All posts by Benin

Cannabis
By Deborah Coker
Benin, March 11, 2020 (NAN) The Edo Police Command on Wednesday said it has arrested a man with 13 bags of substance suspected to be Cannabis sativa.

The Edo Commissioner for Police, CP Lawan Jimeta, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the command’s achievements in the last two weeks.

Jimeta disclosed that the suspect was arrested last Friday at about 08:00 hours along Lagos-Benin Expressway.

He, however, said that the case would be transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further necessary action.

According to him, the arrest was in continuation of the onslaught against crime and criminality by the command in the state.

“You will recall that in the command’s last press brief held on the 26th of February, 2020 some of the suspects arrested were paraded and achievements recorded presented to members of the press.

“Amongst them were the kingpin of the kidnap gang that killed three policemen at Ogba Zoo in 2017 and other criminal gangs, including the conman that was using the name of the Commissioner of Police to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

“However, I am delighted to inform you that as a result of strategies emplaced by the command to checkmate crime and criminality in the state, there has been a downward drop in crime since the beginning of the year”, he said.

He also disclosed that within the period two suspects were arrested for alleged child abuse.

He explained that the suspects, aged 26 and 24 years, were arrested on March 3 along the Third East Circular Junction, off Upper Sokponba Road, in the state capital.

He said they were caught with a set of twins and two other babies of different mothers and also for conspiring with the mothers of the said children and using them to beg for alms.

The CP further disclosed that within the period under review, the command arrested no fewer than 30 suspected cultists belonging to different confraternities for cultism, disturbance of public peace, armed robbery and murder.

He however said that 13 of them have been charged to court after the conclusion of investigation.

He also disclosed that the command within the period arrested five suspected kidnappers two of whom were involved in the kidnapping of four lecturers and 13 students of the Department of Geology, University of Benin.

He said that the victims have been rescued unhurt and have returned to their institution.

Jimeta disclosed that a total of 41 suspects were arrested within the period.

He said the figure were five suspects arrested for alleged kidnapping, 30 for alleged cultism and one for alleged robbery.

Others include three suspects arrested for alleged rape, two arrested for alleged child abuse, while 15 suspects have been charged to court.

He said items recovered from the suspects were five locally made guns, 13 lives cartridges and four expended cartridges. (NAN)
DCO/ISMA
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Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Police in Edo arrest inspector for allegedly killing civilian

Arrest

By Deborah Coker

Benin, March 4, 2020 (NAN) The Police Command in Edo said on Wednesday that it had arrested a police inspector, who allegedly shot a civilian, Richard Odia to death in Benin in February.

This Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, made the disclosure in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin.

Nwabuzor said the state Commissioner of Police, Lawan Jimeta, had directed an immediate orderly room trial (a mechanism for disciplinary action against personnel who erred in service) of the inspector.

He explained that police inspector was serving in Delta Command where he was attached to the Department of Operations and was on special duty to 301 Construction Company, Asaba.

The command’s spokesman said the policeman was on escort duty from Asaba to Benin when he shot and killed the deceased.

He also said that the incident happened on Feb. 11 at about 7.00 p.m.

According to Nwabuzor, the police personnel, shot and seriously wounded the deceased with an AK-47 rifle at a road construction site at Asagba boundary on Benin-Auchi expressway, after a misunderstanding.

“The deceased was immediately rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), where he unfortunately died on Feb. 12.

“The Commissioner of Police, Lawan Jimeta, hereby condoles with the family and friends of late Richard Odia on his untimely death and assures them that justice will prevail in this case.

“He has also appealed to them to remain calm and law-abiding as the command under his leadership, holds high premium on human lives.

“He has however, invited any one who witnessed the incident to come and give evidence during the trial because without witnesses, the aim of conducting the orderly room trial will be defeated,” he stated. (NAN)

DCO/JNEO/EMO
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Edited by Josephine Obute

Offences
By Deborah Coker
Benin, March 4, 2020 (NAN) The Edo Police Command on Wednesday said it had arrested no fewer than 367 suspects in connection with 10 criminal offences in January.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Lawal Jimeta, disclosed this in Benin, in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) while highlighting the command’s achievements.

The Edo Commissioner disclosed that the offences for which the suspects were arrested include armed robbery, murder, kidnapping, cultism and attempted murder.

Other criminal offences he said were stealing, fraud, rape, defilement and unlawful possession of firearms.

Jimeta said that the arrests were made from 198 reported cases, adding that 152 of the cases involving 272 suspects have been charged to court, with 48 still under investigation.

Jimeta, while giving a breakdown of the figure, said that those apprehended include 74 suspected for alleged armed robbery in 49 reported cases, with 35 of the cases involving 54 suspects charged to courts and 14 cases still under investigation.

“For murder the command arrested 19 suspects in 14 reported cases with 13 of the cases already charged to court with 17 suspects and one case under investigation.

“In kidnapping, attempted murder and cultism, the command arrested 34, six and 140 suspects from 17, four and 51 reported cases respectively.

“We have also charged 13, three and 35 cases involving 32, three and 100 suspects to court respectively with four, one and 16 cases respectively still under investigation”, he said.

The CP further explained that 26 suspects were arrested by the command in 18 reported cases of stealing within the period under review, adding that 12 cases involving 22 of the suspects have been charged to court and six cases under investigation.

“In the case of fraud, rape, defilement and unlawful possession of firearms, the command arrested 19, seven, 18 and eight suspects respectively, in 14, seven, 18 and six reported cases.

“We have charged 13, seven, 18 and six suspects in the respective cases to court as well as 10, seven, 18 and six of the respective cases pending.

“We however have four fraud cases still undergoing investigation as well as two cases of unlawful possession of firearms,” Jimeta said.

The CP added that 27 locally made single barrel cut to size, 9 locally made double barrel cut to size, 11 locally made single barrel, 11 locally made pistol, six pump action, one AK-47 and 239 live cartridges were recovered within the period under review.

Jimeta spoke tough on curbing crime and criminality in the state ahead of the forth coming governorship election and beyond.

He advised residents of the state to engage in meaningful and legitimate ventures as the command would ensure that no criminal was spared in the state.

The CP said his tenure in the state as the CP would continue to prepare personnel of the command for modern best practices in tackling crimes and criminality in the society through training and retraining.

He, however, gave the assurance that the command would witness positive dimension to policing as new initiatives like lecture series and sporting engagements are introduced in the command. (NAN)
DCO/FHO/ISMA
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Edited by Hawa Lawal/Ismail Abdulaziz

Migration
By Deborah Coker
Benin, March 2, 2020 (NAN) The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in conjunction with the UK Aid on Monday held a “Not for Sale” town/community dialogue with the Ikpoba-Okha community as part of efforts in combating irregular migration in the locality.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ikpoba-Okha community is one of the three and the most populated local government areas that makes up the Benin metropolis.

The Director General of NAPTIP, Mrs Julie Okah-Donli, in her opening remarks said that human trafficking was both a global and local problem, which needed to be tackled from the root.

Okah-Donli, who was represented by Mr Abdulrahim Shuaibu, Director, Legal and prosecution, NAPTIP, also said that many factors had been attributed to the prevalence of human trafficking.

She, however, said that irrespective of the factors, human trafficking and illegal migration was a scourge that should be discouraged and stopped.

She commended the partners and stakeholders on the fight against human trafficking and illegal migration, adding that the UK aid had done well in championing the “Not for Sale” campaign.

Earlier in her remarks, Mrs Ijeoma Uduak, the Zonal Commander, Benin zonal command said that the “Not for Sale” campaign was a UK cabinet project with NAPTIP.

Uduak explained that the project was focused on helping young women and men say “NO” to human trafficking, access economic opportunities in the country and not to sell themselves because of a dream that ends in pain.

She added that the issue of human trafficking and irregular migration in the country has become worrisome to transit as well as destination countries.

“NAPTIP as a focal government agency is therefore committed to the prevention of all forms of human degradation and exploitation,” she said.

She further said that the event was the launch of the second phase of the campaign in the locality.

In his goodwill message, Mr Buba Wakawa, Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), stressed the need for public sensitisation in defeating crimes in the society.

Wakawa, represented by the Mr Michele Ofoyeju, also said that the NDLEA was concerned about the fight against human trafficking because of the connection between human and drug trafficking.

Similarly, Ms Obehi Okpiabhele, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Genius Hub Global Initiative, the UK Aid local implementing partners, said the organisation was desirous of changing the present narrative about the Benin women.

She explained that the Benin woman was earlier seen as strong, hardworking, industrious and engaging in a legal and viable ventures.

Mrs Yinka Omorogbe, Attorney General and Commissioner for justice, who is also the chairman, Edo Taskforce against Human Trafficking, said that Ikpoba-Okha ranked highest in the state with number of persons who have travelled abroad for greener pasture.

She appealed to parents not to pressurise their children to travel abroad for greener pasture. (NAN)
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Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Security
By Deborah Coker
Benin, Feb. 28, 2020 (NAN) The Police Command in Edo has assured the European Union (EU) of the command’s commitment to train personnel of the command ahead of the September governorship election in the state.

The Commissioner for Police in Edo, CP Lawan Jimeta, gave the assurance in a statement by DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, the Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), in Benin on Friday.

According to Nwabuzor, the CP gave the assurance when he received the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Amb. Ketil Karlsen at the command.

“The CP further promised the European Ambassador that his command will do all it can to secure the state from crime and criminality.

“The CP assured the European Ambassador that he will maintain the standard he met on ground as well as improve on it,” Nwabuzor quoted Jimeta as saying.

He also said that Karlsen disclosed that the visit was part of their Community Social Responsibility (CSR) and to also know how prepared the command was for the forthcoming gubernatorial Election.

Nwabuzor added that the Ambassador also requested to know the modalities put in place as regards the election.

“Another thing that formed the discussion is in the area of Human Trafficking.

“The European Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS thanked the State Government and the Command on its efforts in combating the scourge of human trafficking in the state,” Nwabuzor said. (NAN)
DCO/KOO/ISMA
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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Ismail Abdulaziz

Crime
By Deborah Coker
Benin, Feb. 26, 2020 (NAN) The Police command in Edo said that 36 persons were arrested in the state for various crimes in the last two weeks.

DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the command, disclosed this on Wednesday in Benin on the command score card against crimes within the period.

Nwabuzor said the figure comprises of five suspected kidnappers, 28 suspected cults and three suspected armed robbers.

He also disclosed that two pump action guns, five cut to size guns, five 7.62mm live ammunition, 25 cartridges, 35 expended 7.62mm ammunition and 66 expended cartridges were recovered within the period under review.

The PPRO explained that the arrests were in continuation of the onslaught against crime and criminality in the state.

He reiterated the need for citizens to be vigilant at all times and to report any clandestine activities in their domain to security agencies for prompt attention. (NAN)
DCO/EOB/ISMA
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Edited by Edith Bolokor/Ismail Abdulaziz

Heat
By Deborah Coker
Benin, Feb. 26, 2020 (NAN) The Commissioner of Police in Edo, CP Lawan Jimeta, has tasked politicians to embrace peace and stop breaching security in the state.

Jimeta gave the charge on Wednesday in Benin at the maiden edition of stakeholders meeting organised by the command ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

According to him, a tumultuous situation will scare away development for the state and people.

“We are concerned with certain incidences that happened in the state.

“This include but not limited to thuggery, lawlessness and the recent development which involves the use of explosives.

“The use of explosives is definitely a worrisome development not only in Edo state but all over the country. So it is our responsibility as security operatives to ensure that these ugly situations are not repeated.

“We can only do so by meeting with the stakeholders, so that you can talk to your supporters that violence does not bring any development and does not guarantee political success.

“Violence can only bring destruction and hardship to our people. We want to say categorically that peace and security of this state will remain professionally in our hands.

“We will ensure that anybody that breaks the law is brought to book.
We on our part will ensure that we are truthful and professional in whatever we do to ensure that there is peace and security in Edo,” he said.

He appealed to Edo residents that these meeting would continue in order to enure a peaceful election and to ensure people are not disenfranchised.

Similarly, the Director of State Service in the state, Mr Sheikh Waziri disclosed that from the service intelligent purview, the indicators in the state were very frightening.

He noted that the service have intelligence of mobilisations from even neighbouring states, of individuals that could come and cause mayhem within the state.

“We have information which is in the public domain, Edo is the next in line in the series of election in the country.

“The entire world is watching. Edo is on the watch of the international community already, the EU, the AU, the Americans, the British are all coming around expressing their fears.

“Even foreign investors and local investors are expressing these fears.

“We believe that we should share ideas and information with stakeholders on how to handle security of the state and maintain peace and order.

“Let me also observe that of recent, Edo has been witnessing series of attacks, as we talk now, some technical teams are moving around the three senatorial districts of Edo to interface with stakeholders in resolving the issue of herdsmen farmers clash.

“You are aware that, on a daily basis, there are issues of kidnapping. We want at this forum to get to the content of the problem by addressing political problems politically so that the security agencies will have the resources, manpower and time to deal with security challenges”, he said.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that all the security agencies, service chiefs in the state as well as representatives from the two faction of the APC in the state were present at the meeting. (NAN)
DCO/ASS/ISMA
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Edited by Saidu Adamu/Ismail Abdulaziz