TheNewsGuru

Tag: LAGOS CP

  • BREAKING: Court finally orders IGP, Lagos CP to pay N10m over #EndSARS protest clampdown

    BREAKING: Court finally orders IGP, Lagos CP to pay N10m over #EndSARS protest clampdown

    The Federal High Court in Lagos has finally ordered the Inspector-General of Police and the Lagos Commissioner of Police to pay N10 million in damages for violating the rights of peaceful protesters.

    Delivering judgement on Thursday, M. Kakaki, the presiding judge, ruled that the security agencies acted unlawfully during the #EndSARS memorial held on 20 October, 2024.

    Kakaki said the applicants were entitled to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, as guaranteed under section 40 of the 1999 constitution (as amended).

    He held that while the police have powers to enforce the law, those powers must be exercised in line with democratic principles and the rule of law.

     

    “The applicants were unjustly harassed and their rights infringed upon,” the judge ruled.

     

    The applicants include Hassan Taiwo Soweto, Uadiale Kingsley, Ilesanmi Kehinde, Osopale Adeseye, Olamilekan Sanusi, Osugba Blessing, Kayode Agbaje, Michael Adedeji, Jennifer Rita Obiora, Orunsola Oluremi, Seyi Akinde, Akin Okunowon, Ugochukwu Prince, Aisha Omolara, Thomas Abiodun Olamide, Ogbu Obinna Ferdinald, Aghedo Kehinde Stephen, Duronike Olawale, Isaac Obasi, Funmilayo Jolade Ajayi, Gideon Adeyemi, and Afeez Suleiman.

    The court also recognised three applicant organisations, including Education Rights Campaign (ERC), Take It Back Movement (TIB), and the Campaign for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR

  • Sanwo-Olu gives orders CP to launch investigation into cause of Akere market inferno

    Sanwo-Olu gives orders CP to launch investigation into cause of Akere market inferno

    Lagos state, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reached out to the Commissioner of Police, in the state, , Idowu Owohunwa, to conduct a concrete investigation into the Akere fire incident and fish out the perpetrators.

    The Governor who visited the scene of the fire incident area in the midnight gave the directive shortly after.

    The Governor, who met with the victims of the fire incident, conveyed his sympathy and pledged support for the traders in assuaging their loss.

    Some unknown persons were said to have allegedly shot sporadically towards the market, killing one security guard and setting the market on fire.

    Sanwo-Olu condemned the incendiary action, describing it as ”unfortunate”, and therefore, directed the Commissioner of Police to ensure a diligent investigation to unravel the perpetrators.

    He also condoled with the deceased’s family and promised assistance toward the burial of the deceased.

    The governor said, ”I commiserate with the family of the taxi driver who was somewhere close to the market premises but lost his life in the incident.

    ”I’m also here to share my sympathy with all shop owners who lost their means of livelihood in this fire incident. But we don’t want to pass judgment ahead of the investigation.

    ”In strong terms, I’m directing the Commissioner of Police to immediately launch a full investigation into the cause of this incident.

    ”Given the issues we are hearing around, I’m also directing the commissioner to tighten security around markets. All vulnerable markets must be protected.

    ”We have received the list of all shop owners affected and we’ll vet the list for compensation to help the victims back on their feet.”

  • Lagosian allegedly sets wife ablaze to death, flees

    Lagosian allegedly sets wife ablaze to death, flees

    A man, identified simply as Akpos, has allegedly set his wife, Risikat, ablaze at their residence on Ayide Osolo Street, Divine Estate, in the Ijanikin area of Lagos State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) gathered that the suspect has been on the run after the incident. Akpos and Risikat were at their residence when an argument ensued between them.

    The argument reportedly degenerated and Akpos, out of annoyance, reached for petrol, poured it on his wife and set her ablaze.

    After perpetrating the crime, Akpos was said to have abandoned the corpse and fled the premises.

    Some good Samaritans reportedly rushed the victim to a nearby hospital for treatment, as the matter was reported at the Ijanikin Police Station for investigation.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said Risikat sustained severe burns, adding that she died while receiving treatment in the hospital.

    He said: “A case was reported at the Ijanikin Police Station that a woman, Risikat, 48, allegedly had an altercation with her husband and in the process, he poured petrol on his wife and set her ablaze.

    “It resulted in serious bodily burns and she was immediately rushed to a hospital for treatment but she died. Efforts are on to arrest the fleeing husband.”

    In another development, a 25-year-old man has been arrested by the police in Bauchi State for allegedly killing a five-year-old child.

    The suspect, Anas Auwal, reportedly lured the minor with sweets and took him to his room.

    He later contacted the boy’s father and demanded N5m ransom, which the latter could not raise.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, a Superintendent of Police, in a statement on Thursday, said the suspect hacked the boy to death after he realized that he recognized him.

    He said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Umar Sanda, had directed that the suspect be charged.

    The statement said, “The command has arrested Anas Auwal, 25, from Tsangaya village via Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State for kidnapping and gruesome murder of a five-year-old boy, Abba Yahuza, of the same address.

    “Preliminary investigation revealed that on October 11, 2022, around 2 pm, the suspect lured the victim into his room with sweets. He later called the victim’s father on phone and threatened him to bring the sum of N5m as ransom but the father told him that he could not raise the demanded amount.

    “The suspect later came to realize that the victim knew him and that his identity would be revealed if he released him.

    “Consequently, the suspect decided to hack the victim to death in his room and waited until night time, bundled him in a sack and buried the body in a shallow grave.

    “The suspect has confessed to the crime as the Commissioner of Police, Umar Mamman Sanda, directed that the suspect be charged.

    “In the same vein, the CP advised parents and guardians to be vigilant and security conscious about the whereabouts of their children.”

  • Police arrest alleged murderer of Lagos lottery manager

    Police arrest alleged murderer of Lagos lottery manager

    A 35-year-old man, Kamalideen Raji, has been arrested by the Lagos State Police over the murder of a lottery manager in the Badagry area of the state.

     

    Confirming the arrest, the Lagos State Police Command said it arrested Raji on August 2, 2022, for stabbing the manager twice in the neck over a disagreement about an unpaid debt.

     

    The victim was rushed to the Badagry General Hospital, where he gave up the ghost.

     

    The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the suspect was arrested by the Area K Police Command.

     

    “The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Abiodun Alabi, has directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, for further investigations and prosecution,” he added.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Lagos Police Command is the Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Police Force and is responsible for law enforcement and crime prevention in the state.

     

    It would be recalled that earlier the Lagos Police Command arrested no fewer than 300 suspected criminals for various crimes ranging from armed robbery, rape, defilement and cultism in the month of July.

     

    This was contained in a statement posted on Friday on the official Twitter handle of the Lagos State Government signed by the Commissioner of Police, CP Abiodun Alabi.

     

    In the monthly Police Activity Report for July 2022, Alabi said that out of the 300 suspects that were arrested, 244 persons had been charged to court for prosecution.

     

    He disclosed that the Police foiled several armed robbery/cultists incidents and recovered 10 arms while 208 vehicles and 522 motorcycles were impounded for contravening traffic laws across the Lagos metropolis.

     

    “It also revealed that some hoodlums suspected to be armed robbers were arrested on Badagry Expressway based on intelligence gathering, leading to the mobilisation of a team of policemen to dislodge criminals at the location.

     

    “A total of 11 suspects were apprehended and have made useful statements to the Police during investigation.

     

    “Several suspected armed robbers were also arrested at different times within the month at Agege, Ilupeju, Orile Iganmu and Lekki/Epe Expressway.

     

    “Two locally-made pistols, two unexpended cartridges, Bajaj tricycle, operational vehicles and some charms were recovered from the suspects.

     

    He said that the Police clamped down on the activities of cultists as Ketu, Ikorodu and Ilupeju among others and one Friday Nwife.

     

    “Nwife was arrested and taken into custody for allegedly stabbing a 25-year-old at Kogberegbe Street, Isolo, to death during an altercation.”

     

    “A seven-year-old girl was allegedly defiled by one Greatness Eruoluwabami, on July 4, 2022, at Selewu Street, Igbogbo.

     

    “The police team dispatched to the scene arrested the suspect and took the victim to Ita-Elewa Healthcare Centre for medical examination and treatment.” Alabi said.

  • We are after foreign ‘Okada’ riders – Lagos CP

    We are after foreign ‘Okada’ riders – Lagos CP

    The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Abiodun Alabi, says the command is after foreigners operating as commercial motorcyclists in the state.

    Alabi disclosed this on Friday in an interview with NAN in Lagos.

    He said that the command was aware of some foreigners operating as motorcyclists in the state and that they were after them.

    The CP spoke while parading 13 suspects by the command, allegedly involved in various crimes in the last one month.

    NAN repots that many of the motorcyclists operating in Lagos and some neighbouring states Nigeriens, Togolese, Beniniors and Chadians.

    “We are aware that many commercial motorcyclists operating in Lagos are foreigners and we have commenced routing checks with the aim of profiling them.

    “When we finish the profiling, we will hand them over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further investigation and possible repatriation,” he said.

    On the inflow of motorcycles into Lagos State, Alabi said the command was activating the old strategy by deploying officers to all border towns to check every means of importing motorcycle in the state.

    “We are going to carry out the old strategy by ensuring that no motorcycle comes into the state. We will seize any motorcycle found in any vehicle coming into Lagos,” he said.

    The police commissioner had on Thursday, advised that people should stop giving out motorcycles as means of empowerment, but adopt other meaningful venture.

    Alabi, on Thursday was reacting to the total ban of commercial motorcycles in some local government areas in Lagos.

    “People buying Okada (motorcycles) as empowerment for people should have a rethink.

    “The fact remains that banning okada in Lagos while some people are bringing them in through empowerment is giving police problem in implementing the already existing laws,”he said.

  • LAGOS: Gunmen kill 2, kidnap 3 persons at Ayobo-Ipaja

    LAGOS: Gunmen kill 2, kidnap 3 persons at Ayobo-Ipaja

    Gunmen on Sunday invaded Ayobo Housing Scheme Extension, Oshin area of Ayobo-Ipaja in Lagos State, kidnapped three persons and killed two others.

     

    The gunmen on Friday kidnapped two married women before a repeat of the same incident on Sunday in the area.

     

    The Financial Secretary of the Landlords’ Association in the area , Mr James Ojuade, on Sunday, said the gunmen, who allegedly killed two men and kidnapped two sisters on Friday, allegedly kidnapped another man on Sunday.

     

    He said that the gunmen came through the boundary between Lagos State and Ogun and escaped with their victims inside a boat.

     

    “About 6.00 p.m. on Friday, four men, who were armed with guns, broke into the residence of one Mr Rashidi Salami, beat his wife mercilessly and took away his two married daughters who came to visit them.

     

    “Two neighbours, who intercepted and wanted to prevent them from escaping with the women, were shot dead, before they escaped with their victims.

     

    “The deceased: Messrs Nurudeen Olanrenwaju and Idris Olowolayemo were buried yesterday according to Muslim rites,” Ojuade said.

     

    Ojuade added that the gunmen came again on Sunday at 1.00 p.m. to the building next to where they allegedly kidnapped the two women on Friday and kidnapped one Mr Kehinde, whom he said had just returned from church.

     

    “Immediately Kehinde parked his car, the gunmen jumped into his compound and started shooting bullets into his building.

     

    “They captured him and escaped again to Ogun through a canoe,” he added.

     

    Ojuade called on the state government to come to their aid and provide security for the area.

     

    In his words: “We want the government to erect police post in Oshin to reduce criminality in the area.

     

    “We want the police to help us rescue the three people who had been kidnapped.”

     

    Another resident, who only identified himself as Kunle explained that many residents had abandoned their houses in the area due to the incessant kidnappings.

     

    “The community is now deserted as many residents had packed out of their houses for fear of the unknown.

     

    “We can no longer sleep and close our eyes as our lives are not safe,” Kunle posited.

     

    He noted that the parents of the two women allegedly kidnapped on Friday were currently receiving treatment at the hospital.

     

    Meanwhile, some police officers had been drafted to the scene of the incident.

  • Report policemen on duty with mufti – Lagos CP

    Report policemen on duty with mufti – Lagos CP

    The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr Abiodun Alabi, has called on members of the public to report any police officer and men carrying out their official duties while on mufti.

    This is contained in a statement issued on Saturday by the spokesman for the command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin.

    Alabi said that the command would not hesitate to take appropriate disciplinary actions against erring police personnel.

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Usman Baba, on March 12, warned police officers against the use of mufti and unauthorised outfits while on duty.

    The Lagos police boss, therefore, warned all area commanders, tactical commanders and divisional police officers to ensure total compliance by the officers and men.

    He said that they must be in approved uniforms while on patrol and stop-and-search duties.

    Alabi said that the command would hold liable any supervisor or head of department under whose jurisdiction this directive would be flouted.

  • New Lagos CP, Abiodun Alabi assures Lagosians of visibility policing

    New Lagos CP, Abiodun Alabi assures Lagosians of visibility policing

    The new Commissioner of Police in Lagos state, Abiodun Alabi, on Monday, assured the residents of the state of visibility policing to keep the state safe from criminals.

    Alabi while presenting his policing template and strategy during the handing over ceremony at the Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja said that the presence of police would deter criminals in the society.

    Alabi, who took over from Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Hakeem Odumosu, added that Lagos State is a familiar turf to him having served in the state for many years in different capacities.

    “It is with deep sense of responsibility that I welcome everyone here to my media briefing as the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command.

    “It has become necessary to bring to the fore my template and policing vision.

    “Visibility policing and dominance of security space by ensuring the presence of policemen at all times to deter criminals as a preventive measure.

    “We will ensure that the Rapid Response Squad(RRS) is encouraged and strengthened to respond promptly and effectively to citizens’ concerns.” he said.

    The new CP said there would also be respect for fundamental human rights by ensuring that no breach of human rights will be tolerated under his command and watch.

    “Our men’s conduct while discharging their duties must be in conformity with our professional ethics especially with issues of corruption and extra judicial killing and act of incivility to members of the public.

    “We will strive to build confidence and trust in members of the public particularly with state actors and non-state actors through intelligence led community policing.

    “Area commanders and Divisional Police Officers will be encouraged to meet regularly with non-state actors to ensure common problems confronting their various areas of responsibilities are collectively addressed.” he said.

    Alabi, however, added that he would be open to constructive criticisms as it would help improve the policing structure in the state.

    “I will not be allergic to constructive criticisms but will see it as an information to rejig our security architecture for our policing strategy.

    “Therefore , I will encourage collaboration with the fourth estate of the realm and appeal that issues concerning our policing policies in the state are brought to my knowledge promptly.

    “I will also endeavour to hold parleys with journalists where solutions will be tabled and addressed in amicable manners.” he said.

    The Lagos police boss said there would be dedicated lines to get feedback from the public while new patterns of crime would be monitored and mapped out.

    “Some dedicated lines will be rolled out to members of the public for accessibility and feedback to members of the public on issues of our common safety and security.

    “The trends and patterns of crime will continually be monitored to ensure crime mapping of the state to enable us devise appropriate crime preventing strategies.” he said.

    Alabi further read the riot act to warring factions in the state when he said gang disturbance would be holistically addressed and those found culpable would face the consequences of their actions.

    The CP said he would also strengthen interagency collaboration and synergy with a robust and healthy relationship with heads of security agencies in Lagos State in the management of the state.

    He commended the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission for considering him fit to be deployed to Lagos State.

    Alabi commended the outgoing Commissioner of Police, Assistant Inspector of General, AIG Hakeem Odumosu for his operational dexterity.

    He said that he would anchor his programmes on those established by Odumosu , consolidate on them and emplace the necessary strategies at ensuring that Lagos State in no distant time meets our security aspirations and yearnings as a people.

    “I promise to work assiduously with all officers and men of the command to make Lagos safer and more secured for investment and habitation.” he said.

    The outgoing Commissioner of Police, AIG Hakeem Odumosu who is now in charge of Federal Operations further solicited support for the new CP adding that policing
    is a collective responsibility.

    “Police job is not a one man job but a collective one. I will attribute my accolades to my officers and the people for their support.

    “I solicit for same support to be extended to the new CP especially now that we are going into the political clime.

    “There will be so much challenges so I want your support for him. We cannot see ourselves without the members of the public.

    “Members of the press, keep on doing your investigative report as it assists us in doing our job ” he said.

    AIG Odumosu further commended IGP Usman Alkali Baba for giving him the opportunity to serve in the command and the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for his support.

  • IG replaces Odunmosu with Alabi as Lagos CP

    IG replaces Odunmosu with Alabi as Lagos CP

    The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alkali Baba, has approved the redeployment of Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, to the Lagos Command, where he would take over as the state’s commissioner of police from Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Hakeem Odumosu.

    Alabi, who was the Bauchi State Police boss until his reassignment, was set to return to the Lagos Command, Ikeja, on Monday, January 24th, to continue work and strengthen the state’s security.

    Meanwhile, Baba has ordered that Odumosu, who was recently promoted to the rank of AIG, report to the Force headquarters in Abuja for redeployment.

  • Lagos CP confirms officers’ clash with Keke Marwa operators, denies gunshot claims

    Lagos CP confirms officers’ clash with Keke Marwa operators, denies gunshot claims

    There was pandemonium on Thursday at the Meiran area of Lagos State after some commercial tricycle operators, popularly known as Keke Napep clashed with police officers.

    According to reports, the incident occurred around Ile-Iwe bus-stop in the early hours of Thursday.

    A witness alleged that the clash started when one of the tricycle operators refused to give a bribe to the policeman.

    The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu confirmed the incident.

    Odumosu said the two parties involved seriously stabbed each other and are in critical condition but debunked the allegation of shooting at the scene.

    According to the police commissioner, more patrol teams have been deployed and normalcy has since returned to the entire area.

    Speaking further, Odumosu said he is awaiting further report from the scene for police to commence proper in-depth investigation that will reveal what actually caused the clash.