The Nation Newspaper

Tag: the police

  • Man kidnaps self, demands N60m from sibling

    Man kidnaps self, demands N60m from sibling

    The police in Lagos have arrested one Ufom Udoh for allegedly staging his kidnap in order to fleece his sibling.

    The incident occurred on July 3, at Liverpool, Apapa.

    It was gathered that one Victor Udoh, had reported at the police command that his younger brother was kidnapped by unknown persons.

    According to the command’s spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), the case was referred to the anti-kidnapping unit and they swung into action.

    He said the unit traced all calls the complainant got on his phone, adding that it led to the arrest of one Paul Okiemute, who reported the case at Udoh’s work place.

    Okiemute, upon questioning confessed that Udoh staged his own kidnap to collect money from his elder brother due to his financial problems.

    Famous-Cole said: “Udoh was not kidnapped. It was all planned. He staged his own kidnap so that his elder brother can pay ransom.”

    The suspect said he made calls to the victim’s elder brother with an unknown number demanding a ransom of N60 million.

    “Udoh was later picked up and he confessed to the crime. He said he had checked into a hotel at Iyana-Ipaja area on July 3, where he spent three nights without food and water.

    “The suspect said he later trekked to Ifo area in Ogun state, only to return to Lagos looking frail for his story to look convincing,” said Famous-Cole.

    Police spokesman said the Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, has directed that Udoh and his accomplice be charged to court to serve as deterrent to others likely to cause breach of peace.

  • Two held for N3.7m cameras theft

    Two held for N3.7m cameras theft

    The police in Lagos have arrested two suspects for allegedly stealing cameras worth N3.7 million.

    Famous Imemisi, a resident of Ikosi in Ketu and another man were arrested by policemen at the Ago, Okota Division.

    Armed with knife, Imemisi was said to have entered some shops along Ago Palace Way, Okota, attacked the occupants and carted away Canon Cameras.

    It was gathered that he tied up a female shop attendant in one of the outlets he went to steal, before carting away cameras and laptops.

    According to a victim, Jasper Ibeh, who said six cameras were recovered from Imemisi, told The Nation that the suspect entered his studio pretending to be a client.

    He said: “The guy (Imemisi) came to my studio pretending to a client. He met a photographer, while I went to meet another client. He played along like a client. But when he saw that no one was watching him, he attacked my photographer in the studio and they were dragging.

    “As they were struggling, electricity was restored and fortunately, my neighbour entered the studio to inform my boy that they have brought light so that he would turn off the generator.

    “It was my neighbour who saw him dragging with my boy and she also heard my boy screaming for help. When she saw it was robbery, she raised alarm and people gathered. That was how he was caught and taken to the police station.”

    According to Ibeh, the suspect initially denied the offence but when other victims he stole from identified him, he confessed and fingered his alleged accomplice.

    When the police conducted a search on the suspects, Ibeh said professional digital cameras belonging to photographers in Ago were found.

    Contacted, spokesman for the command, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) said the suspects have been charged to court.

  • Recovered 4,555 national ID cards: INEC staff gave us – Witness

    Recovered 4,555 national ID cards: INEC staff gave us – Witness

    The police in Cross River on Monday arrested four suspected thieves for unlawful possession of 4,555 National Identity cards and 21 others who committed various offences, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Hafiz Inuwa, said.

    Inuwa, who made the development known when he addressed newsmen in Calabar on Tuesday, said the suspects were arrested by personnel of the Police Command in Cross on May 19.

    He said the suspected identity card thieves were arrested at a location on Eyo-Edem Street in Calabar following a tip-off.

    The commissioner explained that after a thorough search on the suspects, 4,555 National Identity cards bearing different names were found on them.

    Upon interrogation, the four suspects confessed that one Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff gave the cards to them. All the four suspects confessed to the crime and investigation is on-going in order to arrest the alleged INEC staff

    The commissioner said that the command also arrested three suspected armed robbers on May 2, shortly after they allegedly robbed Solomon Alfred of his N380,000 and three mobile phones.

    “On May 2, our men arrested three suspected armed robbers who had robbed Solomon Alfred of his N380,000 and his three mobile phones.

    “Also on May 13, our men arrested a student of the University of Calabar for being in possession of fake currencies.

    “During interrogation, the suspect claimed that a friend of his that resides at Uyo gave him the fake currencies.

    “Investigation is on-going to unravel the truth of the matter and arrest his accomplices to ascertain the source/distributor of these fake currencies,” he said.

    The police also arrested three suspected manufacturers of firearms on May 19, the commissioner said.

    He also said  the police recovered five locally made pistols; six locally made single barrel guns, one locally made single barrel long gun, among others.

    “During the period under review, the state police command has arrested 25 suspects for various offences.

    “We recovered five AK 47 rifles, seven magazines and 200 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, one battle axe, eight live cartridges, among others,” he said.

  • Police search Ekweremadu’s Abuja guest house

    Police search Ekweremadu’s Abuja guest house

    The police on Friday conducted a search on the official guest house of the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu. The guest house is located in the highbrow Maitama District, Abuja.

    Ekweremadu’s Special Adviser, Mr. Uche Anichukwu who confirmed the search on the guest house, said police did not inform the senator or any of his aides before the search was conducted.

    Anichukwu further said that only the senator’s steward was present when the police team arrived at the property, adding that nothing incriminating was found in the premises.

    According to him, the policemen were said to have told the steward that they were detailed by the Force Headquarters to carry out the search.

    When our correspondent called the Force spokesman, Jimoh Moshood for comments, his mobile telephone indicated that his line was switched off.

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the Senate had, a few weeks ago, raised the alarm, saying that security report at its disposal indicated that the security agencies were planning to invade Ekweremadu’s residence either in Abuja or Enugu.

    According to the spokesman of the caucus, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe who addressed journalists on the matter, the raid was to be carried out by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Abaribe said the plot was to plant incriminating items; either a huge amount in foreign currencies or guns in Ekweremadu’s targeted residence and then arrest him for money laundry or gun running.

    The caucus stated that the motive behind the alleged plot was to put the Deputy President of the Senate out of circulation by arresting and detaining him on trumped up charges.

  • 20-year-old man held for ‘rape’

    20-year-old man held for ‘rape’

    The police in Ogun have arrested a 20-year-old man, Segun Olaseni for allegedly raping a minor.

    He was said to have sexually assaulted a nine-year-old girl at 20, Eniola Street, New Life Estate, Ota on May 21.

    It was gathered that the suspect carried out the act when the victim’s father was at work.

    According to the police, the victim’s father reported the case at Sango Ota Division, which prompted detectives led by Akinsola Ogunwale, a Superintendent of Police (SP) to visit his 24, Eniola Street, New Life Estate residence.

    The police said he was arrested and that he confessed to the crime upon interrogation.

    Spokesman for the command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) said: “On interrogation, the suspect confessed to the commission of the offence. He claimed to have been closed to the family since their houses are not far from each other. He stated further that he met the girl alone in their living room and dragged her into her father’s bedroom, where he had sex with her.

    “Commissioner of Police Ahmed Iliyasu has ordered the transfer of the case to Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Labour Unit, State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) for further investigation and possible prosecution of the suspect.

    “He appealed to members of the public to take their children’s welfare seriously to avoid their becoming easy preys in the hands of devilish people.”

     

  • Police arrest 40 Biafra agitators in Enugu

    Police arrest 40 Biafra agitators in Enugu

    The police in Enugu has confirmed arresting over 40 members of Biafra Independence Movement (BIM) Monday.

    According to spokesman, Superintendent Ebere Amaraizu, they were arrested in different parts of Enugu.

    Amaraizu said they would soon be charged for conduct likely to cause breach of peace in the state.

     

     

  • Police arrest killers of Enugu deputy governor’s orderly

    Police arrest killers of Enugu deputy governor’s orderly

    The police in Enugu have arrested the killers of the orderly to the deputy governor, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo.

    The orderly, Sgt Helen Sunday was shot dead last week by unknown gunmen after she was dropped on her way back home by an official car.

    A police bulletin issued Tuesday by the Enugu police spokesman, Ebere Amaraizu ‎said:”Suspects identified as Emmanuel Onyeabor  and Kanu Oti were picked a day after the incident at their various hideouts of Lomalinda Independence layout axis and Amorji Nike axis of Abakpa in Enugu East Local Government Area after a serious gun duel which left suspects fatally injured and   while some of the gang members escaped with gunshot wounds”.

    According to the bulletin, the police have spread its dragnet with a view to arresting the fleeing members of the gang.

    The command has requested from “members of the public and hospital operators about information concerning anyone with wounds suspected to be that of bullet.”

    According to Amarizu, the arrested suspects have confessed to the crime ‎”but regretted their actions having revealed that their motive was to rob their victims and that the resistance of the deceased brought about their shooting her on the head at close range.”

    Recovered from suspects after engaging them at their hideouts was the deceased’s infinix phone amongst other items.

     

  • Police arraign Fayose’s Commissioner for ‘Stealing’

    Police arraign Fayose’s Commissioner for ‘Stealing’

    The Police on Wednesday arraigned an aide to Governor Ayo Fayose, Dare Omotoso, for allegedly stealing granite worth N5 million.

    Omotoso, who is Commissioner 2 in the Local Government Service Commission (LGSC), was docked at an Ado Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

    The 64-year-old commissioner pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him by the court clerk.

    The charge sheet reads: “That you, Dare Omotoso, sometimes in the month of August 2016 and September 2016 did steal granites and stone dust valued about Five Million, One Hundred and Forty Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira (5,140,800:00) property of Primadet&Co.Ltd thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 390(9) of Criminal Code Cap C16 Laws of Ekiti State 2012.”

    Police Prosecutor, Inspector Caleb Leramo, told the court that he has lined up five witnesses to give evidence against the accused person including the complainant.

    He, however, applied for an adjournment to study the case file and documents relevant to the case.

    Defence counsel, O.B. Farounbi, pleaded for bail for his client in accordance with Section 15 of Ekiti State Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2013.

    Farounbi urged the court to grant the commissioner bail on liberal terms promising the court that the accused would always make himself available for trial whenever the matter is called.

    The lawyer described his client as “a well-respected person in the society who is serving as a commissioner in the state.”

    Chief Magistrate Adesoji Adegboye granted Omotoso bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties with verifiable addresses in like sum.

    One of the two sureties, according to the magistrate, must be a senior civil servant.

    He subsequently adjourned the case to June 9 for hearing.

     

  • We may arrest Senator Goje – Police

    We may arrest Senator Goje – Police

    The Police Thursday said they may arrest Senator Danjuma Goje if he refuses to appear before the Police Investigative team.

    The police also said invitation has been made to him by the panel but the Senator has remained reluctant about it.

    This was disclosed in Abuja Thursday by the Force Spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood when he appeared on a Channels television during the morning show.

    The Senator had said in the floor of the senate that the work of the Senate might be impeded following removal of documents relating to 2017 budget from his house during a search by operatives of the Force.

    The police however maintained that it did not remove any document relating to the budget.

    According to Moshood: “He must appear before the investigation team to explain circumstances surrounding how he got some of the documents with us.

    “The Senator promised to come last week Friday but he did not.

    “So, I am using this opportunity to call on him to appear before the investigation Panel because investigation is still ongoing on the recovery that were made in his house.”

    On whether he will be arrested if he refuses to honour invitation by the police, he said: “Yes he will be arrested because no one is above arrest and we will definitely do so and it is important for him to know that on time and appear before the team.”

    On the search warrant executed, the Force Spokesman said: “The search was not aimed at 2017 budget and I must add that no budget document was sighted or removed.

    “No single document relate to the 2017 budget and mind you, the budget has been with them  for months now, so it will be wrong for anybody to come up and say because police conducted a search, the passage of the budget will be affected.

    On whether the laptop recovered from Goje’s house contains documents relating to the 2017 budget, Moshood was quick to say: “The laptop we took also has some incriminating item which we are investigating because all we removed were removed for investigation.

    “No, when President Buhari went to lay down the budget before the National Assembly,  it was not laid with a laptop. It is a public document that everybody saw. The laptop does not contain any of such document, I make bold to say that.”

    Moshood also promised to make the video clips of the search public.

    “We will make it public for people to know how the search was conducted in the presence of three of the Senator’s relatives and that it was transparent.

    The video will be made public as soon as possible but the Senator has to appear before the Panel because he is going to be asked questions relating to the search warrant executed and those things that were recovered from his house.

    “We cannot put the video out before he appears but he has been reluctant in coming despite calls by the investigation Panel.

    “Nobody can cow the police because the law is there and nobody is above the law”, he said.

     

  • Police disperse Anti-Zakzaky protesters in Kaduna

    Police disperse Anti-Zakzaky protesters in Kaduna

    The Police in Kaduna on Thursday, dispersed hundreds on anti-Zakzaky protesters at the Government House Kaduna, leading to several sustaining minor injuries while scampering for safety.

    The youth who filed out carrying banners and placards, were mistaken for Shi’ites, loyal to Sheikh Zakzaky and his proscribed group, Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN).

    Few minutes after they had converged outside the Government House gate, waiting for an address from the representatives of the Kaduna State Government, anti-riot policemen from the state’s security outfit, Operation Yaki stormed the venue in trucks, firing tear gas, and armed with sticks.

    Their presence took the protesters by surprise, because they informed that they had already informed the Police of the planned protest before embarking on it.

    After they were identified as anti-Zakzaky, they were allowed to converge few metres from the Government House Gate, displaying their banners and posters.

    Addressing the protesters, Comrade Richard Augustine who spoke on behalf of the group, Justice and Peace Development, condemned the calls by the IMN for the release of Zakzaky.

    According to him, “our march today is therefore, to demand that El Zakzaky and other IMN extremists arrested for terrorism related cases must be prosecuted. IMN’s foreign sponsors must stop taking Nigeria for granted as we must not join the league of countries whose security agencies know terrorists and still leave them to carry out attacks before executing them to show they are working,” he said.

    Speaking further, he condemned what he termed the denigrating of the office of  the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo by IMN. He said “Osinbajo merely stated the fact when he said El Zakzaky remains in detention because there is an appeal against his court ordered release. Those calling for the release of Zakzaky have failed,” he added.

    Comrade Augustine said by their protest on Thursday, they have made a strong statement that those pursuing the release of Zakzaky will be faced pound for pound by even bigger anti-Zakzaky protests.

    “But unlike them, we would not be asking for the release of extremists, we are rather demanding that all extremists and terrorists should be tried under the stiffest of our laws to serve as deterrence,” he submitted