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Tag: suspects

  • Two more suspects held for ‘swindling’ banker of N3m

    Two more suspects held for ‘swindling’ banker of N3m

    •‘How we dupe victims’

    Two other members of a gang, which swindled a banker of N3million under the pretence of making money rituals for him, have been arrested by Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives.

    Their arrest followed the parade of the first suspect, Seye Olowofokunbi, 33, at the Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos last Tuesday.

    Seun Nurudeen, 27, and Azeez Hassan, 32, were arrested in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State, last Thursday.

    Nurudeen told The Nation that the gang “exploits the greed of people who approach us for money rituals”.

    Nurudeen said he acted as “unseen deity,” whose voice sounded like an aged woman, adding that Wasiu Talabi (a.k.a Araba), who is at large, disguised as the 90-year-old intermediary between the “deity” and humans.

    Demonstrating how he mimicked the deity, Nurudeen said he was amused each time some of their victims came to thank God for doing “wonders”.

    He said: “The thing is that we do not do anything. We just work on their mindset. The victims contributed to it. They are impatient and want to get fast money. They are the ones who usually ask us to introduce them to ritualists.

    “I was selling Agbo and the Agbo was very genuine. We decided to start fooling them to collect their money so that they won’t take it elsewhere or even contact real ritualists.

    “I have been with them for over 18 months. As the deity, my share is 10 percent of every money collected. At times, we collect a million or even more at once.

    “We decorated the shrine and made it look real. We stuck snail shells on clay and put them on a tree. Then, pieces of clothes, different colours are used to decorate the place we use as shrine. Our customers do not know that there is another room behind, separated by the black clothe, which is where I hide and speak like a spirit (old woman).”

    Nurudeen said the banker sought their help in having a flourishing studio.

    The suspect said the banker  denied having any money when he had $5,000 on him, adding: “We told him that we needed N200,000 to buy peacock, hawk and pigeon to perform the ritual for him and that a small box with a black soap, calabash and other things will be prepared and given to him. That the money he came with will be locked inside the box containing the special soap which he must not open until after 48 hours.

    “Although the money was put before his eyes and he was the one who locked the box, he did not know that I removed it from where I was hiding. He did not know the box he took in was empty.

    “After 48 hours, he called to find out if he can open the box but he was told that another eye has seen the box and the charm has been violated. That he should not touch it but throw it away, otherwise, he will die. We told him to throw the box away and come to Ijebu-Igbo for the cleansing.

    “He agreed and came. In the cause of the cleansing, Araba put one of his hands inside an empty calabash and stirred it. As he was stirring, I dropped all the dollar bills we have earlier removed from the box without the client’s knowledge and he believed that we truly called the money from the box he threw away in Lagos.

    “We now told him that he will have to bring another $5000 and also bring money to buy items for another sacrifice to save his life. We told him to bring them within five days or he will die. This time, he brought N1.150 million and also N200,000 for the sacrifice. That’s how the money became N3 million.

    “After collecting the money, we told him to come after three days because the Baba was going for a trip. It was within those three days that he called Olowofokunbi that he wanted to bring more money to add to it since we said he will get times two of the amount he put in the box. But he came with police and arrested him. We were arrested after Olowofokunbi brought police to our homes.”

    Hassan denied any role in the case, saying he belongs to another syndicate where he receives 40 percent of whatever is made.

    “I do not belong to the same group as they. They work with my uncle, Araba. I have my own group and I am the leader. I have been in this business for over two years now. I have made some money but I haven’t been prudent in spending. I cannot even say one tangible thing I have done with the money.

    “I do not know if it is all those we have fooled that cursed me because I have no business with this case. I was arrested around 3am in my late mother’s house. The police came looking for Araba, they did not find him and they caught me,” he said.

     

  • Mile 12 riot: Court strikes out charges against 32 suspects

    Mile 12 riot: Court strikes out charges against 32 suspects

     

     

    A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Ikeja Tuesday  struck out the charges preferred against 32 out of 177 suspects charged to court over the March 3, 2016 Mile 12 market riot in Kosofe local government area of Lagos state.

    The court presided by Chief Magistrate Bola Osunsanmi sets free 28 of the suspects who were advised not engage in such riots again while four were sent to correctional home at Oregun because they are underaged based on the advise of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).

    The teenagers sent to correctional home are Bilaminu Dauda 15, Abeeb Ibrahim 16, Sanusi Mohammed 17 and Rufai Ibrahim 15.

    The four tenagers appeared in court Tuesday wearing the sky blue shirt and royal blue coloured shorts of the correctional centre.

    However, it is not yet clear what would be the fate of the remaining 145 suspects who were arraigned in two other magistrate courts presided by Magistrate (Mrs) Y.O. Aje-Afunwa and Mrs. A.O. Layinka by the Police  March 8 before the matter was taken over by Lagos State government.

    Their matter will come up on the adjourned date of May 27, 2016 in the two courts.

    All the suspects were arraigned in the three courts on a two count charge offence.

    In the first count, the defendants with others at large, were alleged to have conspired amongst themselves “to commit felony to wit: riot and thereby committed offence punishable under section 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011”.

    According to the second count, ‎the defendants and others at large were accused of “unlawful assembly and acting in a disorderly manner to disturb the public peace and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 45 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011”.

    At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday before Chief Magistrate Osunsanya, a state counsel, Ms Tutu Oshinusi informed the court that the DPP advice was ready.

    She said the DPP advice against continuation of trial of the suspects.

    Police prosecutor, Inspector Simeon did not raise any objection to the advice which said no prima facie case could be established against the defendants.

    Chief magistrate Osunsanmi, ruling on the matter, struck out the two count charge preferred againt the suspects.

    “You are hereby discharged of the two count charge brought against you. The charges are hereby struck out “based on the advice of the DPP,” she said.

    Those who regained their freedom are  Haruna Abdulahi 30, Umaru Bala 18, Saheed Tahir Abdulahi 20, Musa Isa 22, Farouq Abdamu 22, Aminu Abubakar 22, Sanni Amadu 24.

    Others are Amoo Mustapha 42, Danjuma Adamson 30, America Umaru Saidu 21, Awolu Alli 30, Monday Obasi 37, Aminu Abubakar 19, Abdulquddus Olalekan Ajuwon 19, Tunde Nureni 24, Abdulahi Umoru 20, Musa Usman 35, Abdulahi Aliyu 35.

    They also include Aminu Saidi Ibrahim 19, Sunday Idoko 48, Hassan Adam 39, Yahaya sheu Malami 23, Rabiu Hamza 19, Nura Yahu 19, Rayyanu Lawal 34, Abdurama Mohammed 40, Abubakar Tasu 28, Sunday Lawal 15 and Sani Ahasy 15.‎

  • How we operated, by Kaduna kidnap suspects

    How we operated, by Kaduna kidnap suspects

    Residents of Kaduna metropolis can now sleep with their two eyes closed, following the recent clamp down order by the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, on a group of dreaded herdsmen, who have held the entire state hostage.

    The clampdown led to the arrest of a notorious gang of kidnappers that had been operating in the state.

    The suspects, who were rounded up by operatives of the IG Special Intelligence Response Team, IRT, were alleged to be behind the March 21, 2016, abduction of the President, Vice President and a pastor of the United Church of Christ in Nigeria, Rev Emmanuel Dziggan, Rev Illiya Anthony and Rev Yakubu Dzarma respectively, at Dutse village in Kaduna State.

    The gang was also said to have kidnapped a member of staff of the Presidential Villa, Abuja and many other victims. The source also revealed that IGP Solomon Arase was inundated with complaints of the gang’s activities within Kaduna State, as they have successfully made the Kaduna-Abuja road hellish for motorists.

    According to the source, after abducting their victims, members of the gang, identified as Kashimu Shehu aka Baliago, who is the gang leader; Aliyu Mato, aka, Yellow;  Muhammedu Mamman; Hassan Bello; Bala Mohammed and Ishiaku Kabiru, would make them trek for hours to their camp, a deep forest off the Abuja-Kaduna road, close to Tapher Village Kaduna State.

    The gang was also said to have raked in huge sums of money in ransom from their victims, creating an overwhelming sense of insecurity among the residents of the state.

    Arase, who was said to have been miffed by the development, was said to have ordered operatives of his elite Special Intelligence Response Team, IRT, to the state to track down the hoodlums and put an to their activities.

    Two of the suspects, Kabiru and Bello, were said to have been arrested at the naming ceremony organised by their gang leader, Shehu, at Gidan Kasimu,  Mai-Yahsi village in Dutse-Wai Kubua Local Government area of Kaduna State. The two later provided the information that led to the arrest of other members of the gang.

    During interrogations, the source revealed that the suspects confessed to the crimes and also narrated how they kidnapped their victims. Some of their victims also identified the suspects.

    In his confessional statement, the first suspect said: “I am Aliyu Haruna, 30-years-old and I am a Fulani by tribe. I was born in Kastina State, but I grew up in the Sabo Gayan area of Kaduna State. I attended Alamajiri school at Gidan Abdulmumuni, Sabo Gayan Village. I am a farmer and  I also rear cattle. I am also a commercial motorcycle operator. I am married to my cousin, Mas’uda, and we are blessed with three children. I have about 10 cows.

    “On the 24 April 2016, I was arrested by some policemen from Abuja at a naming ceremony at Gidan Kasimu, at Mai Yahsi Village , in Dutse-Wai Kubua Local Government area of Kaduna State. The naming ceremony was organised by one of our gang leaders,  Kasimu Shehu, aka Babajo. I joined the gang of kidnappers sometime in April 2016, and we are six members in that gang, namely Shehu,  Musa, Yakil, Aliu and Bashiru. We have one Ak 47 rifle that is always in the possession of our gang leader, Kasimu Shehu.

    Sometime in April, Shehu called me and said I should bring food for them and that they had kidnapped one man at Auden Jangwan village off Kaduna-Abuja Expressway. I saw Shehu with a AK 47 rifle in the bush when I went to deliver the food to him. I used my motorcycle to deliver the food to them inside the bush.

    Shehu promised to pay me N200,000 once the ransom was paid, but I was given just N1000 when I delivered the food. I know I have committed a crime. One of us, Mohammedu Maman, a cousin to Kasimu Shehu, he is our gang member and his role is to guard the hostage in the camp. He was the one who guarded one Nassarawa State indigene in the camp when he was kidnapped”.

    The second suspect, 30-year-old Aliyu Haruna, said: “I am a Fulani by tribe and a native of Kaduna State and I am married to two wives  and I have five children. I had Alamajir education and I work as a security guard at a pure water company on Yakowa Way Kaduna State.  I am also into land business with my friend, Sani. I joined this kidnapping gang last year and we are six members of the group. My gang members are Kasimu Shehu who is our leader, Bashiru, Yaki, Musa, Bello and myself”.

    But the alleged leader of the gang, Kasimu Shehu, denied being a member of the gang.

    The 27-year-old said: “I am a Fulani by tribe and a native of Mai-Yahsi Village in Dutse-Wai Kubua Local Government Area of Kaduna State.  I attended an Alamajiri school at Peleke-Tasher Tsamya village, Zaria, Kaduna State. I am married to two wives and I am blessed with two children. I have over 40 cows, which I am rearing at Audu Jangwan village along the Abuja- kaduna road. I am not part of the kidnapping gang, as my friends, Aliyu Haruna, Hassan Bello have alleged.  I am not the leader of any kidnapping gang. I am not among the gang that kidnapped the pastors or a staff of the presidency as alleged. I don’t have an Ak47 rifle as alleged by the police and  I have a locally made gun, which I bought from one late old man who lived in Kauran Wali-Makarfi Local Government Area of Kaduna State N600,000. I am using the gun to protect my cows. I don’t have a licence for the gun. The locally made gun is with one Mathew for repair at Tunga Sabo Village, Rigina, Kaduna State.”

    Narrating his ordeal, one of the victims, said: “I am Rev. Yakubu Dzarma , I am 63-year-old and I am a native Kaduna state.  On march 21, 2016, I, along with Reverend Emmanuel and Ilia Anthony went to clear the church site for a seminary school. When we were done with the clearing and were about to enter into our vehicles, a Toyota Highlander SUV and a Sienna saloon car, some hoodlums who were all armed with AK47 rifles rounded us up and ordered us to surrender all our valuables including cash.”

    They collected N64,000 cash, my Techno phone valued, at 78,000 and my shoe, valued N20,000. They ordered us into the bush and we started trekking. One hour after we had trekked a very long distance, one of our pastors, Ilia Anto, who was sick, told them that he could not go any further and he complained about his health. They started beating him and when they saw that he wasn’t ready to move again, they left him and used his phone and called his last dialed number and gave the person the location where to find pastor Anto and we continued trekking.

    Just 24 hours later, we got to their camp and they have four camps within the area.  Each camp contains nothing less than 10 men all armed with AK47 rifles. The next day they used my cell phone and called my wife and gave her three numbers she should call.  They gave us five days to pay the ransom or they would kill us but we stayed with them for nine days before a ransom of N4million was paid to them. They shot discriminately into the air while we were all at the camp.  We also left four kidnapped women in the camp, one of them was also pregnant. I can confidently identify one of the suspects arrested by the IRT Operatives and his name is Kasimu Shehu.”

    The Police Force Public Relation, Olabisi Kolawole, while confirming the report, said the suspected kidnappers were terrorising Kaduna and Zaria area of Kaduna State. He said they will soon be arraigned in court.

  • Imo police smoke out suspects from hideout

    Imo police smoke out suspects from hideout

    Such was the drama that on Monday when some suspected criminals met their waterloo in Owerri, the Imo State capital, the state Commissioner of Police Taiwo Lekanu and Deputy Governor Eze Madumere were in charge of the operation.

    Lekanu and Madumere saw it all as they led a detachment of policemen into the suspects’ den.

    The operation brought great relief to residents of the popular Douglas Street and traders at the busy Ekeonunwa in Owerri.

    About 50 suspects were  arrested.

    Prior to the raid, a dreaded drug ring and cult groups operated freely from the hideout, robbing residents and traders at gun point, raping women and sometimes hacking their victims to death in broad daylight.

    In the popular market, all manner of fraud was also perpetrated by fake prophets, magicians, conmen and other criminal elements who took advantage of unsuspecting people coming to the market from the villages.

    In the last one year, over 13 cult-related killings have been recorded in the area. Rival cult groups frequently clashed in the market where they came to buy hard drugs which included cocaine, heroin and Indian hemp, among others.

    But determined to rid the state of all forms of criminality, the Commissioner of Police and the Deputy Governor stormed one of the hideouts along Douglas Road.

    At the uncompleted building,  scores of women have been reportedly raped, while all manner of hard drugs were consumed and sold openly.

    Over 50 suspects who are currently standing trial were arrested on the premises in previous raids.

    Items recovered included large quantity of cocaine, Indian hemp, female bags suspected to have been stolen from rape victims and other items.

    The Commissioner of Police warned that there will be no hiding place for criminal elements in any part of the state, while assuring that the command will sustain the current onslaught against criminals in the state.

    The Deputy Governor who expressed shock at the volume of hard drugs and other dangerous items recovered from the single raid, said that the state government will step in to ensure that the premises ceases from being used for nefarious activities.

    He promised further that the state government will continue to support and collaborate with the police command in the fight against crime and criminality in the state.

     

  • ‘45 Boko Haram suspects in Lagos prison’

    NO fewer than forty-five suspected Boko Haram terrorists are in detention in Kirikiri Maximum Prison, Lagos.

    They suspects have been in the prison since the last seven months awaiting trial, following an order by a Magistrate, Mrs. Adeola Adedayo of an Isolo Magistrate Court.

    A rights group, the Prisoners’ Rights Advocacy Initiative (PRAI), is urging Amnesty International to carry out an independent investigation  of the 45 suspected Boko Haram members arrested in Lagos last year by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), with a view to ascertaining their true status.

    The petition, signed by PRAI Director, Ahmed Adetola–Kazeem dated April 5,  is entitled: Call for Investigation and Prevention of Rights Abuse of 45 Terrrorism Suspects  Detained in Kirikiri Maximum Prison since November.

    The petition was also sent to the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Lagos Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

    The  suspects, whose ages range between 15 and 44 and mostly commercial motorcycle riders, traders, suya sellers, security guards, sachet (pure)  water factory workers and indigeners of Borno State, were allegedly arrested  last year in various parts of Lagos State by Sarki Mai Mustapha of Ijora and his agents and handed over to officials of Directorate of Security Service (DSS) on the suspicion that they were planning to launch a terror attack on Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi, a highbrow area of Lagos.

  • Community exposes more suspects in Abia

    Community exposes more suspects in Abia

    After destroying petrol vandals’ camp and reservoirs in an Aba, Abia State forest, the police have arrested suspected beverage fakers, Indian hemp merchants and illegal gun makers, with the aid of locals. SUNNY NWANKWO reports

    Things are looking up in the Abia State Police Command. Not long ago, its officers tracked down petrol vandals to a forest near Aba, setting their makeshift camp and reservoirs on fire. Now more suspects in diverse crime fields have been hauled in. The locals played a huge role in the operations leading to the destruction of the vandals’ base as well as the arrest of the latest suspects, some of whom held for faking beverages, trafficking in prohibited Indian hemp and making guns believed to be sold to robbers and kidnappers.

    When Mr Joshak Habila took office as Commissioner of Police in the state, he spoke of his intention to tackle crime through partnership with residents in various villages and local government areas of the state. He also toured the communities, meeting with traditional rulers and their subjects and harping on the need for synergy with the police and other security agencies.

    That pact has started yielding fruit and the people love it. Operatives of the anti-robbery unit of the Aba Area Command and their counterparts from the Inspector-General of Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) have arrested people who allegedly specialised in brewing adulterated drinks including wines. They have also held a man with Indian hemp weighing about 50kg, as well as three other suspects in Ukwa West Local Government Area.

    Speaking at Obehie Police Divisional Headquarters where three suspected gun makers were paraded, Mr. Habila said the suspects identified as Ejiofor Kanu, Udo Nwanmuo Jacob and Allwell Anyanwu were indigenes of Ukwa West Local Government Area of the state.

    Habila commended the SARS men for their prompt response and their ability to make good use of information available at their disposals.

    He said the SARS operatives moved in after a resident tipped them off about the gun manufacturing suspects.

    The CP said the operatives recovered such items as saws, a gas cylinder, an oxygen gas, pipes and hammers, among others, including already assembled guns ready to be shipped to their clients.

    It was also learnt that the suspects had been in the business for over 10 years, an occupation from which they funded their children’s education.

    The Abia police chief recalled how the area was noted for such crimes as kidnapping and armed robbery, among others, especially during the days of Osisikankwu, the abduction kingpin.

    Habila said residents would have been in grave danger had the suspects continued their business unhindered.

    He said the suspects would be prosecuted as soon as investigations were concluded, warning such criminals to look for legitimate work to make a living or face the consequence of their actions. He added that efforts were being made to trace some of the people who patronised the gun manufacturers.

    He reiterated the commitment of the police to ensuring that Abians and investors carry out their activities freely without fear of intimidation or harassment by any person or group of persons.

    The suspects in an interview accepted that they do not have the licence to manufacture guns. They, however, said that they only manufactured and sold dane guns to hunters in and outside the village and denied that their clients used the guns for robbery.

    Operatives of the anti-robbery squad, Aba Area Command, have also arrested a 27-year-old man identified as Mr. Tochukwu Nna with a substance suspected to be Indian hemp weighing 50kg.

    Nna, a native of Isiala Mbano, The Nation gathered, was arrested at Umuobikwa Village in Obingwa Local Government Area of the state, about 15 minutes drive off the commercial city of Aba.

    According to reports, the suspect was to deliver the banned substance to a yet to be identified facility where it would be sold to its consumers.

    A police source said the command had information that the substance came in from Benin, Edo State.

    The quick response of the anti-robbery squad paid off as the tricycle conveying the hemp broke down at Umuobiakwa village, causing the suspect to drop it in a nearby bush.

    The Nation learnt that while the suspect and the tricycle operator  were trying to repair their vehicle,  men of the anti-robbery stormed the area. The tricycle operator ran away while the suspected merchant was apprehended.

    The suspect also named his supplier.

    The state command’s public relations officer Ezekiel Onyeke Udeviotu confirmed Nna’s arrest,  adding that he has been handed over to the state command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.

    The anti-robbery unit also nabbed two persons suspected to be producers of adulterated drinks in Aba. The   police are equally in the hunt for   other members of the gang who fled the scene on sighting security operatives.

    Some of the drinks allegedly brewed by the suspects include Seaman’s Schnapps, St. Remy, Toma Red Grape, 501 and over 12 other brands of spirits and red wines which are in high demand at the market.

    It was gathered that the suspects were arrested after a tip-off.

    A source told our correspondent that the Area Commander, Peter Wagbara upon receiving intelligence about the act, directed his anti-robbery unit to act fast, leading to the success recorded during the operation.

     

     

  • NDLEA parades seven suspected drug peddlers in Abia

    NDLEA parades seven suspected drug peddlers in Abia

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Abia State Command has paraded seven male suspects, allegedly arrested for being in possession of banned/prohibited substances.

    The suspects, Uzochukwu Nnanna,35, Kingsley Ugwubueze 31,  Agbaeze Kalu,40,  Saidu Iliyasu, 29, Solution Kingsley, 22, Ikechukwu Nwankpa, 31, and Ugochukwu Nwachukwu, 22 were said to have been arrested in the month of March by NDLEA operatives.

    The State Commander of the agency, Bamidele Akingbade told newsmen that the suspects were apprehended at various venues in the state with illicit substances (psycho-tropical substances) weighing a total of about 14.23 kilograms.

    He said that some of the substances include Cocaine, Heroin and Indian hemp at the time of their arrests.

    The NDLEA boss said that the suspects would be arraigned in court after they must have concluded investigation into the matter.

    One of the suspects, Saidu Iliayasu, 29, a security man at a private hostel in Uturu, was said to have been arrested during a raid in Uturu after the incident at a private hostel in Uturu where two students of Abia State University, ABSU were reported to have been beheaded.

    Iliayasu was said to have been in possession of Indian hemp of over N3000 he was yet to sell to prospective buyers.

    According to Uzochukwu Nnanna, police officers caught him with Indian hemp and later handed him over to the NDLEA.

    Nnanna who pleaded for forgiveness stated that he was pushed to go into the trade because of hardship.

    Kingsley, admitted being in possession of cocaine (“White”), stating that he was pushed into the business after he lost his father at the end of his secondary education and had to seek help to further his education.

    He noted that it was in the process of seeking help that he met a man called Nwa-Charlie who introduced him into the Cocaine business as a way to help him raise money to go further.

    Another suspect, Kingsley Ugwubueze, a native of Ohaji-Egbema in Imo State said he was living in Ibadan by Orlu Street, Aba where he was caught for possessing Indian hemp last month.

    Forty year-old Agbaeze Kalu, a wheel barrow pusher said he went to buy hemp for personal consumption when he was caught by the Vigilante in Aba and handed over to NDLEA.

    He said that smoking weed helps to give him strength to continue working when he becomes weak after doing heavy jobs.

    “I now know that it is dangerous to my health and when I leave here I will not return to it,” he said.

    Ikechukwu Nwankpa, 31, from Eziama Nvosi who lives at the Omuma road said he was arrested with hemp.

    He said he was shoemaker until he had a problem and had no money to continue with the trade and then his friend urged him to sell hemp to help him.

    He said that if he sold his shoes in a day, he makes about N5000 gain but chose to be selling hemp which he could sale for N1, 500 for the time with gain of about N500.

    Ugochukwu Nwachukwu who hails from  Ugiri Mbano in Imo State said his father died in December 2015 and he had no one to help him which led him into the business of selling Indian hemp until he was caught.

    They all pleaded to be pardoned saying that if they are released, they would not return to hard drug trade and consumption again.

     

  • Activists seek respect for suspects

    Activists seek respect for suspects

    A rights group, Justice for All (J4A), has condemned  ‘the brutal treatment’ of suspects and detainees at various police stations.

    It urged the police to respect the rights of every suspect in their custody.

    The advice was given at a forum by the police and J4A’s Legal Advice and Monitoring Team held at the Bar Centre of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja.

    A4J’s Alimosho Coordinator, Derinsola Kappo, a lawyer, said the group’s interaction with police officers showed that the police need to be sensitised on the need to respect detainees’ rights.

    “The J4A is to assist those detained at the police stations. Suspects sometimes come out of the police station and accused the police of brutalising and extorting them. We should make police realise that a suspect is innocent until proven guilty by a court, hence they should be treated with dignity while in police custody,” she said.

    Kappo added: “Sometimes, police have accused us (J4A) of being overbearing, but we want to assure them that we will work hand-in-hand with them to make their job easy.”

    Deputy Superintendent of Police, Bariga Police Station, Ismail Amusa, said policemen were trained to respect suspects’ rights but lamented that some of them were yet to abide by the training.

    “Right from recruit, we were taught the rights of suspects. There is no law that says a suspect should be tortured. The Nigeria Police Force of today is more conscious of the rights of suspects. We don’t torture suspects.

    Guest speaker at the event, Mr Olanrewaju Akinbo, who was the guest speaker at the event, also urged the police to operate within the confines of the  law and ensure that the rights of suspects are upheld.

    “Whether the accused is going to be jailed or not, there is presumption of innocent,” he said.

  • Police arrest robbery suspects in Ogun

    • Arms, others recovered

    The police in Ogun State have arrested three robbery suspects – Yusuf Olatunji, Jamiu Babatunde and Tunde Ajasa– following a raid on their hideout at Gbaga Eriyo Ogijo community in Sagamu.

    A pistol, live cartridges, knives, cutlasses, bags of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp, various mobile phones and charms were recovered during the raid carried out by a combined team of police and the State Vigilante Service.

    The suspects, who are assisting the police with  information, have been handed over to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

    Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the suspects were arrested on March 14 in an operation spearheaded by the Divisional Police Officer in Ogijo.

    Adejobi said the Command was mindful of the influx of some hoodlums and criminals from neighbouring states and has put measures in place to flush them out.

    He identified boundary towns, such as Ogijo, Ijebu- Ode, Ijebu-Igbo,  Isheri, Akute Ajuwon, Ota among others as hideouts of hoodlums and other miscreants migrating into the state.

    “We’re flushing the criminals out of their hideouts so that they will not have any conducive environment to operate.

    “These strategies of raid, intelligence gathering and rigorous patrol have paid off and the command will not relent in its efforts to sustain such.

    “The Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali, has praised the DPO for his good initiatives and achievements.

    “He has, however, challenged other DPOs to re-engineer these strategies to make their areas safe.  He emphasised on constant raid of black spots and promised to continue to encourage his officers and men to fight crimes,” Adejobi said.

  • 35 arrested, 2 guns recovered in Delta

    Thirty-five suspects have recently been arrested through an operation involving security agencies, including the army, air force and the police in Delta state.

    The Commander, 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army Benin, Edo State, Brigadier General Faroque Yahaya, Commander, 61 NAF, Delta, Air Commodore Sani Zakari and the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Alkali Baba Usman, jointly addressed the press over the development at the 3 Battalion Barracks, Effunrun, Delta state Friday.

    Speaking at the briefing / parade of suspects as well as arms and ammunition recovered during the operations, Brig Gen Yahaya said the operations would continue until the state, which had been notorious for the proliferation of illegal arms and gangster activities, had been purged of the dangerous trend.

    Friday’s operation, which yielded the arrests and arms recovery, was carried out in Ekpan and Effunrun communities in Uvwie council area of the state’s.

    “In the early hours of this morning. A joint operation codenamed “operation Yankari” was conducted by the military comprising elements from the Nigerian army, Nigerian navy, Nigerian airforce, police and elements from state security service. It was a successful operation to check the spread of small arms in our means. Ammunitions were recovered and suspects were arrested.

    “I just want to reiterate that the security in Delta State is determined to rid our communities of illicit arms that are being used to terrorise law abiding citizens in the state. Those arrested will be investigated. The operation would be continuous as we continue to gather information. We advise those trafficking illicit arms to peacefully surround them otherwise we will get them,” he said.

    Giving details of the operation, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Alkali Baba Usman said “It’s an operation carried out because of the incessant complaints of crimes and criminality around the area we have conducted the operation.

    “A total of 35 suspects have been arrested. A preliminary screening has taken place. We have been able to identify three and they have been released. The remaining 32 suspects will be taken for further investigation for various offences.

    “We have also recovered during the exercise a G3 Riffle loaded with 20 rounds ammunitions and a pistol. We also recovered other incriminating items including ballot papers, but we are yet determined whether they are fake,” he said.

    He, however, clarified that the operation was not targeted at individual but criminals while dismissing claims that people’s homes were invaded during the operation that lasted for several hours.