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Tag: Robbers

  • Police parade 30 suspected inter-state robbers, kidnappers in Kogi

    The Police on Wednesday in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, paraded 30 inter-state armed robbery and kidnap suspects terrorising Kogi and the neighbouring states.

    Parading the suspects, the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood (CSP), said those arrested included some who allegedly kidnapped and killed an expatriate engineer with Dangote Cement Company.

    Mr. Moshood said at the Kogi Police Command headquarters that the arrests were in response to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris’ directive to rid the nation of crime.

    “The IGP directed the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ali Said Hangs to quickly address armed robbery, kidnapping, social miscreants, cattle rustling, cultism on Auchi-Okene-Lokoja, Lokoja-Ajaokuta-Anyigba, Kabba-Oshokoshoko-Obajana highways.

    “Effort of the commissioner and his team through vigour, dedication, utmost professionalism and passion for the job, led to the arrest of the 30 suspected criminals and recovery of several weapons, he said.

    He said four of the suspects were alleged to have on Oct. 23, kidnapped an expatriate, Jose Machada, a construction engineer with Dangote Cement Company, Obajana.

    Mr. Moshood said the suspects killed the expatriate when the ransom they demanded was not forthcoming.

    “Police operatives attached to Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Kogi State Command, in synergy with the DSS promptly swung into action and arrested the four suspects,’’ he said.

    He said one of the suspects killed a senior staff of Dangote Group of Companies, Istifanus Bello, for allegedly trying to shortchange his kidnap gang.

    The company worker was said to have been killed for paying them N5 million instead of N7 million ransom for the release of another staff earlier abducted by the suspect and his gang.

    The police image maker said two other suspects were arrested on Kano road, Idah, for terrorising the residents through cultism while another was arrested in Okene for kidnapping and cattle rustling.

    He noted that during interrogation the suspects confessed to participating in the killing one Haruna Baso, a resident of Achoze, and carting away the cattle of the deceased.

    Mr. Moshood listed items recovered from them to include, 11 AK-47 rifles, two Beretta pistols, two Revolver pistols, 334 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition, a dagger, a cutlass and military camouflage uniforms.

    The force public relations officer said the suspects would soon be prosecuted and called on parents to monitor their wards.

    He also appealed to the public to assist security agents with useful information to track down criminals.

    NAN

     

  • Robbers invade NLC Chairman’s house, abduct wife

    There was pandemonium on Sunday in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State as armed robbers attacked the residence of Mr Leonard Nkah, chairman of the Ebonyi Chapter of Nigerian Labour Union (NLC).

    The robbers, five in number stormed the residence of the Chairman in the evening of Saturday and ransacked the house carting away some valuables including some undisclosed amount of cash.

    Mr Nkah in a chat with newsmen confirmed the incident but noted that he was not around when the robbers struck.

    “I was called by my wife around 9pm that robbers came to our house and demanded for my whereabouts. They said they got information that there was money that was brought in and that they need the money. They forced her to lie down despite the fact that she was pregnant. They ransacked the house and took whatever they could find but they were disappointed that there was no such huge amount of money in my house”

    He lamented that the robbers physically attacked and abducted his wife and later dumped her in a bush.

    “They assaulted my house help who opened the door when they came in, they also assaulted my wife and later abducted her. They beat her up while forcing her to lie down with her pregnancy which was difficult for her. They took her to other residents in the area where they also robbed before dumping her in the bush”

    “I thank God I wasn’t there, if I was there maybe it may have been a different story. They had information that I had huge sum of money. I was gathering resources to organise this reception for the Governor today, maybe some people told them I have money”.

    Nkah urged the police to beef up security in the state during the Christmas to checkmate the activities of the criminals.

     

  • Panic as robbers hijack bullion van in Delta, cart away millions

    There was pandemonium on Friday in parts of Asaba, the Delta State capital after armed bandits attacked a bullion van and made away with millions of naira.

    According to a report by The Nation, the bullion van belongs to a first generation bank in Anambra State. Sounds of gunshots echoed during the operation forcing motorists and passers-by to scamper for safety. The development which made motorists to abandon vehicles in the middle of the Benin-Asaba dual carriageway resulted in traffic gridlock.

    It was learnt that the policemen escorting the bullion van engaged the robbers in a shootout, but were overpowered by the superior firepower of the robbers.

    An eyewitness who pleaded anonymity said the siren blaring bullion van was ambushed by a gang of robbers in a convoy of three vehicles which included a grey Sienna van.

    “The police escorts numbering eight subsequently fled the scene of the incident,” the eyewitness said. Another eyewitness said: “The hoodlums came in about three cars and intercepted the bullion van at the junction. They started shooting and innocent people took to their heels to avoid being victims of stray bullets.

    “Even vehicles on the expressway were making detour as a result of the attack. The officers attached to the van responded but I think the hoodlums had superior firearms because the officers soon disappeared, giving the bandits an unfettered access to the cash stocked in the bullion van.”

    Spokesperson of the, Delta State Police Command, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, who confirmed the incident said “internal connivance” cannot be ruled out, lamenting that some commercial banks were still in the habit of conveying money without using bullet-proof vans despite repeated warnings by the police command.

    He said the van was coming from Onitsha and heading towards Agbor, adding that the bullion van had made stops at Awka, and Onitsha in Anambra State. His words: “I suspect internal connivance. This is in spite of the warning issued by the state command for commercial banks to convey money following approved guidelines.

    The bullion van is not bulletproof. It is a configured bullion van” Continuing, he said: “Who informed the hoodlums that they were carrying cash through that route? It is quite unfortunate that banks are still using configured bullion vans without bulletproof, subjecting their personnel and escort officers to unnecessary risk.

    “As we speak now, investigation is on, but I cannot tell you how much cash the bullion van was carrying before the attack. What I can assure is that the command will put necessary measures in place to bring whoever was involved directly or indirectly to justice.” Aniamaka also confirmed that no life was lost and no injury was sustained during the shootout.

  • Tragedy as robbers attack banks, monarch’s palace in Ekiti, kill manager, 3 others

    …I thought Boko Haram had invaded my town – Oore of Otun, Oba Adedapo Oladele Popoola

    There was pandemonium on Thursday evening at in Otun Ekiti, the headquarters of Moba Local Government Area of Ekiti State, when dare devil armed robbers numbering more than 30 attacked two commercial banks and killed four people.

    A bank manager, a cashier, a bank security officer who was planning to wed in a week’s time and a palace night guard were among the victims of the robbery incident that took place around 6.00 pm.

    Sources revealed that the deceased security guard whose fiancé is heavily pregnant had barely resumed for duty when the robbers struck.

    The blood thirsty bandits also attacked the palace of the community’s monarch and a petrol station.

    They were said to have divided themselves into four subgangs to ensure that the attack was successful.

    The bandits reportedly made away with huge amount of money from the banks and the petrol station.

    Many residents of the community who received gunshot wounds are receiving treatment in hospitals. Speaking, the Oore of Otun who is also the paramount ruler of Moba land, Oba Adedapo Oladele Popoola said he thought Boko Haram militants had invaded the town when he heard loud bangs of explosives used by the robbers during the attack which lasted for about an hour.

    The monarch said: ” I was relaxing with my chiefs in front of the palace when we heard what first sounded like some fireworks but we dismissed it as some of the children’s antics as a result of the festive period. But later we heard heavier and more deafening noise that sounded like gunshots and explosives. That was when we realized it was no child’s play. Gunshots and explosives were all over the place and heard from all corners. I couldn’t situate the incident as we ruminated whether it was robbery, Boko Haram’s attack or some kind of war happening.

    “We later learnt that the robbers stationed their men at the four entrances of the town. The first place they were stationed was the roundabout at Erinmope Road, the second was outside Moba Local Government Secretariat, the third was in front of my palace and the fourth was in front of the Technical College outside the town on the way leading to Kwara State.” The monarch added: “The sporadic gunshots and explosives lasted for about an hour before the dust settled. And by that time four innocent people were lying dead.

    The manager and a cashier of a new generation bank, a security man at the second new generation bank and my night guard who had just resumed for night duty and wanted to close the gate were the victims. ” I reported the case to the governor and he immediately called me. The governor quickly mobilized security operatives who promptly acted on his instruction and came around past 7pm but the robbers had long left.”

    The state’s police command’s spokesman, Alberto Adeyemi confirmed the incident. He disclosed that investigation into the robbery had commenced, adding that the remains of the victims have been deposited at the General Hospital in Usi Ekiti.

  • Just in: 5 suspects arrested over planned attack on banks in Lagos [Photo added]

    The Inspector-General of Police (IGP’s) Intelligence Response Team (IRT) on Friday announced the arrest of five suspected armed robbers who had planned to attack some banks in Lagos.

    The IRT Commander, ACP Abba Kyari, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    Kyari said the arrested suspects also participated in the killing of four policemen and an Army Captain in Ikorodu in April, this year.

    The commander said that the suspects were arrested at Ikorodu and Ajah areas of Lagos State, as they perfected the planned attacks on the banks.

    He said their arrest was part of the IGP Ibrahim Idris’ effort to neutralise the threat posed on Lagos by the notorious new militant leader called America.

    According to him, America was also responsible for last week’s kidnap of school children in Epe.

    “Five key members of the notorious militant group led by America, who have perfected plans to attack and rob five banks in Lagos have been arrested in Ikorodu and Ajah areas of Lagos state.

    “They were all arrested after several days of unrelenting follow-ups by the IRT.

    “Four of the arrested suspects are militants, who were sent by their gang leader, America, to survey the banks.

    “The team was also to hire two operational buses that will be used to convey the militants to and from the river banks, to the commercial banks.

    The fifth suspect is a security man in one of the banks targeted to be robbed,” Kyari alleged.

    The commander, however, noted that the banks targeted were located in Lekki and Ajah areas of Lagos state.

    He said that the suspects confessed to have chosen the targeted banks because of their proximity to the river banks.

    “All suspects arrested have confessed to the planned robberies and confirmed that they were sent by America, their boss in the creeks, to survey the banks, together with the bank security man who allegedly brought the job to the militants.

    “Also, America had fixed Thursday, June 1, as the date for the attack on the banks, before his boys were arrested by the IRT.

    “The suspects are cooperating with detectives in the investigations,’’ Kyari added.

     

    NAN

  • Popular musician, Kiss Daniel narrowly escapes death as robbers attack Calabar Christmas Village

    …Police insists there was no robbery attack

    The annual Christmas fiesta held at the Calabar Christmas Village on Monday turned sour as armed robbers attacked people who had come for the show while a popular Nigerian musician, Daniel Anidugbe, known better in the entertainment circle as Kiss Daniel was performing.

    According to a report by The Punch, the robbers, whose numbers could not be ascertained, stormed the village at about 1am and shot repeatedly into the air while dispossessing people of their valuables.

    However, It could not be confirmed if anyone was killed in the incident, but it was learnt that several people were stabbed.

    It was learnt that some others, who sustained gunshot injuries, had been hospitalised.

    The Calabar Christmas Village, which is located in the precinct of Calabar Municipal Council Secretariat, opens for 24 hours from December 1 to December 31 every year as a central location of revelry.

    It was not clear if Kiss Daniel was injured, but an eyewitness said the robbers rushed to the stage while the pandemonium was on and succeeded in removing some items from the musician before he was whisked away by security operatives.

    An injured shop owner in the village, Glory Andem, told reporters that the presence of robbers became obvious when some spectators started throwing bottles at the musician.

    She said, “It was a serious situation and I got injured. What happened was that some guys came into the village and tried to rob Kiss Daniel when he was singing, ‘Oya talk to me o mama.’

    “They were throwing bottles and other things at him. Before we knew it, they brought out guns and started shooting. Some security men immediately rushed to the singer. But even with the security, the robbers rushed at him and removed his clothes and collected things from him.

    “They would have killed that guy. To be honest, I don’t know how he managed to escape. You know there are several thousands of people in the Christmas village usually and the situation led to a serious pandemonium.

    “They broke up everything in my shop. They took all my money. They robbed a lot of shops. Our chairs were broken. Everybody was running at the same time. It was a terrible experience.

    “Several cars were vandalised. They broke the cars to steal from them. At a point, the lights went off and I thought I was going to die. As I speak with you, I have a serious cut from the incident and I want to go to a hospital to take a tetanus injections.”

    However, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Jimoh Ozi-Obeh, in a reaction said it was not a robbery attack, but a misunderstanding between the organisers.

    He said the original plan was that Kiss Daniel and other musicians would perform at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar, but the venue was changed to the Christmas village without any notice to security agencies.

    “There was no robbery incident in Calabar and nobody was attacked by robbers in any other part of Cross River State. What happened was that the government had initially planned to host the musician at the stadium, but the plan was changed to the Calabar Christmas Village. They probably had misunderstanding with the organisers. It was the change of venue that was not properly organised,” he said.

     

  • Robbers write Lagos residents to pay Christmas dues

    Robbers write Lagos residents to pay Christmas dues

    Some suspected armed robbers have written some Lagos residents urging them to prepare to pay season’s dues to them on a date not mentioned.

    Residents of Joseph Harrison Estate, Yaba area of Lagos State got the letter from the bandits on Wednesday notifying them of their impending attack to collect their “dues” for the festive season.

    The letter which was placed on the vehicle of one of the residents and was discovered in the morning when he was about to wash his car.

    ”We are coming this week to collect our dues and to visit you tenants and landlords of Joseph Harrison Street in the week. If you like go and bring police or soldiers, we are coming to perform our duties.

    ”If you cooperate, we will not kill, but if you fail to cooperate, blood will flow,” the letter said.

    NAN check at the estate on Tuesday revealed that sterner security measures have been put in place to protect lives and properties in the community.

    Mr Bolanle Akinyemi, Chairman, Community Development Association said the estate had enjoyed some peace for a long while as it was protected by guards and the police from Sabo Police Post.

    ”We are also mindful of the slum that surrounds us and we have been conscious of suspected criminals,” he said.

    ”No one has received such letter before, but there was a case in 2013 when a company in the estate was robbed,” he said.

    The chairman said they have reported the threat to Sabo Police Division and more guards have been engaged at the estate.

    Concerned residents urged the commissioner of police, Fatai Owoseni to deploy more men to patrol the estate regularly.