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Tag: law enforcement

  • Police Rescue Former INEC Staff From Kidnappers, Arrest 4 Suspects

    *Fourth Suspect Arrested While Hiding In Girlfriend’s Ceiling

    The Police Command in Cross River State has rescued a former staff member of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) shortly after her abduction at her residence in Calabar on Saturday.

    The command’s spokesperson, Irene Ugbo who gave the confirmation on Sunday, said the commissioner commended the gallantry of the officers involved in the operation.

    She stated that four suspects were arrested during the operation while two vehicles were recovered in the process.

    She said that the command’s Anti Cultism and Kidnapping Squad (ACKS), led by SP Chukwuma Ogini, had swung into action following a distress call on her abduction at Mathias Oje Avenue in Calabar Municipality.

    Ugbo commended the bravery of Njangachang youths in the locality, who assisted in the apprehension of the suspects.

    The suspects had arms, ammunition and charms during the operation.

    She reiterated the Commissioner, Gyogon Grimah’s resolve to rid the state of crimes and criminalities.

    “We still want to state that no Kidnapper or criminal will find the state a safe haven for crimes and criminalities again.

    This is the resolve of the commissioner as directed by the Inspector General of Police,” she stated.

    Meanwhile, the fourth suspect was hiding in the ceiling of his girlfriend’s house in Calabar when he was arrested.

    According to the Police, he has confessed that the victim’s tenant initiated the abduction.

    Police spokesperson, SP Irene Ugbo, confirmed the arrest of the fourth suspect in the abduction of Mrs Caroline Bassey, who the police rescued hours after the abduction.

    “The suspect was unsuspicious that officers of the Anti-Cultism and Kidnapping Squad were on his trail until he was apprehended at about 5 a.m.

    “He has confessed to being the mastermind of Mrs Bassey’s kidnap. He identified Bassey’s tenant as the person who contracted him and his gang to kidnap the victim,’’ Ugbo said. 

  • Troops Apprehend 2 Suspected Gunrunners, Seize Weapons In Plateau

    Troops Apprehend 2 Suspected Gunrunners, Seize Weapons In Plateau

    Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), a military taskforce maintaining peace in Plateau and environs has arrested two suspected gun manufacturers at Vom in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau.

    Its Media Officer, Capt. James Oya, told a news conference in Jos on Saturday that troops of the taskforce uncovered the duo’s gun factory where they recovered newly-manufactured weapons.

    “Two individuals, Micheal Dung (33) and Yusuf Pam (43) were apprehended and their weapons manufacturing factory dismantled.

    “Preliminary investigation reveals that the suspects sell guns to customers in different parts of the country.

    “Troops recovered six AK-47 rifles, three skeleton AK-47 rifles, one locally-made pistol, 11 rifle bodies, seven bridge block, and four magazines.

    “Other weapons recovered were 210 springs, seven rifle butts, eight riffle muzzles, nine piston assembly, five cartridge housings, one drilling machine and a hand filing machine.

    “The suspects will be charged to court immediately after investigations,’’ Oya said.

    He added that the Commander of OPSH, Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, commended the dedication, bravery, and tireless efforts of the troops to ensure the safety of lives and property on the Plateau.

    He said that the taskforce would continue to maintain an offensive posture against criminals in Plateau.

    Speaking with newsmen, the prime suspect, Dung, who admitted to the crime, said he had been in the illegal business for six years.

    The suspect said he learned the skills from his deceased boss, adding that his customers were majorly from Mangu in Plateau.

    Dung said he sold arms at between N80,000 and N200,000, depending on the category.

  • Police Arrest Prime Suspect Of Murdered FUT Minna Lecturer

    The Police Command in Niger says it has arrested Joy Afekafe, the prime suspect in the killing of Dr Funmilola Adefolalu, a lecturer with the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna.

    This is contained in a statement in Minna by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Wasiu Abiodun.

    Abiodun stated that two other suspects connected to the crime were at large, adding that effort was ongoing to apprehend them.

    He recalled that on October 29, 2023 at about 10:00 a.m., some friends and church members of Adefolalu, visited her residence in Gbaiko area of Minna following their inability to get her on telephone.

    “Unfortunately, on getting to the house, the visitors met her lying in a pool of blood with marks of injury on her body.

    “Police operatives attached to Bosso Division visited the scene and two knives with blood stains suspected to have been used to stab her by unknown person(s) were recovered from the scene.

    “She was taken to the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Specialist (IBB) Hospital, Minna where she was confirmed dead,” Abiodun said.

    He noted that during investigation, the police arrested the deceased’s housemaid, 14-year-old Afekafe of Gbeganu, Minna on September 30 at about 9:00p.m.

    The PPRO said that during interrogation, the suspect confessed that she served as the deceased’s housemaid for about three weeks, adding that she was laid off due to her misdeed in the house.

    He stated that after she was laid off, she narrated her ordeal to her classmates called Walex and Smart and they conspired to attack the lecturer at her residence.

    He explained that they went to the residence on September 28 at about 4:00p.m., with a motorcycle and she surfaced at the gate, while the lecturer opened the gate for her.

    The PPRO said that Walex and Smart later entered, beat the deceased, hit her head with a stood and stabbed her with a knife brought by Walex while Smart took another knife from the deceased’s kitchen, and stabbed her severally.

    He said that the suspects also stole the deceased’s phone, laptop and the battery of a car parked in the compound and fled the scene.

    Abiodun said that the suspect would be transferred to State Crime Investigation Department for further investigation and diligent prosecution, while effort is ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects

  • Police Confirm Murder Of FUT Minna Lecturer

    The Police command in Niger State has confirmed the killing of Dr Funmilola Adefolalu, a lecturer at the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna by suspected assailant.

    This is contained in a statement by the command`s spokesman, DSP Wasiu Abiodun on Monday in Minna.

    Abiodun said the victim was killed in her residence at Gbaiko area of Minna on Sunday.

    “On October 29, at about 1000hrs, some friends of Dr Funmilola Adefolalu, a lecturer at “FUT Minna visited her residence in Gbaiko Area of Minna due to their inability to get her on phone.

    “Unfortunately, on getting to the house, the visitors met her lying in a pool of her own blood with marks of injuries on her body,” he said.

    He said that two knives with blood stains suspected to have been used to stab her by unknown persons were recovered from the scene.

    The spokesman said that the body was taken to the Ibrahim Babangida Specialist Hospital, Minna where she was confirmed dead.

    He said that the police have commenced investigation into the incident. 

  • Police Bust Child-Stealing Syndicate In Enugu, Nab Suspect

    The Police Command in Enugu State has smashed a child-stealing syndicate and arrested a suspect at Igogoro village in Enugu-Ezike community of Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of the state.

    This is contained in a statement, issued by the Command’s Spokesman, DSP Daniel Ndukwe at the weekend in Enugu.

    Ndukwe said that the syndicate was smashed on Oct. 27 at about 1.30 p.m.

    According to him, police operatives serving in the Igbo-Eze North Police Division, working with the Neighbourhood Watch Group, smashed a child stealing syndicate and arrested one Ifeanyi Omeke, 21, at Igogoro village in Enugu-Ezike community.

    “The suspect was nabbed after he sneaked into the complainant’s house in the community and attempted to steal a 15-month-old girl child.

    “The suspect confessed to the crime, as well as revealed that he was contracted by his cohorts at large to steal children for ritual and other criminal purposes,” the police spokesman said.

    He said that the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Kanayo Uzuegbu, had ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the state’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for a thorough investigation.

    “A thorough investigation would eventual lead to the arrest of other members of the criminal syndicate at large and their prosecution,” he added.

  • Police, Army Rescue 4 Kidnap Victims In Katsina

    Police in Katsina State have rescued four kidnap victims in Dandume Local Government Area on Saturday in collaboration with the military.

    Police spokesman in the state, ASP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, stated in Katsina on Saturday that the rescue was achieved during a routine patrol around Dankolo village.

    “In a bid to ensure the safety of lives and property police, in collaboration with troops, rescued four persons kidnapped at different locations in the state.

    “The relentless efforts and dedication of our security forces paid off, resulting in the rescue,’’ ASP Sadiq-Aliyu stated.

    He added that the victims had undergone medical examinations to ensure their well-being, and had been reunited with their families.

  • Navy Arrests 8 Over Illegal Bunkering Activities

    The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT patrol team has arrested eight persons in a wooden boat involved in illegal bunkering activities within the Lagos anchorage.

    The Commander NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Kolawole Oguntuga, said this during the handing over of the suspects to officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at NNS BEECROFT, Apapa, Lagos State.

    Oguntuga, who was represented by his Deputy, Capt. Christian Akokota, said that the feat was made possible on October 25, using the Maritime Domain Awareness Facility, the Falcone Eye Alignment.

    The commander said that the wooden boat, laden with eight-member crew, over 300 drums, pumping machines and other equipment was prevented from getting to its destination to perpetrate illegal bunkering.

    He gave the names of the suspects as: Selafei Tito, Seba Hunton, Etieni Abibu, Ahousansou Lawlent, Oke Job, Abel Yede, Matiye Husa and Husa Hungha.

    “This illegal activity would have robbed the nation of huge quantity of products for consumption by Nigerians.

    “The timely interception by the patrol team is also commendable, as it prevents disaster associated with illegal handling of these inflammable petroleum products by unscrupulous people,” the commander said.

    Oguntuga said that the proactive response further reveals Nigerian Navy’s unwavering commitment under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Emmanurl Ogalla.

    He said that the Navy would remain committed to safeguarding vital resources as well as the effective safety of live and property, particularly within the maritime domain.

    “We remain resolute at effective ocean governance by ensuring the full weight of the law is meted on perpetrators of maritime crimes, which is necessary to sustain economic prosperity of the nation.

    “The arrested persons will be properly interrogated to expose their motives and the identities of likely sponsors in the course of the investigation prior to prosecution,” Oguntuga said.

  • Gunmen Kidnap Plateau NUJ Chairman

    A former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Plateau state, Kapdaba Gobum, was abducted by suspected kidnappers. 

    He was allegedly kidnapped on Tuesday night. 

    This happened after he left the Press Centre, headed for his house in the Bukuru area of Jos South.

    Former General Manager of the Plateau Publishing and Printing Company (PPPC), Jonathan Ishaku, and the immediate past chairman of NUJ, Paul Jatau, have confirmed the incident.

     Ishaku mentioned, “But early this morning (Thursday), the kidnappers called his wife and demanded N35 million.”

    Jatau expressed surprise at this development and wondered why journalists should be victims of kidnapping. 

    The former NUJ chairman recently retired as a senior editor with the Nigerian Standard, published by the PPPC.

  • Man To Be Flogged 10 Strokes For Stealing Aluminum Windows

    A Kaduna Chief Magistrates’ Court, on Thursday, ordered that, Mubarak Shuaibu, aged 26, should receive 10 strokes of the cane for stealing eight aluminium windows.

    Shuaibu,  a resident of Ali Akilu Road Kaduna, was convicted after he pleaded guilty to the charge of criminal trespass and stealing.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr Ibrahim Emmanuel, gave the sentence after the defendant pleaded for leniency.

    Emmanuel said that the punishment would have been severe if he had not pleaded guilty, adding that the guilty plea had saved the court the pains of long prosecution.

    Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Chidi Leo, told the court that the complainant, Usman Adamu, of Abakpa area in Kaduna, reported the matter at the Gabasawa Police Station on Oct. 20.

    Leo told the court that at about 9. 30 p.m. the convict criminally trespassed into the complainant’s building site and stole eight aluminum windows.

    He said that the convict, who was apprehended and handed over to the police by a security guards, admitted to committing the crime.

    The prosecutor added that during police investigations, the stolen aluminum windows were recovered from the convict

    The prosecutor said the offences contravened the provisions of sections 348 and 217 of the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.

  • Police Begin Investigation Of Borno Commissioner’s Mysterious Death

    Borno State Commissioner for Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Resettlement (RRR), Engr. Ibrahim Idriss Garba, has tragically passed away. 

    The Commissioner’s untimely death occurred on Saturday morning at his Guest House located in the 777 Housing Estate in Maiduguri, the State capital.

    In response to this unfortunate event, the Borno State Police Command has initiated an “urgent investigation” into the circumstances surrounding the Commissioner’s demise. 

    This development was communicated by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s spokesperson, Malam Isa Gusau, through a statement released to the media on Saturday.

    It was further revealed that the State Commissioner of Police has already visited the residence where Engr. Garba lost his life in Maiduguri on the same day. 

    The Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, expressed deep shock and profound grief upon receiving the news of the Commissioner’s passing. 

    He joined in mourning with Engr. Garba’s family, close acquaintances, friends, colleagues, and members of the state executive council during this difficult time.