The Nation Newspaper

Tag: the police

  • Police arrest alleged kidnappers of septuagenarian 

    Police arrest alleged kidnappers of septuagenarian 

    The police in Ogun have arrested four suspected kidnappers of a 75-year-old woman, Wuraola Shittu.

    Shittu was kidnapped at Ibiade farm settlement in Ijebu Waterside on March 14.

    Towei Eduh, 31, Bikaramobowi, 17, Saturday Oti, 31 and Paymaster Efigga 30, all Ijaws from Arogbo in Ondo State, were apprehended by men of the state’s anti-kidnapping squad.

    It was gathered that the kidnappers invaded the settlement around 8pm and whisked the woman away.

    She was released several days after the kidnap after her family allegedly paid ransom.

    However, the police were said to have been on the trail of the criminals, who were eventually caught while on their way to Epe in Lagos to kodnap another victim.

    According to the command’s spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), the suspects had assorted charms, masks and other dangerous weapons in their custody.

    He said: “Their kingpin, who they simply call ROY, is still on the run. Effort is on to get him arrested. Commissioner of Police Ahmed Iliyasu who commended the team on the arrest of the suspects, vowed that the state would not be conducive for kidnappers and other criminals.”

     

  • Mushin crisis: Police arrest 59 suspects

    The police in Lagos have arrested 59 suspects for their alleged involvement in Monday’s fracas at Mushin that left several persons injured.

    Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni disclosed this at a press conference held Tuesday at the command’s headquarters in Ikeja.

    Parading the suspects, Owoseni said 68 persons were arrested but nine were released after they were screened.

    He said the suspects were arrested at the popular Akala Street, known for its notoriety in illicit drugs.

    Owoseni said the operatives recovered pump action guns, charms, daggers and cutlasses from the hoodlums, adding that the police were on the trail of kingpins, who instigate crisis in the area.

    According to the police boss, some “powerful people” have been named, within and outside the market as sponsors of the hit and run operations for selfish interest.

    He said: “The police are working with sister agencies, especially the military to trail the sponsors and to make sure that hoodlums no longer operate freely in Lagos.”

    Giving a rundown of the command activities, Owoseni said 13 suspected armed robbers were arrested at different locations, adding that two suspects died during shootouts with operatives.

    The commissioner also paraded 21 other suspects including 17 persons arrested for alleged gangsterism.

    He said eight weapons, 18 rounds of ammunition and 10 vehicles were recovered from hoodlums within the period under review.

    On activities of militants, Owoseni said the police would continue the raiding of creeks, adding that more suspects have been apprehended.

    He said: “We are still raiding creeks, aside from Isawo, we are gathering intelligence report on other creeks. We would continue with the exercise until we get rid of the criminals in the creeks. We will sustain the tempo and nothing would make us not achieve our purpose.”

  • Maid steals bosses’ $10,000 

    Maid steals bosses’ $10,000 

    The police in Lagos have arrested a maid, Blessing Paul for allegedly stealing her boss’ $10,000 in Gbagada.

    Paul was alleged to have forcibly opened the boss’ room with a knife and collected the money while the woman was at work.

    It was gathered that the maid, who had been stealing money and other valuables from her victim’s home, handed over the foreign currencies to the house guard identified as Daniel.

    The guard, it was gathered, handed the money to a security man at another residence in Gbagada, who in turn took it to a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator for the Naira equivalent.

    But the operator was said to have told policemen he received only about $5,000 from Amos.

    Instead of giving them N360/USD, the BDC operator gave the suspects at N86 per dollar, thereby shortchanging the alleged thieves of more than two million naira.

    According to the command’s spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), the woman they stole from was one Mrs. Tokunbo.

    He said the maid confessed that the woman has been very kind to her, adding that she usually bought clothes and gift items for her to take to her family in Benue State.

    Cole said that the BDC operator gave the suspects N870, 000 as equivalent for $5,000, adding that the police have recovered N400, 000 from there.

    “We also found N400, 000 in the maid’s bank account but we are following court’s procedure to seize the money. The BDC operator was allegedly given $10,000 but he claimed he only received $5,000. Investigation revealed that money and valuables have been missing in the house, but the woman didn’t suspect the maid until the theft of foreign currency last week.”

  • Police nab impersonators of Tinubu, Saraki, Amaechi, others

    Police nab impersonators of Tinubu, Saraki, Amaechi, others

    The police have arrested five suspects for allegedly impersonating the All Progressives Congress leader, Ahmed Tinubu, the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and others.

    The suspects have also allegedly defrauded their victims of over N20million in the last six months.

    The suspects arrested are; High Chief Ovie Ogo, Abdullazeez Eragbe, Babatunde  Oshamoto,   Samuel Idah and Prince Attah a.k.a Maurice who is based in United Kingdom and currently at large.

    Items recovered from them include 14 assorted G.S.M sets, all with sim cards registered with the names of top Government officials and other prominent Nigerians, several extra registered sim cards and a diary containing phone numbers of several top government officials and prominent persons in the country.

    The police noted that the suspects confessed to the crime admitting to have impersonated several prominent citizens.

    Speaking on how the arrest was made, the Force Spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood said: ” On 28 of March, the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) on the of cracked and arrested the notorious suspected criminals who posed as chief of staff to President, Senate President, National Security Adviser to President, Minister of petroleum, Minister of Finance, Minister of Transport, Chief Bola Tinubu, and many other prominent Nigerians.

    “In a coordinated operation in synergy with the Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU) after a painstaking and sustained surveillance by IRT the suspects were arrested.

    “The four man gang notorious syndicate led by one High Chief Ovie Ogo ( Eze Ireoma of Omoku-Rivers state) was arrested in an Hotel in Kaduna State.”

    Highlighting the roles they played, Moshood said: “High Chief Ovie Ogo (Eze Ireoma of Omoku-Rivers state) 47yrs native of Omoku Rivers State who impersonates Prominent Citizens from the South-South and Southeast.

    “Abdulazeez Eragbe 40yrs impersonates prominent citizens from the North, born and brought up in Kaduna speaks Hausa fluently and Babatunde Oshamoto 49yrs impersonates prominent citizens from the South West and North Central.

    He added: “Samuel Idah 25yrs supplies them with Sim cards registered with the names of the prominent Citizens.”

    On some of their operation, the Force Spokesman said: “Chief Ovie Ogo confessed that he posed as the National Security Adviser and collected ₦13,000,000 from a Ghanaian who wants to get an Oil block in Nigeria.

    “The gang also posed as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and collected ₦4,000,000 from one man who is seeking Federal appointment.

    “They equally posed as Chief of Staff to the President and collected ₦2,500,000 from another individual, who is looking for contract.

    He added: “The suspects again posed as the Chief of Staff to president and collected #700,000 from one young man who is also seeking Federal appointment.”

    The police while noting that investigation is being intensified to arrest other suspects at large added those arrested will be charged to court on completion of investigation.

    The police also urged members of the public to be careful and verify the identity of those they may wish to transact business or relate with.

     

  • Former DSS personnel, ten others paraded for kidnapping, armed robbery

    Former DSS personnel, ten others paraded for kidnapping, armed robbery

    The Police Wednesday in Abuja paraded a former personnel of Department of State Service and ten others for their alleged involvement in kidnapping and armed robbery.

    The suspects were arrested after they kidnapped one Alhaji Isa Salami Former GM PAN, MD Nigeria Paper Mills Jebba and Chairman Gateway Insurance.

    The victim was rescued from the kidnappers’ hideout, a two bedroom house rented by the kidnappers in remote side of Suleja Town of Niger State.

    The gang consists of the gang leader, the second in command, former DSS personnel, driver, guards, and the supplier of registered sim cards which they use for their operation.

    Those paraded are; Kelvin Emeka, Ndubushi Prince Uzor, Abdulraheed Maigari, Sunday Travnor, Zayor Alfred, Avah Joseph, Gabriel Friday, Rajab Baba Ishiaka, Ali Sani, Nuhu Sule and Mohammed Abubakar.

    Items recovered from them included one AK 47 rifle, three AK 47 magazines, 90 rounds of 7.62 live ammunition, two pistols, 14 rounds of 9mm live ammunition and two bedroom flats at different locations in Suleja.

    The Police disclosed that the arrested former DSS personnel had earlier been dismissed by the service for alleged involvement in a N310million foreign exchange scandal belonging to the Senate President, Senator Nikolai Saraki.

    Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja at the Force headquarters, the Force Spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood said operatives of IGP Intelligence Response team IRT jointly with Anti kidnap Squad of FCT Police Command swung into action following the kidnap of Alh. Isa Ozi Salami.

    Alhaji Salami was the former GM of Peagout Automobile Nigeria PAN, MD Nigeria Paper Mills Jebba and Chairman Gateway Insurance.

    Highlighting the roles played by each member of the gang, he said: ” Kelvin EMEKA 28yrs overall gang leader, who was earlier Charged to Gwagwalada High Court in October 2016 with 3 others for Kidnapping and armed robbery of several people in Abuja.

    “The suspect and his gang members were released by the Court on 8/12/16 less than 8 weeks after been Charged for Kidnapping and Armed Robbery.”

    “Ndubisi Prince Ozor, the second in command was also charged to Court for Armed Robbery in November 2016 and was released by Court on 25/1/17.

    Continuing, Moshood said: “Abdulrasheed Maigari 35yrs native of Donga LGA Area Taraba State a 2006 Political Science graduate of Bayero University Kano  recruited into DSS as a graduate Officer and was dismissed and charged to court for robbing N310million with some dismissed Army Personnel in Abuja.

    “He was also released by Court and he immediately joined the gang and became the Cordinator and also rented the two houses where victims were kept.”

    Others who were paraded are: “Sunday Tyavnor, he is the arms dealer who sold the AK47 Rifle used for the kidnappings for four hundred and seventy thousand naira (₦470,000) and the two (2) Pistols for sixty thousand naira (₦60,000) each he was arrested in Nasarawa State.

    “Mohammed Abubakar 21yrs native of Mokwa LGA Niger State supplier of pre-registered Sim cards to the kidnappers.”

    Other members of the gang were guards responsible for guarding and securing the victim from escaping.

    The police added that the suspects were identified by the victims, adding that they also confessed to the crime admitting to the various roles they played in the commission of various kidnappings, armed robberies and other violent crimes linked to them.

    The police noted that they will be charged to court on completion of investigation.

    The Inspector General of Police assured members of the public of adequate security and urged them to co-operate with the Police personnel deployed in their localities.

     

  • Crime has no tribe, IGP replies critics on ‘one-sided  arrests’ over Ife crisis

    Crime has no tribe, IGP replies critics on ‘one-sided  arrests’ over Ife crisis

    The police responded Friday to the accusation that they have been partial in their investigation of the recent communal crisis in Ile-Ife,Osun State that claimed at least 46 lives.

    The clash pitched the Yoruba against Hausa.

    The police moved in and arrested a number of suspects majority of whom are Yoruba.

    The development drew sharp criticism from prominent Yoruba leaders and groups, who believe the police are partial towards the Hausa.

    They wonder why only the Yoruba are being arrested and harassed over the clash.

    However,Police Inspector General Ibrahim Idris yesterday denied any such act by the police.

    “Crime has no tribe,” he told State House Correspondents after briefing President Muhammadu Buhari on the security situation in different part of the country.

    He added: “if you are a criminal you are a criminal.

    “Crime has no face. We don’t look at crime in the identity of where you are coming from.

    “As far as you are a criminal and the police find you wanting, we apply the law.”

    The Police IG expressed doubts over the involvement of Fulani herdsmen in the recent killings in Zaki Biam, Benue State.

    He said indications point in the direction of a wanted hoodlum, Gana.

    His words: “No I don’t think its Fulani herdsmen. It was an activity of a criminal who is using members of his criminal gang in the state to harass people.

    “We deployed Mobile Police Unit on 16th of this month and that incident that happened at Zaki Biam there are allegations that Gana, one of the wanted man,caused it.

    “This man has been on the police wanted list, I now decided to deploy some special units to go after him and get him by all means.

    “Definitely that man we are going to get him.”

    On his mission to the State House,he said: “I came to see the President to update him on the deployment of the police in our effort to ensure that we have security all over the country.

    “Obviously, it’s to share with him our deployment strategies on ground; our deployment to some of these flash points all over the country, especially Benue which is the current one; deployment to Kaduna state which started some few weeks back; and deployment to the Ile-Ife crisis where recently we have a lot of police officers, both special squads and investigation team on ground to conduct investigation on the matter.”

    Asked on the specific directives given to him by the President, he said: “Obviously, there should be a specific directive to ensure that all of us use all the facilities at our disposal to make sure that some of these incidents we are talking about are brought under control as soon as possible.

    “I gave the President my assurance that we are going to do that. As I said earlier, we have deplored a special squad to Benue and we are surely going to get that Gana within a short time.”

    He dismissed suggestions that the police have no strategy for fighting crimes in the country, saying: “You know some of these crises, we have to look at their and the immediate cause for you to make a proper classification of the crimes,

    “If you follow some of these crimes, they are just crimes that happened without any warning.

    “If you look at that Ife crisis, if you see how it started it’s just a disagreement between two people selling food along the road. So you have to look at the dynamics of the country itself.

    “Obviously, when you have such situation we have to react to it. We had to move in to ensure we provide some security to the people.”

     

  • Police parade 17 suspected cultists, armed robbers in Bayelsa

    Police parade 17 suspected cultists, armed robbers in Bayelsa

    The police in Bayelsa State, Thursday, paraded 17 suspected youths arrested in connections with armed robbery and cultism.

    One of the suspects identified as Innocent Chidoka was arrested for robbing his passenger, Mrs Happiness Orukipadi along Mbiama-Yenagoa road of her bag containing personal belongings.

    Chidoka was reportedly nabbed in the act while his dagger, handbag of the victim and a tricycle with registration number KMR 589 WL were recovered from him.

    The Commissioner of Police, Asuquo Amba, who paraded the suspects said one Joseph Precious, who threw his pistol away and escaped from a crime scene after attacking one Solomon Preye at a gunpoint, was apprehended by the police.

    He said the Anti-Robbery Squad later sighted Precious, a suspected cultist, at Tombia Roundabout in Yenagoa and arrested him adding that the suspect led the police to recover another locally made revolver pistol.

    Amba said the police also rounded up three suspected cultists, Ese Jacob, Endurance Dede and Nwobiara Chinedu, who gathered at the Transformer Junction, Swali planning to unleash trouble in Swali Community.

    He said: “The Police swung into action and arrested the three suspects. A locally-made pistol and a live cartridge were recovered from the suspects. The suspects confessed to the crime and admitted to be members of the Greenland Secret Cult.

    “In Sagbama Town, a leader of a notorious secret cult group, one Peremobowei Eyitimbai was arrested with a locally-made pistol and two live pistols.

    “Policemen on patrol along Tombia-Amassoma Road arrested one Ovieni Johnson. A locally made single barrel pistol with one live cartridge was recovered from him”.

    On strategies adopted by the police to fight crimes in the state, he said: “We have intensified patrols and surveillance. Members of the public are more willing to volunteer useful information.

    “This strategy has paid off with the arrest of armed robbers, recovery of firearms, recovery of cars and arrest of suspected cultist”.

    Amba said having effectively tackled kidnapping in the state, the issue of cultism had become rampant in the state.

    But he said that his command was engaged in a mass arrest of suspected cultists adding that anybody apprehended would be diligently prosecuted.

    He urged parents to pay attention to the activities of their children to discourage them from getting involved in cultism.

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  • Boko Haram lunches midnight attack in Maiduguri

    Boko Haram lunches midnight attack in Maiduguri

    …Eight suicide bombers killed

     

    The Police in Maiduguri have confirmed a suicide attack on a convoy of commercial cars at Muna garage in Maiduguri.

    The vehicles numbering about thirteen according to a statement issued by the State Police Spokesman DSP Victor Isuku, said the vehicles were awaiting security cover from military to depart to Gamboru Ngala on Friday when a suicide bomber sneaked and detonated his explosive ridden body in the midst of the trucks.

    The statement explained that the action triggered an unprecedented explosion which razed down the parked vehicles beyond recognition.

    The statement reads; “Yesterday at about 2318hrs,  a suicide bomber sneaked into the midst of 13 pick-up trucks loaded with goods along Maiduguri/Mafa road, said to be awaiting departure to Gamboru Ngala early hours  of today and detonated IEDs strapped on self. The resulting Explosion razed down the parked vehicles beyond recognition.

    EOD/Police patrol team were promptly deployed to the scene to restore safety & normalcy”.

    The police have however denied that some gunmen on motorcycle came shooting shortly after the suicide bomber attacked the convoy.

    The casualty figure from the attack is not yet clear as some unconfirmed reports believe many people may have been feared dead during the attack.

    About eight of the suicide bombers who lunched the attack on the vehicles were said to have died in the attack.

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said the bombers mostly women numbering eight in number were loaded in a Volkswagen Golf from Muna community.

    The spokesman for NEMA Sani Datti in a statement informed that the bombers attempted to run through a military check Point, adding that seven civilian JTF operatives were wounded in the event.

    The statement reads; “Yesterday (Thursday) at around 11:00pm, Boko Haram members attempted to attack Maiduguri. They came through Mafa- Dikwa road along Muna community. The suicide bombers came in a Volkswagen Golf carrying eight suicide bombers most of whom were female teenagers.

    “The driver attempted to over-run the security post where the security personnel’s were stationed, but few of the personnel’s sustained minor injuries, while the remaining bombers detonated their IED in some of the communities in Muna Dalti settlement.

    “Seven (7) Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) sustained minor injuries and were taken to University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH).  Some of the suicide bombers found their way to a place where people gathered with their trucks loaded with goods for onward movement to Mafa, Dikwa and Ngala LGAs.

    “Over 14 loaded trucks were burnt by the suicide bombers though no casualty was recorded. The seven corpses of the suicide bombers were evacuated to the State Specialist Hospital by NEMA and Borno SEMA team,” the statement said.

     

  • Police arrest alleged fake voters’ card producer

    Police arrest alleged fake voters’ card producer

    The police in Lagos have arrested a man who allegedly specialises in producing fake voters’ cards.

    Remi Adebiyi, a printer, was arrested Wednesday at his Governor’s Road, off College Bus Stop, Ikotun office, while allegedly printing the cards.

    His arrest, the police claimed, was sequel to information availed them at the wee hours of Wednesday, prompting operatives to storm the office.

    It was gathered that some specimens were retrieved from the office and the suspect confessed to have been contracted to do the job.

    According to the command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP) the Commissioner Fatai Owoseni has directed discreet investigation of the case with a view to arresting all those behind the crime.

  • Police arraigns man for alleged rape of teenager

    Police arraigns man for alleged rape of teenager

    The Police in Enugu have arraigned one Anthony Ajim, 30, before an Enugu State High Court for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl.

    Ajim was alleged to have had unlawful carnal knowledge of the teenager on July 16, 2016, at No. 9 Egbona St. Topland Awkunanaw in Enugu.

    The Prosecuting Counsel, Mrs Esther Ani, said that the offence was contrary to section 309 of the Criminal Code Cap 30 Vol. 11 revised Law of Enugu State of Nigeria 2004.

    The Defence Counsel, Chief Onyegbuna Uzor, asked for a short date for hearing to commence after the accused person had pleaded not guilty to the charges and the court adjourned the matter to Feb. 28, 2017, for hearing.

    Meanwhile, one Chinedu Nweze who was charged for unlawful possession of firearms told the court that he did not have a gun not to talk of obtaining a licence from the Police.

    Nweze was accused of unlawful possession of one locally made pistol on May 6, 2013, at Idodo-Abakaliki Expressway, Emene in Enugu without a valid licence.

    The offence was said to be contrary to section 3 (1) of Robbery and Firearms (special provision) Act R11 Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.

    In his defense, Nweze told the court that he did not know anything about the gun.

    The accused said that the Police told him a gun had been found in a bag from the car before he was asked to identify his bag.

    The prosecuting counsel, Mrs Obianuju Eze, reminded him that his statement was suggesting that his uncle’s wife was behind the gun found in his bag.

    Nweze said that he could not recall what he told the Police at the State Anti-Robbery Squad as he was battling pains from police gun shot.

    Counsel to the defence, Mr Izevbigie Iyobosa, told the court that he had nothing to ask the accused person and asked for a date.

    The court adjourned the case till April 3, 2017, for the adoption of addresses.