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Tag: suspects

  • Why we attacked lawyer, by suspects

    The two suspects arrested for attempting to kill a Lagos lawyer, Prof. McCarthy Mbadugha, have told the police that they attacked him for not paying their salary when due.

    This was contained in a statement by police spokesman Chike Oti, a Chief Superintendent (CSP), in reaction to reports on Mbadugha’s attack.

    According to Oti, the suspects identified as Kingsley Asuquo, 19 and Isaac Edet, 18, both guards attached to the lawyer from Strongcity Security Services Ltd, said they planned to kill him if it became necessary.

    It was gathered that the suspects were angry that they were not being paid when due despite the money being made by the lawyer from his clients.

    Denying that the victim was attacked by unknown assailants, Oti said both suspects were guards attached to him, adding that efforts were being made to apprehend their accomplices.

  • We were once ‘one chance’ robbery victims -Suspects

    Two suspected robbers, Paul Giddy, 27, and Odudu John, 28, have said that they were victims of ‘one chance’ robbery gang before they decided to join the gang.

    ‘One chance’ in local parlanced are robbers, who operate in commercial vehicles to dispossess their passengers of valuables, before throwing them out of the vehicle.

    Paul, in his confession, said: “ I am married with one child. I am from Ukwali, Delta state. I do furniture work. We were five in number when we went for this operation that put us in our present trouble. The names of other members of our gang at large are Adam, Matthew and Shakira.

    ‘’See, each of us play different roles during operations. The driver is in charge of the operational vehicle and our escape after each operation is in his hands.

    ‘’Another member is in charge of torture of stubborn victims; another member is in charge of security, while the conductor’s job is to look out for the victims. One person is in charge of getting victims money and  movable valuables like phones, wrist watches, bangles, laptops, shoes, ATM cards as well as asking victims for their card’s pin numbers.

    In his own confession, Odudu said:” We were victims before we joined the ‘one chance’ armed robbery gang. We were desperate to make quick money to revive our dwindling business.

    ‘’We met at a smoking joint at Oshodi. While we were discussing our plight, they (other members of the gang) found out that I was a good driver so they made me their driver. It was Adam that brought our operational guns but we only used the guns to intimidate our victims.

    ‘’Shekira is a carpenter and he was the one that brought the hammer, and other carpentry tools we used as weapons. I have not made up to N50,000 before we were arrested. We started two months ago. The only experience I gained while in police cell is knowledge of Jesus Christ and the opportunity to be born again and to repent. I was told that Christ had forgiven me of all my sins. Please tell police to forgive me.’’

  • We’re not cultists, suspects claim

    Thirteen of the 137 persons arrested for alleged cultism have accused the police of wrongfully picking them up.

    The suspects, who were paraded yesterday by Lagos State Police Chief Imohimi Edgal, claimed that they were arrested while going about their lawful businesses.

    The police on Saturday and Sunday nights raided some parts of the state to frustrate plans by the Black Axe confraternity to foment trouble during their yearly July 7 celebrations.

    About 120 of them were arrested at Ikorodu and a big banner with Black Axe logo, a keg laden with liquid suspected to be an Indian Hemp-based drink called ‘skoochies’, six small kegs of skoochies, a big clay pot, two small calabashes and a locally made pistol recovered from them. The others were nabbed at Ogombo in Ajah.

    Edgal said the command had warned “cultists” preparing to celebrate their sacred day called 7/7 not to converge on any part of the state.

    He said: “We also encouraged good Nigerians to give information about these groups of persons anywhere they are seen.

    “Based on credible intelligence available to the command, which was communicated to the Officer in Charge of Anti-Cultism, 120 suspects were arrested at Ikorodu, where they were observing 7/7, undergoing initiation in preparation to unleash mayhem on the larger society.”

    But, a Ghana based footballer, Emmanuel Megai, 26, a man, Gabriel Aligbe and his wife, Ebele Joseph, as well as a group of 10 young girls, who were arrested, at Ikorodu, said they were neither near initiation venues, nor were they cultists.

    Megai said he had gone to Ikorodu to visit his girlfriend, adding that he was in his hotel room when policemen jacked his door and arrested him.

    He said: “I am 26-year-old and I am from Delta State. I play football in Ghana. I lodged in that hotel that night because I came to see my girlfriend who lives in that area. I am not a cultist. I do not know any of these suspects here.

    “I was inside my room when the police jacked my door. They opened it and arrested me. I have my identity card with me and you can see it yourself. Please, help me out. I do not want my career to be destroyed.”

    Aligbe, 33, said he and his wife went to watch Masqueraders dance at the Oba’s palace and were on their way home when they were arrested.

    He said: “We went to watch Masqueraders at the Oba’s palace. It was past 9pm when we were going home. As we were waiting for a motorcycle, a task force vehicle stopped and ordered us to enter. They did not tell us what we did. They took us to that Vatica Hotel and brought some boys out.

    “Some were stained with blood. Because they packed us together, the wrist of my shirt got stained too. They have not allowed me make a call.

    “I am a simple motorcyclist. Nobody knows I am here. I did not know what I did until now that I heard them say all these things. Ko ye mi o! Ejo o! Eshanu mi o!. (I don’t understand! Please have mercy on me!) I have family but my phone is not with me.”

    Joseph wondered why they were being paraded like criminals.

    Similarly, Musiliu Taiwo, 25, said she was at the party of her friend, Popoola Abosede, when she was arrested.

    She said: “We were 10 that attended my friend’s party on Friday. It was Popoola Abosede that was having her birthday party and we were at Vatica Hotel in Igbogbo, Ikorodu.

    “It was on our way back that we saw those guys with banner. We did not understand the meaning and before we knew it, we were raided.”

    Ogechi Joseph, 18, said: “I did not do anything. I am not even aware of the birthday party. I just came to Lagos to visit my friend to see if she could help me get a job here.

    “My parents are in the village. I was even going back to her place to rest, before I knew it, the police team raided all of us.”

    A noodle seller, Kwanu Idegeme said the officers who arrested them, took them to Vatica Hotel, where a party was going on.

    “I sell noodles and egg in the morning and at night in front of my house at Igbe Road, Ifeoma junction.”

  • Police name Plateau, Benue killings suspects

    •Councillor arrested

    The Police have named suspects in the Plateau and Benue killings.

    No fewer than 84 people were killed when suspected herdsmen attacked villages in three local government areas of Plateau State.

    There has been consistent killings in parts of Benue State, also by gunmen believed to be herdsmen.

    Police spokesman Jimoh Moshood named some of the suspects in custody over the Plateau killings as: Biliaminu Abdullahi,  Samaila Saleh, Muhammadu Kabiru, Aminu Mohammed,  Alhassan Saidu,  Abubakar Adam, Gazali Isah, Hamza Inusa  Yahuza Yau, Dahiru Ahmed and  Friday Musa.

    The police said they were withholding names of two suspects.

    The exhibits allegedly recovered from them include five AK47 rifles and two live cartridges.

    Speaking in Abuja yesterday, Moshood said the relocation of the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in charge of operations and others had yielded results.

    The police said security had improved in the Plateau communities.

    Moshood said: “The Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris, visited Plateau State on June 26 to assess the security situation and police deployment.

    “Since his visit, the security situation has improved, peace and normalcy has been restored in the affected areas in the state.

    “The Police Special Investigation Team, comprising the Intelligence Response Team ( IRT), Special Tactical Squad (STS) and Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU), led by Commissioner of Police, IGP Monitoring Unit, deployed to Plateau State have commenced investigation and have recorded significant progress in getting to the root of the killings of innocent people.”

    In Benue State,  four suspected bandits have been arrested.

    The suspects, according to Moshood, are: Benajamin Tivfa, 32, a councillor in Fidi Council Ward, Makurdi Local Government Area, Victor Ganabe, Daniel Kyase, 33, member of Benue Livestock Guards and Julius Avaan 49.

    Others are : Terkula Udeh 37, Sunday Cheche, 34 and Alhaji Adajo Tomza, 28, member of Benue Livestock Guards and Msugh Teraki, 23, member, Benue Livestock Guards.

    Moshood added that items recovered from them include two AK 47 rifles, a locally made pistol and 436 rounds of AK 47 ammunition.

    The suspects were arrested on June 27 by members of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

    The spokesman said that six of the suspects were arrested in a hotel in Naka village.

    Moshood said the suspects confessed that the councillor was a member of their gang and was responsible for the supply of arms and ammunition as well as money to finance their operations.

    “The councillor admitted to have bought 15 rounds of AK47 ammunition from Cheche and also confessed to have provided money to finance the operations of the gang.

    “Investigation is in progress to arrest other members of the gang at large. They will be arraigned in court on completion of investigation,” Moshood said.

  • Governor rejects alleged indictment by suspects

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has denied any relationship with the Offa bank robbery suspects.

    A statement by Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications Dr. Muyideen Akorede, described the allegations as false and rejected his alleged indictment by the police or the armed robbery suspects in their custody.

    Governor Ahmed said while the government had empowered youth groups under its acclaimed Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) scheme, neither he nor the state government could be held liable for how beneficiaries utilise the credit.

    He urged the police to complete their investigation and charge the suspects to court soon in line with the dictates of the rule of law.

    The statement reads: “To set the records straight, the Kwara State government has a well-known empowerment scheme under the Small and Medium Enterprises platform which is used to move women and youths groups into entrepreneurship.

    “Consequently, several youth and women groups have benefited from the scheme to date. However, at no point did the Kwara State Government directly provide funds to any group known as Good Boys for any purpose.

    “Similarly, if any of the beneficiaries chose to use the SME credit secured from the government to purchase a vehicle which was then alleged to have been used for an act of criminality, the Kwara State Governor and indeed the state government cannot be held liable for such actions since neither had prior knowledge of such intentions on beneficiaries’ part.

    “The governor also rejects the police allegation of arming and funding the suspects for political thuggery or for any other activity as false and unfounded as thuggery or any other form of criminality is neither encouraged nor supported by the state government or its agents.”

  • Police arrest suspects with human head 

    Adamawa State Police Command has arrested three people at Tashan-Baba village in Mapeo district of Jada Local Government, Adamawa State, for alleged criminal conspiracy, exhuming and cutting the head of a child, Blessing Johnson.

    Spokesman S.P. Othma Abubakar said in Yola at the weekend that following an intelligence report by a good Samaritan on May 21, the suspects were apprehended and allegedly found the head of Blessing.

    He said seven-year-old Blessing was interred at the village’s burial ground, alleging that a day later, Muka’ilu Ishaya, who claimed to be a butcher, dug her grave and cut her head.

    Abubakar alleged the suspects, Yunusa Audi, Dauda Babale and Muka’ilu Ishaya, have confessed they were contracted by Mr. John Bakari, of Karlahi village, in Fufore Local Government to get a human head for N5 million.

    He said the principal suspect, Bakari, was on the run, adding that he will soon be arrested and arraigned.

  • Kwara governor: no link with suspects

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has cautioned against being linked with the suspected cult-killers in the state, some of who have been arrested and transferred to the Police Headquarters in Abuja.

    The governor described as “false and misleading”, the insinuations linking him and Senate President Bukola Saraki with the suspected cultists.

    On Wednesday, the police moved six suspected cultists arrested in Ilorin to Abuja.

    Saraki said the move was intended to implicate him and the Kwara governor by Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris “to settle scores” with him because of the resolution of the Senate that the IG is unfit to remain in office.

    But the IG dismissed his claim as “a ruse and unfounded”, capable of truncating the police investigation into killings by suspected cult members.

    In a statement by his Media Adviser Muyideen Akorede, the governor said the political leadership in the state “has never used violence as a political tool”, adding that neither him nor the Senate President  nor any of their aides is linked with the suspected cultists or their alleged activities.

    He also denied any knowledge of or any intention to harm any individual and referred the general public “to the parade of the suspects by the state commissioner of police, Mr. Aminu Pai Saleh on Thursday, May 10, 2018 in Ilorin, during which he announced that the suspects were arrested for alleged murder and membership of cult groups but made no mention of any confessional statement linking their activities to any sponsors. “

    The governor described the alleged killings as the outcome of clashes between rival cults in the state as most victims were been identified by security agencies as members of cult groups.

    The statement said “the growing problem of cultism and cult-related criminalities formed the basis of the governor’s charge to Kwara State Commissioner of Police Saleh to focus on ending the menace on his resumption last month.

    According to him, “the state government sees cultism as a serious security issue requiring urgent attention and has accordingly amended the State Cultism Law to prescribe stiffer penalties for convicts and those who aid and abet them, besides providing operational support to all security agencies in the state in their fight against all forms of criminalities, including cultism.”

    The Governor warned that cultism is a serious security challenge which should neither “be trivialised nor turned into a political tool nor be treated with levity”.

    Also yesterday, the Kwara State House of Assembly flayed the transfer of six suspected cult members to Abuja which it described as “an afterthought”.

    The House added that it was an attempt to manipulate the criminal justice system to implicate  Saraki and Governor Ahmed.

    The legislature added that many other suspected cultists had their matters pending before the judiciary.

    A member representing Ilorin North West Constituency, Abdul Rafiu Abdul Rahman, moved the motion, titled ”IGP versus  KWSG: A dangerous attempt to undermine the fight against crimes, especially cultism in Kwara State”.

    Reading the resolutions of the House, Speaker Ali Ahmad said that the call became expedient to prevent unnecessary disharmony between the state Ministry of Justice as prosecuting agents, the police and other investigative authorities which, according to House, will affect the fight against crime and cultism in the state and the general maintenance of law and order.

    The House called on the National Assembly to alert the United Nations Human Rights Commission on the dangers of misusing the criminal Justice system in targeting independent voices in a democratic system of governance.

  • Suspects: Indian hemp trafficking better than stealing

    Two suspected drug traffickers arrested by the Niger State Command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have said dealing in Indian hemp is better than stealing.

    The suspects, 27-year-old Muyideen Jimoh, from Ogbomosho in Oyo State,and 31-year-old Moses Oduaran, from Ughelli in Delta State, were arrested for allegedly trafficking 1,459 kg of substance suspected to be Cannabis Sativa (Indian hemp).

    They were nabbed in Kontagora Local Government while about to sell the hemp, to repair their vehicle.

    Oduaran, suspected to be the leader, said he did not regret his action.

    He added that he regarded selling Indian hemp as a genuine business, since he had never been arrested by the police.

    “This is better than stealing. I know how to go about this business. I regard it as a profession.

    ‘’We met our Waterloo in Niger State. I have been into selling of weeds for years without harassment. Honestly, I regard it as a genuine business until NDLEA officials apprehended us.”

    Oduaran said they used fowl dung to conceal Indian hemp before taking it to the place where it would be sold.

    Jimoh said he acted as a middleman between Oduaran and his customers in Rafi Local Government.

    “Once Oduaran brings Indian hemp from Ondo State to Niger, it is my responsibility to distribute it and collect money on his behalf. I have been doing this for years and I make more money from it than my tailoring job.”

    Addressing reporters, NDLEA Commandant Sylvia Egwunwoke said the matter was being investigated.

     

  • IG removes Kogi CP as suspects escape from custody

    INSPECTOR-General Ibrahim Idris has ordered the removal of Kogi State Police Commissioner Ali Janga, following yesterday’s escape of six suspects from custody.

    Idris asked the Commissioner of Police, Federal Operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja, Esa Sunday Ogbu, to proceed and take over as the state’s new police chief.

    He also redeployed the Commander, Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, the Divisional Police Officer ‘A’ Division, Lokoja and other police officers implicated in the escape for negligence, dereliction of duty and gross misconduct.

    The police, in a statement signed yesterday by Force spokesman ACP Jimoh Moshood, said the IG was dissatisfied with the circumstances surrounding the escape of the six suspects, including two principal suspects, Kabiru Seidu (a.k.a Osama) and Nuhu Salisu (Small), who indicted Senator Dino Melaye and Mohammed Audu in a case of conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearm.

    The case already filed at the Federal High Court, Lokoja, was expected to come up in court yesterday.

    Moshood explained that the policemen on duty when the suspects escaped were facing serious disciplinary action.

    The removed Kogi State police commissioner, at a news conference in Lokoja yesterday, said the two suspects named Melaye as their arms supplier.

    Janga said the two suspects escaped at 3.21a.m. from the ‘A’ Police Division in Lokoja, where they were kept.

    According to the commissioner, both Seidu and Salisu escaped when they were supposed to be arraigned before a Lokoja Federal High Court, alongside Melaye and Alhaji Mohammed Audu, who was also named by the suspects as one of their sponsors.

    Janga identified Aliyu Isa, Adams Suleiman, Emmanuel Audu and Musa Mohammed as four other suspects that escaped from the custody.

    The police commissioner said 13 policemen, comprising five operatives of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and eight conventional policemen on duty when the incident happened have been detained for interrogation.

    “The 13 police officers, who were on duty when the incident occurred, were defaulted and detained for interrogation,” he said.

    Janga added that the names of the six fleeing suspects and that of Melaye as well as Mohammed Audu have been declared wanted and sent for watch listing by the INTERPOL for arrest anywhere they are found.

    He appealed to residents to assist the police with useful information on the whereabouts of the suspects by reporting to the nearest police station.

    The police enjoined members of the public to about go their lawful duty as the command was in full control of the situation and determined to provide adequate security for live and property

    But Melaye gave the Inspector-General a 48-hour ultimatum to produce the two suspects involved in his case.

    He threatened to sue Idris for “mental assault” should he fail to produce the two suspects.

    He made this statement in a point of order he raised at the Senate yesterday, stating that the suspects are “presumed innocent until proven guilty and they also have right to life”.

  • Ibadan killing: Army arrests soldier, other suspects

    The soldier allegedly involved in the Ibadan shooting and killing of a 30-year-old man, Kehinde Adeleke, following an argument at the car park of Trans Amusement Park in Ibadan, the state capital, has been arrested with other suspects in the killing.

    The soldier was led yesterday by top military and police officers to the Iyaganku State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Ibadan for their statements.

    For about seven hours, police detectives probing the killing drilled the suspects.

    Other suspects in the killing were also brought to the station, three weeks after the incident.

    It was gathered that the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Okwudili Azinta, had ordered investigation into alleged involvement of soldiers attached to the Oyo State security outfit, Operation Burst, which has men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the police and soldiers.

    Also, Police Commissioner Abiodun Odude said the soldier and other suspects fingered in the killing were arrested and taken to the State CID for further investigation into the killing.

    Speaking through the command’s spokesman Adekunle Ajisebutu, a Superintendent of Police (SP), the police commissioner said: “Those allegedly involved in the incident made their statements. The soldier has made a statement while investigation continues.”

    Though Ajisebutu did confirm whether or not the soldier and others involved in the killing were detained after making their statement, a source said: “The soldier and others named in the killing have since remained in custody while investigation into the murder case continues.”

    Last week, some military officers from the 2 Division of the Army visited the Iyaganku police headquarters in line with the order by the GOC to conduct an investigation into the killing of Kehinde Adeleke.

    A source said some witnesses were invited while the soldiers questioned them on the incident.

    It was learnt that the report of the investigation would be sent to the GOC to ascertain the alleged involvement of the soldiers in the killing.