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Tag: Zubairu Muazu.

  • DNA centre will aid our work, says CP

    The Lagos State police Command will, henceforth, take advantage of the state-of-the-art government owned  DNA and Forensic Centre (LSD&FC) in its investigation and resolution of crime cases. Commissioner Zubairu Muazu said on Thursday.

    Speaking during his visit to the LSD&FC at Odunlami Street, Lagos Island, he said it was ideal to have such a facility, which was used in advanced countries in crime investigation.

    He said the command would work with the centre to scientifically combat crime.

    LSD&FC Managing Consultant Dr. Richard Somiari, who took the police chief round the facility, said it had the technology and expertise to support the DNA testing needs of the state.

    He listed some of the services of the centre to include consultation on cold cases, crime scene processing, evidence collection, serological screening for blood, semen and saliva, DNA analysis, mass disaster victim identification and old case files review.

    Read Also: FG directs Accountant-General to complete forensic audit of varsities personnel

    Somiari said an important task before the centre was the development and management of a central DNA database to be called Lagos State DNA Database (LSDD).

    “The DNA crime laboratory will be helpful when dealing with organised crime, including automobile theft, home burglaries and extortion.”

    “Many of these crimes are organised, gang related and committed by the same people and with DNA forensics, the DNA from the crime scenes and from suspects will be put in a DNA database,” Somiari said.

    He said the project would allow the testing of human specimens such as blood, urine, saliva and tissue to check for chemicals, poisons and toxins that might be harmful or responsible for death.

    Somiari added that the Chemistry section would allow the testing of suspicious and controlled substances recovered from individuals or from crime scenes.

  • Police parade 202 suspected cultists in Ikorodu

    The police in Lagos on Monday paraded 202 suspected cultists said to have been terrorising the city in recent times.

    It was gathered that the suspects were arrested between February and last weekend, and a handful of them had earlier been charged to court.

    Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu, who paraded the suspects, also launched an operation to flush out cultists and gangsters from the district.

    According to him, the operation, codenamed CRUSH, aims at ending cultism and gangsterism in the state.

    The police chief said it would be directly under his command and led by area commanders (ACs) and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs).

    Muazu advised cultists to renounce their membership of such groups or be routed.

    The police chief warned parents to monitor the activities of their wards.

    He said the command had painstakingly put in place measures to reclaim the destiny of youths who chose the path of crime by engaging in cult activities.

    Muazu said: “When cultism thrives, surely other heinous crimes, like murder, rape, robbery, kidnapping, among others, will thrive too. Defeating cultism will, therefore, mean defeating all heinous crimes in the state, as virtually every major crime recorded in the state has a link to cultism.

    “We have recovered 54 assorted weapons. Other successes recorded by the command include the arrest of 105 suspects for armed robbery and seven suspects for kidnapping.

    “The command has also successfully foiled 93 armed robbery attempts through prompt response to distress calls from members of the public at different locations in the state.

    “We must cleanse our communities of those few criminal elements who have threatened our social and economic well-being.

    “Tackling cultism requires a holistic approach. We intend to adopt community policing approach. We will soon embark on sensitisation programmes in collaboration with Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) and other stakeholders in schools, neighbourhoods and the media.

    Read Also: Police arrest 16 in Ikorodu cult clash

    “We will equally establish Police Students Relations Committee (PSRC), comprising all the Students’ Union Presidents and other student leaders. We will organise town hall meetings in areas mostly affected by cult activities.

    “The meetings will discuss extensively the root causes of cultism and gangsterism in the affected areas and the possible solutions.

    “The various cult groups and gangs identified within the state include Aiye and Eiye confraternities, One Million Boys at Ajengule, Fadeyi Boys at Fadeyi, Akala Boys at Mushin, Nokia Group at Surulere, Shitta Boys at Bariga, Oworonshoki, Shomolu and Palmgrove, Awawa Boys at Dopemu, Agege, Ogba and Iyana Ipaja.

    “We have observed the activities of these cult groups and gangs for the last one month and credible intelligence was gathered. We have reviewed our strategies and have initiated far-reaching approach to totally eradicate this menace.

    “We have rejigged our Anti-Cultism Unit to effectively combat those miscreants who have chosen the wrong path of life. We are taking the fight to their door steps; we are all out for them. We will fish them out, isolate them and bring them to justice. We are battle-ready to uproot every cultists’ den and hideout until they are totally defeated.”

    One of the paraded suspects, Solomon Olowu, confessed to be a member of the Aiye cult group, claiming he was oppressed into joining.

    He said: “I joined the group in 2015 due to oppression and I feel sorry for myself at the moment. I was arrested on Monday during a raid around 8 a.m at Ikorodu after a fight between Aiye and Eiye confraternities.

    “My other colleagues were with weapons but I was not with any. The police team came after the clash had ended. I was the only one arrested. I feel very guilty and I promise never to do that again.”

  • We collected N5m ransom for Lagos Fire Service boss, says suspect

    One of the suspects arrested for kidnapping Lagos Fire Service Director Rasaki Musibau has said the gang collected N5million ransom for his release.

    Blessing Boyo, 29, told reporters the gang leader identified simply as MK who’s still at large, had told them the money brought was N5million and that he would share it when they returned to base.

    Boyo was paraded alongside Smart Alfred on Thursday evening by Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu.

    Narrating how they kidnapped Musibau and six others around 8pm on April 6, Boyo said they used timbers to block the road before ambushing their victims.

    He said the four guns used for the operation were brought by MK who allegedly lured him into kidnapping.

    Boyo said: “MK called me for the operation. He had guys in the bush. He brought out guns and said it was kidnapping work. I have not kidnapped before. I used to carry timber with an operator.

    “We blocked the road with woods, stopped vehicles and kidnapped them. We had four guns and it was MK that brought it. I have not been given any money.

    “He said we should return to base first. It was MK that was with the money. He told us that the money was N5million.

    Read Also: Lagos Fire Service chief, six others abducted

    “My first time in Lagos was on April 5. I am from Arogbo in Ondo State. We did not beat the man. We took the man to the bush. He was fed cooked food. MK’s boys cooked Egusi and Eba and the one was served.”

    Corroborating Boyo’s statement, Alfred, also a native of Arogbo in Ondo State, said they followed MK because he fooled them he was a timbre operator and needed carriers.

    He said it was when they got to the bush that he told them it was kidnapping job and since he was jobless, he joined him.

    “The guy told us to follow him to do carrier work since we were jobless at the time.

    “He approached us because he knows we are into carrier work. I followed him to the bush because i believed it was carrier work.

    “I did not understand what he meant. He showed us guns and said this is the work he is into.

    “I asked if he wanted to kill me and he said he will show me how he does the work.

    “As we got to where we wanted to operate, he cut a wood and blocked the road. MK fled when police arrested us,” he said.

    Muazu told reporters that the suspects were arrested on April 10 at about 5:30am at Ibafun alomg Ikorodu-Ijebu Ode Expressway, a boundary community with Ogun.

    According to the police chief, all kidnapped victims regained their freedom following a sustained and well- coordinated operation by the command’s Tactical Anti-kidnapping unit.

    “They all confessed to the commission of the crime. Two single barrel guns were recovered from the suspects. Investigation is ongoing,” Muazu said.

  • Kolade Johnson: Buhari frowns at SARS, promises prosecution of perpetrators

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed regret over the recent action of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Police Command in Lagos, which led to the avoidable death of Kolade Johnson.

    President Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Wednesday, acknowledged the genuine outrage regarding the activities of SARS.

    The president reassured the public that swift actions had already been taken as the suspects were in custody.

    He said that an orderly room trial was set to commence immediately, following which indicted officers would be prosecuted in court.

    Buhari, who commiserated deeply with the family of the deceased, said: “Government will not tolerate, in any way, the brutalization of Nigerians or the violation of their rights.

    “Any officer of the law enforcement agencies or any other government functionary caught in this act will certainly be visited with the full weight of the law,” the president said.

    Read Also: BMO: you can’t compare Buhari with Atiku

    He recalled that the Presidency, in 2018 directed overhaul of the management and activities of the SARS, the president said steps were taken by the Police leadership to restructure and reform the squad.

    Buhari however, observed that a lot more remained to be done and sustained.

    The president pledged his administration’s resolve to ensure that the Police and other law enforcement agencies conducted their operations in strict adherence to the rule of law and with due regard to International Human Rights and Humanitarian Laws.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Johnson had on March 31, gone to watch a football match when he was hit by stray bullet from policemen attached to the Police Anti-Cultism Unit.

    The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu, had already revealed the names of policemen involved in the killing of Kolade Johnson at Mangoro area of the state.

    Muazu, who made the revelation when he paid a condolence visit to the deceased’s family, identified the officers as: Insp. Ogunyemi Olalekan and Sgt. Godwin Orji attached to Anti Cultism Squad.

    NAN

  • Police detain team behind soccer fan’s death

    Policemen attached to the Anti-Cultism unit fingered in the killing of a soccer fan Kolade Johnson at Ikeja on Sunday night have been detained, spokesman Bala Elkana confirmed on Monday.

    Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), disclosed this in a statement where he informed that the team members would undergo internal disciplinary procedures and then prosecuted if found culpable.

    It was gathered the team had stormed Olu Aboderin Street in Onipetesi to arrest a man with dreadlocks on suspicion he was a cultist.

    After allegedly picking up their target, the policemen allegedly started shooting sporadically, leading to stray bullet hitting Johnson, said to be an only child who was watching Liverpool Football Club match.

    An eyewitness had disclosed that Johnson, who recently became a father, died before they arrived Ikeja General Hospital, which sparked protest that stretched to Mangoro Cement and Dopemu areas of the state.

    Johnson’s death was the second in three days involving policemen as another team had shot a motorcyclist dead at Kilo Bus Stop, Surulere on Thursday for alleged refusal to pay N200 bribe.

    Read Also: Cash and carry soccer

    Elkana said Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu had appealed for calm, adding that the police were able to identify the suspect team based on an eyewitness’ account.

    He said: “On March 31, at about 5.05 pm, the command received a distress call that Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway has been blocked by some angry youths who were protesting the shooting of one Kolade Johnson of 1, Beco Street, Onipetesi, Mangoro Bus Stop by a team of policemen from Anti Cultism unit.

    “A team of policemen from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and Metro patrol were promptly drafted to the scene. The account of eyewitnesses helped in identifying the team which fled the scene immediately after the incident.

    “Members of the team suspected to be involved in the shooting have since been arrested and are currently in police custody undergoing interrogation.

    “They will be subjected to internal disciplinary procedures and may be prosecuted in conventional court if implicated by ongoing investigation.

    “The Commissioner of Police has promised to initiate far reaching reforms to help in repositioning the Anti-Cultism Squad for effective service delivery, particularly in areas of respect for human rights and proficiency in the use of firearms.

    “Members of the public who have complaints on the activities of Anti Cultism Squad or any of our police teams should call the following numbers 08063299264, 08065154338 and 08060357795, please.”

  • Updated: Police Inspector kills man over alleged N200 bribe in Lagos

    A Police Inspector identified as Paul Joseph has been arrested for shooting a motorcyclist dead over alleged N200 bribe in Lagos.

    The incident occurred at Kilo Bus Stop in Surulere, Lagos Mainland Thursday morning.

    It was gathered that the policemen who was with two others in a patrol vehicle had stopped the deceased, Ademola Moshood and requested the usual money which the motorcyclist refused to give them because he had closed business for the day and was homebound.

    Angered by his refusal, Joseph was said to have moved closer to the man, cocked his gun and shot him on the head.

    According to witnesses, the policemen were attached to Soloki Division Aguda and had his behind a van when protesters stormed the station to demand justice.

    They alleged that the policemen after killing the man, fled the scene with his motorcycle, leaving his body on the ground.

    Read also: Policemen allegedly kill man over N200 bribe in Lagos

    They identified the other policemen as AK and Patrick, appealing to the Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu to investigate the issue and charge the culprits for murder.

    Police spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP) said the Commissioner Zubairu Muazu had ordered that the culprit be detained and tried.

    “The Inspector is in detention. He is being investigated and the circumstances that led to the shooting. We do not know what led to the shooting and we would not want to preempt the investigation. But be assured that the Commissioner of Police will not tolerate any unprofessional conduct. Details of the investigation will be made known.”

  • 2019 election: NGO lauds police for ensuring law and order

    A human rights organization, Crime Victims Foundation of Nigeria (CRIVIFON) has commended the Lagos State Police Command for maintaining law and order in state during the general elections.

    The Executive Director of the foundation, Mrs. Gloria Egbuji, made the commendation in a statement issued in Lagos Thursday.

    Mrs. Egbuji noted that in spite of attempts by some miscreants to cause breach of public peace in some parts of the city during the elections, the police, under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu, in collaboration with other security agencies were able to nip the situation in the bud.

    READ ALSO: Angwe: NGO advocates summit on security

    According to her, the fact that the police authorities were able to halt the attempt by political thugs who wanted to stoke a ‘tribal war’  in Okota area of Lagos after they had set ballot boxes ablaze, was a testimony that the police commissioner was determined to live up to his earlier promise of making Lagos safe during the elections.

    “The foundation considered it highly commendable on the  part of the CP, Muazu, for his quick initiative in holding meeting with critical stakeholders amongst the Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa communities in the trouble prone area with a view to dousing the tension already built by the hoodlums’ planned attack”, she said.

    The foundation also commended the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Zone Two, Mr. Lawal Shehu and the CP for moving round most parts of the state to monitor the conduct of the election and for ensuring peace and orderliness.

  • Police arrest two robbery suspects, recover gun

    The police in Lagos have arrested two suspected members of an armed robbery syndicate terrorising Lekki.

    Adebayo Ayomide, and Isaac David were arrested by a team of operatives led by Maroko Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Isah Abdulmajid, a Chief Superintendent (CSP) shortly after allegedly robbing two residents of phones.

    In a statement released Sunday afternoon, police spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said the suspects were apprehended on March 9 around 9pm.

    He said the DPO and his men while on crime prevention patrol along the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge came in contact with two young women, Gbemi and Hannah, who appeared to be in panic.

    Read Also: Gunmen kill two policemen, injure one

    “Upon questioning, they explained to the team that they had just been dispossessed of their phones by the suspects at gunpoint. They pointed at the direction through which the bandits escaped on a motorcycle and the police gave them a hot chase.

    “The team tracked down the suspects and upon searching them, their operational single-barrel gun, a cutlass and the phones were found on them. The items were recovered and the criminals taken into custody.

    “In their confessional statements, they owned up to belonging to a syndicate terrorising Lekki and its environs.

    “Commending the police team for a swift response to the crime and the eventual arrest of the perpetrators, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Zubairu Muazu directed that the case be transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for further investigation.

    “The CP assured residents of the command’s commitment to securing lives and property in every nook and cranny of the state. He warned criminal-minded individuals to either change their ways or face the full weight of the law.”

     

  • Polls: Army arrests four in Lagos

    Operatives of the Nigerian Army on Saturday arrested four persons for electoral offences in Lagos.

    The suspects who were arrested at different locations within Ikeja, Mushin and Oshodi, were said to have conducted themselves in ways capable of disrupting the electoral process.

    It was gathered that one of the suspect was held at Onigbongbo while fighting at a polling unit by operatives of the 9 Brigade, while a soldier and one civilian were arrested at Mushin for breaching movement restriction order.

    Confirming the arrests, the Commander 9 Brigade Gen. Lagbaja Abiodun told our Correspondent that another suspect was apprehended with charms at a polling unit in Oshodi while trying to cause a fight.

    He said: “We made three arrests. One was at Onigbongbo involving a young man who was causing trouble. We arrested a soldier and a civilian around Mushin. The soldier was not on election duty and he was breaching the movement restriction order. Because he was with a civilian, it was believed they had intent to cause trouble.

    “Another man was arrested at Oshodi with charms and he was causing a fight. All the suspects are currently in out barrack and would be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu on Saturday evening ordered the arrest of party officials and candidates found at ward or local government collation centres in the state.

    Muazu who described the election as peaceful, noted that the officials and candidates were violating the Electoral Act by being present at collation centres and their presence could spring violence.

    He gave the order while on tour of Ward collation centres in Ikeja Local Government Area (LGA) after observing the presence of some party officials.

    The commissioner ordered them out of the centres, directing the Police officers leading security teams to arrest anyone found in 15 minutes.

    “Each party is supposed to send a representative to the collation centres. Only the party agents are to be at the collation centres. No candidates who have contested election should be here and no party chieftain.

    “Only electoral officers bringing in results and party agents are wanted here. Any candidate or party official found here has contravened the Electoral Act and would be arrested. Arrest them and bring them to my cell. I have food to give them.

    “I do not anticipate any post-election violence. The whole exercise has been good thus far. We have seen from the polling units and now visited all collation centres in Ikeja Local Government Area and the process is moving smoothly. No problems anywhere.

    “Collation has started in the four wards we have visited in Ikeja. We have seen adequate security in those areas and we have not received complaints from any of the officers over the collation exercises.

    “I have reports of few arrests made within Lagos but I cannot give you details because I am yet to receive full reports from the Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs).”

  • Security not responsible for voter apathy, says Lagos CP

    Lagos Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu on Saturday denied that observed voter apathy in some areas of the state was connected to lack of security presence during the presidential election.

    Violence sprung up in some polling units in the state during the March 23 Presidential and National Assembly (NASS) elections following the disruption of voting exercises by hoodlums.

    But the commissioner who toured the state during election, told reporters that watertight security was provided for this Gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections to ensure voters’ safety.

    Muazu, alongside his boss Lawal Shehu, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone Two, toured Oshodi, Okota, Ijora, Apapa and Surulere areas of the state, said he was satisfied with the professionalism of security operatives deployed for the exercise.

    Read also: Poor turnout in Alimosho

    “It is not true that voters did not come out because of fear or insecurity. We provided adequate security and have been assuring electorates to come out and vote. We had assured that security measures will be doubled and also ensured that armed policemen were stationed not far from polling units to wade off miscreants.

    “So far, the exercise has been peaceful. We have not had any issues. We have made adequate plans to contain any post-election violence though we do not envisage any. We also have security operatives on standby who would be deployed if the need arise.

    “We are back from convoy patrol of the polling units. The next phase will be to move from local governments to state collation centre.

    “Like I said, we have made adequate arrangement to ensure that we re-inforce those polling centers and we cannot expect any problems.”