Crime
The ‘Rogue’ Cops At Airport Road Lagos
By Felix Oboagwina
Daddy, do you know that on their way back to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, members of my business team who came to my wedding had a horrible encounter with police officers who stationed themselves on Airport Road.*_
Really? What happened? I saw them at the wedding reception and they were many. They all wore white.
_*Yes, they did. One Uber taxi took two of them from the reception at Alimosho to catch their evening flight back to Abuja, and they were stopped for searching by these police.*_
Did the policemen find anything incriminating on them?
_*Nothing of such! Daddy, you saw them, none of them even spotted a “Rasta” or “Dada” hairstyle. These are decent, hardworking gentlemen, doing clean business. The policemen became excited upon seeing that the guys were using iPhones. These policemen seized the phones, scrolled through their bank balance and forced them to transfer money.*_
No way! No policeman, in the first place, has any right to search anybody’s phone. Their Police Public Relations Officers keep hammering this fact on Twitter and all social media platforms where they interact with the public. Even the Commissioners of Police say the same thing.
_*These police on Airport Road did ooo! They delayed the guys and threatened to ensure they missed their flights should those ones refuse to cooperate. Initially, the cops asked for N200,000 per person; but in the end they settled for N100,000 per man.*_
No way, N100,000 –for what exactly?
_*My friends were initially stubborn and refused to pay. But the police ordered their Uber to park, and told my people: “Be speaking English there instead of cooperating.” When those ones saw that time was running and they could miss their flights, they quickly lent themselves sense and negotiated a settlement. They did cash transfer. And Daddy, do you know the painful part of the whole story?*_
What?
_*They boys still ended up missing their flight. When the Uber finally got them to the airport, the plane was rolling onto the tarmac for takeoff. They had to sleep at the airport till the following day.*_
Eeyah! What a pity. Nigerian police are very wicked.
_*When they phoned to report the incident to me, they said this could never have happened in another state, and that is why they could never live in Lagos and detest travelling to Lagos.*_
This is very sad. And do you know that this sort of criminal exploitation triggered the #EndSARS protests in 2020 and led to the disbandment of SARS by President Muhammadu Buhari?
_*Our police will never learn.*_
I know that airport axis very well. Just the other day on Twitter, Omoyele Sowore, Publisher of SaharaREPORTERS defied these same police team. I am sure it was the same team. He was also in a cab and when he got to that spot they told his vehicle to park. Sowore told the driver not to budge. They abused him, before finally removing themselves out of the way for the car to go.
_*That is the best way to treat these bastards.*_
You know quite well that people are on their way to board planes and you have the insensitivity to stop them.
_*It is deliberate. They feel that anyone heading to the airport must be loaded with money. Additionally, such people are passengers hurrying to catch a flight and would pay any amount to not miss their plane.*_
Which police stations are even in that axis self? That would be Mafoluku Oshodi, Aswani Isolo or Airport. DPOs there must be made to answer for this criminality. Even the Lagos State Police Commissioner can’t say he knows nothing about this perfidy. What are they doing along that road? They are up to eight and they would just spread themselves through the service lane, stopping vehicles. They are not interested in whether vehicle particulars are correct. Their mission there is solely to milk wayfarers.
_*This is very satanic. Heads have to roll. Do you know that just to avoid the stress of these Lagos cops, I know someone who moves around with a police escort in his car every single day?*_
But that must cost a hefty sum! How much does he pay to have an armed policeman with him in the car?
_*I have not asked him. But it cannot be less than N20,000.*_
That’s some baddest money! Meaning if he uses a police escort for the entire month, he will pay anything between N400,000 to N600,000.
_*Something in that region, but he feels safer –absolutely zero police harassment. A young IT Engineer driving a powerful car, with a laptop and an iPhone in tow, the guy knows that he fits the jaundiced profiling these cops have fixed on Nigerian youth and he can easily become their target.*_
We will keep writing and pushing until their ogas are forced to pull these rogue cops off that Airport axis. They have no business being there –no business at all, especially since they are using it to exploit people. But your associates really impressed me. Do you mean that the lot came all the way from Abuja just for your wedding?
_*Yes o! They did. They really impressed me too. I was surprised to see so many of them at the reception.*_
See the way they were spraying you with money. Hope they all ate, sha.
_*I already made adequate arrangements for them. I told K to take care of them. They all sat in one place in the hall and I could see from the platform that my orders were implemented to the letter. Their food and drinks were kept separate. I trusted K to deliver and she didn’t disappoint.*_
Can you imagine that after all that beautiful outing, some yeye, God-forsaken, rogue policemen would spoil the joy of that memorable day? God punish them.
By Felix Oboagwina
OBOAGWINA IS AN AUTHOR, JOURNALIST AND PUBLISHER, REACHABLE VIA: foboagwina@gmail.com*_
According to a statement on Friday, the arrested officers are: “AP/No. 207454, ASP Elomore Sodayo; AP/No. 332012, Inspector Adefila Adewale; AP/No. 332449, Inspector Olorunfemi Opeyemi; and AP/No. 332369, Inspector Odusola Peter.”
Speaking at the command headquarters in Akure on Friday, the state Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, said the police had zero tolerance for indiscipline and unprofessional conduct.
He added that a comprehensive investigation had been ordered to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine the level of culpability of each officer involved.
He added that officers were expected to conduct themselves with the utmost professionalism, respect human dignity and comply strictly with the Force’s Code of Conduct and Standard Operating Procedures.
“The Nigeria Police Force is a disciplined and professional institution that does not condone any form of misconduct, incivility, or actions capable of undermining public confidence, promoting ethnic division, or bringing the Force into disrepute,” the commissioner said.
He assured the public that the investigation would be conducted to determine the facts of the case, adding that any officer found culpable would face appropriate disciplinary action.
This was said to be part of renewed efforts to tackle insecurity.
Disu gave the directive on Friday during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
According to the IG, the order followed President Bola Tinubu’s directive that the persistent insecurity in Benue State must be brought to an end.
He stressed that only authorised security personnel were legally permitted to bear firearms, warning that the era of passive policing was over.
“You cannot move around freely carrying arms as if there is no law and order in this country. It will not be tolerated,” he said.
Disu disclosed that police officers had been empowered under Force Order 237 to respond decisively to armed threats without waiting for directives from superior officers.
“We are tired of losing our men. We are tired of police officers, soldiers, and other members of the security agencies dying anyhow.
“They have been instructed to shoot at sight. They have been trained to do what is necessary. But we will not succeed without the cooperation of all of you.”
He called on residents to support security agencies with credible information, stressing that public cooperation remains critical to the fight against armed criminality.
Benue State has witnessed repeated attacks by armed groups in recent months, resulting in the loss of lives, displacement of residents and destruction of property.
The federal government has continued to deploy additional security personnel and adopt tougher measures aimed at restoring peace in the state.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
Fresh fears have gripped residents of Ifite Awka following an alleged plot by suspected gunmen to establish camps in the area where four Fulani herders were killed two days ago.
Security reports indicate that the attack may have been aimed at scaring away visitors to the bush in an attempt to facilitate the establishment of new camps in the area.
Residents recalled that similar tactics had allegedly been used by criminal elements to take over communities, often with the assistance of local collaborators.
The area shares boundaries with Awka North Local Government Area, where there have been reports of gunmen operating in some communities.
Following the development, youths from Ifite Awka have stormed the Ifite Agu area in a manhunt for the suspected gunmen.
The development comes as Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has issued a fresh directive to traditional rulers and President-Generals (PGs) of communities to take charge of the security architecture in their respective areas in conjunction with local security operatives and the mayors of the 21 local government areas.
It was gathered that as early as 5 a.m., some youths in the area had moved into the bushes in search of the suspected gunmen and cattle reportedly missing following the incident.
The youths were accompanied by local hunters who assisted in the search.
Speaking with reporters, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Christian Aburime, confirmed the fresh directive to traditional rulers and President-Generals of communities across the state.
He said, “We have a government that is people-oriented and that is the government of Prof. Charles Soludo, who is a man that loves the people, is at home with the ordinary people and feels their pains.”
Aburime described the incident as unfortunate and urged the police and other relevant security agencies to take immediate action.
He noted that traditional rulers and President-Generals are the first points of contact when it comes to the security of lives and property in their communities, adding that the governor had reiterated his charge to security stakeholders to take control of security in their respective areas.
He, however, said the possibility of sabotage could not be ruled out, but added that it would be premature to draw conclusions before the completion of investigations by the relevant security agencies.
“The issue of sabotage against security in Anambra State cannot be ruled out, and that could just be an attempt to undermine the efforts of the government. But I cannot categorically tell you that it is an act of sabotage. We have to wait for the investigations of the security agencies before drawing conclusions,” he said.
He added that the Agunechemba Security Squad was working to improve security in the state, noting that residents had commended the governor for the improved security situation.
“We have a good security architecture in place, and I can tell you that this could just be an isolated incident. Everything necessary that needs to be done will be done in that regard,” Aburime said.
He stressed that security was the responsibility of everyone, regardless of social status or position.
“It is very simple, and the governor has always said that security is everybody’s business. When it happens, it affects everyone, irrespective of class or position,” he said.
According to him, “The President-Generals and traditional rulers are the first points of security in their communities and should be able to ensure that there is no security breach in their respective localities.”
He urged residents to provide useful intelligence to security agencies, assuring them that their identities would be protected.
“If you see something, say something. These people doing these things are human beings, and they live in the localities. People should be able to know them. They should avail us of intelligence reports, and that will help us fish them out. Your identity will always be protected,” he said.
The Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), CP Ahmed Sanusi, has urged residents, particularly youths, to resist attempts by police officers to search their mobile phones during stop-and-search operations.
Sanusi said such searches violate a directive issued by the Inspector-General of Police, stressing that officers are not permitted to randomly search the phones of members of the public.
The commissioner made the remarks during a press conference shared by News Central Television on Tuesday.
He explained that although mobile phones could be used as evidence in criminal investigations, they should only be examined after a suspect has been lawfully arrested and taken to a police station.
According to him, officers are not authorised to stop people on the road and demand access to their phones merely on suspicion that they may be involved in internet fraud or other criminal activities.
Sanusi urged residents confronted by officers demanding to search their phones to seek assistance by contacting the police emergency line or nearby police officers.
He reaffirmed the FCT Police Command’s commitment to enforcing the Inspector-General’s directive, warning that officers found violating the order would face disciplinary action.
He said the command would continue to take action against officers who abuse their authority or engage in extortion under the guise of conducting stop-and-search operations.
The Cross River State Police Command has arrested a 39-year-old man, Udeme Emmanuel Ekpeme, for allegedly impersonating a medical doctor and defrauding a woman of ₦500,000 under the guise of securing employment for her children at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).
The command’s spokesperson, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, disclosed this in a statement issued to journalists on Tuesday in Calabar.
According to the statement, Ekpeme was arrested by officers attached to the Uwanse Division in Calabar South Local Government Area following a petition by a 45-year-old woman, Mrs Edemawan Samuel.
The complainant alleged that the suspect falsely presented himself as a medical doctor and collected ₦500,000 from her after promising to facilitate employment for her children at UCTH.
Police said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect allegedly used the false representation to deceive the woman into handing over the money.
Relevant exhibits believed to be connected to the alleged offences were also recovered during the investigation, while the suspect remains in police custody.
The police spokesperson said the suspect is being investigated for alleged impersonation, obtaining money by false pretence and unlawful use of medical equipment.
The Commissioner of Police, Rashid Afegbua, has directed detectives to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the full extent of the suspect’s activities and identify any other possible victims or accomplices.
The command said the suspect would be charged to court upon completion of investigations if sufficient evidence is established.
The police assured members of the public that further updates would be provided as the investigation progresses.
The arrest comes weeks after the Edo State Police Command announced the arrest of a 46-year-old man, Osaze Okungbowa, who was accused of impersonating a medical doctor and allegedly delivering babies and trafficking newborns.
The Edo suspect was arrested following a complaint by a woman, Princess Oke, who reported that the baby she delivered under his care had gone missing, leading to a police investigation.
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