crimewatch

Septuagenarian, two others nabbed for lynching burglar

Published

4 months ago

April 9, 2021

The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a septuagenarian, John Adeyemi, and two others, Sakariyau Biliaminu and Gabriel Ajayi, in connection with the death of a yet-to-be-identified burglar in the Ikotun area of the state.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the burglar broke into the house of one Adeyemi Opeyemi and while attempting to dispossess her of her valuables, the victim raised the alarm, which made the burglar to bolt away.

The burglar was said to have run into an angry mob, who apprehended and lynched him.

In a statement on Thursday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said three community leaders, Sakariyau Biliaminu, 66; John Adeyemi, 77; and Gabriel Ajayi, 55, were arrested and were being questioned in relation to the suspect’s killing.

He said, “Police operatives attached to the Ikotun Division of the command, on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, arrested three community leaders in the Ikotun area of Lagos State for lynching a suspected burglar.

“The burglar had gained entry into the room of one Mrs Adeyemi Opeyemi of No. 2 Asalu bus stop, off Abaranje Road, Ikotun, Lagos, in an attempt to rob her, but she raised the alarm and the burglar escaped into the street, where some members of the community apprehended and beat him to death.

“The community leaders arrested are Sakariyau Biliaminu, 66; John Adeyemi, 77; and Gabriel Ajayi, 55. These suspects have some questions to answer pertaining to the killing of the suspect.

While explaining that the state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, condemned the act of jungle justice meted to the suspect, Adejobi stated that the CP “vowed to kick against such in the state as it is becoming rampant and inimical to the collective efforts to improve on the criminal justice system of Lagos State.”

Adejobi said police personnel attached to the Ojo Division of the command, in furtherance of the directive of the CP to go after traffic robbers, on April 6, 2021, arrested three suspected traffic robbers, Bashiru Ammo, 19; Ibrahim Mohammed, 23; and Arinze Victor, 19, for attacking innocent commuters in the Ojo area of the state.

He stated, “As a follow-up to police investigation, other suspected receivers to the traffic robbers were arrested on April 7, 2021. They are Bello Jafaru, 20; Nuru Abdullahi, 23; Nafiu Saray, 21; and Bashiru Mohammed, 19. The suspects have confessed to the crime of attacking and dispossessing commuters and innocent Lagosians of their belongings along the Ojo-Iba Road.

“In addition, during the course of investigation, one Lucky Gurube, 19, of no fixed address was arrested. He confessed to being a pickpocket and had been picking people’s phones in the Iyana Iba area of Ojo, Lagos.”

In another development, Adejobi said policemen attached to the Ojo Division, on April 7, 2021, around 3.30am, nabbed a set of suspected traffic robbers in the Iyana Iba/PPL area, in conjunction with some traders at the Alaba Rago Market.

“The suspects are Matthew Christopher, 25; Babangida Umoru, 25; and Babangida Abdullahi, 19, all of no fixed addresses. They were arrested with some weapons like knives, cutlasses, broken bottles and others. They have all confessed to the crime,” the PPRO said.

Similarly, police personnel attached to the Ikeja Division, on April 5, 2021 around 12.15am, accosted three suspected armed robbers on a motorcycle on the Awolowo Way, Ikeja, and arrested one of them, while the others fled.

Adejobi stated, “The suspect, Malik Abdullahi, was arrested in possession of one locally-made single-barrelled gun with assorted charms. He is helping the police to get the fleeing suspects at all cost. The CP has ordered that all the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Panti, Yaba, for proper investigation and possible prosecution as the command will leave no stone unturned in getting rid of crime and criminality in the state.

“The police boss charged officers and men of the command to be proactive to security issues around their areas of responsibility, as they are expected to exploit available resources, including robust intelligence, community policing concept and public relations to police their areas.”

crimewatch

Imo Police arrest 2 robbery suspectsf from Mbaise

Published

1 week ago

July 20, 2021

Jovita Chinonso

The Imo State Police Command has arrested two armed robbery suspects, Mr. Darlington Ogubike, aged 36 and Mr. Ihuoma Emeriole, aged 25 , both from Umuevu Onitsha in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo state, for armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms.

In a press release from the State Command, through the Command’s, Police Public Relations Officer, CSP. Mike Abattam, disclosed that on “the 14th of July 2021 at about 17:30 hours based on credible information, a gang of armed robbers that have been terrorising Mbaise and its environs were sighted at Umuevu Onitsha Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA in Imo State.

The command tactical teams mobilised and raided the criminal hideout where Darlington Ogubike and Ihuoma Emeriole both of Umuevu Onitsha Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA were arrested”.

He further stated that, two English made authomatic Pump Action Guns, with seven rounds of live cartridges and two locally made Pistols were recovered from them, adding that, the suspects are presently undergoing interrogation and have made useful statements that will aid the police to arrest other suspects.

The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Abutu Yaro, however commended the officers and men for their proactiveness, and thanked residents and citizens of the state for their commendable synergy with the police, especially in the provision of credible information that has enable smart policing and interception of criminal elements easier and warned that, all criminals should relocate from the state or face severe sanction.

crimewatch

Again, gunmen raze Akwa Ibom police station, kill cop

Published

3 months ago

May 12, 2021

Chibueze Okoronkwo

Gunmen again on Wednesday set ablaze a divisional police station in the Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State and killed one officer.

The officer, one Police Constable, Edogi Bassey, was gunned down by the hoodlums during exchange of fire between policemen and the assailants.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Odiko Macdon, who confirmed the attack in a statement in Uyo, said the hoodlums drove into the station in two vehicles loaded with dangerous weapons including AK-47 rifles.

The statement titled, ‘Police repelled attack at police stations’ read in part “At about 6:30am today, armed men in their numbers, armed with AK 47 rifles and other dangerous weapons, in two vehicles attacked the rented building housing the Etim Ekpo Area Command and Division.

“The undaunted and vigilant police officers on duty gallantly fought back, repelled them and averted the intended carnage.

“Unfortunately, a dedicated officer, one PC Edogi Bassey, paid the supreme price while a small portion of the building was torched.

“The gunmen who proceeded to Ika Division to perpetrate their nefarious activities were successfully again repelled leaving the station intact without loss of lives or arms.”

The statement added that the worrisome situation is being addressed by the police hierarchy and required the collaboration of all, adding that Commissioner of Police in the state, Andrew Amiengheme, had visited police formations and had called on law abiding citizens to volunteer timely information that will enable the police tackle the present security challenges in the state.

crimewatch

$153 million, 80 houses recovered from Diezani —EFCC boss

Published

3 months ago

May 12, 2021

Chibueze Okoronkwo

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, has disclosed that the commission has recovered $153 million from former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who has been living in Britain since leaving office.

He also said the anti-graft agency recovered no fewer than 80 choice property valued at $80m.

This was contained in the April edition of the EFCC magazine, EFCC Alert.

But the EFCC chief was quick to add that bringing the former minister to justice was still far from reality, given the fact that she was out of Nigeria’s jurisdiction, acknowledging the challenges associated with bringing her home to face justice.

The chairman said, “There are several cases surrounding Diezani’s case. I was part of that investigation, and we have done quite a lot. In one of the cases, we recovered $153 million; we have secured the final forfeiture of over 80 properties in Nigeria valued at about $80 million. We have done quite a bit on that.

“The other cases as it relates to the $115 million INEC bribery is also ongoing across the federation. We are looking forward to the time we will, maybe, have her in the country, and, of course, review things and see what will happen going forward. The case has certainly not been abandoned.’’

But responding to a question as to how he would be dealing with powerful government officials in the discharge of his assignment as EFCC chair, Bawa said he would be ready to leave the job if anyone tried to make him do what was illegal.

“I am not going to pay allegiance to individuals in the government,” he added.

Bawa pointed out that though he was young, he had paid the price on the job, having been among the pioneer staff of EFCC, rising through the ranks to reach the top.

He stated, “I rose through the ranks. The only job I know after graduation is the EFCC, which I joined in 2004. I rose through the ranks from an ordinary team member, to the first EFCC team leader from the regular staff of the EFCC.

“ I became a sectional head, became the zonal head in Ibadan, zonal head in Port Harcourt, and zonal head in Lagos. Lagos is the biggest operational hub of the EFCC with over 600 personnel. Port Harcourt is next to it in terms of complexity and staff strength. I happen to be the first EFCC regular staff to head three different zones before my appointment as the chairman.”