How Army, NSCDC operatives abandon duty posts to hijack trailers in Rivers State.

 

How can security operatives being paid by the country to secure lives and property turn to criminal elements tormenting  the society ? This is indeed baffling indeed . 

However luck ran out on the criminals in security uniform when police operatives attached to the Rivers State Police Command  arrested a gang of suspected armed robbers and trailer hijackers who were facing mob action . Investigation by the police revealed that the gang is headed by soldiers of the Nigerian Army and their Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) counterparts.

It was gathered that the gang members were arrested following investigations into an alleged burglary that occurred at warehouses at Elimgbu belonging to one Mr. Emmanuel Nwangwu and a woman, Mrs. Ndifreke Ekanem following a distress call made to the police by ONELGA Security Peace and Advisory Committee (OSPAC) around 11pm of that day relating to the incident and how five of the suspects were rescued from a lynching mob.

Badly bruised from the mob attack, the suspects who were held down by the vigilante were eventually moved to the police hospital by the patrol team that were deployed after the distress call.

However, a matter that started off as a burglary incident, in the course of police investigation, unravelled a network of vicious armed robbers serving in the country's security agencies, who abandoned their duty posts across different states to operate criminal empires in Rivers State.

Two of the suspected burglars apprehended that night were Corporal Isaac West (08NA/61/2653) who was deployed to Delta State and an NSCDC operative, Jabila Kammangar alias ‘Kaka’, posted to Kabba in Kogi State.

Both operatives who met during their tour of duty in the anti crude oil theft and illegal bunkering units of their respective services, confessed to detectives how they usually abandoned their duty posts to perpetuate their criminal enterprise owing to its lucrativeness in Rivers State.

West, detectives discovered, left his 3 Battalion Base at Warri with a sick pass but never returned even over a one month after the pass expired.

Further questioning, it was gathered, revealed that West, a father of four and native of Rivers State, visited Port Harcourt from his unit at the behest of Kammangar who had told him about the operation.

Sources also said that West confessed he had participated in several criminal operations with Kammangar and revealed names of his colleagues who were also members of the gang.

Further investigations revealed they were part of a wider ring of criminals specialising in armed robbery, hijacking, and goods diversion. Corporal West disclosed to the police how he and other Army personnel - Lance Corporal Abdul Musa (13NA/70/10545), Lance Corporal Mgbe Jeoffrey (16NA/75/6896), and Corporal Innocent Okwoli (12NA/68/6552)- were leaders of the gang said to have hijacked many trailers.

The gang, findings revealed, was responsible for the February 17 hijack of a trailer laden with N25 million worth of fertilizer belonging to one Alhaji Sadiq Adams; a trailer load of Plaster of Paris (POP) and a 40-foot container of imported clothing from China were also hijacked and diverted in February.

"They had a network of informants who gave information about the itinerary of goods-bearing trailers. They would then dress in full military gear, lay in wait for the trailers, and accost them with a white Hilux van as they approached their location.

"They would then proceed to intimidate the drivers, beat them up and hand their keys to designated drivers who would then divert the trailers to waiting receivers," said a source who pleaded anonymity.

Also arrested were eight civilian collaborators, Olisa Emeka, George Obilor, Sampson Wilson, Alfred Abeke, Barry John, Auwalu Aliyu, Uchenna Nwali and Alhaji Sofinu Haruna.

Further investigations by the police revealed that the key coordinator of the group’s activities was Corporal Okwoli, a native of Otakpo in Benue State and a soldier posted to Intels at Onne.

He confessed to have started his own gang after he led a successful operation in a gang he was introduced to by one Abbas and two others.

Already, the police have recovered the hijacked POP cement and are in the process of making a recovery from the receiver of the trailer load of fertilizer. Also recovered is a white Toyota Hilux used in their operations.

Also, three of the soldiers have been dismissed by the Army after they were handed over to the service by the police to undergo internal discipline.

Contacted for reaction, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu, said the command.would continue to partner sister agencies to curb crime and criminality in the state.

He commended the police team that smashed the syndicate, noting that the command remained resolute in ridding the state of hijackers and diverters of people's goods and valuables.

Ibadan residents groan, take to trekking as fuel scarcity bites harder

 

Hundreds of residents in Ibadan the Oyo state capital are experiencing hell at the moment at fuel scarcity which hit the city on Monday has worsen.

Stranded residents were seen at bus stops while roads were empty

The vehicle owners, commercial motorcycle riders thronged fuel stations but despites the hardship they encountered, some left the stations without purchasing fuel.

It was gathered that the fuel stations selling the products hiked the pump price to N900 per litre .

A commercial vehicle owner who identified himself as Jimoh said he slept at one of the fuel stations so as to purchase fuel. " I slept in my car in one of the stations because I couldn't buy fuel on Sunday. I decided that if that is what it takes to get fuel then I will deprive myself of sleep. I ended up buying twenty litres of fuel at N800 per litre. I need fuel for my business so I will hike the fare too so as to make up the money for fuel I bought and take home some profit. Places I used to take a drive to for N200 is now N300 as the case may be ". 

A commercial motorcycle rider who identified himself as Ayo said ". I went to the station around 5am I did not get fuel till 3pm so I decided to patronise the black market. I'm tired of the stress. I can't do my business since morning but I will go out at night so as to make up for lost time. I bought five litres of fuel for N7000. It's sad but I have no choice". 

Some commenters wailed as they couldn't afford the hike in transportation

". I went to quickly meet up for a treatment in the hospital but going home was tough. There were no vehicles nor okada. I waited for long until one finally came and his fare was double the amount. Alot of commuters resorted to trekking so as to cut down the new exhobitant fare"

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Sixteen passengers burnt beyond recognition in fatal road accident along Enugu- Nsukka Road.

 

The commissioner of police in Enugu state CP  Kanayo Uzuegbu has expressed sadness after he  visited a fatal accident scene  in the state. 

The accident had claimed the lives of sixteen  passengers who were burnt beyond recognition.

The CP  enjoins persons with useful  information that would  lead to the  tracing of the  victims' family members to come forward stating that the  lone fatal motor accident occurred on  April 30, 2024, around 5:20 p.m., at Ekwegbe, along Enugu/Opi/Nsukka Road, claiming the lives of yet-to-be identified fourteen males (14) and two (2) females who burned beyond recognition. 

A press release by the command public relations officer DSP Daniel Ndukwe read " The accident involves an 18-seater white-coloured Toyota Hummer bus with a Bauchi State commercial registration number DAS 215 XA and the inscription “Masha Allah”, said to have been driven at high speed, lost control, and plunged into the fence of Maduka University along the road.

A preliminary investigation reveals that the vehicle unfortunately burst into flames burning beyond recognition, the sixteen (16) deceased individuals, who were taken to the hospital and confirmed dead. However, two (2) other passengers were rescued alive and taken to the hospital for medical attention by police officers, soldiers and public-spirited citizens, who immediately responded to the incident.

A preliminary investigation reveals that the vehicle, loaded with edible vegetables, other food items, and the luggage of the passengers, was heading towards Nsukka from the Enugu axis of the road. However, the actual point of take-off and final destination of the vehicle have not been ascertained. Nonetheless, the items have been recovered by the Igbo-Etiti Police Division.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, *CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, in  company of officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps,  visited the scene to assess the situation. He describes the accident and the carnage therein as sad, commiserating with the yet-to-be-traced family members, friends, and associates of the deceased.

The CP further calls on individuals that can help in identifying the victims or with information to trace the family members of the deceased to come forward with such information" 

Can an abused child choose where to stay ? NGO tackles Lagos state agency ,Ministry of Youth and Social Development over protective custody of a serially defiled girl.

 

The Advocates for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network ACVPN and the Child Protection Unit of the Lagos state Ministry of Youth and Social Development MYSD are at loggerheads over where a rescued defiled girl who was also forced to abort her pregnancy can be sheltered. 

While the ACVPN said it  has ensured that the girl was rescued, her abusers arrested and are being made to dance to the music of thier crime, ACVPN said it's  further efforts to ensure that the abused child is kept under state protective custody to avoid any untoward interference of her being tutored to recant her experience of the ugly incident she endured and to enable her go through the needed treatment so as to heal from the traumatic experience, the Lagos state child protection unit and Mr. Bolaji Ogunlende the Commissioner Lagos state Ministry of Youth and Social Development however stated that the child has a right to choose where to stay and so the agency cannot provide her with protective custody against her wish. 

In a letter to the honourable Commissioner Youth and Social Development MYSD Lagos state , the ACVPN coordinator Mr. Ebenezer Omejalile condemned the officials of the Child Protection Unit for not taking the best interest of the child into consideration adding that it is indeed regretable that an agency saddled with the responsibility of protecting children, especially abused children are the ones sadly seeking permission from the child on how to protect her. The ACVPN sent a letter to the Commissioner MYSP seeking his intervention but the Commissioner MYSP Lagos state Mr. Bolaji Ogundele stands with the officials of the Child Protection Unit that the abused child can choose where to stay. 

The ACVPN letter reads: 

THE HONORABLE COMMISSIONER 

THROUGH THE OFFICE OF THE PERMANENT SECRETARY 

LAGOS STATE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (MYSD)

ALAUSA SECRETARIAT IKEJA.

Dear Sir

LETTER OF COMPLAINTS ON REFUSED PLACEMENT OF A MINOR IN A SAFE HOUSE BY LAGOS STATE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (CHILD PROTECTION UNIT)

We hereby bring to your good office attention to the above mentioned subject. We are Advocates For Children and Vulnerable persons Network (ACVPN).

It's a social justice platform that Comprises both States Actors and Non States Actors, We leverage on each other strengths to achieve a common goal in the best interest of Children and all vulnerable persons across the federation irrespective of their status.

Sir we seek your good office to address the above stated issue as concerns our position and the vulnerability of the minor in question. A case of sexual defilement and abortions on a minor was reported by our organization to the Nigeria Police Force, Ifako-Gbagada, Lagos on the 8th Of April, 2024.

 The perpetrators in this case, where apprehended by the Police, while the minor was being closely watched under the custody of the DPO of the station . 

The perpetrators were moved to the Gender Unit Of the Nigeria Police Force, Ikeja on the 12th of April, 2024 and further charged to court from the results of the investigations carried out by the Gender unit officers. 

The minor's shelter status was raised to the Lagos State Ministry of Youth And Social Development, Child Protection Unit, for speedy intervention on Friday 12th April, 2024, by our case Manager, while the case was being heard at the Samuel Ilori Court House, Ogba Magistrate Court, so that she would have a safe place to stay, avoid tutoring to change her given statements and also keep her on a place where she would get away from the traumatic events. 

The officials who the case manager called, asked for the charge sheet of the case, a police extract of the case and a letter from ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE PERSON'S NETWORK, stating their role in the matter as required documents to enable them place the minor in a shelter. They did not take her in that day, as they were rounding off work. The case manager got the stated documents and deposited in the office of the Permanent Secretary as they had stated to her on Monday, 15th April,

 2024. 

She still met with stiff resistance as they said that the document they required was an extract from the Gender unit. She duly got it back to them with the Police extract document, but they also turned ot down saying that there was no specification from the IPO of the case asking that the minor be placed in safe shelter.

The case manager even suggested that the officials of Lagos State MYSD(CPU) call the officials of the Gender unit to get verfication on the matter but this has not been helpful as even of Tuesday 16th April, 2024, the officials have failed to take calls or messages to address this issue.

We call on your good office Honorable Commissioner, Lagos State Ministry Of Youth and Social Development and also the Permanent Secretary, to please the Child Protection Unit Head Sunbo by name to order in the ministry, to take a closer look into this matter, why a victim of a heinous crime who happens to be a minor, will not be granted a measure of safety to ensure her well being. Such an action, more likely than not, will lead to a compromise and natural death of the case, of not well handled and followed up.

Thank you for your usual cooperation and understanding as we anticipate a positive response from your good office regarding this report.

Warmest Regards 

Ebenezer M. Omejalile

Reacting to the ACVPN letter, Mr. Bolaji Ogunlende the Commissioner

Ministry of Youth and Social Development stated. 

"We wish to clarify the situation regarding a recent case involving a potential need for shelter for a minor who was allegedly sexually abused.

On the 12th of April, 2024, The Child Protection Unit of the Ministry received a call concerning a potential need for shelter placement for a Survivor of sexual abuse. 

We were informed by the caller that the matter had been reported at the Police Station, and the perpetrators were arrested, investigated, and are under police custody.

The caller stated further that the Police had released the child to a relative. Because we take such reports seriously, the caller was invited to the office on Monday 15th April 2024 to give more information. The caller came with the survivor and the relative to the office. At that point, the child said she wanted to go home with her aunt while she waited for her mother in the village to pick her up. 

Even though the Police had released the child to her relatives, the caller(Representative) of the Non-Governmental Organisation NGO still insisted that the child should be placed in a shelter, contrary to the child’s wishes.

We wish to categorically state that the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Youth and Social Development is committed to working with Law Enforcement and Social Services Providers to ensure the safety and well-being of a minor who may be at risk.

The Child’s Rights Law paramount objective is to safe-guard the well-being of children, and this office being the appropriate authority recognised by the Law for its implementation will not ignore the wishes of a child in determining the child’s best interest.

Having expressed her desire to stay with her family members, the need for shelter was not deemed to be necessary in this instance.

We encourage anyone who has concerns about a child’s welfare to contact the authorities immediately, this includes; 

Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development

The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, And

The Gender Unit of the Nigeria Police Force.". 

Mr. Bolaji Ogunlende

Hon. Commissioner

Ministry of Youth and Social Development.

15th April, 2024

Ibadan residents decry reactionary policing , want answers how Sessionists beat security operatives and hosted thier flag in Oyo state govt secretariat building ----

 

 

While some residents in Ibadan Oyo state have commended the security operatives for thier timely response to Sessionists attempt to take over the Oyo state seat of power on Saturday other  residents however have expressed shock at the news of suspected criminals disguised as agitators who succeeded in hoisting thier flag in the Oyo state government secretariat . 

The agitators who allegedly wear foreign camouflage are said to be Oodua Nation Sessionists, who  stormed the Oyo state government secretariat building in thier numbers and succeeded in hoisting thier flag before they were stopped by the combined security operatives drafted to the secretariat.

A resident who identified himself simply as Adeoye while reacting to the audacious attempt to take over the secretariat commended the security operatives for neutralising the threat but wonders how the agitators beat the security check points to get inside the government seat of power. 

He said " I am grateful to God for stopping the evil plans of so called agitators and the quick response from the combined security operatives in the state. The entire scenarios shows that  that secretariat and the entire Ibadan land need to be more protected because I have been wondering how do they beat the security operatives on the roads to get into the middle of a government seat of power. I learnt they came in a bus and bikes and they were fully kitted  but  how were they not intercepted until they got into the secretariat and hoisted thier flag?  Are they not supposed to be security operatives manning the entry and exit gates of the secretariat? So how was it possible to allow such large number of people in camouflage enter through the gates? 

Another resident who identified himself as Korede said " This is not acceptable. Why are the security operatives reactionary to issues instead of being proactive. We thank God they nip those people who claim to be agitators in the bud but as a resident in this town , I would need to know how they could have successfully entered the seat of power in my state to hoist thier flag. It is a big slap on our security architecture in this state. 

Another resident Mr. Jimoh who claimed to be a security consultant urged the security operatives to be more vigilant. 

" Oyo state is peaceful all these while and it's the security operatives that have been keeping us safe through the help of God and the commitment of the government. This peace should not be taken away as I urge all those in charge of the security of this state to be more vigilant . Security persons manning the gates and those on the roads  should desist from begging for alms. This kind of  behaviour does not show that they are serious on thier job. The enemies can easily penetrate and beat the check points if such  behaviour are being practiced by security personnel ". 

Police , DSS, Army , Amotekun Secure Oyo State Secretariat As suspected O’odua Nation Agitators Attempt To Take Over Assembly , overthrow Govt Seyi Makinde.

 

There was  a gun  battle between state state security personnel  Nigeria police force , army personnel and Oodua Nation agitators at the Oyo state government secretariat today. 

It was learned that the suspected Oodua Nation agitators in Army uniform stormed the government secretariat in numbers to hijack the Oyo state House of Assembly.

It was gathered that  the alleged agitators had already taken over the assembly complex premises, and hosted their flag before the  arrival of backup security personnel.

As of filling this report, the presence of Nigerian Police, Amotekun, and other security personnel had put the ugly situation into order, and several of the suspected agitators were killed in the ensuring battle. 

It was gathered that the leader of the agitators was arrested and assisting with information.

Additional information via Western Daily News

IGP 's team wins as BIPOGA Game tagged ‘’Oluyole 2024’’ ends in Ibadan

The 14th  police  BIPOGA game tagged ‘’ Oluyole 2024’’  has ended on Saturday March 2nd at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex in Ibadan , Oyo state. The BIPOGAL game  which  kicked off on February 24th with the theme -’Competing for Peace , unity, stability and development  of Nigeria ‘’ had over 3000 athletes from the seventeen zones of the Nigeria police and the Force headquarters .  The Oyo state deputy governor Mr. Bayo Lawal represented the governor  Engr Seyi Makinde at the closing ceremony .Also present at the closing ceremony was  the Police Service Commission Chairman Mr. Solomon Arase , former IGP Usman Alkali Baba among others. The closing ceremony witnessed  the athletes , from other sister agencies like the Nigerian Airforce, Nigeria Immigration  Service , the Federal fire service , Nigeria Customs, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp among others participated in the male  and female rally race and tug of war at the closing ceremony.The police  female and male athletes also participated in the  rally race while there was thug of war and a football competition at the closing ceremony   .Speaking at the event, the Inspector General of Police , Mr. Kayode Egbetokun said   BIPOGA has promoted love, unity and development in the country;He said  ‘’ We have wrapped up an exciting  journey packed with sportsmanship , team work and a strong value that makes the Nigeria police force special. We seen our officers project athletic skills , unwavering commitment and a strong spirit during this event .On this occasion, I am honoured to express my deepest gratitude to all the participants, the coaches and the organizers and supporters who contributed to the success of this ‘’Oluyole 2024’’. Your passion and commitment have not only made this event a spectacle of sporting excellence but has enforced unity, discipline and mutual respect in our police force and beyond.  The theme of this year’s event, ‘’competing for Peace , unity, stability and development  of Nigeria ‘’ has served as a guilding  beacon  inspiring our officers  not only to showcase their athletics prowess, but also to embolden the principles  that are integral to our collective journey towards a safer , more united and prosperous nation. I am immensely proud of the achievements on the track race and courts. Our officers have not only competed for glory but have  also exemplified  the value of professionalism,  integrity .These values which are the bedrock of the Nigeria police force was in full displace in this tournament serving  as our testament to safeguarding  the security of our citizens’’

The 14th BOPOGAL  game saw athletes participated in over thirty  games  with the  Force headquarter’s team  topping other zones   with 196 medals, followed by  Zone 2  command and Zone 11 commands coming second and  3rd places respectively.The winning zones were given a gold plated cup as trophies while the first to third place athletes received medals as the case may be In the football competition, Zone 4 command  defeated Zone 10 command by 3 goals to nil to win the gold while in the tug of war competition, the Force headquarters team defeated Zone 4 to clinched the first place in the male tug of war event , while the Zone 4  female won tug of war competition.