun was killed.”

    He was said to be a final year Marketing student of the polytechnic.

    A source who did not want her name in print gave a graphic account of how Seun was killed, saying: “His colleagues abandoned him when members of the rival cult started raining bullets on him.

    “Apparently, he had fortified himself with charms because bullets could not penetrate his body until his attackers resorted to stoning him before they eventually shot him dead.

    “He was said to have foretold his death shortly before he left with his lieutenants, saying that he might not return alive from the ungodly mission.

    “The shootout lasted one hour as everyone in the neighbourhood scampered into safety.”

    The spokesman of the Ogun Police Command, Mr Muyiwa Adejobi, did  not respond to our correspondent’s enquiries press time.

  • Suspected insurgents held in IDPs camp

    Four suspected would-be bombers were apprehended as they attempted to enter the Internally Displaced Camps (IDPs) camp in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, it was learnt yesterday.

    Alhaji Musa Jidawa, the Executive Secretary, Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), told reporters yesterday that two suspects initially disguised as visitors to see relations at the camp but were apprehended.

     

  • Police parade suspected hacker, five others

    A suspected Internet fraudster, Daniel Obasi, who allegedly hacked and cloned Facebook accounts of high profile people, was at the weekend paraded by the police in Ondo State.

    Paraded with five other suspects arrested for various offences, Obasi confessed to cloning accounts of Deputy Governors Lasisi Oluboyo and his counterpart in Lagos, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule.

    Commissioner of Police Mike Ogbodu said: “Obasi and his gang members, who are still at large, hacked into the Facebook accounts of their victims by creating another code and thereafter blocked their victims’ access to their accounts and begin to relate with the public by impersonating the owner. Efforts are on to arrest his other accomplices.”

    Obasi, an indigene of Imo State and a resident of Port Harcourt, said he was recently introduced into the business.

    He denied hacking into the account of people but confessed that he createed other Facebook accounts of personalities to dupe people.

    “I opened separate accounts for Ondo and Lagos deputy governors and I used it to chat with people on the internet. I did not hack into their accounts. I only opened new account on their behalf. I use it to communicate with people. I have never hacked into their accounts.”

    Obasi said he started defrauding people because his cosmetics business collapsed.

    The police also paraded Abdulahi Matt, who allegedly specialises in removing vehicle brain boxes and glasses.

    He was caught with 30 brain boxes and 20 vehicle glasses.

  • Four suspected traffic robbers held

    ASSISTANT Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Zone II Bala Hassan has ordered the Zonal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (ZSARS) to fish out highway traffic robbers.

    Four persons Samuel Chukwu, 22, Shola Kudus, 24, Ololade Kudus, 18 and Daniel Okey, 17, have been arrested and one toy pistol, knife and a handset were recovered from them.

    Hassan told reporters that when he assumed duty he received reports from concerned citizens at Alaba International and Okokomaiko, urging him to do something about the problem.

    Based on the complaints, ZSARS team was instructed to fish out the hoodlums.

    During interrogation, the suspects said they robbed people of their valuables, such as, GSM handset, money, gold necklace, wrist watches, laptops and wedding rings.

     

  • Police arrest 69 suspected rustlers

    The Kano State Police Command said yesterday that it had arrested 69 cattle rustlers and other robbers in the last one month.

    Police Commissioner Muhammad Katsina, who spoke when he visited Gidan-Kare village in Sumaila Local Government, said residents deserted the village following attacks by bandits.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the police commissioner was in the village to assess the security situation and map out strategies to rid the area of the menace.

    Katsina said of the number arrested, 46 suspects were among the most wanted bandits, while the remaining 23 suspects were arrested for cattle rustling.

    According to him, the police also recovered 20 goats and sheep, 31 rifles and pistols, 240 cartridges of ammunition and 68 cattle of which 30 had been returned to their owners.

    Katsina said the police  apprehended a notorious leader of a robbery gang popularly called Datti Rodi at Gani village.

    “The leader has about 200 members who have been terrorising the community,” he said.

    Katsina said the suspects were cooperating with the police in their investigations and that they would soon be arraigned.

    The police chief attributed the successes within one month to the resilience of his men and the onslaught on the hoodlums.

    He advised those who fled their villages following the activities of bandits to return, as the command had put in place measures to ensure safety.

    Katsina said the command would soon deploy more policemen in the villages to enhance security.

  • Suspected pick pockets caught sharing loot

    Suspected pick pockets caught sharing loot

    Three persons have been arrested by Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives for alleged phone theft.

    They are Ebuka Ekujere, Monsuru Onanuga, and Segun Alao.

    The suspects were caught about 1:20pm on Friday, around Eko Hotel on Victoria Island, after they allegedly snatched a phone belonging to a passenger in a tricycle.

    It was learnt that Ekujere who boarded the same tricycle with the passenger, removed the phone from the owner’s pocket and hid it on the seat.

    Onanuga and Alao were said to have seen him, but they kept mum and later collected N3,000 from Ekujere for not giving him out.

    According to the police, Ekujere, who lives on Ezeagu Street in Ajegunle, said the other two suspects knew he was a thief. The police quoted him as saying that he usually settled them whenever they caught him in the act.

    The suspects were caught, while arguing on how to share the loot.

    In his statement, Ekujere said: “I boarded a tricycle at Eko Hotel roundabout to Obalende and in front of Eko Hotel gate, I removed a handset from a passenger’s pocket and dropped it on the seat.

    “Not knowing that his phone has been stolen, the passenger alighted by the hotel.

    “But Alao and Onanuga who saw me when I picked the handset, joined me in the tricycle.

    “Both of them demanded for settlement and I gave them N3,000 but Onanuga further attempted to collect the phone and my money.

    “Then, I engaged them in a verbal confrontation and this attracted the tricycle rider.

    “Having explained what transpired to him, he held me and handed me over to RRS operatives stationed in front of Eko Hotel.”

    Other suspects denied knowing Ekujere is a thief, but admitted that they collected N3,000 from him.

    Onanuga, who claimed that he is a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Jakande Branch, said he was on assignment at Eko Hotel round about to regulate traffic.

    He denied knowing Ekujere before the incident, adding that he was not his accomplice.

    “I was at my duty post when I sighted a man later identified as Ekujere pick a handset on a seat inside a tricycle. I and Alao challenged him to know if he is the owner but he said he was not.

    “He promised to give us N3,000 which he did.  Having collected the money, we parted ways.

    “Later he came back and asked us to give him N1,000 out of the money which we did. We later saw Ekujere and a tricycle rider dragging themselves.

    “We went there to ascertain what was happening, in the process, Ekujere pointed at us to the Police that we are his accomplices. That was how the RRS team arrested us.”

    Alao admitted that they demanded for settlement from the prime suspect after he stole the handset.

    “I did not know it’s a crime to aid and abet criminal act. We promised never to do that again. We were only looking for daily bread,” he said.

    Police spokesman, Joe Offor, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), warned residents against aiding and abetting crime.

  • Suspected traffic robber held in Mile 2

    Suspected traffic robber held in Mile 2

    Operatives of Lagos State Police Command have arrested Monday Ubi for allegedly robbing a passenger in traffic.

    Ubi, described as a “traffic robbery kingpin” was arrested at Mile 2 by the Response Squad (RRS) following the victim, Orji Ogbonnaya’s distress call.

    Ubi was said to have removed N28,000 from Ogbonnaya’s pocket inside a Festac Town-bound bus.

    Ogbonnaya told the police that Ubi, who sat beside him, stylishly removed the money.

    Ogbonnaya said: “I boarded a bus to Mile 2 from Oshodi. On getting to Toyota, the suspect came in because there were still spaces in the bus. I didn’t have an inkling that he had a mission. I adjusted a bit from him and he also did making him closer to me. When I noticed that he had removed the money from my pocket after I touched my thigh, I pretended as if nothing had happened. Then I started looking if I could see any police patrol vehicle.

    “When we reached Mile 2, he wanted to alight from the bus but I held his trousers. As we alighted from the bus, I called the attention of the RRS patrol team I saw around.

    “Unknown to me, he had passed the money to one of his gang members. But when the police surrounded us, a man dropped the money on the road and ran away. It was when the suspect was being taken to the police headquarters that he confessed stealing my money and passing it to his partner.”

    Ogbonnaya thanked the policemen for helping him to recover his money.

    The suspect, who lives at Olutimeyin Street, Ayobo-Ipaja, said he is a member of the syndicate operating in Mile 2, Ajegunle and environs.

    “I used to sell second-hand clothes at Kantangwa market along Lagos-Abeokuta expressway. One of my customers introduced me to robbery. He taught me how to pick pockets without people’s knowledge. I intentionally sat beside him in the bus because we know our victims. This is not my first time. I have been in this profession for almost two years. I want the government to forgive me now that I know there is no gain in stealing,” Ubi said.

    RRS Commander Olatunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), said the squad was committed to free Lagos from any criminal acts.

  • Four suspected Boko Haram terrorists arrested in Borno village

    Four suspected Boko Haram terrorists arrested in Borno village

    Four suspected Boko Haram militants were yesterday arrested by members of the Civilian JTF in Malari, a village in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.

    Their arrest, which came three days after some insurgents raided communities in the troubled northeastern state, coincided with the visit of Governor Kashim Shettima.

    The governor was on solidarity and sympathy visit to Malari after an attack by insurgents claimed nine lives and displaced many.

    The people were killed when the militants stormed the villages including: Shettimari, Kammiri, Kakurami, Kalari Auwlari, Burari and Malari , all in Konduga council area.

    Governor Shettima was shocked when some youths, alighted from a Volkswagen Golf car wiith four young men, whose hands were tied.

    A civilian JTF leader, Nuhu Kumshise said one of the arrested sect member, had been notorious, terrorising and wreaking havoc on the villagers around Konduga.

    “We arrested them today after his father handed over them to us. Then they led us into the bush where the two remaining guys hid themselves,” Kumshise said.

    One the suspects allegedly confessed to his membership of the deadly group and he further named his leader.

    Another member of the Civilian JTF, Bakura  Yusuf said: “Long before now we have been told that one of those arrested is the leader who used to lead attacks on us.”

    The governor appealed to the hundreds of displaced persons at the Malari Primary School that they would soon be moved in buses to Konduga and that food items as well as other materials will immediately be provided by the state government.

  • Police parade 34 suspected cultists, others

    The police in Anambra State have paraded 34 persons allegedly involved in cult activities, kidnapping and car snatching.

    Most of the suspects were underaged students of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka and Federal Polytechnic, Oko.

    Others were arrested at Obosi in Idemili North for offences connected with hemp trafficking.

    Items recovered included charms, ancient pistols, ammunition and Indian hemp.

    Parading the suspects yesterday, Police Commissioner Hosea Karma said some of the cultists were under aged students of two higher institutions while others were members of high syndicate gangs.

    Karma said the police would collaborate with other security organisations to flush out criminals.

    He said the command would track gang members who were on the run, even as he appreciated Governor Willie Obiano for his assistance to security agencies.

    Meanwhile, 48 suspected cultists, brought to the police station by the Obosi Town Union President, Dan Igbokwubile, have denounced cultism.

    They pledged to assist the community and police to fight crime.