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Tag: Zaki Ahmed

  • Police parade suspected killers of Rivers DPO

    The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed, on Monday expressed regret that the body of the slain Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Rumuenimenin Police Station, Kingsley Chukwueggu, has not been found.

    Chukwueggu, a Superintendent of Police (SP), was murdered in cold blood early last month at the Awaza area of the state, while returning from Imo State.

    Ahmed said four shallow graves were discovered at the criminals’ hideout but none contained the remains of Chukwueggu.

    Seven suspected killers of the DPO were paraded at the state police command headquarters in Port Harcourt.

    They were – Uche Ogbonna (General), Chidiebere Oberenwa (Okotoburu,) Bethel Ihejirika and Solomon Ogbonna.

    Others were –  Ikenna Onwuchekwa, Nnamdi Ikpe and victor Marcus.

    Ahmed said: “Four shallow graves were discovered at the robbers’ den but there were  no traces of the DPO or his corpse.”

     

     

     

  • Police recover 179 illegal firearms in Rivers

    The Police Command in Rivers says it has recovered 179 arms and 577 cartridges from members of the public.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Zaki Ahmed, said this on Tuesday in Port Harcourt at a news briefing.

    Ahmed listed the recovered firearms to include 27 AK47 rifles; 51 locally made pistols; 33 single barrel guns; 29 double barrel guns; 21 pump action guns and other 18 assorted ones.

    He recalled that the Inspector-General of Police ( IGP ) had given a 21-day ultimatum to members of the public to surrender their illegal firearms to the police.

    He said the command had set up an eight-man Task Force headed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations to mop-up illegal firearms in the state.

    The commissioner said that the task force had embarked on sensitisation and advocacy visits to all the local government areas in the state to that effect.

    He said the mop-up compliance in the state had been commendable, noting that the exercise was ongoing.

    “I am, therefore, appealing to members of the public to once again cash in on the window to submit their illegal firearms before the expiration of the deadline or force will be used,” he said.

    Ahmed said the command was always making efforts to protect lives and property and urged residents of the state to go about their lawful businesses without fear of molestation.

    NAN

  • Police launch man-hunt for killers of DPO in Rivers

    The Commissioner of Police in Rivers, Mr Zaki Ahmed, has launched a manhunt for the killers of SP Kingsley Chukwuegu, the Divisional Police Officer ( DPO ) of Rumuolumeni Police Station in the state.

    A statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday by DSP Nnamdi Omoni, the Public Relations Officer in the state, said the commissioner had promised to arrest the killers.

    Omoni also said that the commissioner had already led a delegation of senior police officers to commiserate with the wife of the deceased officer and other family members.

    “With a deep sense of loss, the Police Command in Rivers announces the sudden death of SP Kingsley Chukwuegu who died in the early hours of Monday.

    “Until his death he was the DPO, Rumuolumeni Police Station. The Commissioner has this morning led a delegation of Senior Officers to commiserate with his wife and other members of his family.

    “The commissioner has launched a serious man-hunt for the perpetrators of the dastardly act and promised to fish them out soonest,” the spokesman said.

    NAN

  • BREAKING: Amaechi, Wike’s fight get messier

    BREAKING: Amaechi, Wike’s fight get messier

    The fight between the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has got messier, with the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) supported with purpose-built office complex in Port Harcourt, when Amaechi was governor, suddenly given quit notice by officials of Wike’s local government council.

    The quit notice came from Obio/Akpor Local Government Council of Rivers state, where Wike, a former Minister of State for Education, hails from, through the council’s Legal Adviser, Victor Owhonda Wokem.

    Wike, who is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and most leaders of the PDP decided to declare war against the Commander of F-SARS in Rivers state, Akin Fakorede, a lawyer, for allegedly refusing to support the plans of the PDP during the December 10 last year’s legislative rerun.

    Fakorede, who hails from Ekiti State, in a telephone interview, however, declared that the security outfit would never vacate the facility given to it by Amaechi’s govt on August 23, 2012, asking officials of the local government council to desist from making false claims.

    While also speaking on the telephone on Friday, the Caretaker Chairman of Obio/Akpor local government council, Goodnews Ozioma Amadi, a member of PDP, who was recently appointed by Wike for three months, with the possibility of being reappointed for another three months, if she performs optimally, in her reaction, said: “It is a legal matter. It is being handled by the council’s Legal Adviser.”

    The Rivers state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), through its Publicity Secretary, Chief Chris Finebone, in Port Harcourt, said: “Of course, this is one of the clearest evidence of the war of attrition being waged by Wike and his government against the F-SARS in Rivers State. It is a development foretold by discerning minds.”

    Rivers APC also claimed that Wike was fighting F-SARS in the state and Fakorede, because of 2019 elections and the governor’s vice-presidential ambition in 2019, with the state’s commander of F-SARS having earlier allegedly refused to be bribed to support the massive rigging of the December 10 last year’s legislative rerun in Rivers.

    The quit notice from Obio/Akpor local government council, located in Rumuodomaya, Port Harcourt, and the reply of F-SARS, both on their colourful letterheads, were obtained on Friday in Port Harcourt.

    The quit notice was dated October 18, 2017, signed by the local government council’s legal adviser, was addressed to the commander of F-SARS, Sir Celestine Omehia Road, Rukpokwu, Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor LGA, Rivers State, and titled: “Notice to Vacate and Deliver up Possession of the Property/Premises You Occupy Inside the Obio/Akpor International Market, Rukpokwu Town, Obio/Akpor LGA, Rivers State.”

    Wokem (LG legal adviser) said: “I am directed by the Local Government Council to give you one month notice to vacate and deliver up possession of the premises/property of the Obio/Akpor International Market, which you presently occupy, as a licensee thereof, on or before 30th day of November 2017.

    “This directive is borne out of the council’s need to carry out major renovation works at the international market and to put the said property, which you occupy, into full use and purpose for which it was originally acquired and built.

    “Take further notice that in the event you fail, refuse or neglect to abide by this notice, the council shall have no option, but to use all available legal means to eject you therefrom and demand consequential damages. Please, be guided accordingly.”

    Copies of the Obio/Akpor local government’s quit notice were sent to Wike; the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; and the Rivers Commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed.

    The quit notice, which was received by F-SARS, Rivers state on October 19, 2017, was stamped and signed by one of the officials of the security outfit, without the name indicated.

    F-SARS, Rivers state, in its reply, dated October 19, 2017, and signed by its commander (Fakorede), a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), accused the officials of Obio/Akpor local government council of being economical with the truth.

    The F-SARS’ response had copies sent to Rivers Police Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Port Harcourt and the Officer in Charge (O/C) Legal, State CID, Port Harcourt.

    F-SARS said: “I refer to your letter dated October 18, 2017 on the above subject matter and wish to respectfully inform your good office that the Rivers State F-SARS is not in possession or occupation of any premises/property of Obio/Akpor Local Government.

    “For the purpose of clarity and the avoidance of doubt, the F-SARS is presently occupying a purpose-built police facility, constructed for the police and officially handed over to the F-SARS, Rivers State on August 23, 2012 by the Rivers State Government, under Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, then Governor of Rivers State.

    “You are kindly requested to advise your client to desist from making false claims. Please be advised.”

    Fakorede, in yesterday’s telephone interview, also stated that F-SARS purpose-built facility had standard police station, cells, offices and residential quarters for officers and men, among other facilities to enhance the smooth operations of the special security outfit, while declaring that there was no way F-SARS could quit the facility it had been occupying for over five years.

    Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah, at a news conference in Government House, Port Harcourt, accused Fakorede of taking sides with the leaders of the APC, while calling for his transfer out of the state.

    Okah drew the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari, other Nigerians and the international community to the alleged atrocities committed in Rivers by F-SARS, under the command of Fakorede and the alleged deliberate refusal of the IGP, as well as the Police Service Commission (PSC) to reprimand or transfer the commander of F-SARS in the state.

    Information commissioner said: “Rivers State government is not after the person of Mr Akin Fakorede, but the odious methods he employs in doing his job and the consequences.”

    APC in Rivers, however, accused Wike and his allies of lying outright, in their declaration of war against the hardworking, focused and professional commander of F-SARS in the state.

    The main opposition APC in Rivers said: “The accusation by the Rivers State government is complete nonsense. If the police and particularly former Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, were the armed wing of the PDP to tackle the former Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, years back, it does not by any means follow that APC today needs such an aberration or unholy alliance. We are a party of change.

    “APC has no special relationship with SARS or any security agency in the colour being painted by Wike and the PDP in Rivers State. We are happy that the Rivers State government and PDP in Rivers State have come out to unveil the real reasons they are battling SARS and its Commander, Akin Fakorede. They have spelt it out that it is all about 2019.

    “APC as a political party sensed it all along. We will not be surprised if the police high command already knows why PDP and Wike are whining, huffing and puffing about SARS and Akin Fakorede. Now, it is crystal clear who is politicising security in Rivers State and why the best efforts of the security agencies appear not to be achieving the desired results.”

    It will be recalled that Amaechi, a former Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), had been at loggerheads with Wike, his former Chief of Staff (2007-2011), who was the Director-General of Amaechi Re-election Campaign Organisation in 2011, before the then Rivers governor (Amaechi) recommended him (Wike) to the then President Goodluck Jonathan for ministerial appointment in 2011, over who would be Rivers governor in 2015.

    Amaechi, an indigene of Ubima in Ikwerre LGA, stated that to ensure equity, justice and fairness in the multi-ethnic state, it would not be proper for another Ikwerre person/Uplander to succeed him in 2015, while opting for a riverine successor, but Wike, also an Ikwerre from Rumueprikom in Obio/Akpor LGA of the state maintained that emphasis should be placed on competence and capability to win elections, not zoning.

    Amaechi stuck to zoning between the upland and riverine parts of the state, leading to the emergence of Dr. Dakuku Peterside, from coastal Opobo, the headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro LGA of the state as the standard bearer of the APC, but he was rigged out, while he got favourable judgment at the Court of Appeal, Abuja, with Wike emerging victorious at the Supreme Court.

  • Rivers: Eliozu residents protest escape of suspected ritual killer

    Rivers: Eliozu residents protest escape of suspected ritual killer

    Some residents of Eliozu area of Port Harcourt on Wednesday protested the unfortunate escape of Mr Ifeanyi Dike, a suspected ritual killer from police custody.

    The Rivers Police Command had paraded Dike for raping and killing Miss Victory Chikamso, an eight- year old girl residing in the same compound with him.

    Mr Promise Wobo, a resident of Eliozu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that the protest was to call on the Rivers Police Command to re-arrest Dike.

    Wobo said that it was an embarrassment to Nigeria for a suspected ritual killer to escape from police custody.

    “It was our local vigilance team that caught him when he was attempting to dispose of the body.

    “He was handed over to the police for interrogation and prosecution but it’s so unfortunate and embarrassing for him to have escaped from the custody.

    “All we want is, the police should re-arrest the suspect and prosecute him together with the officer that allowed him to escape,” he said.

    Mrs Alaerebo Jack, one of the protesters, said that the police had no excuse as to why the boy should escape from their custody.

    Jack said that the protest was to call on the Rivers Government not to allow the police authority to bury the matter without justice.

    “We are calling on Gov. Nyesom Wike to act within his powers to ensure that the police are made to re-arrest Dike to face prosecution.

    “The killing of the eight- year old girl is ungodly and against the laws of the land but instead of the police to act professionally, they decided to allow the killer to escape,” she said.

    Another resident of Eliozu, who participated in the protest, Mr Chike Boms, said that they had lost confidence in the Nigeria Police to protect them.

    “If a ritual killer suspect that was handed over to the police can escape from custody, how can they even protect the citizens?

    “The officer in-charge of the matter that allowed Dike to escape should be held responsible and dealt with while the police authority also sanitise their system,” he said.

    Boms frowned at the decision of the police to disperse them with force.

    The suspect, a 200 level undergraduate student of University of Port Harcourt, had earlier admitted to have committed the crime.

    Dike confessed that his victim died when he was cutting-off parts of her body that was requested from him.

    The victim’s body was mutilated as her eyes, private part and some fingers were removed.

    Dr Earnest Mezuwuba, the father of the victim, urged the Police to ensure that the suspect was re-arrested to face the law.

    Meanwhile, the Rivers Commissioner of Police, Mr Zaki Ahmed, said that the officer who was in charge of the case, Mr John Bosco, had been arrested and detained.

    Ahmed also assured the people of Rivers that the police had deployed all necessary means at its disposal to re-arrest the suspect.

    He said that the protesters were asked to open up the road they blocked and leave so that criminals would not exploit the protest to commit crime.

  • Why Magu visited Rivers Chief Judge – EFCC

    Why Magu visited Rivers Chief Judge – EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has cleared the air on the visit of its Acting Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu to the Chief Judge of Rivers on Monday.

    It said that contrary to speculation, the visit was not connected to any of its cases pending before the chief judge, Justice Adama Iyayi-Lamikanra.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the clarification was made in a statement issued by the Spokesman of the EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren on Tuesday.

    Uwujaren said Magu’s visit to Iyayi-Lamikanra was a courtesy call as part of his working visit to the headquarters of the South South zonal office of the commission in Port Harcourt.

    “Apart from the Chief Judge, Magu also visited the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed.

    “Indeed, it is a matter of routine courtesy for the EFCC boss to visit critical stakeholders, particularly law enforcement and justice sector leaders in zones where the commission maintain offices.

    “Such gestures are not meant to compromise or influence them to favour the commission in the discharge of their responsibilities,’’ he explained.

    The EFCC spokesman said the clarification was in reaction to a report in a national daily purporting that the visit was causing disquiet in the state.

    He quoting the report as saying “the state House of Assembly is considering passing a resolution calling for the suspension of the chief judge for receiving Magu’’.

    Uwujaren said an anonymous source told the paper that the lawmakers believed the visit had put the Chief Judge under pressure, and that it was wrong for Magu to visit a judge over any case.

    Uwujaren noted that the visit was pursuant to the commission’s belief that it had a shared responsibility with other workers in the justice delivery system to promote the fight against corruption.

    According to him, visits such as this one offer the commission the opportunity to share experiences and remind the hosts of their responsibilities under the EFCC Act, especially as it concerns the designation of judges to handle EFCC cases.

    “Justice Laminkara is not the first Chief Judge to host Magu and it will be distasteful to malign her over a civilised gesture of receiving a head of a federal agency.

    “Many judges have hosted Magu without a whimper from any quarter. Before now, the EFCC boss visited the Chief Judges of Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States.

    “At the federal level, he has paid courtesy visits to the Chief Judges of the Federal High Court, the Federal Capital Territory High Court and the President of the Court of Appeal.

    “These visits have not stopped the commission from losing cases before judges under the supervision of these respected judicial officials,’’ he said.