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Tag: Investigation

  • Assault Video: Ogun Police launches discreet investigation

    Assault Video: Ogun Police launches discreet investigation

    The Police Command in Ogun on Monday said it has taken note of a video clip on social media in which an elderly man, Mr. Areola Abraham, was seen assaulted.

    Spokesperson of the command, CSP Omolola Odutola, in a statement in Abeokuta said Abraham was seen prostrating and subjected to verbal abuse and assault by a traditional ruler.

    She added that the traditional ruler was Oba Abdulsemiu Adewale Ogunjobi, the Olorile of Orile-Ifo.

    Odutola said based on the incident’s gravity, the Commissioner of Police in Ogun, Lanre Ogunlowo, has ordered a thorough and discreet investigation into the matter.

    “The CP further assures that Police will adhere to the rule of law and fundamental human rights principles in the instant case,” she said.

    Odutola disclosed that both parties in the matter had reported at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) at Eleweran in Abeokuta and their statements were obtained.

    She, however, stated that the command unequivocally condemned any form of assault, harassment and violence regardless of the individuals involved.

    “The command will ensure that justice is served and members of the public will be abreast of relevant updates in due course,” the spokesperson said.

  • PDP demands investigation into alleged shoddy Yauri road project

    PDP demands investigation into alleged shoddy Yauri road project

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in Kebbi, has urged Gov. Nasir Idris, to investigate what it described as shoddy execution of multi-billion naira Yauri township roads project in the state.

    The Secretary of the party in the state, Alhaji Abubakar Bawa-Kalgo, made the appeal in a statement in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday.

    ”PDP is appalled by the shoddy execution of the ongoing Multi- Billion Naira Yauri township roads project, it’s most unfortunate and extremely distasteful.

    ”Several reports from Yauri confirmed that some roads are already caving in and breaking apart barely a few months after completion as a result of the shoddy nature of the job executed by the contractors.

    ”It is, therefore, imperative that the State Ministry of Works should take full responsibility for this glaring contractual breach and promptly take the necessary steps to make amends to salvage the situation.

    ”Pursuant to this, PDP is calling on  Gov. Nasir Idris’ government to take a firm stance against its officials found wanting in the effective discharge of their assigned duties to serve as a deterrent to others,” he advised.

    This, Bawa-Kalgo said, would hopefully save the state from the resulting wastage of its scarce resources without extracting the commensurate value therefrom.

    He lamented that project of such importance with direct bearing on poor people should not be allowed to be compromised.

    ”PDP is extremely shocked that a project of this magnitude can be compromised in this manner so soon, in spite the earlier flag raised by some vigilant residents of Yauri at the commencement of the project.

    ”This is so, when some of the drainages being constructed were easily washed away by rainfall early this year,” Bawa-Kalgo said.

    He also alleged how senior administration officials stayed away from their assigned responsibilities, forcing the Governor to carry out direct supervision on projects across the state.

    ”PDP also notes with dismay that the Kebbi House of Assembly that is legally saddled with oversight responsibility is mute and indifferent to the ongoing shoddy jobs execution across the state.

    ”Furthermore, benefiting  communities should equally be proactive by taking ownership and putting active interest in all projects being executed by Local, State and Federal Governments to avoid shoddy execution, diversion or quality compromise,” the secretary said.

  • Tunji-Ojo orders immediate investigation into alleged bribery in NCoS

    Tunji-Ojo orders immediate investigation into alleged bribery in NCoS

    The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has directed an unconditional and comprehensive investigation into the allegations of bribery and corruption within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).

    This is contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to the minister, Mr Babatunde Alao, on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Alao stated that Tunji-Ojo unequivocally condemned the alleged reprehensible behaviour, emphasising that any form of indiscipline, unprofessionalism, and corruption would be met with zero tolerance and severe consequences within the paramilitary services under the ministry’s purview.

    “The ministry will not tolerate any compromise on its core values of integrity, transparency, and accountability.

    “We will leave no stone unturned in rooting out corruption and ensuring that those found culpable face the full wrath of the law,”Tunji-Ojo said.

    Meanwhile, the minister has constituted a special investigative team headed by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Magdalene Ajani, to probe the allegations and submit a comprehensive report.

    Tunji-Ojo reassured the Nigerians that the investigation would be rigorous, transparent, and impartial, and that appropriate disciplinary actions would be taken against any personnel found guilty.

  • CDS directs immediate investigation into alleged incarceration of Naval rating

    CDS directs immediate investigation into alleged incarceration of Naval rating

    The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa has directed an immediate investigation into the alleged unjust incarceration of a Nigerian Naval rating, Seaman Abbas Haruna, for six years.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Acting Director of Defence Information,Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, on Monday in Abuja.

    Gusau assured the public of the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s commitment  to upholding justice, fairness, and the rule of law.

    He said the military court-martial process, though meticulous, ensured fairness, equal opportunity, and justice in accordance with established military procedures and the law.

    “The outcome of the investigation will be made public in due course.

    “The DHQ urges the general public to exercise caution and refrain from spreading unsubstantiated information while the investigation is ongoing.

    “We assure Nigerians that the armed forces will ensure a speedy and transparent investigation,” he said.

  • DSS says SERAP narrative on its investigation, inacurate, misleading

    DSS says SERAP narrative on its investigation, inacurate, misleading

    The Department of State Services (DSS) has described allegations by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) that its officers had taken control of its Abuja and Lagos offices, as “inaccurate and misleading”.

    The DSS, in a publication on its website on Tuesday in Abuja said a team of two unarmed operatives of the service were lawfully detailed on routine investigation to SERAP office in Abuja.

    The publication said SERAP, a Human Right Group had sadly skewed and misinterpreted the lawful assignment as unlawful, harassment and intimidation of its officials.

    The department said such official enquiries and liaison were traditional and does not in any way amount to illegality or raid.

    The service assured an indept investigation of the malicious contents and called for for citizens’ participation in national security management.

    It urged the public to disregard the false narratives by SERAP and pledged its commitment to utmost professionalism in the discharge of its core mandate.

    The human rights group had raised the alarm over an “unlawful occupation” of its offices by operatives of the DSS.

    The group had called on President Bola Tinubu to direct the DSS to end the “harassment, intimidation and attack on the rights of Nigerians.

  • COAS orders investigation into alleged killing of 3 locals, cattle in Kaduna

    COAS orders investigation into alleged killing of 3 locals, cattle in Kaduna

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt..-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has ordered investigation into the alleged killing of three locals and some cattle by Nigerian troops at the Sabon Birni community of Kaduna State.

    The Director, Army Public Relations, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday in Kaduna.

    Nwachukwu said social and mainstream media reports accusing troops of the Nigeria Army of the dastardly act prompted the investigation.

    “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to a disturbing news report with gory pictures/video footage published in some mainstream and social media platforms.

    “The reports alleged that troops of 1 Division annihilated three persons and some cattle during a recent operation at Sabon Birni in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State,” he said.

    Nwachukwu expressed the Nigerian army’s sympathies to the Sabon Birni community and families of the affected persons.

    “We also wish to state that the allegation will be thoroughly investigated and any personnel found culpable will be appropriately sanctioned.

    “It is also necessary to add that the Nigerian Army, which is constitutionally mandated to protect lives and property of the citizenry, cannot tolerate doing otherwise.

    “Accordingly, Lagbaja has directed a thorough investigation into the incident with a view to establishing the immediate and remote causes of the incident and unraveling those behind it, “he said.

    Nwachukwu appealed for calm and assured the public that the outcome of the investigation would also be made public.

  • Protest: NHRC seeks thorough investigation into alleged killing of 16-year-old by soldier

    Protest: NHRC seeks thorough investigation into alleged killing of 16-year-old by soldier

    The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called for thorough investigation into the killing of a 16-year- old boy, Isma’il Muhammad in Zaria during the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest.

    The commission expressed deep concerns over the killing, during the 24-hour curfew imposed to curtail the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest. in Zaria, Kaduna State.

    The Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Mr Tony Ojukwu, SAN made the call while reacting to the incident that led to the killing.

    He said , it is particularly troubling given the commission’s previous Advisory on the excesses of law enforcement agencies during the protests.

    He reiterated that the right to life is sacrosanct and cannot be violated under any circumstances.

    ” The use of lethal force against unarmed civilians, especially minors, is unacceptable and a clear violation of international human rights standards.

    “We demand a thorough and transparent investigation into this incident and call for the soldier involved to be held accountable” he said.

    Ojukwu said, this is not an isolated incident, and the NHRC will continue to monitor the situation and take necessary steps to ensure that human rights are protected and promoted in Nigeria.

    He therefore, urged the authorities to take concrete measures to address the systemic issues leading to these violations.

    ”The authorities should ensure that law enforcement agencies operate within the ambit of the law and respect human rights.”

    While commiserating with the family of Isma’il Muhammad, Ojukwu said the Commission will leave no stone unturned in investigating this killing and several other violations that took place during the protest.

    The Chief of Army Staff ( COAS,) Lt General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja has ordered for the arrest of the soldier who accidentally killed Mohammed.

    The Director of Army Public Relations, Maj Gen Onyema Nwachukwu in a  statement explained the cause of death of the the teenager.

    He added that the soldier involved has since been arrested and undergoing interrogation.

    NAN

  • Alleged 2nd Niger bridge vandalism: Police begin investigation

    Alleged 2nd Niger bridge vandalism: Police begin investigation

    The Police Command in Anambra says it has commenced investigation into the alleged vandalism of the second Niger bridge that is linking Asaba and Onitsha in Delta and Anambra respectively.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, made this known in an interview with NAN on Tuesday in Onitsha.

    Ikenga said that he was yet to confirm the incident; I have not confirmed the incident, but we have escalated it to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) to get the necessary information.

    When asked about the 24 hours patrol launched on Aug. 4, 2023 by a Joint Task force of Anambra and Delta state Police Command as part of efforts to make the bridge safe for road users, he said that the operation was still ongoing.

    He, however, said that he was yet to confirm if the video was a recent development or not.

    NAN reports that a yet-to-be-identified man was seen in a viral video narrating how some rail fittings connecting the second Niger bridge was allegedly removed by some suspected scavengers.

    When contacted on the development, Mr Uche Orji, the Chief Press Secretary to the Minister of Works, David Umahi, simply said that security action had been taken and he was not ready to disclosed further information.

    Also speaking, Anambra Commissioner for Information, Mr Paul Nwosu, said that the incident of the alleged vandalism on the 2nd Niger Bridge had been brought to the attention of the Highway Department of the Federal Ministry of Works.

    According to him, this is not to say that the state government is not concerned about the theft of those iron.

    “Police is aware of the theft; before now, there has been an indication of nefarious human being looking to make away with those things.

    “There has been a patrol of policemen along the bridge, you know these people; you won’t know where they are hiding to know if patrol has passed before they attack.

    “One thing about criminals is that they are also members of our society.

    “They know where you have security presence and where you don’t; immediately they noticed a kind of movement, they come out to do what they want to do.

    “It’s not as if the security agencies are not on the alert, but just when it appears that they have moved to oversight in a different place, these thieves will strike.

    “You know people who gathered condemn iron, but this one is not a condemn iron, this one is not a disposed iron.

    “These are irons that are actively in use, to make sure that people enjoyed the brand new road that federal government put for us to enjoy, but security agencies particularly the police have been on patrol in that area,” he said.

    The commissioner said that it had long been discovered that some thieves had been carrying out their nefarious activities on that bridge.

    He said that a unit of mobile police would stationed on the bridge to forestall future occurrence.

  • CP orders trial of officer threatening residents with gun in viral video

    CP orders trial of officer threatening residents with gun in viral video

    The Commissioner of Police (CP) in Edo, Mr Funsho Adegboye, has ordered an orderly room trial of Police Constable Prince Chima for allegedly threatening some people with a gun at their residence.

    the video of where Chima was caught in the act went viral on Sunday on the X social media platform.

    In a statement issued on Saturday by the command’s spokesperson, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, the CP had called for a discreet investigation into the matter, leading to the arrest of the officer.

    “Sequel to a viral video sighted on X handle on the 7th of April 2024 where a young man that wore a blue T-shirt, black joggers’ trousers, and blue palm slippers was seen alone threatening with violence some persons in their residence with an AK-47 rifle.

    “Immediately, the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Funsho Adegboye, mni called for a discreet investigation into the matter.

    “During the investigation, the police operatives, while using technical intelligence, arrested the young man, and he was identified as a Police Constable attached to the Department of Operatives (DOP).

    “Consequently, during interrogation, he affirmatively stated as follows that he is Force Number 534023 PC Prince Chima,” said the police spokesman.

    Nwabuzor noted that the officer was enlisted on Jan. 10, 2020, and was deployed to the South-South Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Chima, according to the spokesperson, said he was on duty at NIPCO, along Siluko Road, where he had an altercation with a young man who came to charge his phone.

    The man, he said, called him a smelling policeman.

    The spokesman said when the man left the petrol station for his residence, after the intervention of the station’s manager, the officer followed him home.

    It was at home the incident displayed in the viral video took place.

    Nwabuzor said the CP had directed the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the X-Squad Section to investigate the erring policeman.

    His mental health status was to be ascertained through the command’s medical officer and committed to a disciplinary process known as Orderly Room Trial.

    The CP, said the spokesman, commended the threatened people for their patience and tactfulness in handling the situation, promising that the erring officer would face the consequences of his actions.

  • Minister urges swift investigation of Kogi massacre, resolution of communal disputes

    Minister urges swift investigation of Kogi massacre, resolution of communal disputes

    Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Audu, has called for swift investigation of Thursday’s banditry at Abejukolo and Agojeju Odo communities in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi.

    Twenty-five persons killed in the attack, including two women and four children, were buried on Saturday.

    Audu, a Kogi indigene also commiserated with the families of the deceased in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by his Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Lizzy Okoli.

    The minister condemned the attack and enjoined the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun and the governor of Kogi, Alhaji Usman Ododo, to take necessary actions to enhance security in Kogi communities.

    He charged relevant agencies to intervene in disputes in communities to avoid a recurrence and to ensure that perpetrators of the Abejukolo and Agojeju Odo attacks were brought to justice.

    “I appeal to the Inspector-General of Police to take swift action in investigating this crime to bring the perpetrators to book to serve as a deterrent to others.

    “It is very important to resolve all issues that led to the unfortunate incident so that peace and normalcy can return to the communities.

    “I also urge everyone to remain vigilant; be security-conscious, and to collaborate with security agencies and personnel.

    “Report any suspicious moves you see around as this might help to prevent such atrocities,’’ he said.

    Thursday’s attack was the second in the year in the community sending serious fears into residents.

    A community member had alleged on Thursday that a running battle between militia groups in parts of Benue and some bandits led to the onslaught on the sleepy towns of Agojeju-Odo, Ajokpachi-Odo, Bagaji and environs.

    “They destroyed farm produce with ease in an attempt to draw the communities into the conflict,’’ he said.

    Retired Commodore Jerry Omodara, Special Adviser on Security to Gov. Usman Ododo said on Friday that the governor had ordered a thorough investigation into the incident.

    “The killing of innocent and harmless residents of the community by alleged hired militiamen is very callous, unacceptable and condemnable,’’ he said.

    Omodara said property; especially houses, vehicles, and crops were destroyed in the attack.

    He called on people of Agojeju-Odo and neighbouring communities to remain calm as government and security agencies were on top of the situation.

    Other accounts said the attacks were reprisals of alleged killing of six herdsmen in the Kogi communities.