Wednesday, 9 November 2016
Yoruba, Egun youths clash in Lekki, burn 200 structures
November 10, 2016
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Some of the burnt structures
Olaleye Aluko
No fewer than 200 structures were burnt on Wednesday in Otodo Gbame, an Egun community in the Lekki Phase 1 area of Lagos State, during a clash between some Egun and Yoruba youths.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the crisis started on Sunday, when the Yoruba youths demanded that the residents should relocate from the area.
It was gathered that the Egun community insisted that residents would not leave their houses, tagging the youths as hoodlums and land grabbers.
Our correspondent gathered that the crisis came to a head on Wednesday when the Yoruba youths set fire to the structures in the area at about 8am.
The action was said to have triggered a clash between the youths of the Egun community and their Yoruba counterparts.
Two persons were said to have been injured during the clash, while the area was quickly deserted as the fire raged. Some residents reportedly salvaged their property from the fire and fled.
It was learnt that policemen from the Rapid Response Squad, the Maroko division and the Area J Command, Ajah, went to the area to restore normalcy.
A policeman on the team said an abandoned two-day-old baby was rescued from one of the burning structures.
He said, “When the structures were set ablaze, the mother and the father of the baby fled. It was the cry of the baby that drew the attention of policemen to that room. The baby was locked inside the house. The baby was rescued and reunited with her parents.”
“Nobody was killed, but about three persons were injured. The entire community was razed.”
yoruba-egun-youths-clash-in-lagos-burn-200-structuresA resident, who identified himself only as Hunsu, said, “The crisis started on Sunday. Some people came and said they had bought our land and we should relocate. We did not know that the hoodlums would go to this extent.
“The crisis escalated on Wednesday when they invaded the community and set fire to our property. All my belongings are gone. My wife and children are homeless.”
Our correspondent learnt that the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, went to the area around 2pm and held a peace meeting between the leaders of the two groups.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said five suspects were arrested in connection with the crisis.
She said, “The command received a report that the Egun and Yoruba communities were engaged in a serious brawl over land issue. Upon receipt of the information, the command operatives from the RRS and men of the Area J Command moved in. Some shanties being occupied by the residents were set ablaze by the warring factions.
“A baby was rescued from the one of the houses. Five suspects were also arrested in connection with the fracas. The CP visited the scene and promised that everyone involved in the clash would be duly prosecuted.”
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Reps ask security agencies to arrest ‘MMM’promoters
November 9, 2016
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Members of the House of Representatives at plenary
John Ameh, Abuja
The House of Representatives on Wednesday asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Central Bank of Nigeria to immediately go after the promoters Mavrodi Mondial Moneybox, otherwise known as ‘MMM’ in Nigeria.
Lawmakers strongly opposed the investment scheme, which lately gained popularity among Nigerians in the wake of the current economic recession in the country.
MMM promises 30 per cent return on investment for any money put into the scheme within 30 days.
The investment scheme has a Russian origin and “involves directing clients to make money available for an anonymous person with a promise of 30 per cent return within one month.”
But, members described the scheme as a “scam” and warned Nigerians not to be carried away by the “mouth-watering” returns on investments.
Lawmakers warned that the “trick” used by the operators was to attract as many Nigerians as possible to invest substantial amounts of money before the bubble would burst.
The House directed the EFCC, security agencies and the CBN to take urgent steps to halt the scheme before many Nigerians would become victims of the scam.
It also asked its Committees on Banking/Currency and Financial Crimes to investigate the activities of MMM Nigeria Scheme, “with a view to saving Nigerians participating in the scheme from you financial ruin.”
The Chairman, House Committee on Telecommunications, Mr. Saheed Fijabi, had in a motion, drawn the attention of the House to the growing popularity of the scheme among Nigerians.
Fijabi, an All Progressives Congress lawmaker from Oyo State, represents Ibadan-South/West Federal Constituency.
“The scheme entered the Nigerian circle in 2016, capitalising on the high level of unemployment and poverty to deceive unwary Nigerians into falling prey to their antics”, Fijabi stated.
He said the fact that MMM was not regulated by law or approved by the CBN as a secure business venture, made Nigerians more vulnerable.
Chrismas : Armed robbers send threat letters to Ogun community.
By Patience Ogbo
Residents of Anglican Road Ilupewo community in Ado- Odo Otta local government area a boundary community between Lagos and Ogun state are deserting thier homes following a spurious letter circulated in the community by suspected armed robbers.
The residents in the quiet community have resorted to prayers and fasting following letters pasted on thier doors by armed robbers that they will soon attack the residents before Christmas.
The letter which was written in Yoruba language and typed in capital letters was sighted by our Correspondent described the armed robbers as "Strong men of the road that owns the night" warning the residents to prepare for them as they are storming the community to steal money and other valuables they need to celebrate the coming Christmas in grand style.
The letter read "Notice to Anglican Road Community. ( We are the strong man of the road) Happy Christmas and New Year in advance. We that owns the night are writing you with our whole heart that we are coming to visit you. You should prepare for us and alert your Vigilantes. We know you have a formidable vigilantes, however, if two iron touch each other,one will bow. We don't want to hear that there is nothing at home. That is why we are notifying yopu4u with our information. If you hear a knock on your door,in your interest kindly open your house or you will be wasted".
The letter also had two incorrect mobile numbers belonging to the armed robbers.
A landlord in the area who identified himself as Mr. Femi Martins said " We are used to pilfering in our community but we woke up on Tuesday morning to see letters pasted on our doors. About 60 houses on Anglican Road had the letters pasted on thier doors. We hurriedly called a meeting and reported the matter at the Sango police Station. Our community is very porous and people are in sober mood. As there is fear in the air. We want 24 hours patrol in our community as we believe that these hoodlums live among us and they can strike anytime".
It was gathered that the police are patrolling the community but this did not stop the hoodlums as they attacked the home of the local chief despite police presence.
It was also gathered that residents who usually switched off thier generating set by 11pm were forced to switch off by 9:30pm while business owners hurriedly locked the shops by 6pm.
A tenant in the area who identified himself simply as Jide said " I have told my wife to relocate from the area for now. I don't want anything bad to happen to my family. The community is deserted and we are appealing to government to beef up security".
When contacted, the Commissioner of Police Ogun state police command Mr. Ahmed Iliyasu assured the residents that security hasbeen beefed up in the community.
He said " The command is aware of the letter and we are on top of the situation".
Chrismas : Armed robbers send threat letters to Ogun community.
By Patience Ogbo
Residents of Anglican Road Ilupewo community in Ado- Odo Otta local government area a boundary community between Lagos and Ogun state are deserting thier homes following a spurious letter circulated in the community by suspected armed robbers.
The residents in the quiet community have resorted to prayers and fasting following letters pasted on thier doors by armed robbers that they will soon attack the residents before Christmas.
The letter which was written in Yoruba language and typed in capital letters was sighted by our Correspondent described the armed robbers as "Strong men of the road that owns the night" warning the residents to prepare for them as they are storming the community to steal money and other valuables they need to celebrate the coming Christmas in grand style.
The letter read "Notice to Anglican Road Community. ( We are the strong man of the road) Happy Christmas and New Year in advance. We that owns the night are writing you with our whole heart that we are coming to visit you. You should prepare for us and alert your Vigilantes. We know you have a formidable vigilantes, however, if two iron touch each other,one will bow. We don't want to hear that there is nothing at home. That is why we are notifying yopu4u with our information. If you hear a knock on your door,in your interest kindly open your house or you will be wasted".
The letter also had two incorrect mobile numbers belonging to the armed robbers.
A landlord in the area who identified himself as Mr. Femi Martins said " We are used to pilfering in our community but we woke up on Tuesday morning to see letters pasted on our doors. About 60 houses on Anglican Road had the letters pasted on thier doors. We hurriedly called a meeting and reported the matter at the Sango police Station. Our community is very porous and people are in sober mood. As there is fear in the air. We want 24 hours patrol in our community as we believe that these hoodlums live among us and they can strike anytime".
It was gathered that the police are patrolling the community but this did not stop the hoodlums as they attacked the home of the local chief despite police presence.
It was also gathered that residents who usually switched off thier generating set by 11pm were forced to switch off by 9:30pm while business owners hurriedly locked the shops by 6pm.
A tenant in the area who identified himself simply as Jide said " I have told my wife to relocate from the area for now. I don't want anything bad to happen to my family. The community is deserted and we are appealing to government to beef up security".
When contacted, the Commissioner of Police Ogun state police command Mr. Ahmed Iliyasu assured the residents that security hasbeen beefed up in the community.
He said " The command is aware of the letter and we are on top of the situation".
Attachments area
Sunday, 6 November 2016
Rapists unleash terror on Ikorodu community
November 6, 2016
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Funlola
Afeez Hanafi reports that Ibeshe; a drowsy area in Ikorodu, Lagos State, is in the throes of vicious crime
For some time, communities in Ibeshe in Ikorodu area of Lagos State have not known peace. Residents sleep with their eyes open.
The fear of a group, Badoo, notorious for raping women and inflicting injuries on their victims, is making them have sleepless nights.
The palpable panic heightened on Thursday when a member of the infamous gang struck again.
This time, a 62-year-old widow identified only as Mrs. Ogunleye, and her two children, Seun and Funlola, were the targets.
The victims, currently in critical condition at the Ikorodu General Hospital, lived in Ibefun in the Owode-Ibeshe area.
SUNDAY PUNCH learnt that the rapist gained access to the family’s apartment and hacked his victims with a cutlass, leaving the family in a pool of blood.
Kazeem
Kazeem
A resident, who identified himself only as Seye, said the attack had ritual undertone, adding that the victims could only shout for help after their assailant had fled.
He said “The woman’s husband died long time ago and she has been taking care of their two children alone. The boy that attacked them is a student.
“It was around 7am that the woman and her children cried for help. People rushed into their residence and took them to the hospital. Their faces were covered in blood.”
The PUNCH had reported series of terror unleashed by the gang on communities within Ibeshe.
It will be recalled that one of the group’s members on Friday, October 21, attacked two couples in two separate houses at Oluwoye community, killing a pregnant woman and injuring others, including two kids – Rodiat, 6, and five-year-old Opeyemi.
The attacker, it was learnt, gained access to one of the couple’s apartment around 2am that day through the window and killed the 30-year-old pregnant woman, Afusat Yusuf, after a failed attempt to rape her. The deceased’s husband, Kazeem, was also hacked by the assailant when he tried to engage him in a fight.
The attacked sexagenarian
The attacked sexagenarian
Not satisfied with his dastardly acts, the assailant went to a neighbouring building and unleashed terror on another couple, 52-year-old Sunday Robert and his wife, before he fled the area.
On June 5, Badoo struck at Oke Ota community, also in Ibeshe, raped and killed a 27-year-old Ghanaian, identified as Obinna. Her nine-month-old baby was rescued by residents in a pool of blood.
About a month after, on July 9, the gang attacked one 60-year-old Francisca and blinded her 10-year-old daughter, Marvellous.
On Saturday, July 23, one of the assailants sneaked into a Celestial Church of Christ in Itesiwaju community – a suburb of Ibese – while a vigil was ongoing and abducted an eight-year-old girl. He raped the girl to a coma but was caught later that day and set ablaze by a mob.
The police had arrested a suspected member of the gang sometime in June. In the wake of Thursday’s occurrence, SUNDAY PUNCH gathered that residents went out en masse to protest against the incessant attacks.
“It was some community leaders who prevailed on us to stop the protest. We are tired of these attacks. We have cried out to the Lagos State Government but no help is forthcoming. Our lives are seriously in danger.
“We have vigilantes in the community, but this menace is beyond what they alone can tackle. They were on duty when the incident happened. We really need government to help us tackle members of the gang and their sponsors,” one of the protesters said.
A community leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the most recent case was reported at the Ipakodo Police Division, adding that the Divisional Police Officer visited the hospital where the victims were admitted.
A resident, who identified himself simply as Adisa, lamented the spate of attacks on residents of Ibeshe community and its environs, saying the government had not made significant moves to address the attacks.
“Residents are moving out of the community because there is no solution in sight to these attacks. Those of us who do not have anywhere to run to are living in fear. The government has not come to our aid despite our outcry,” he lamented.
Another resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of being hunted by the gang, said the community had petitioned the Lagos State Government without getting meaningful results.
He said, “We have gone to the governor’s office to make complaints but there is no response yet. We also met with the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Community Affairs.”
Commenting on the recent attack in the Ibeshe area by the notorious group, the police spokesperson in Lagos, SP Dolapo Badmos, said there was a directive to the new Divisional Police Officer in the area to arrest those behind the attacks.
Badmos said, “We received the report; good enough there is no death recorded. The Commissioner of Police has directed the new DPO there to fish out the culprit and apply the concept of community policing to end the criminality.”
Copyright PUNCH.
My wife’s madness forced me into crime, says father of five
*suspect: Why we target Toyota Camry cars
Juliana Francis
A father of five has told detectives attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Area J Police Command, Lagos State, that his wife’s madness forced him into crime.
The suspect, Mmawuike Christopher, 52, a commercial bus driver, was arrested with his partner in crime, Kazeem Ahmed 38.
The two men became friends after they met at SARS, Ikeja, where they were held for car theft. When they met, their spirits clicked.
Ahmed was arrested for the second time barely weeks after he was released from Kirikiri Prison. Ahmed was arrested the first time and remanded in prison for being in possession of a stolen car. His wife and younger brother are presently still in prison.
Christopher said that he has seen witnessed and experienced many sufferings in life, but his wife’s suffering, appeared to be the mother of all. Christopher and his wife have five children, but suddenly the woman became mentally unbalanced. Nobody could fathom the reason for her madness.
Christopher said he couldn’t stand to see his wife’s condition without breaking into tears. He started taking her from one hospital to the next. He also moved her to different churches and mosques. Every move cost more money; every hospital, church and mosque kept collecting treatment and prayer fees without the woman getting better. Aside from paying for treatment, Christopher also had to pay for her feeding and boarding.
While battling to make life comfortable for his mentally sick wife, Christopher also had to ensure that he pays school fees for two of his kids who were in the university and for the other three in secondary school.
As the bills piled up, Christopher said that he didn’t know what else to do, than to take to crime. He started buying and selling stolen vehicles. The profit margin was amazing.
Although he had once been arrested, charged to court and remanded for buying stolen car, he didn’t changed his criminal ways after being released from Kirikiri Prison.
Today, he had once again, been arrested for buying another stolen car.
He said: “I’m doing this because of my wife. My wife is not okay. I keep taking her to hospitals, but she’s not getting better and I just keep collecting money from me.”
The police said: “The gang specialised in removing cars from where they are parked. They target Toyota Camry cars, Tiny Light and Drop Light (Envelop). Ahmed had earlier been arrested by SARS Epe and transferred to SARS, Ikeja, for removing and stealing a car from where it was parked.
“Whenever he steals such vehicles, he would hand them over to Christopher. He is the receiver. He takes the cars to Port Harcourt to sell. Ahmed sells Toyota Camry car (Tiny Light), to Christopher for N200, 000, but the cost is N1.1m. Toyota Camry car Drop Light (Envelop) is N1.2m. but he sells it for N250, 000.”
Ahmed, a technician, married to two wives, said that he had once given one of the Toyota Camry cars (Tiny Light), which he stole from where it was parked to his second wife.
He told her it was his gift to her. He told her that he bought it for N500, 000. The lady bought the story, hook, line and sinker. It when police arrested her that it dawned on her that her husband was a thief.
Before his present arrest by Area J Police Command detectives for removing a car parked at Awoyaya area of Ajah, on October 11, 2016, Ahmed confessed to have been just released.
He was released on September 5, 2016. He said that he went back to his old ways because he needed to raise N400, 000 to give to the lawyer that would assist in getting his wife and brother out of prison.
Recounting his exploits, Ahmed said: “I once removed two cars from Ijebu-Ode road, Epe. They were parked along the road. I used to remove parked cars at about 5am, after monitoring them for two weeks. I removed a car from Awoyaya area on October 11. I moved it to my area at Ikorodu.”
He was said to have parked the car at a mechanic workshop, waiting for Christopher to come and pick it, before they were both arrested.
Ahmed was arrested after the owner of the vehicle’s friend, saw and recognized the car it in a mechanic workshop. The man alerted his friend. Ahmed was caught.
Determined to catch Christopher, police instructed Ahmed to tell him that he had been arrested by LASTMA officials, along with the car. He was also told to tell Christopher that the LASTMA officials were demanding N10, 000 bribe before they would release him.
Police said: “Christopher left the exclusive hotel he was lodging, and armed with N10, 000, went to look for Ahmed. Ahmed was moved to Elemoro Police Station, from there he was told to call Christopher again and tell him that the LASTMA officials had released him. He told Christopher to meet him at Oshodi, in order to collect the car. Christopher refused, insisting there were too many policemen at Oshodi. They agreed to meet at Church Street, in Oshodi.”
Before Christopher got to Church Street, policemen have placed themselves in strategic positions. Some posed as residents, others as commuters. Less than an hour later, Christopher arrived in a charted motorbike. Needless to say; he walked into the waiting arms of policemen.
Police recovered a master key, specially made for Ahmed by a welder. They also recovered strings of Toyota Camry car keys. While the master key is expected to open any car door, the bunch of keys is used to attempt to start different kinds of Toyota cars.
Ahmed recounted: “My friend Femi, who is still in prison, initiated me into this crime. I didn’t know for long that Femi was stealing cars. He used to bring cars to my workshop, for me to open the doors and start them. Whenever I assisted him, he gives me N1, 500.00. One day, he was arrested and later released. I asked him why he was arrested, he told me.”
Speaking further, Ahmed said: “Yes, I went to a welder in Ikorodu to make the master key. I didn’t tell him the purpose of the master key. As for the bunch of keys, I paid N2000 for each of them.”
Asked why he targeted Toyota Camry cars, Ahmed said: “It doesn’t use sensor and sells fast in the black market.”
Ahmed, who said he was worried about his wife and brother, added: “They are prison because of me. I stole a Toyota Camry car, Tiny Light and gave it to my junior wife. I stole the car, repainted and changed it number plate. I told her I bought it for N500, 000. Police later arrested her. My brother was arrested because he was with me.”
Christopher said that after he met Ahmed at SARS Ikeja, they became friends. He was released in June 2016 and decided to pay Ahmed visits in prison.
Christopher said: “I was charged to court and remanded, but later released. I went to Kirikiri Prison to see him. He is my friend. When he was released, he came to look for me. He narrated his troubles to me. I swear to God, Ahmed knows how to steal! After he narrated his troubles, I told him that if he could get me a car, I would get him money.”
He added: “Get this right; I agreed to buy it from him knowing it was a stolen car. He didn’t use a gun to snatch it. This isn’t robbery! It’s the will of God that I’m in this situation today.”
Living double lives, only way to survive –Teenager robbery suspects
Endurance Evulukwu
Two teenage boys have told operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos State Police Command, that the only way to survive for them, was to live a double life.
Thus at daylight, they would go about their normal duties of being a commercial bus conductor and commercial motorbike rider.
But under the cover of darkness, they metamorphosed into robbers, robbing with a toy gun.
The police said that the teenagers have been terrorising residents of Agege for long. The suspects said that they used to snatch bags from people returning from work.
Jelili Rahmond 19, warned members of the public to be especially careful when passing through Oke-Koto area of Agege and Meran-Ijaiye. He said that bag snatchers used to frequent those areas.
Speaking about his members and their operations, he said if they didn’t make enough money robbing at Agege, they would move towards Dopemu area of Akowonjo, to snatch bags, purses and mobile phones.
He was arrested alongside Babatunde, one of his partners, on September, 19, 2016, by policemen attached to Pen Cinema Police Station.
Rahmond said: “I used to ride and carry passengers with my motorbike during day time, but at night, I go out with my friends to snatch bags.”
He said that once they were heading out for operation at night, he would use his motorbike to convey Babatunde and Warakim, their leader and architect of the whole plan, to the designated venues.
Revealing the gang’s modus operandi, Rahmond said that the most important thing about the job was to be swift in everything. He said that immediately they snatch valuables from victims, they speedily leave the scene.
He further said: “We used to scare our victims with a toy gun. The toy gun belonged to Warakim. The toy gun is covered with black cellophane, to fool people. It was Warakim who introduced me into this business. I’m a motorbike rider and Warakim knew me from my street. Warakim said we could make extra money by stealing from people.”
According to him, they were returning from an operation, when police sighted them. Warakim, sharp witted, had immediately bolted at the sight of the policemen.
Rahmond said: “Usually, after operation, we would share the loot and I would drop them off at their homes. So, we were coming back when some policemen stopped us. I guessed it was because I was smoking marijuana. The stench attracted the attention of the policemen. On sighting them, Warakim took off, leaving us to face the music.”
Babatunde, who seemed indifferent about their arrest, said he had been in the business for over three months now. He said that his specialty was in snatching mobile phones from victims.
Babatunde, who said he was a bus conductor, confessed to have taken to crime because it was more profitable and less stressful.
Babatunde said he had been working with Warakim for long. He said that he mostly made a total of N4000 to N5000 every day, after selling stolen phones to a friend at Sango-Otta in Ogun State.
He further said: “After we were arrested, police asked us too many questions and later searched us. They found bundles of stolen money, jewelry, mobile phones and toy gun on us.”
The boys were arrested when they were unable to give satisfactory explanations on how they got the items.
Babatunde said: “Since my arrested, I have resigned to fate. I know what I have done is wrong, but as a bus conductor, if I don't see a driver to work with, will I jump just into any bus? I have asked God to forgive me for my actions.”
The police said efforts are on to catch the fleeing Warakim.
POLICE UNCOVER RITUALISTS' DEN IN OGUN,ARREST SUSPECTS.
The police operatives attached to the Zonal Intervention Squad, Zone 2 Command Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos have discovered a ritualists'den,through tipped off, used by some fraudsters/rirualists to dupe innocent Nigerians and perpetriate evil acts, at Abule Ifa, Siun,in obafemi owode Local Government Area of Igun State.
The operatives,who had been on surveillance of the men of the underworld,were able to arrest the ring leaders of the syndicate-namely Taiwo Adeleke,m, 47yrs and Kayode Oseni,m, 52yrs at the village recently.
The den which is a massive ediffice, contained several fetish structures/materials,assorted charms,figurines and shrines and some inscriptions that indicate names of prominent dignitaries who have fallen victims of the antics of the suspects.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge Zone 2 command,AIG Abdulmajid Ali, led a team of senior officers including the Commissioner of Police OGUN State CP Ahmed Iliyasu,DC Operations zone 2 DCP Suleiman Balarabe,Commander of the ZIS CSP Gbenga Megbope and Commander 16 PMF SP Chika,and several teams of Anti Robbery operatives,to the scene for the on-the-spot assessment and designing possible legal means of taking over the dangerous den on Wednesday,
The AIG who reiterated his readiness to set all machineries in motion to tackle crimes and criminlity within the zone,commended the operatives for the good job and assured the residents of the state of effective policing which projects the Inspector-General's of Police democratic policing strategies.
AIG Abdulmajid Ali also promised that necessary legal steps will be taken to take over the structure and dislodge the syndicate while he charged the residents to be more vigilant and challenge people who come around for such deals. He then ordered for immediate prosecution of the suspects.
The police operatives attached to the Zonal Intervention Squad, Zone 2 Command Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos have discovered a ritualists'den,through tipped off, used by some fraudsters/rirualists to dupe innocent Nigerians and perpetriate evil acts, at Abule Ifa, Siun,in obafemi owode Local Government Area of Igun State.
The operatives,who had been on surveillance of the men of the underworld,were able to arrest the ring leaders of the syndicate-namely Taiwo Adeleke,m, 47yrs and Kayode Oseni,m, 52yrs at the village recently.
The den which is a massive ediffice, contained several fetish structures/materials,assorted charms,figurines and shrines and some inscriptions that indicate names of prominent dignitaries who have fallen victims of the antics of the suspects.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge Zone 2 command,AIG Abdulmajid Ali, led a team of senior officers including the Commissioner of Police OGUN State CP Ahmed Iliyasu,DC Operations zone 2 DCP Suleiman Balarabe,Commander of the ZIS CSP Gbenga Megbope and Commander 16 PMF SP Chika,and several teams of Anti Robbery operatives,to the scene for the on-the-spot assessment and designing possible legal means of taking over the dangerous den on Wednesday,
The AIG who reiterated his readiness to set all machineries in motion to tackle crimes and criminlity within the zone,commended the operatives for the good job and assured the residents of the state of effective policing which projects the Inspector-General's of Police democratic policing strategies.
AIG Abdulmajid Ali also promised that necessary legal steps will be taken to take over the structure and dislodge the syndicate while he charged the residents to be more vigilant and challenge people who come around for such deals. He then ordered for immediate prosecution of the suspects.
amily accuses police of foul play over death of Teenager.
By Patience Ogbo
By Patience Ogbo
Family members of late Joshua Bello 19 a secondary school leaver who was found dead in a swimming pool at the Adeniji Jones area in Lagos state are calling on the Inspector General of Police Mr. Idris Ibrahim to take over the investigation so as to unravel the mystery over the death of thier son.
According to family sources, Joshua's lifeless body was recovered from a 9 feet swimming pool at the weekend where he was called for a barbecue grilling job .
Narrating how the family learnt about Joshua's sudden demise, his elder brother Michael Bello who he lived with before his untimely death said
" He was called for a grilling job something he learnt to do as pastime so as to save money towards school.He left my house on Saturday 29th October about 6:00am so he can get to the venue early and set up. I waited for him to return home that night and I called his line at about 7pm but it was switched off. I could not sleep all through the night . My brother is not the kind of person that stays out without making contract. I was however shocked when I was called by the police at about 8am on Sunday morning telling me to come over that my brother was arrested. It was when I got to the ManCentre police station that the news was broken to me that he was found dead that morning at the bottom of the pool in a private residence around Adeniyi Jones where the party held"
Bello however said they are suspecting foul play as the police have yet to arrest anybody over the death .
He added that the family is contacting a lawyer as the police have already concluded that the deceased committed suicide even before an autopsy was conducted.
He said
"We are suspecting foul play. The police at the ManCentre police station told my mother that my brother committed suicide. His corpse is in the mortuary and autopsy is yet to be conducted so why did the police said he committed suicide? We are contacting a lawyer to help us with the case. According to the owner of the house, the party ended at 7:30pm.
The caterer that engaged him said he left at 8pm
The security at the house said they saw him still grilling between 8:00 and 8:30pm. They claimed he properly went for a dive after working that night and drowned and they did not see him till the next morning but as at the time he was been dragged out of the water his body wasn't floating it was stil deep beneath the pool which was 9 feet deep.Joshua is a very good swimmer and I have seen him swam even in deeper water with high current that is why we are suspecting foul play.
They claimed they found his personal items by the the pool side which include his Polo shirt, Jeans trouser, wallet but no cash was found in it while the caterer confirmed giving him N3000 which was the money he was paid that night for the Job.
His phone Infinix hot2 with 2 SIM cards,
An Apple iPos, hisNike snicker, with sock, a black Rayban sun glasses were recovered by the pool side. The most painful part at the moment is that the inspector in-charge of the case (man center police station, Wemabod estate, off Adeniyi Jones said he has already ruled out foul play and this even before the autopsy results are even out. It seems to me the police have already been compromised. We are calling them but they are not picking thier calls That why am reaching out to the press so they can get the story out to the Inspector General of Police to take over the investigation".
According to family sources, Joshua's lifeless body was recovered from a 9 feet swimming pool at the weekend where he was called for a barbecue grilling job .
Narrating how the family learnt about Joshua's sudden demise, his elder brother Michael Bello who he lived with before his untimely death said
" He was called for a grilling job something he learnt to do as pastime so as to save money towards school.He left my house on Saturday 29th October about 6:00am so he can get to the venue early and set up. I waited for him to return home that night and I called his line at about 7pm but it was switched off. I could not sleep all through the night . My brother is not the kind of person that stays out without making contract. I was however shocked when I was called by the police at about 8am on Sunday morning telling me to come over that my brother was arrested. It was when I got to the ManCentre police station that the news was broken to me that he was found dead that morning at the bottom of the pool in a private residence around Adeniyi Jones where the party held"
Bello however said they are suspecting foul play as the police have yet to arrest anybody over the death .
He added that the family is contacting a lawyer as the police have already concluded that the deceased committed suicide even before an autopsy was conducted.
He said
"We are suspecting foul play. The police at the ManCentre police station told my mother that my brother committed suicide. His corpse is in the mortuary and autopsy is yet to be conducted so why did the police said he committed suicide? We are contacting a lawyer to help us with the case. According to the owner of the house, the party ended at 7:30pm.
The caterer that engaged him said he left at 8pm
The security at the house said they saw him still grilling between 8:00 and 8:30pm. They claimed he properly went for a dive after working that night and drowned and they did not see him till the next morning but as at the time he was been dragged out of the water his body wasn't floating it was stil deep beneath the pool which was 9 feet deep.Joshua is a very good swimmer and I have seen him swam even in deeper water with high current that is why we are suspecting foul play.
They claimed they found his personal items by the the pool side which include his Polo shirt, Jeans trouser, wallet but no cash was found in it while the caterer confirmed giving him N3000 which was the money he was paid that night for the Job.
His phone Infinix hot2 with 2 SIM cards,
An Apple iPos, hisNike snicker, with sock, a black Rayban sun glasses were recovered by the pool side. The most painful part at the moment is that the inspector in-charge of the case (man center police station, Wemabod estate, off Adeniyi Jones said he has already ruled out foul play and this even before the autopsy results are even out. It seems to me the police have already been compromised. We are calling them but they are not picking thier calls That why am reaching out to the press so they can get the story out to the Inspector General of Police to take over the investigation".
Father of 9 arrested with15 rifle's
By Patience Ogbo
By Patience Ogbo
A suspected kidnapper, armed robber and political thug, Zakeri Yua Isiaka, who has been allegedly terrorising residents in Kofi state has been arrested by the police.
Luck ran out of the suspect when he was arrested by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Special, IRT, penultimate Sunday, on the Okene- Akure Highway.
The police recovered 15 assault rifles including an Ak47 rifle which was snatched from the police during an encounter with the gang including several magazines and ammunition were recovered from the suspect police sources said
Luck ran out of the suspect when he was arrested by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Special, IRT, penultimate Sunday, on the Okene- Akure Highway.
The police recovered 15 assault rifles including an Ak47 rifle which was snatched from the police during an encounter with the gang including several magazines and ammunition were recovered from the suspect police sources said
It was gathered that in July 2016, Zakeria and some of his boys attacked a team of Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team operatives who were in kogi State to rescue a middle-aged man Edward Abutu Amedu, who was kidnapped and was being held in a camp controlled by Zakeri. It was gathered that two of his boys, were arrested from their hideouts at the outskirt of Egume and Anyingba Towns in Kogi .
Saturday Mirror gathered that policemen attached to the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team On Sunday, October 23, 2016, the search for Zekari paid off as he was trailed by the IRT and was arrested on Okene – Akure High way, while on his way to Akure Ondo State.
According to him; “ I am names are Zakeri Isiaka, 30-year-old, Odu-Ochelle Village in Dekina LGA of Kogi State, I married to nine wives and 15 children. I am a secondary school dropout and I went into farming at after I left school. I farmed at Isenyi in Oyo State for about eight years before I went to Portharcourt Rivers State and joined the Ateke Tom’s camp of the Niger Delta Militant.
When I got to Portharcourt I was squatting with a boy from my home and I had no job, then I started visiting an indian helm joints to smoke and I discovered that the people coming to that joints were mainly into oil bunkering. I told them that I wanted to join them and they started beating me. They thought I was an informant, I was beaten for one week before a guy who identified himself as an Ateke-Tom’s boy, took interest me then he allowed me to join them. They thought me how to handle fire arms and we did lots of oil bunkering and I was making close to N3million on each trip. After I made my money I came to Abuja and settled down. I built a house and then I went into car dealership. I was buying and selling cars. I also came back with three guns and I kept them in the village. Because at that time the siting governor had given guns to all the thugs in my state and since they had killed my blood brothers, I thought it wise to have my own guns to as to protect myself with it. In that election I was protect ballot boxes from thugs to carry it. When Captain Idris Wada and Prince Audu contested in 2011 elections, I went back home and still protected the votes of my people. I made sure I used my guns to prevent my peoples vote from being subverted one of my friends was even killed in the process. After that election, I came back to Abuja, went back to my business, and I bought motorcycle for people to ride. I was also married to three wives, then. Before the 2015 election PDP and APC thugs had a fight and I came back home and fourth for APC and I defeated the PDP. It was then that it became obvious to my APC party men that I have become a very powerful thug. When the 2015 election campaign started Prince Audu gave me N30million to work for them in the presidential election. We worked for them and they won. But my younger brother was Farouk, he was killed in front of my father. He was picked up in his room where he sleeping with his wife and killed him and made away with his body. When it was time for the Governorship election, Prince Audu also called me to work for him and he mobilized me N20million, I went home worked for him and he promised to make me the Chief Security Officer of the State, Kogi youth leader and he also be the collecting revenue from farm products in Kogi State. We worked Audu won, I mobilized people vote for Audu all over Kogi State, I was also ambushed an almost killed by Ugwuaraka who supported PDP. But after Prince Audu died and Yayaha emerged as governor I made efforts to reach out to him and to let him know that I was in support of his government. But the people I was sending to the governor weren’t giving the right information. They made him understand that since I was very close to Prince Audu and his family and that I was very angry with the way his family has lost out of power following their father’s death and that I will never work for him rather I will make the state ungovernable. But this were all lies, the people I have been fighting with are the PDP thugs who wanted to kill me and since APC came into power I have called on all my boys who are into armed robbery to stop because I have repented. Few weeks before the last governorship election, some of my boys from Okene who use to rob in my area. I advised them to quit robbery because I discovered that people of Kogi State wanted change and they were accepting what I was telling them and I knew that if APC wins I and my boys will enjoy, but they refused, so I tricked them that I had job for them and when they came to my town, I took them to a hotel, and they parked their operational vehicle and their rifles within the hotel premises but while they were inside I called some of my boys and we stole all the rifles in their vehicle. I control all the APC thugs in Kogi State and since I repented I have been seriously out against crime. Any of my boys who does kidnapping I use to arrest and hand them over to the police but in most cases the police would release the person after collecting money from such person, so what I do now is that if I arrest you for kidnapping in my domain I will kill you. You can ask the police in Kogi state about this and they will confirm it. After all I did the state governor didn’t find it necessary to appreciate my efforts simply because I believes at I am fully in support of Prince Audu’s son Mohammed in becoming the governor but that is not true. My loyalty is to APC.”
Zekari also explained that before his arrest that in April 2015, few weeks before the election that he and members of his gang robbed a vehicle carrying huge amount of money in Abuja. He added that he over N50million from the operation and that he narrowly escaped death as one of his gang members also attempted to kill. “ it was Dan that brought the job to me. He told me that some politicians were moving money around Abuja and it seems that the money was meant for election. We mapped out a strategy and we sighted the vehicle approaching us, we double crossed it and we snatched the vehicle from the driver. After the operation, I kept three Ghana Must go back for myself and I gave Dan and others involved two Ghana must go to share. But while we were sharing the money, one of Dan friend who had a gun with him wanted to shoot me and he ended up shooting himself. Another opertation I did was in Okene, I did that job with Black and we N10, million from that. “
He also added that he lost seven of his rifles to the police Niger State after they arrested his younger brother who used one of his gun to snatched a car, “ After the Kogi east election was canceled and the reelection was about coming, I gave seven of my rifles to my manager and when I was away for the election my younger took one of the guns and gave it to a Yoruba boy used it to snatch a car and after it was snatched the Yoruba boy was arrested and he led them to my car stand in Abuja where police seized all the vehicles in it and they also carried away my seven rifles.”
On how he thinks peace and security could be restored in Kogi State, Zakeri said the government needs to offer amnesty to anyone carrying gun in the state explaining that there so many gun on the loose in kogi state. According to him; “ it was PDP government that brought A47 rifles to kogi state and they shared it to all their thugs and these people have been killing us with these rifles and now we are defending ourselves but I think if this governor want to end this hostility he should offer amnesty and urge anyone with gun to return and surrender their rifles and anyone who refuses to drop is or own the governor should give me the mandate to go after that person and retrieve the gun "
When I got to Portharcourt I was squatting with a boy from my home and I had no job, then I started visiting an indian helm joints to smoke and I discovered that the people coming to that joints were mainly into oil bunkering. I told them that I wanted to join them and they started beating me. They thought I was an informant, I was beaten for one week before a guy who identified himself as an Ateke-Tom’s boy, took interest me then he allowed me to join them. They thought me how to handle fire arms and we did lots of oil bunkering and I was making close to N3million on each trip. After I made my money I came to Abuja and settled down. I built a house and then I went into car dealership. I was buying and selling cars. I also came back with three guns and I kept them in the village. Because at that time the siting governor had given guns to all the thugs in my state and since they had killed my blood brothers, I thought it wise to have my own guns to as to protect myself with it. In that election I was protect ballot boxes from thugs to carry it. When Captain Idris Wada and Prince Audu contested in 2011 elections, I went back home and still protected the votes of my people. I made sure I used my guns to prevent my peoples vote from being subverted one of my friends was even killed in the process. After that election, I came back to Abuja, went back to my business, and I bought motorcycle for people to ride. I was also married to three wives, then. Before the 2015 election PDP and APC thugs had a fight and I came back home and fourth for APC and I defeated the PDP. It was then that it became obvious to my APC party men that I have become a very powerful thug. When the 2015 election campaign started Prince Audu gave me N30million to work for them in the presidential election. We worked for them and they won. But my younger brother was Farouk, he was killed in front of my father. He was picked up in his room where he sleeping with his wife and killed him and made away with his body. When it was time for the Governorship election, Prince Audu also called me to work for him and he mobilized me N20million, I went home worked for him and he promised to make me the Chief Security Officer of the State, Kogi youth leader and he also be the collecting revenue from farm products in Kogi State. We worked Audu won, I mobilized people vote for Audu all over Kogi State, I was also ambushed an almost killed by Ugwuaraka who supported PDP. But after Prince Audu died and Yayaha emerged as governor I made efforts to reach out to him and to let him know that I was in support of his government. But the people I was sending to the governor weren’t giving the right information. They made him understand that since I was very close to Prince Audu and his family and that I was very angry with the way his family has lost out of power following their father’s death and that I will never work for him rather I will make the state ungovernable. But this were all lies, the people I have been fighting with are the PDP thugs who wanted to kill me and since APC came into power I have called on all my boys who are into armed robbery to stop because I have repented. Few weeks before the last governorship election, some of my boys from Okene who use to rob in my area. I advised them to quit robbery because I discovered that people of Kogi State wanted change and they were accepting what I was telling them and I knew that if APC wins I and my boys will enjoy, but they refused, so I tricked them that I had job for them and when they came to my town, I took them to a hotel, and they parked their operational vehicle and their rifles within the hotel premises but while they were inside I called some of my boys and we stole all the rifles in their vehicle. I control all the APC thugs in Kogi State and since I repented I have been seriously out against crime. Any of my boys who does kidnapping I use to arrest and hand them over to the police but in most cases the police would release the person after collecting money from such person, so what I do now is that if I arrest you for kidnapping in my domain I will kill you. You can ask the police in Kogi state about this and they will confirm it. After all I did the state governor didn’t find it necessary to appreciate my efforts simply because I believes at I am fully in support of Prince Audu’s son Mohammed in becoming the governor but that is not true. My loyalty is to APC.”
Zekari also explained that before his arrest that in April 2015, few weeks before the election that he and members of his gang robbed a vehicle carrying huge amount of money in Abuja. He added that he over N50million from the operation and that he narrowly escaped death as one of his gang members also attempted to kill. “ it was Dan that brought the job to me. He told me that some politicians were moving money around Abuja and it seems that the money was meant for election. We mapped out a strategy and we sighted the vehicle approaching us, we double crossed it and we snatched the vehicle from the driver. After the operation, I kept three Ghana Must go back for myself and I gave Dan and others involved two Ghana must go to share. But while we were sharing the money, one of Dan friend who had a gun with him wanted to shoot me and he ended up shooting himself. Another opertation I did was in Okene, I did that job with Black and we N10, million from that. “
He also added that he lost seven of his rifles to the police Niger State after they arrested his younger brother who used one of his gun to snatched a car, “ After the Kogi east election was canceled and the reelection was about coming, I gave seven of my rifles to my manager and when I was away for the election my younger took one of the guns and gave it to a Yoruba boy used it to snatch a car and after it was snatched the Yoruba boy was arrested and he led them to my car stand in Abuja where police seized all the vehicles in it and they also carried away my seven rifles.”
On how he thinks peace and security could be restored in Kogi State, Zakeri said the government needs to offer amnesty to anyone carrying gun in the state explaining that there so many gun on the loose in kogi state. According to him; “ it was PDP government that brought A47 rifles to kogi state and they shared it to all their thugs and these people have been killing us with these rifles and now we are defending ourselves but I think if this governor want to end this hostility he should offer amnesty and urge anyone with gun to return and surrender their rifles and anyone who refuses to drop is or own the governor should give me the mandate to go after that person and retrieve the gun "
The Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA), a non-governmental organisation, has accused men of the Nigerian Police and specifically the International Police Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, and its Headquarters in Abuja, of harassing a United Kingdom-based Nigerian businessman, Mr. Yinusa Owolabi, and extorting him of huge sums of money running to hundreds of thousands of naira.
In a petition addressed to the office of the Inspector General of Police and signed by one of its legal officers, Mr. Lekan Alabi, HURMA alleges the Police of framing up Mr. Owolabi in a matter that is already reported at the Birmingham Police Station, UK, and referenced 205W158583E16.
According to the petition, copies of which were sent to the offices of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, the Police Service Commission, National Human Rights Commission, Nigerian Bar Association, among others, a Nigerian-based businessman, Mr. Benjamin Olowodola, was fingered of being behind what it described as high level of rights abuse and illegality.
Giving the background into the matter, HURMA explained that Olowodola had visited Birmingham in August, 2016, to purchase generators valued at £42,000 from Eagle Generators Limited, a firm owned by a man identified simply as Nasir, and consulted Owolabi’s company, Oshramon Ventures Limited, to provide a 40ft container to cargo the generators.
The petition reads in part; “On August 15, Owolabi accepted to cargo the generator at an agreed price and sent an empty 40ft container to the premises of Eagle Generator Limited in Birmingham for onward delivery to the seaport. But the Eagle Generator Limited failed to load the generator into the container between the hours of 11:30am and 1:30pm as agreed by the parties and this necessitated the driver of the truck to leave the empty container behind so that it could be loaded at the seller’s convenient time and that the truck would return the following morning to carry it to the port.
“However, when the driver returned to the Eagle Generators Limited the following day, he found out the container was missing and informed his boss, Mr. Yinusa Owolabi of the development. While Nasir reported the matter at Birmingham Police Station, Owolabi did same at Stratford Police Station close to his office in UK. He also took Olowodola to the Stratford Police Station to report but the officer in charge of the matter noticed same had earlier been reported in Birmingham and transferred the information provided by the two complainants to the Birmingham Station that is close to the scene of the incident.”
But according to the petition, while the UK Police was still on with their investigation, Owolabi visited Nigeria to attend his father’s burial in September and called on Olowodola to discuss the state of the matter as a concerned businessman. “But arriving at Olowodola’s office at Tejuosho, Yaba, Lagos, on September 27, men from INTERPOL FCIID, Alagbon Annex effected Owolabi’s arrest and detained him for an unbroken period of three days on the phantom allegation of stealing, which the accused vehemently denied.”
“While in their custody, Owolabi was told to pay the sum of £42,000, the value of the generator and his international passport and UK Residence Permit were seized from him. Having blatantly refused to pay the £42,000, your men extorted the sum of N192,000 from him before he was released on bail on September 30. He was told that based on the fact of the matter, he could not be charged for stealing as alleged by Olowodola but based on reason best known to the command, even after extorting him, his passport and Residence permit were not released to him.
“On October 5, when Owolabi went back to Alagbon to demand for his documents, he was again placed on arrest on the strength of another petition written by the same Olowodola and he was moved to Abuja Office of INTERPOL on the day of his arrest on his own expense. In Abuja, he was also released on bail having produced a reliable surety but has since been refused his documents,” the petition added.
Meanwhile, HURMA, by the petition has sought to know the rationale behind the command’s refusal to release Owolabi’s documents, and why the INTERPOL has not sent the case to the appropriate jurisdiction where the crime was allegedly committed, and why is Olowodola accusing Owolabi when the generators were not stolen from the accused’s company premises but that of Nasir.
It describes the seizure of Owolabi’s documents as an abuse of power and a blatant violation of the relevant provisions of the Constitution, and demanded that Owolabi be allowed to return to the UK where he has left his family and business for weeks. The organisation also threatened to sue the Police on the matter accusing it of abuse of Owolabi’s fundamental rights, describing the Nigerian Police Force as an epitome of corruption.
PRESS RELEASE
NDLEA INTERROGATES 4 NAHCO STAFF OVER ILLEGAL EXPORT OF 144KG OF EPHEDRINE TO MOZAMBIQUE
Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja have commenced the interrogation of the Chief Security Supervisor of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) and three others in connection with the unlawful exportation of 144kg of ephedrine to Maputo, Mozambique. The drug was concealed inside noodles and packed in three brown cartons together with relaxers and cereals.
Meanwhile, another staff of NAHCO, Victor Ahenje, a Load Controller who is linked with the conspiracy but currently on the run had been declared wanted by the anti-narcotic Agency. The plot according to the NDLEA was to smuggle the illegal shipment out of the country in an Ethiopian airline flight; but it was timely intercepted.
NDLEA commander at the Abuja airport, Mr. Hamisu Lawan said some officials who are working at the cargo section were invited for questioning and four NAHCO staff were subsequently detained. "Those being interrogated in respect of the seized drug include the Chief Security Supervisor, Mr. Audu Garba, two Security Officers, Nasiru Ibrahim and Haruna Abdullahi as well as a Driver, Adamu Dasura. Preliminary investigation suggests flagrant lapses on the part of NACHO security in charge of cargo. So far, they are cooperating with our team of investigators" Hamisu stated.
The Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) has called for proper vetting and re-vetting of airport staff to prevent acts of sabotage and compromise capable of undermining national security. According to Abdallah, "this is a suspected case of conspiracy involving workers within the airport community. The Agency is investigating the level of involvement of the suspects under interrogation and anyone indicted shall be prosecuted. Any act of sabotage can cause untold damage to national security. We shall get to the root of this case. The Agency is working very hard to promote peace and enhance the image of the country".
The NDLEA boss while thanking narcotic officers for their vigilance added that proactive measures such as constant security vetting of airport staff must be taken to avert internal threat and ensure strict security compliance at key installations. He assured that efforts are ongoing to arrest Victor Ahenje who is at large. Victor hails from Benue State. The Agency has called on members of the public to provide useful information that will lead to his arrest.
NDLEA INTERROGATES 4 NAHCO STAFF OVER ILLEGAL EXPORT OF 144KG OF EPHEDRINE TO MOZAMBIQUE
Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja have commenced the interrogation of the Chief Security Supervisor of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) and three others in connection with the unlawful exportation of 144kg of ephedrine to Maputo, Mozambique. The drug was concealed inside noodles and packed in three brown cartons together with relaxers and cereals.
Meanwhile, another staff of NAHCO, Victor Ahenje, a Load Controller who is linked with the conspiracy but currently on the run had been declared wanted by the anti-narcotic Agency. The plot according to the NDLEA was to smuggle the illegal shipment out of the country in an Ethiopian airline flight; but it was timely intercepted.
NDLEA commander at the Abuja airport, Mr. Hamisu Lawan said some officials who are working at the cargo section were invited for questioning and four NAHCO staff were subsequently detained. "Those being interrogated in respect of the seized drug include the Chief Security Supervisor, Mr. Audu Garba, two Security Officers, Nasiru Ibrahim and Haruna Abdullahi as well as a Driver, Adamu Dasura. Preliminary investigation suggests flagrant lapses on the part of NACHO security in charge of cargo. So far, they are cooperating with our team of investigators" Hamisu stated.
The Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) has called for proper vetting and re-vetting of airport staff to prevent acts of sabotage and compromise capable of undermining national security. According to Abdallah, "this is a suspected case of conspiracy involving workers within the airport community. The Agency is investigating the level of involvement of the suspects under interrogation and anyone indicted shall be prosecuted. Any act of sabotage can cause untold damage to national security. We shall get to the root of this case. The Agency is working very hard to promote peace and enhance the image of the country".
The NDLEA boss while thanking narcotic officers for their vigilance added that proactive measures such as constant security vetting of airport staff must be taken to avert internal threat and ensure strict security compliance at key installations. He assured that efforts are ongoing to arrest Victor Ahenje who is at large. Victor hails from Benue State. The Agency has called on members of the public to provide useful information that will lead to his arrest.
FIGHT AGAINST KIDNAPPING: POLICE PARTNER MILLITARY FOR CLEARING OF WAYERWAYS IN LAGOS,OGUN IN PREPARATION FOR YULETIDE
In his bid to get Lagos and Ogun states rid of kidnappers and criminals,the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command Lagos ,AIG Abdulmajid Ali, has partnered the millitary,particularly,the Nigerian Navy for the clearing of the waterways in the 2 states.
It will be recalled that the governments of Lagos and Ogun States have taken the bull by the horn to clear the waterways of shanties and bushes to pave way for adequate patrol and smooth navigation of the affected communities along the riverrine areas to suppress the activities of the kidnappers (militants) who have been terrorising the good people of the 2 states.
The police boss,after proper consultations with the police high command and relevant agencies,has deployed police teams including the Special Anti Robbery Squad, Zonal Intervention Squad and Zonal Anti kidnapping Team of zone 2 Lagos to partake in the special operation for its effectiveness.
AIG Abdulmajid Ali also urged the people of the concerned areas to support the police and the military in the operation that will checkmate the excesses of the hoodlums and the kidanppers within the zone during and beyond the yyuletide period.
The AIG zone 2 therefore assures the affected communities and general public of safety and effective policing of the areas as his command will leave no stone unturned to tackle kidnapping and other violent crimes within zone 2 command,Lagos and Ogun states.
In another development, the AIG zone 2,AIG Abdulmajid Ali,has dissociated himself from a publication in one of the Nigerian newspapers dated 1st Novmber 2016 captioned "Protest Greets Police Postings " where the reporter distorted facts and misconceptualised issues concerning the recent postings of senior officers in the police including him.
The publication,which condemned the leadership of the IGP and alleged him of bias,favourim and witch-hunting,was baseless and uncalled for since posting of officers and men is a normal routine in the police and it's inevitable. AIG Ali stressed that the repoter has shown ignorance and malice in his publication as contained in one of its paragraphs in quote " that the IGP has flooded strategic commands and units with his kinsmen from Niger state" whereas the affected AIG,Abdulmajid Ali, is one of the kinsmen of the IGP from the same Niger state.
The police boss has condemned the publication that was meant to damage his reputation before the office of the Inspector-General of Police and the general public; and thereby urges the public to disregard the publication and support the IGP on his effort to reposition the Nigeria Police force which is fundamental to our national development.
PRESS RELEASE
NDLEA BOSS WARNS AGAINST COMPROMISE, SAYS SOME OFFICERS UNDER INVESTIGATION
Some operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) are currently under investigation for alleged fraternity with suspected drug syndicates. The Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) gave the hint while addressing officers at the national headquarters, Ikoyi Lagos at the weekend. He warned that the Agency has beamed her searchlight inwards in the anti-narcotics campaign stressing that any officer who engages in acts of compromise and fraternity with drug barons shall be made to face the full weight of the law.
According to the Chairman, "the Agency is currently investigating some of its personnel deployed to man some sensitive beats/points for fraternising with barons and related organised criminal syndicates to frustrate the efforts of the Agency in the smooth execution of its statutory mandate. Accordingly, any officer found culpable will be decisively dealt with and made to face the full weight of the law".
Abdallah added that he is working very hard in building an Agency that has zero tolerance for corruption through strict law enforcement. "The anti-corruption crusade of Mr. President is a collective responsibility. Those that are saddled with the responsibility of dismantling drug syndicates must live above board. We must remain focussed and result oriented in line with our mandate. The position of the law is very clear on this matter because it states that anyone that conspires with, aids, abets, counsels, attempts to commit or is an accessory to any act or offence referred to in the NDLEA Act shall be guilty of an offence" he stated.
He therefore urge officers to subject themselves to the rules of engagement as no one shall be spared for violating the provisions of the Act. The war against narcotics must be prosecuted on the platform of integrity, hardwork and sacrifice. Abdallah assured members of the public that the outcome of investigation shall be made public.
NDLEA BOSS WARNS AGAINST COMPROMISE, SAYS SOME OFFICERS UNDER INVESTIGATION
Some operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) are currently under investigation for alleged fraternity with suspected drug syndicates. The Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) gave the hint while addressing officers at the national headquarters, Ikoyi Lagos at the weekend. He warned that the Agency has beamed her searchlight inwards in the anti-narcotics campaign stressing that any officer who engages in acts of compromise and fraternity with drug barons shall be made to face the full weight of the law.
According to the Chairman, "the Agency is currently investigating some of its personnel deployed to man some sensitive beats/points for fraternising with barons and related organised criminal syndicates to frustrate the efforts of the Agency in the smooth execution of its statutory mandate. Accordingly, any officer found culpable will be decisively dealt with and made to face the full weight of the law".
Abdallah added that he is working very hard in building an Agency that has zero tolerance for corruption through strict law enforcement. "The anti-corruption crusade of Mr. President is a collective responsibility. Those that are saddled with the responsibility of dismantling drug syndicates must live above board. We must remain focussed and result oriented in line with our mandate. The position of the law is very clear on this matter because it states that anyone that conspires with, aids, abets, counsels, attempts to commit or is an accessory to any act or offence referred to in the NDLEA Act shall be guilty of an offence" he stated.
He therefore urge officers to subject themselves to the rules of engagement as no one shall be spared for violating the provisions of the Act. The war against narcotics must be prosecuted on the platform of integrity, hardwork and sacrifice. Abdallah assured members of the public that the outcome of investigation shall be made public.
HOW WE USE FAKE NUMBER PLATES TO DIVERT N50MILLION GOODS_ SUSPECTS.
BY PATIENCE OGBO
The men identified as Uche Onuakwu 34, and Ndubisi Michael 35 claimed to be drivers have been arrested in the past for similar crime and charged to court according to police sources.
Sadly ,instead of the suspects to turn a new leaf after serving their prison sentences, they took to robbery and diversion of goods worth millions of million the Zone 2 police command spokesperson SP Muyiwa Ogunjobi told Saturday Mirror.
The suspects who stated that they were released from prison recently were arrested again after they diverted a truckload of powdered milk valued at N30million from the Tin Can Port to Anambra state.
Following the suspect's notorious activities, the Zone 2 spokesperson Mr. Ogunjobi advised employers and business owners to carry out proper background checks before they employ anyone.
He said " These Suspects pretend to be truck drivers but their modus operandi is to use fake number plates to divert goods. These men are habitual or what we call professional criminals. We advise employers to carry out thorough background checks before they employ anybody . They can come to the police to help them screen would be employees as we have a data base to fish out criminals"
Narrating how they divert goods with fake number plates, Onuakwu said " I met a man called Obinna. I have known him for 7 years now . He claimed to be a businessman at the Tin Can Port at Apapa Lagos. But I lost contact with him . We became friends again when he gave his phone number to one Ndubisi whom he met at SARS Ikeja cell to give to me. I called him and we met somewhere at 2nd Rainbow area in Mile 2 Lagos . He told me that he had a Mack truck he wanted me to drive for him. I went with one Chibekem to see him that day. Chibekem is also a driver. Chibekem and I went to Onitsha to see him and he took us to a shrine at Agba-Agolo at Agolo in Anambra state to swear an oath that we will not defraud one another.He told Chibekem that he will give him N2.5million if we use the truck to divert the goods. He told him that he will settle me well. We succeeded in getting the job to drive a 40 feet container load truck from Tin Can port. We were supposed to take the goods to a warehouse in Apapa but we diverted it. Unfortunately, the vehicle had a problem with the engine on our way at Abagana and Obinna came with another truck to rescue us .He drove the goods away after he lodged us in an hotel . He later came back to give us N200,000 which we shared but he did not came back again. Obinna is the one that brought the different fake number plates that we used . He gets them from his contacts. We use different fake number plates to move the goods . I have been to prison twice but instead of prison changing me, I end up meeting bad gangs "
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