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Tag: Suspects

  • Senate orders IG to parade suspects arrested over invasion, mace theft

    The Senate has asked the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to order the immediate parade of the six suspects who invaded its chamber and stole the mace in April.

    Recall that suspected thugs had, on April 18, 2018, invaded the Senate chamber while plenary was ongoing and made away with the symbol of authority of the legislature.

    Photographs of the suspects arrested by the police on the National Assembly premises had gone viral on the Internet but they had yet to be paraded and charged with the prosecution.

    Speaking with newsmen on Friday, the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, alleged that the suspects probably had the backing of some top government officials.

    He said, “I think it is common sense that when the police arrest crime suspects, they parade them. Kidnappers are paraded. But some people broke into the National Assembly and they were not paraded.

    “The police should tell Nigerians why the suspects have not been paraded; they (police) should come and explain. It is very disgusting and annoying that this thing happened some weeks ago, and they have not paraded the suspects, but petty thieves are being paraded every day.

    “Those who invaded the National Assembly rode in an SUV valued at about N50m. I leave the rest to your imagination.”

    The day after the attack, the Senate had resolved to summon Idris and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Lawal Daura, to brief the lawmakers on the circumstances surrounding the invasion and the mace theft.

    The upper chamber had insisted that the security lapses at the National Assembly Complex, which made the suspects to successfully commit the crime, must also be investigated.

    President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, after a prolonged closed-door session on April 24, announced that the Senate and the House of Representatives had resolved to form a joint committee that would probe the circumstances surrounding the attack.

    The panel, which was mandated to grill the IG and DSS boss, would also discuss how to protect the building and its environs with the security chiefs.

    On April 26, when the police boss failed to appear before the Senate over the arrest and detention of Senator Dino Melaye and the spate of killings across the country, the Senate President had alleged that Buhari appointees were creating problems for him.

  • Police arrest six suspects in connection with Senate invasion, mace theft

    The Nigeria Police Force has arrested six suspects in connection with last week’s invasion of the Senate and theft of its mace.

    However, investigation into the incident was still ongoing as at press time.

    Recall that some thugs had on April 18 invaded the Senate, beat up some Sergeants-at-arm and went away with the mace.

    But following a 24-hour ultimatum issued to the Nigerian police, the mace was found under a bridge in Abuja.

    Findings indicated that a monitoring committee raised by the Inspector-General of Police and headed by a Commissioner of Police had closed in on eight suspects.

    But six of the suspects have been arrested by the said team.

    A top police source, who spoke in confidence, said: “So far, the police have arrested six suspects in connection with the attack on the Senate and the theft of mace.

    “The suspects, who are being interrogated, include some sighted in the chamber and those allegedly outside it.

    “They have all denied their alleged involvement in the invasion. What we need to do is to analyse the video clips and juxtapose these with the images of those in custody.

    “At the appropriate time, we will release the names of the suspects after they have been properly identified.

    “Those in the net claimed that they were mistakenly suspected.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “Preliminary investigation confirmed that these thugs were stopped by the police from entering the Senate wing, but a senator cleared them that they were with him.

    “We may have to interact with those policemen on duty to identify the senator who insisted that the hoodlums must be allowed to enter. We may also interact with the senator.

    “All I can tell you now is that investigation is still in progress. The probe team is headed by a Commissioner of Police.”

    The Senate has however insisted that the culprits must be brought to book.

    The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, described the invasion as a “disgrace.”

    He said: “What happened was a disgrace. It made no sense if you think about it, and it was a very primitive adventure.

    “If they were looking for a routine change, it was better they followed due process.

    “If you were to impeach the President, for instance, you go through the impeachment process and involve the House.

    “You will have to get a simple majority or three quarters of the members to get him out. And where you are unable to do that, you simply walk away.”

    The Deputy Senate President, Dr. Ike Ekweremadu, had spoken on the incident at the Presidential Villa.

    He said: “For us, it’s a threat to our democracy. The invasion of the parliament is not acceptable to any person. It’s not acceptable to me, it’s not acceptable to the VP, it’s not acceptable to my colleagues.

    “I believe it’s not also acceptable to the president. So, those who acted this script must be on their own.

    “All we need to do as a country is to ensure that this is forestalled, and I want to appeal to the media to help us discourage this kind of brigandage so that people have to behave in a very responsible manner.

    “Police is still investigating, we are going to find out the details of those who aided him to come in and then some of them, I believe, have been arrested and we will get to the root of the matter.”

     

  • Police recover 47 illegal arms, arrest 17 suspects in Akwa Ibom

    The Nigeria Police Force, Akwa Ibom Command, on Saturday said it recovered 47 illegal arms and 172 live ammunition and cartridges across the state.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Odiko Macdon, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen at the police headquarters Ikot Akpan-Abia in Uyo.

    Macdon said the recovery was in compliance with the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on recovery of prohibited firearms, ammunition and weapons across the country.

    He said that the arms were recovered from suspected bandits, vigilance group and individuals.

    According to him, arms recovered include three AK 47, one G3 rifle, three Pump action gun, three Single barrelled gun and 37 locally made pistols.

    “Today again, the Commissioner of Police has been able to showcase arms that have been recovered. Most of these arms were returned while some were seized during the mop up operations.

    “A total of three AK 47, one G3 rifle, three Pump action gun, three Single barrel gun and then 37 locally made pistols and over 172 live ammunition and cartridges were recovered,” he said.

    The police spokesman also said that within the month, the command arrested 17 suspects over alleged involvement in different forms of criminalities in the state.

    He said that some of the suspects were arrested for murder, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of fire arms.

    “It is unfortunate and dastardly act when you see a family of three and two connived together and kill their brother and cut his head as you can see there.

    “All the persons so paraded, ranging from cultism, unlawful possession of fire arms, murder and burglary will be charged to court,” he said.

    Macdon said it was the determination of CP Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi, to make Akwa Ibom one of the safest states in the country and a destination of choice for tourists.

    He called on Akwa Ibom residents to maintain peace and stay in harmony with one another

  • BREAKING: Police arrest, reveal identities of 12 suspects in connection with Offa robbery

    BREAKING: Police arrest, reveal identities of 12 suspects in connection with Offa robbery

    …recover phones, iPads, other exhibits

    The police have revealed the identities of 12 suspects who were arrested for alleged connection to the last Thursday’s robbery in Offa, Kwara State.

    Recall that armed robbers stormed the community the afternoon of April 5, killing 17 people and raiding five banks. Eight police officers at Owode Division, Offa, were also killed in the attack, and the robbers made away with police arms and ammunition.

    The police arrested seven suspects within the first two days of the attack, and made more arrests on later dates.

    The police had earlier withheld the names of the first batch of suspects, saying doing so could jeopardise efforts to arrest the remaining members of the gang or/and threaten the entire investigation into the deadly robbery that had gripped the nation for the past one week.

    Jimoh Moshood, the police spokesperson at Force Headquarters, released details of the arrests, including recovered exhibits, in a statement on Friday evening.

     

    Read the full statement below:

    SUSPECTS

    1. i) Adegoke Shogo 29yrs – Arrested in Offa
    2. ii) Kayode Opadokun 35yrs – Arrested in Offa

    iii) Kazeem Abdulrasheed 36yrs – Arrested in Offa

    1. iv) Azeez Abdullahi 27yrs – Arrested in Offa
    2. v) Alexander Reuben 39yrs – Arrested on the 11th April, 2018 in Lagos
    3. vi) Jimoh Isa 28yrs – Arrested on the 11th April, 2018 in Lagos

    vii) Azeez Salawudeen 20yrs – Arrested in Offa and victim’s phone and sim cards recovered from him

    viii) Adewale Popoola 22yrs – Arrested in Offa and victim’s phone and sim cards recovered from him

    1. ix) Adetoyese Muftau 23yrs – Arrested in Ibadan, Oyo State
    2. x) Aminu Ibrahim 18yrs – Arrested in Ilorin
    3. xi) Richard Buba Terry 23yrs – Arrested in Ilorin

    xii) Peter Jaba Kuunfa 25yrs – Arrested in Ilorin

    These three (3) last suspects in whose possession another Beretta pistol and Fourteen (14) rounds of live ammunitions were recovered.

     

    EXHIBITS

    1. Two (2) Beretta Pistols
    2. Twenty (20) Rounds of Live Ammunition

    iii. Four (4) Phones and SIM cards belonging to victims, some of whom were killed during the attack

    Consequent on the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris NPM, mni, deployment of high-powered Police Investigation Team, Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), Three (3) units of Police Mobile Force (PMF) and Anti-Robbery equipment to Kwara State to carryout discreet investigation into the banks robbery, prevent further attacks and bring perpetrators to justice; the high-powered Police Investigation Team deployed in synergy with the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department have arrested the Nine (9) above mentioned Armed Robbers directly involved in the Banks Robbery and attack on a Police Station in Offa, Kwara State.

    1. The Police teams engaged in massive raids of identified criminal spots/flashpoints, stop and search operations, visibility and confidence building patrols, intelligence gathering which led to the arrest of the suspects. Some of the arrest also involved serious exchange of gun fire between the Police and the suspects in their various hideouts.
    2. The following are the suspects arrested and have admitted to the various criminal roles they played in the banks robbery attacks and are also assisting Police investigation into the incident.
    3. i) Adegoke Shogo 29yrs Native of Offa Kwara State, he was arrested in Offa after the bank robbery and the attack on the Police Station. He is drug baron and also an Indian Hemp dealer in Offa Kwara State. According to intelligence gathered from cultivated and reliable informant, he is alleged to be one of the sponsors of the robbery attack and the Police Station in Offa. He has made useful statements to the roles he played in the armed robbery.
    4. ii) Kayode Opadokun 35yrs Native of Offa Kwara State, He was found out to have been released from Prison Three (3) months ago after Serving only 8months of his sentence years for Armed Robbery, Notorious Armed Robber and confirmed Gang member of the Offa Bank Robbers. A Barrette pistol and six (6) rounds of live ammunition was recovered from him. He has admitted to the criminal roles he played in the Offa Banks robbery.

    iii) Kazeem Abdulrasheed 36yrs Native of Offa Kwara State, A Gang member from whom a Victim’s phone was found. He was arrested in Offa

    1. iv) Azeez Abdullahi 27yrs Native of Offa Kwara State, Gang member from whom a Victim’s Phone and SIM Cards were recovered.
    2. v) Alexander Reuben 39yrs Native of Isoko LGA Delta state, He is a Notorious, Deadly and Hardened Bank robber from whom GMPGs, Rocket launchers and Several Rifles were recovered in 2015, He was released from Prison in December 2017. He was arrested on the 11th April, 2018 in Lagos.
    3. vi) Jimoh Isa 28yrs Native of Okene Kogi State indicted by Technical intelligence generated on the Bank Robbers. He was arrested on the 11th April, 2018 in Lagos.
    4. Three000 (3) suspects namely Azeez Salawudeen 20yrs, Adewale Popoola 22yrs and Adetoyese Muftau 23yrs from whom Two (2) phones and SIM cards belonging to victims were recovered have also made confessional statements admitting to the various roles they played in the commission of the crime.
    5. (i) Aminu Ibrahim 18yrs – Arrested in Ilorin,
    6. ii) Richard Buba Terry 23yrs and

    iii) Peter Jaba Kuunfa 25yrs

    These three (3) suspects in whose possession another Beretta pistol and Fourteen (14) rounds of live ammunitions were recovered were arrested in connection with the Offa bank robbery. They have previously been investigated and charged to court for armed robbery and cultism. They have made confessional statements admitting to the various criminal roles they played in the recent bank robbery in Offa.

    1. All the suspects during investigation confessed to the various criminal roles they played in the commission of the crime, however, investigation is being intensified to arrest other suspects still at large and bring them to justice.
    2. The Nigeria Police Force once again deeply commiserates with the Government and People of Kwara State, most especially the people of Offa and the families of the victims. The Force will leave no stone unturned in unravelling this dastard act and bring all those responsible to justice. The Force appreciates the supports from members of the public so far and calls for calm and their cooperation to sustain the normalcy that has been restored in the State.

    ACP JIMOH MOSHOOD

    FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

    FORCE HEADQUARTERS

  • Police set May date to arraign Dino Melaye, 4 re-arrested suspects

    The Nigeria Police Force said it would arraign Sen. Dino Melaye and the four suspects rearrested for alleged conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms at the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi on May 10.

    The suspects are: Kabiru Seidu, 31, alias Osama, Nuhu Salisu, 25, alias small, Musa Mohammed, 27, alias Iko and Emmanuel Audu, 26.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that on March 28, the Police Command in Kogi announced the escape from lawful custody of six suspects including Seidu and Salisu.

    Recall that the police had on March 30 announced the re-arrest of four of the six suspects.

    The Force Spokesman, ACP Jimoh Moshood, who made the disclosure while briefing newsmen on the arrest of four of the six suspects on Tuesday in Abuja, said two of the suspects were still at large.

    Moshood said that Seidu and Salisu who were principal suspects were rearrested in Tafa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State and Ganaja Village, Lokoja, Kogi.

    The spokesman said that the six accomplice in the case arrested by the police would be prosecuted with the six rearrested suspects.

    The suspects are: John Beneche, 22, Seye Atowoju, 27 Danjuma Yunusa, 35 , Egga Ochai, 50 Abbas Haruna, 30 and Gloria Audu, 28.

    He said that the suspects would be arraigned in court for prosecution on completion of investigation.

    Moshood warned that the police would not relent in its efforts to check activities of unscrupulous politicians, adding that they must play the game according to the rules.

    He commended members of the public for giving the police timely information that aided the re-arrest of the suspects.

    The spokesman said that the force`s fight against crimes and criminality in the country remained unequivocal and unwavering.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports thst one of the suspects, Seidu had confessed that Melaye handed over to him a bag containing one AK47 rifle, two Pump Action guns and N430,000.00 to share with his boys.

  • Melaye: Police rearrest three escaped suspects in Kogi

    The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed that three out of the six suspects who escaped from custody on Wednesday have been arrested.

    The outgoing Commissioner of Police in the state, Ali Janga, while confirming the news, however, did not disclose the names of the rearrested suspects.

    He said, “Yes, it is confirmed, but note that I am no longer the CP, I have been removed. So, talk to the new CP.”

    According to findings, the suspects were rearrested on Friday at an undisclosed location.

    It was gathered that two of the suspects sustained gunshot wounds while trying to flee from the police.

    They were said to be receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, the capital, as of the time of filing this report.

    Janga was fired by the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, following the escape of the suspects from custody.

    The suspects are Kabiru Seidu, a.k.a Osama; Nuhu Salisu, a.k.a Small; Aliyu Isa; Adams Suleiman; Emmanuel Audu; and Musa Mohammed.

     

  • Police raid arts village, arrest 92 suspects

    Police raid arts village, arrest 92 suspects

    Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force on Saturday arrested 92 suspects after a raid at the Art and Crafts village, which serves as the permanent site of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) in Abuja.

    The raid, it was gathered, followed intelligence reports of suspected criminal activities at the art village.

    The police also recovered a rifle and substances believed to be Indian hemps from the operation.

    The raid, according to the police, was carried out at about 4am on by men attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Federal Capital Territory Command.

    The Command said it became necessary to rid the site of criminal elements that have been terrorising the FCT, using the permanent site of the NCAC as hideout.

    The suspects, it said, were in custody and awaiting charge to court.

    Residents of the FCT commended the police for acting promptly following observation of management of the NCAC the village was being used by some criminal elements under the guise of selling artworks to perpetrate crimes.

    Command spokesman, DSP Anjuguri Manzah said: “The operation is part of efforts by the police to fight crime within and outside the FCT by massively reducing the spate of armed robbery, serial car snatching, incidences of kidnapping and other unwholesome activities going on in the FCT and the country by extension.

    “The suspects are currently in our custody undergoing screening and those found culpable would be prosecuted while those found to be innocent will be set free in accordance with the law.”

    Director-General of NCAC, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, since assumption last year has been making spirited efforts with the police to sanitise the Arts and Crafts village.

     

  • We are yet to arrest herdsmen who razed Falae’s farm – Police

    We are yet to arrest herdsmen who razed Falae’s farm – Police

    The Ondo State Police Command on Monday said it was yet to arrest any suspect with links to the burnt farm of a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, at Ilado Village in Akure North Local Government Area of the state last Sunday.

    Some people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen on Sunday allegedly set fire on about five hectares of the farm where oil palm trees and some other cash crops were planted.

    Giving updates on the matter, Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr. Femi Joseph, said it could not be ascertained that the dastardly act was carried out by herdsmen because there was no arrest yet. He, however, explained that the command had begun investigation on the incident.

    He noted that the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Gbenga Adeyanju and the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Gboyega Adefarati and other top government functionaries had visited the farm to assess the extent of damage.

    Joseph said, “We were on the farm today (yesterday) and I want to tell you that the affected area on the farm did not have much crops. Although that is not to say anybody has the right to burn another person’s farm.

    “We are still investigating, we don’t know those who did the act, so we can’t say specifically whether it was a particular person or not because we have not arrested anybody yet and we didn’t meet anybody there when we got there today (yesterday).

    Also reacting to the development, the pan-Yoruba socio-political association, Afenifere, described the attack on Falae as an attack on the entire Yorubaland.

    The Secretary-General of the association, Chief Sehinde Arogbofa, blamed President Muhammadu Buhari for being silent on the issue of herdsmen attack across the country. He alleged that the silence of the President meant that the latter was delighted about the herdsmen’s activities against other citizens of the country.

    He said, “The silence of the Head of State on these issues is very ominous and it doesn’t augur well for the oneness of this country because if somebody of the status of Chief Falae is undergoing this type of trauma and the President doesn’t say anything and they say silence means consent.

    “It is so unfortunate and unfair, if this type of thing is happening and the President is looking the other way, it is not good. This is an attack on the people of Yorubaland. Chief Falae is a national figure and if he is being treated like this, it means the government doesn’t have any regard for us in Yorubaland.”

  • N50m fraud: Lagos arraigns two suspects for cloning Ambode’s official line

    The Lagos State Government on Tuesday commenced trial of two suspects arraigned for allegedly attempting to defraud the State Government of N50m by cloning the official line of the State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode.

    The suspects – Rilwanu Jamiu and Balogun Oyewole were arraigned before Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya of the Lagos High Court in Igbosere on three-count charge bordering on the alleged crime.

    Specifically, they are standing trial for alleged possession of fraudulent document, impersonation and attempt to commit felony.

    While testifying before the court, the State’s Accountant General, Mrs Abimbola Shukurat Umar revealed how she received a text message from the suspects on February 10, 2016, purportedly from Governor Ambode, directing her to transfer the sum of N50m to a designated Keystone Bank account.

    Umar, who was led in evidence by the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adenijii Kazeem, said she found the message suspicious and highly irregular of the official accounting protocol.

    She said the text prompted her to bring the message to the attention of the Governor, who, after distancing himself from the message, ordered the immediate investigation of the matter.

    The investigation, which was conducted by the Department of State Security (DSS), led to the eventual arrest of the defendants, who were subsequently charged before the court.

    The prosecution also called Mr Wale Odu, Director of DSS, Lagos State Command, to give evidence in the matter.

    In his testimony, Odu confirmed that the investigation leading to the arrest of the defendants was conducted by his team.

    According to him, investigation revealed that the second defendant (Oyewole) is one of the directors and shareholders of a firm, Clayder Limited to whose Keystone Bank account, the N50m fraud money would have been paid.

    The matter was later adjourned to February 14, 2018 for continuation of the trial, while the defendants were to continue to be remanded at the Kirikiri Medium Security Prison.

     

     

  • Operation Crocodile Smile: Army arrests 30 suspects, destroys illegal refineries in Benin

    The 4 Brigade Headquarters of the Nigerian Army, Benin, has arrested 30 suspects for various criminal offences and destroyed more illegal refineries in continuation of its Operation Crocodile Smile II.

    The Brigade Spokesman, Capt. Mohammed Maidawa, said on Friday in Benin that 24 out of the 30 suspects were apprehended for being in possession of hard drugs.

    Maidawa said three were arrested for alleged kidnapping, while others were held for illegal oil bunkering and militia activities.

    According to him, the 24 suspects were arrested at a bar on Airport Road, Benin, and three at Ugbolukangin Community in Ovia South West Local Government Area in Edo.

    He said that others were arrested at Boboluku Community in Ethiope Local Government Area of Delta, adding that all the suspects were being questioned by the relevant security agencies.

    Maidawa said the Brigade adopted the use of swamp buggies to ensure complete destruction of illegal bunkering camps within its area of operations.

    He said the innovation yielded positive results because several metallic tanks, drums as well as the covering of several dug-out-pits used for illegal bunkering were destroyed during the operations.

    He also said that at Ebele Creek, two speedboats concealed in the swamp by militants were seized and that the boats were currently in the custody of the Brigade pending investigation.

    He added that on Oct. 2 the Brigade discovered and destroyed five dug-out-pits and five metallic storage tanks loaded with about 110,000 litres of products suspected to be petrol and about 20,000 litres of kerosene.

    According to him, the illegal refinery is located at Lapase in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.

    He said the troops also intercepted and destroyed a Cotonou boat loaded with 100 jerry cans containing kerosene, 60,000 litres of crude and 35,000 litres of Automated Gas Oil (AGO) in Aziza area of Delta.

     

    NAN