The Nation Newspaper

Tag: suspects

  • Suspects nabbed for bank robbery

    Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested three suspects from Rivers State, who specialise in robbing bank customers.

    Parading the suspects yesterday in Uyo, Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu said the suspects, Hyacent Loveday Bright, Menford Austine John and John Usam Chibueze were nabbed in Eket, following a tip-off.

    He said the leader, Hyacent, is a Rivers State indigene living in Eket.

    Zubairu said the suspects were arrested on November 3 when they trailed Mr. Nkerewem Bassey Akpan and robbed him of N1 million he withdrew from a bank in Eket.

    Items recovered from the suspects include Toyota Avalon, N521,300, a techno phone and ATM cards.

    Hyacent, 31, a father of three from Onelga Local Government of Rivers State, confessed to the crime.

    He said they posed as customers to know who would withdraw big money.

    Hyacent said he used to be a pipeline vandal.

    The police boss said 104 were nabbed for cultism, kidnapping, robbery, child trafficking and others.

    He said most of them had been arraigned and others were being investigated.

    Recovered from the suspects are two AK 47 rifles, assault rifle, two pump action guns, one berretta pistol, eight locally-made pistols and single barrel gun.

    Others are five cars and N2,8700,000.

    Zubairu said the command’s decision to temporarily relocate the operational base of the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Cultism units to Ukanafun, Etim Ekpo and Onna local governments was positive, as 15 kidnap suspects and 20 cultists were arrested and arraigned.

  • Army arrests 399 suspects in Lagos, Ogun

    Army arrests 399 suspects in Lagos, Ogun

    The Nigerian Army on yesterday said no fewer than 399 suspects were arrested for various offences during the Exercise Crocodile Smile 2 in Lagos and Ogun States. The 35 Artillery Brigade Commander, Brig.-Gen. Bassey Adonkie, disclosed this while giving an appraisal of the exercise during the closing ceremony of the Crocodile Smile 2 at 192 Battalion, Ajilete, Ogun State.

    He said the Crocodile Smile 2 was aimed at flushing out pipeline vandals, kidnapers and miscreants. “The exercise led to the arrest of suspects including armed robbers, kidnappers and recovery of ammunition. So far, a total of 399 suspects were arrested for different offences across as the South-West region and handed over to various security agencies concerned. In addition, 20 assorted arms were recovered, while illicit drugs were also recovered and handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),” he said.

    The commander, who said over 1,000 officers participated in the exercise, added that criminal activities had reduced following the crackdown which denied the hoodlums freedom of action. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, who was represented by the Chief of Training and Operations, Maj.-Gen. David Ahmadu, said that the exercise leveraged on the gains of the Crocodile Smile 1.

    “Experience drawn from the exercise conducted in 2016 revealed that criminals and miscreants do fled from areas of ongoing operations to seek safe haven and cause security menace in areas hitherto regarded as peaceful. It was in line with this development, that I deemed it necessary to extend the areas of coverage for this year’s exercise crocodile smile, to cover the South-West and South-South regions of the country,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a medical outreach was rendered to the Ajilete community by the army to commemorate the closing ceremony of the Crocodile Smile 2. The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division, Maj.-Gen. Peter Dauke, in his opening remark, said that the exercise was flagged off by the chief of army staff on Oct.7.

     

  • Police arrest 16 kidnap suspects in Akwa Ibom

    Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested 16 suspected members of a kidnap syndicate said to be responsible for killings and kidnapping in Ukanafun Local Government, Commissioner Zubairu Muazu has said.

    Speaking at the weekend, he said the arrest of the criminals was made possible through a “well planned and coordinated operation.”

    Muazu said: “To build a peace process where crisis had occurred in the past, you need to pass through a lot of stages. Fears were already in the minds of the people and they felt unsafe. To erase this fear, we have to launch an undercover operation.

    “It went as far as people dropping threat messages to individuals in Ukanafun; ‘bring a certain amount of money or else we will kill you’. We got quite a number of such letters and threat messages. We analysed them and identified the syndicate and then launched an attack.”

    The commissioner, who spoke through Bala Elkaner, spokesman, said weapons and other items were recovered from the suspects, who were helping the command with information.

    Elkaner, who reviewed security situation in the restive local governments, said the reactive approach adopted by the command in the past helped the situation.

    This, he said, necessitated not only the introduction of “Operation Purge” by the commissioner, but also going in there to talk to the people.

    “There has been this reactive approach where police move in there, investigate and make arrests. This has not actually helped, so the police commissioner took this proactive measures, not just deploying troops but also meeting the people.

    “He was with the two communities where he held two meetings, discussed, identified and agreed on the solution with the people.”

    The spokesman said part of such solution was to identify buffers zones where the operation could be carried out, to reassure the people of police presence.

    He said the only approach that would bring solution was community policing, where the people would be involved in identifying their problems and proffering solution.

  • Command nabs 207 suspects

    Edo State Police Command arrested 207 suspects for crimes between July and September, Commissioner Haliru Gwandu said in Benin.

    He told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview that 12 vehicles and 35 arms with 143 live cartridges were recovered.

    Gwandu said the command received 38 reports on robbery and arrested 90 suspects.

    He said 22 of the cases were in court and nine under investigation.

    The police chief said 31 suspected kidnappers allegedly involved in 17 abductions were arrested.

    He said 57 suspected cultists were nabbed, out of which 31 were arraigned and 26 cases under investigation.

    “In the case of murder, we have 26 reported cases, 16 suspects arrested, nine arraigned, 22 victims and 26 cases under investigation,” Gwandu said.

    He said the command nabbed three suspects in a case of human trafficking involving a victim.

    The police commissioner stressed that the command was committed to reducing crime.

    He attributed the achievements to the determination of the personnel to tackle crime.

  • Why trial of Boko Haram suspects is delayed, by Fed Govt

    Why trial of Boko Haram suspects is delayed, by Fed Govt

    • •2,321 suspects for court

    The trial of Boko Haram suspects is stalled by the absence of cooperation between investigators and prosecutors at pre-investigation stages, the Federal Government has said.

    Other reasons given by the office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, include poor investigation of cases due to pressure during the peak of conflict at the theatre, over reliance on confession-based evidence, and lack of forensic evidence.

    Besides, there are inadequate vehicles to transport defendants from detention to court, scarcity of skilled/trained forensic personnel to handle investigation of complex cases, inadequate security for lawyers and converting military intelligence to admissible evidence in court.

    A statement by spokesman to the minister, Salihu Isah, said the trial of about 2,321 Boko Haram suspects will begin on October 9.

    The trial, to be conducted by four judges chosen from the Federal High Court, it was learnt, is part of the strategy of the government to clear the backlog of Boko Haram suspects’ cases.

    Isah said yesterday that those to be tried include 1,670 being held in Wawa Barracks, Kainji, New Bussa, Niger State and 651 earlier held in Giwa Barracks, but now in Maiduguri prison.

    The four judges are to first deal with the cases of those in Kainji before moving to Maiduguri.

    The detainees in Kaniji are in four categories, the first being those against who no prima facie case was established and were to be handed to the National Security Adviser (NSA) for deradicalisation.

    The second consists of those against who prima facie cases have been established and charges filed against them in court, but were willing to plead gulty to lesser offences.

    The third category, Isah said, are those whose cases have not been fully investigated and no legal opinion made yet.

    The fourth, he said, are those against who prima facie cases have been established and who are ready to undergo full trial.

    Isah said as at September 11, 13 terrorism cases had been fully prosecuted by the government. Nine convictions were secured.

    He said 33 cases were pending at various Federal High Court divisions. Charges have been filed against 116 who are awaiting trial in Kainji.

    A team comprising representatives from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Federal High Court and the office of the AGF was in Kainji from September 12 to 14 “to carry out the assessment and to discuss with relevant authorities and organisations in final preparation of the all-important national assignment”

  • Police arrest 118 suspects in one month

    Police arrest 118 suspects in one month

    Edo State Police Command yesterday said it arrested 118 suspects robbery, murder, cultism, human trafficking  and kidnapping between August 10 and 13 September.

    It said the suspects were arrested in various parts of the state.

    Commissioner of Police Haliru Gwandu, who stated this at a press briefing, said 27 guns, 61 live catridges, 16 kidnappers and four vehicles were recovered from the suspects.

    Gwandu said 44 of the suspects were charged to court.

    He attributed the success recorded by his command to information from the public.

    The commissioner said the police would make the state  conducive for business activities to thrive.

    The police boss, however, cautioned criminal elements to repent or relocate, as the command will make the state uncomfortable for them.

    He said other suspects would be charged to court after completion of investigations.

  • Police nab suspects in Jigawa

    The police in Jigawa State have arrested eight suspects for alleged theft and receipt of stolen items in Dutse Local Government.

    Spokesman Jinjiri Abdu confirmed the arrest in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse.

    He said four of the suspects, aged between 18 and 19, were nabbed for alleged burglary and theft in Takur, Dutse.

    Jinjiri added that they were arrested after they broke into one of the houses and stole a plasma TV, DSTV decoder, iPad, laptop, a Tecno phone and clothes.

    The spokesman said the TV and decoder were recovered from them after their arrest.

    According to him, they were among 10 suspected thieves the command nabbed on May 14.

    NAN reports that a laptop, two plasma TV sets and phones were among items recovered from the suspects.

    Jinjiri said the others were arrested for alleged receipt of stolen items.

    He said the suspects would be arraigned.

    Investigation showed the suspects had been terrorising residents by breaking into shops and houses.

    In May, they broke into 10 shops and houses and stole foodstuff and others.

  • Police arrest 22 suspects in Niger

    •415 cows recovered

    Niger State Police Command arrested 22 suspected criminals, recovered 415 cows and seven cars between July and September, Commissioner Austin Agbonlahor said in Minna yesterday.

    Agbonlahor, giving account of his stewardship, said: “It will interest you to know that from July 14 to September when I assumed duty, we nabbed 22 suspects. They include six cattle rustlers and five kidnappers. We also recovered 415 cows and seven cars.’’

    He said the police also recovered two AK-47 rifles and one locally-made pistol.

    The police boss said some of the suspects had cases in courts; some were convicted while others are under investigation.

    He appealed to the public to collaborate with the police to rid the society of criminals, as the police cannot do it alone.

    “This achievement was made possible with the cooperation of the public and our patrol teams spread across the state.

    “I assure you that our officers and men are working to reduce crime.”

    Agbonlahor said the Inspector-General, Ibrahim Idris, will soon bring the “bail is free’’ campaign to the state, as part of efforts to bring transparency and accountability to the force.

  • RRS arrests four fraud suspects

    RRS arrests four fraud suspects

    The Rapid Response Squad (RRS) has arrested four persons suspected to be members of two fraud syndicates on Lagos Mainland.

    They were arrested during two operations at Ikeja, Maryland, Ojodu-Berger, Agege and Oshodi.

    According to the RRS, Chinasa Sunday, 44, and Osadebe Aigbe, 30, who allegedly defrauded a lady, Grace Enitan of N85,000, were apprehended at Ikeja on Thursday after days of surveillance.

    It was gathered that the victim reported to the RRS Headquarters in Alausa after four men, who picked her in a taxi, duped her of the amount.

    Enitan was said to have identified Sunday and Aigbe as members of the gang that defrauded her. A third suspect identified simply as Martin is said to be at large.

    Sunday, who claimed he joined the gang in February after he lost his job, said his job was to monitor the victim, adding that Enitan was picked up at Olowopopo Way, Ikeja.

    Sunday Atanda, 56, and Fausat Tijani, 58, said to be members of the second syndicate were arrested on Saturday after a failed attempt to fleece Rukayat Aderinwale of N120,000.

    Aderinwale, a food vendor, was said to have been hypnotised at Oshodi in a bid to dispossess her of her money, jewellery and mobile phone.

    It was gathered that the suspects with three others at large, led the hypnotised victim to another location but she regained consciousness midway and screamed for help.

    In a statement, RRS said its officers moved to her rescue and caught Atanda and Tijani.

    Atanda, who lives at 13, Pero Street, Agege, was said to have mentioned Kayode, Shina and Lateef as fleeing members of his gang.

    He said they wanted to dispossess the victim of her valuables, adding that he joined the syndicate to feed his family.

    Atanda said they operated between Oshodi and Agege adding that Lateef is the ring leader.

    Spokesman for the command, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said investigation was ongoing.

  • Task Force arrests another piracy suspect

    Task Force arrests another piracy suspect

    •103 bags of DVD seized

    Following last Monday’s raid of the notorious Alaba Market where three suspected pirates were arrested, the taskforce set up by the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) against unauthorized distribution/uncensored and unclassified movies, on Wednesday, increased its arrest to four, while on Thursday, it also confiscated a container-load, consisting 103 sacks of DVDs of different titles, believed to have been imported from China.

    The 8-man taskforce made up of largely members of the Film and Video Producers and Marketer Association of Nigeria (FVPMAN) alongside the Nigeria Police, on Monday, arrested three men – Ndu Celestine, Okechukwu Ikuagwu and  Austine Ugokwe – and confiscated several film titles and machines said to be worth N50million. The suspects were immediately taken to Abuja from the Area E Police Command, Festac Town.

    Some of the film titles include, ‘Ayamma’, ‘Wedding Party’, ‘Three Wise Men’, ‘30-Days In Atlanta’, ‘A Trip to Jamaica’, ‘Lekki Wives’, ‘Wives On Strike’, ‘Jennifer’s Diary’ and ‘Fifty’.

    The fourth suspect popularly called Mayor is said to be the assistant Financial Secretary of the Fancy and Furniture section of Alaba International Market, where CD and DVD business holds sway.

    The raid was spearheaded by the Executive Director of NFVCB, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas; notable film marker, Gabriel Okoye, aka Igwe Gabosky; Chairman of FVPMAN, Emeka Aduah and film marketer and lawyer, Nobert Ajaegbu.

    Speaking to newsmen at the Area E Police Command on Monday, Adedayo described the unlawful distribution of uncensored intellectual properties, and piracy as a serious economic crime.

    He said: “We are saying no to unwholesome, unclassified and uncensored content visa-a-vise piracy. Piracy is a serious economic crime. What they are doing to intellectual properties is worse than what you can imagine.

    “We had warned them to stop the unlawful act. Unfortunately, they didn’t stop and we promised the stakeholders and those concerned within the film and creative industry that we are going to start action. So, this is one of the actions that we have promised them, and it is going to be continuous because now, we have the full support of the police. It makes our job easier; the lawyers are ready to prosecute.”

    According to Okoye, “majority of the stakeholders have been rendered prostrate by the activities of the pirates, and no more operating, some of them have gone broke.

    “If you go to Alaba where our business used to thrive, the situation is not the same, as cosmetics and phone accessories sellers have taken over because the pirates have driven us away and feeding fat on our sweat. They have even started investing in hospitals and other businesses while the creative industry is getting broke.”

    Continuing, he said, “The Bank of Industry floated a loan scheme for people to come and take and produce contents to engage Nigerians to be productive, but all those who took the loan are owing the bank. These films are genuinely produced but before my company, G-Media could release them, they had been pirated and we have been tracing most of these people who have been hiding themselves inside Alaba. Imagine Alaba operating as if it is a sovereign state of its own.”

    One of the suspects, Austine Ugokwe from Anambra State when questioned by our reporter said he was innocent and was set up by his Liberian friend called Mr. Obi.

    “I was set up by someone. It was a friend Mr Obi who usually comes from Liberia that called me to come and he directed me there and immediately I got there, I saw taskforce people, and they arrested me. I am a business man, I sell Nylon and CDs,” he said.

    When asked how he got to know Mr. Obi, he said “he buys blank CDs from me.”

    On his part, Celestine Ndu said “I’m being accused of piracy. I was arrested because I was trying to help someone to package his goods (CDs).

    “I am not the one doing it, I was just helping the owner to package it. The owner calls me to help and he gives me some money.  Mr Bassey the man who called me to come and package the CDs for him is not my boss. I don’t know where he lives; I only know his shop in Alaba, shop GJT28.”