The Abia State Police Command has assured that justice must prevail on the case of the student of Abia State Polytechnic Aba, who was allegedly raped by a police corporal attached to its Rapid Response Squad.
It was gathered that the alleged incident sparked demonstration by the students, who demanded for an investigation.
Geoffrey Ogbonna, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in a statement, said that the police led by the Commissioner of Police in charge of the command, Janet Agbede, swung into action on getting the information and that after a thorough investigation, the alleged suspect whose name was given as Corporal Nwachukwu Chinedu, was arrested and detained.
The Police spokesman also disclosed that CP Agbede had visited the victim in the hospital and condoled with her, revealing that the suspect was being subjected to thorough investigations, after which the outcome will be made public as nothing will be hidden.
According to Ogbonna, “CP Janet Agbede, being a mother, has visited the girl in question and she and her management team have commenced investigations on the case. The policeman in question is not a member of rapid response squad (RRS) to contrary to some claims.
“Earlier, on hearing about the demonstration,, the Aba Area Commander and some of his men including some other security agencies moved in and addressed the students as they (the students) listed their grievances.
“He asked them to be peaceful. He even visited the Rector of the Polytechnic, Associate Professor Kalu Osonwa Okorie.
“The public should be rest assured that we’ll fast track the investigations and ensure that justice is done”.
Meanwhile, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has reacted to the shooting by some police officers on Thursday at the Abia State Polytechnic Aba during a protest by students of the institution.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Onyebuchi Ememanka, Governor Ikpeazu advised the students to be disciplined and avoid taking the law into their hands even while protesting.
He said they must at all times, exercise restraint when confronted by police officers who are on lawful duty.
According to Ikpeazu, “Under no circumstances must students confront police officers who are engaged in their lawful duties.
“The police has a responsibility under the law to ensure that peaceful protests by students are not hijacked by hoodlums whose intentions are different from the those of the students”.
A man whose identifybwas not disclosed have been arrested by the police in Porthacourt, Rivers State following the discovery of 20 corpses in his soakaway.
Similar to the notorious Otokoto saga in Owerri Imo state, this happened at Jesus Avenue, Ogunabani Road in Eche LGA of Rivers State.
In viral video making the rounds in the social media the suspect is seen with his hands tied to his back as bodies are exhumed from his soakaway pit.
The story has it that the trader in Ogbunabani Road Porthacourt had been in the habbit of inviting his customers to his house for payment each time he bought goods, from them.
The man who has a house of his own, well fenced and secured would always end up killing his victims and dumpling their bodies into the soakaway pit located in his compound.
This he has successfully done since 2016 making so much money in the process.
As in the Otokoto saga his day of reckoning came and over 20 corpses were found in his 20 feet deep soakaway pit.
His end started when a trader in Aba had to travel to Porthacourt for his money but fortunately dropped the address and phone number of his customer, whom he was visiting in Porthacourt.
When the wife waited for two days without any sign of husband he alerted the police and the rest is in the video.
Armed men suspected to be bandits have again, attacked the Kuregu community in Zaria Local Government of Kaduna State, killed two residents and abducted an Arabic and Islamic studies teacher.
It was learnt that the incident occured on Friday night when the armed men stormed the village with sophisticated weapons, gunned down two persons before whisking the teacher to unknown destination.
When contacted the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Jalige was unable to give details of the incident saying he would inquire and revert.
This is coming few days after three suspected kidnappers of the Bethel School Students in Kaduna were arrested and paraded at the force headquarters in Abuja.
Recall that bandits had on January 19, attacked the same community and abducted one Professor Aliyu Mohammed of Abubakar Tafawa University Department of Agriculture , Bauchi who was released after a ransom was reportedly paid.
Fresh facts have revealed the gruesome manner in which a Chief Superintendent of Police attached to the Lagos State Police Command, Kazeem Abonde, was murdered on Thursday by hoodlums in the Ajao Estate area of the state.
Abonde, who was also a lawyer, was killed nine months to his retirement from the Nigeria Police Force and become a full-time legal practitioner at a chamber based in Osogbo, Osun State, City Round learnt on Friday.
He was lynched during a joint operation on the enforcement of ban on motorcycles plying restricted routes in the state while one of the police operational vans taken to the neighbourhood was destroyed.
The raid was reportedly carried out by a tactical team comprising operatives from the Operations Department of the state police command headquarters, Ikeja, the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit, Rapid Response Squad, and the Ajao Estate Police Division.
The spokesperson for the police in the state, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, in a statement on Friday, said the team had also raided flashpoints in the area and wanted to leave the estate when the hoodlums struck.
He said, “After the successful operations which led to the arrest of some of the suspects, other criminal elements and hoodlums in their large numbers laid siege to the exit of the estate and attacked the policemen with guns, cutlasses and other weapons. Unfortunately, during the fatal attack, CSP Kazeem Sumonu Abonde attached to the Operations Department of the command was brutally killed by the hoodlums.
“The DPO Ajao Estate, CSP Abdullahi Malla and other police officers equally sustained varying degrees of injury. The corpse of the deceased officer has been deposited at the Yaba Mainland Hospital for autopsy.”
Ajisebutu said the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, had ordered investigation into the incident and vowed to ensure those responsible for the dastardly act would be brought to book.
A colleague of the deceased who spoke on condition of anonymity told our correspondent on Friday that Abonde was supposed to retire from the Force in June 2022 and had planned to practise as a lawyer afterwards.
“He was already preparing for his retirement. He was a lawyer and wanted to join a chamber he co-founded in Osun after retirement. Abonde was a fine officer and we will sorely miss him,” the colleague said.
Another source close to the late Abonde said the 54-year-old slain officer was enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force in June 1987 and rose through the ranks to a CSP in June 2019, lamenting that his death was devastating.
“He studied Law at the Lagos State University. He graduated in 2014 and proceeded to the Law School. He became a barrister in law in 2016 and went back to LASU for a master’s degree. He bagged LLM (Master in Law) in 2019,” the source added.
Our correspondent learnt that Abonde, a native of Ona Ara Local Government, Oyo State, was the Divisional Police Officer, Ilemba Hausa, Lagos, before he was posted to DOPs, his last place of assignment where he was the Operation Officer 1.
Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman, Isolo Local Council Development Area, Adebayo Olasoju, has appealed for calm by the residents of Ajao Estate and other concerned parties regarding the attack.
Olasoju in a statement on Friday by his Chief Press Secretary, Iskilu Alao, said the chairman, some officials of the council and the Area Commander, Area D Command had visited the scene of the incident.
The statement read in part, “Ajao Estate being a major entry point to especially foreigners coming into our dear nation deserves the serenity obtainable in a city of equal status in advanced countries.
“While investigation into both the remote and immediate causes of the violence is being carried out, the law-abiding citizens of Ajao Estate are hereby urged to go about their lawful business as there is enough security presence to forestall resurgence.”
The Chairman, Community Development Committee, Isolo LCDA, Adesegun Olatunde, said the executive had stopped movement of okada on the estate as one of the immediate measures to address the violence.
He said, “No okada is allowed on the estate for now. We are going to have a PCRC (Police Community Relations Committee) meeting today (Friday) to deliberate more on it. Some years back, they (okada riders) had issues and they went to destroy an armoured tank.
“After that incident, they were not allowed to operate in Ajao Estate. But after the #EndSARS protests, they suddenly resurfaced and started operating. On Osolo Way and 7/8 bus stop, you would see them on the road. They were not organised at all. Now, they have created problems for themselves. You cannot kill a senior police officer and go scot-free.”
The task force said on Thursday that 410 motorcycles were impounded on prohibited routes in Isolo, Ojodu-Berger, Ojota, Lagos Island, Surulere and Second Rainbow along Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Friday, apprehended 28 suspected internet fraudsters.
Seventeen were arrested in Awka, the Anambra capital, while 11 others were arrested in Enugu following intelligence on their activities.
The suspects are Afam Onu, Frank Offiah, Christopher Anakudo, Steven Ofodili, Sochima Theophilus, Jude Chibuzo, David Ebubechukwu, Victor Okechukwu, Nwazaku Ifeanyi.
The rest: Collins Chukwuma, Ngene Emmanuel. Ani Franklyn, Onah Chimere, Onah Olisaemeka, Chidebere Nnamani, Ernest Okorie Arinze, Daniel Onyekachukwu and Peter Nnopuechi.
Items found in their possession at the time of arrest were laptops, mobile phones and title documents. A Toyota Corolla Altis with reg FGG-194-AJ, Toyota Avalon with reg BWR-169-CB, Toyota Venza with reg AGG-559-TN, Lexus ES350 with reg BZR- 535-FF, Mercedes Benz GLK 350 with reg LND-241-FM have been impounded.
The suspects will be charged to court as soon as further investigations are concluded.
The Nigerian Army has said a female soldier, Lt. Chika Anele, seen in a viral video dehumanising a member of the National Youth Service Corps, will be tried for unprofessional conduct.
The incident happened at the 13 Brigade headquarters, Calabar, Cross River State.
A yet-to-be-identified witness recorded Anele using a bowl to scoop dirty water from a bucket and pouring same on the corps member, Ifenyinwa Ezeiruaku, who was in her uniform.
In the footage the soldier ordered Ezeiruaku to kneel and while at it, soaked her with the dirty water.
She was also seen using the back of the bowl to hit her head.
Angered by the ill-treatment of the corps member, an activist, Agba Jalingo, who got the footage, posted it on social media.
A message attached to the post read, “This is what a commissioned female Army officer, Lt. Chika Viola Anele, did to a youth corps member, Ezeiruaku Ifeyinwa Fidelia, serving at the 13 Brigade headquarters in Calabar after having an argument.
“We understand that the leadership in 13 Brigade is working to kill the matter. Let us make (the) officer very popular for all the wrong reasons. Share the video until it gets to the Chief of Army Staff and that Chika (Anele) girl is brought to book.”
Following the post, a campaign #Justiceforifenyinwa, #SayNoToMilitary Brutality, trended online, as Nigerians slammed Anele for the action.
Reacting to the incident, the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, described Anele’s conduct as unprofessional, adding that she would undergo regimental trial in line with the extant provisions of the Armed Forces Act.
Nwachukwu said, “The Nigerian Army has taken cognizance of a video clip currently making the rounds on social media, where a female officer was seen dehumanising a member of the National Youth Service Corps in Calabar, Cross River State. This act is not only condemnable but unprofessional and against established precepts of discipline in the NA.
“The NA therefore, condemns in strong terms, this act of gross misconduct. Undoubtedly, the officer’s actions have caused the NA monumental embarrassment and it’s highly regrettable. This unfortunate act of indiscipline does not in any way represent the NA and will not be condoned in its entirety.
“For the records, the ugly incident happened in 13 Brigade, Calabar. The brigade commander immediately instituted an investigation and the officer involved has been identified and sanctioned in the interim and would be made to undergo regimental orders (trial) in line with the extant provisions of the Armed Forces Act.”
Nwachukwu denied the allegation that the Brigade attempted to cover up the incident, adding that the Army had zero tolerance for indiscipline among its personnel.
He apologised on behalf of the Army, to the victim, her family, friends, the NYSC and Nigerians over the incident.
A former member of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Joseph Adegbesan, and two other suspects have been arrested by the police over alleged threat to the life of the former Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Oludare Kadiri.
Adegbesan, a close associate of the Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi, was nabbed Thursday by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Force Headquarters, Abuja, alongside one Muibi Olufodun and another suspect identified as Samson.
The policemen had stormed Awa in Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State to pick up Adegbesan, while the others were arrested in Ago-Iwoye, it was gathered.
The former Deputy Speaker, who is representing Ijebu North II State Constituency, had instructed his counsel, Oludare Adejare to petition the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, alleging threat to the life of his life.
According to the petition, Kadiri had called for “detailed, speedy and expeditious investigation and subsequent prosecution” of the suspects.
The petition partly read: “We have been briefed by our client who is a member of Ogun State House of Assembly, representing Ijebu North II State Constituency, Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State that one Muritala Babatunde (aka Muri etee) who was alleged sometimes in 2018 of being a member of Aye Confraternity and killing of two (2) students of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye of Ogun State stated that Honourable Joseph Adegbesan, who was a former member of Ogun State House of Assembly purchased him a gun, ammunition and that he is a major sponsor of the Aye Confraternity. The said ammunition that were purchased by Honourable Joseph Adegbesan for the Aye Confraternity to kill the two (2) students of Olabisi Onabanjo University.
“Our client further informed us that the situation of things has taken a new turn in his constituency as he got discreet information that the same Honourable Joseph Adegbesan and his cohorts namely Muibi Moibi Olufodun and Gbenga Suberu among others have sponsored cult members of the Aye Confraternity to kill him.
“We are further apprised that one Sule Ganiyu, Lekan Ojulopesi and one (1) other came fully armed to the House of Assembly on the 3rd of February, 2021 on the invitation of Honourable Joseph Adegbesan.
Our client further averred that upon sighting them, he informed his then Orderly, Inspector Kola, who before he could effect an arrest of the said Sule Ganiyu and others, they had absconded.
Our client was however in oblivion that the said Sule Ganiyu and his other members of the Aye Confraternity headed to our client’s brother’s house where they threatened to kill our client’s brother (Toba Kadiri) and instructed him to inform our client that they will kill him as well.
Our client was able to get a few of the names of the cultists who are Sunday Amazing, Samson Akibola (aka Damson Guard), Ade Olooto (aka Ade eba) and Lekan Ojulopesi.
“Consequence upon this disheartening occurrences as well as the discreet information he received regarding Honourable Joseph Adegbesan and Muibi Olufodun being the sponsors and brain box behind the regrouping of the Aye Confraternity, our client has been falsely imprisoned by fear as he has no confidence left in him to move around freely even with the arrest of the aforementioned Sule Ganiyu.
“In view of these, we hereby beseech you to use your agency’s recognized accepted expertise to investigate this matter giving it utmost immediacy, competence and urgency so that the culprits are brought to book.”
Contacted, the Ogun State Police Spokesperson, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed that IRT operatives were in Ogun to arrest the suspects based on a written petition.
He, however, said that he could not confirm the content of the petition as the IRT is not under Ogun command.
Recall that Kadiri, prior to his removal as the Deputy Speaker, had an altercation with the SSG during the All Progressives Congress (APC) membership registration and revalidation exercise.
The Nigerian Custom’s Service, Kano/Jigawa Command has intercepted hard drugs with the name, “AK47″ and other dangerous drugs smuggled to the state worth N200 million.
The Controller informed that the Command while carrying out surveillance on some medicine sale outlets, confiscated over 185 cartoons of unregistered and expired hard drugs.
The interception of the hard drugs, according to the Area Command Comptroller, Suleiman Pai Umar, have saved millions of lives of youths who are addicted to drugs in the state.
He said the rising addictions, eventually, lead to serious criminal and social vices.
Other contrabands apprehended in the state, according to the Command Comptroller who was
While briefing the media on Thursday, the Command Comptroller said contrabands seized in the state, include; 707 bags of 50kg foreign rice, with duty paid value of N20.5 million, 155 bales of second-hand clothing worth N11.6 million, Spaghetti, Milk, Mosquitoes Coils and Sacks of Snuff made in Ghana.
Similarly, the Controller said with the awareness on the ease of doing business and the encouragement on the public to use Custom Terminals, the Command generated M16,909, 520,467 from January to August 2021.
Umar warned that the policy of the government in banning the importation of rice and some foreign products was not with ill intention, he added that today, so many Rice Millilling Companies have sprung up, so there is no reason why one will insist on bringing in foreign rice.
”It has been a difficult time for the Nation, we must acknowledge the fact that the government is working round the clock to put an end to the challenges, but some unscrupulous elements try hard to sabotage these efforts, we will not allow their selfish interests to override the interest of the country.
He said the patronage and consumption of unregistered hard drugs are of great concern to the teeming youths, with the most criminal acts being carried out as a result of hard drug addictions.
”We will not hesitate to go to all the nooks and crannies to confiscate hard drugs and other contrabands and arrest their owners.
The Nigerian government has announced that Boko Haram sponsors have been identified and are being held.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York.
The AGF said the government was detaining “high profile individuals” responsible for funding terrorists’ activities in the country.
Malami assured the Buhari administration was determined to take stringent measures to counter insurgency.
“We have succeeded in identifying those that are responsible for funding terrorists”, he said.
“We have blocked the leakages associated with funding and embarking on aggressive investigation that is indeed impacting positively in term of the fight against terrorism.
“Investigation is ongoing and for the purpose of investigation, I wouldn’t like to be pre-emptive in terms of making disclosures that would have the effect of undermining the successes we are recording.
“One thing I can tell you for sure is that whatever we do in terms of detention and in terms of arrest is indeed backed by judicial process.
“We have indeed obtained a legitimate court order taking into consideration what we have presented before the court; the court eventually exercised its discretion in terms of granting orders that we can have them in custody,” he said.
The Nigerian authorities are receiving knocks for failing to publicize names of Boko Haram financiers after the revelation by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The lingering dispute between a construction company, Julius Berger, and some of its Rivers State workers took a tragic turn on Monday when a policeman allegedly opened fire on the protesting workers, leaving one dead and four others injured.
The workers, while demanding justice for the victim, identified as Samuel Ajayi, claimed that the killer cop was attached to the Bori Police Division of the state police command.
The protesters, who met with the Chairman of the Gokana Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday, said the late Ajayi was among persons shot when they went to the council secretariat on a peaceful protest over the ill-treatment meted out to them by the construction company.
One of the workers, Moses Oniron, said, “After they (policemen) stopped us from gaining access to the company’s premises yesterday (Monday), we thought it necessary to go to the council secretariat to lodge our complaint.
“In the process of going to the council, the policemen followed us. On getting to the secretariat, the chairman was not in the office, but we were received by his secretary, who addressed us and we left.
“At the point of going out of the council premises, we were attacked by these policemen and the Chief Security Officer of Julius Berger.
“The Divisional Police Officer of Bori Police Station shot at us and injured about five persons.
“We are calling on the Federal Government, the Rivers State Government, the chairman of Gokana LGA, and other stakeholders to come to our aid.”
A cousin of the deceased, Dominic Adeyemi, said his family was in deep pain.
Adeyemi noted that the late Ajayi had five children, adding that he was the breadwinner of the family and had many people that he catered for.
“Yesterday, I did not see any of them (Julius Berger and police). On top of it, I was manhandled. They tried to dispossess me of the documents I used to deposit his corpse in a mortuary,” he added.
The Chairman of Gokana LGA, Confidence Deekor, called on the state police command to carry out a proper investigation into the matter.
He promised to meet the management of Julius Berger and the workers in order to resolve the crisis.
The Bori Divisional Police Officer, Bako Angbashim, denied shooting at the protesters.
“Maybe shooting from somewhere hit someone because there are cult activities in that area.
“So if bullets from cultists hit someone, then because I am popular in the whole of Ogoni land for bringing peace there, some people want to use this opportunity to spoil my good name? This is what you press people should also try to investigate,” the DPO added.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni, neither answered calls put across to his phone nor replied to a text message sent to him as of the time of filing this report.
An official of the company, who did not want his name in print, said Julius Berger placed premium on the safety of its workers, describing the incident as unfortunate.
