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Defence/Security

Evans, kidnap kingpin was arrested for robbery in 2006 – Police

Evans, kidnap kingpin was arrested for robbery in 2006 – Police

NAN-H-64

Evans

By Moses Omorogieva

Lagos, June 25, 2017 (NAN) The arrested kidnap kingpin, Chukwudi Onuamadike alias Evans, was arrested in 2006 for armed robbery where seven members of his gang died while sharing their loot in Lagos State.

A very reliable police source revealed this on Sunday as investigations on Evans past activities deepened.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that Evans and his robbery gang, in 2006 attacked a commercial bank in Lagos and went somewhere around the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, to share the loot.

It was gathered that while sharing the loot, the robbers had a disagreement and shot one another. Seven members of the gang died instantly.

“The then Divisional Police Officer of Iponri Police Station, Yahaya Bello, now a deputy commissioner of police, said there was a serious incident involving some persons who shot at one another. He said about three of them had been arrested.

“One of the members of the gang arrested then was Chukwudi Onuamadike, popularly known as Evans. If you look at his chest, I cannot remember whether it is the right or left side, there is a scar. It was as a result of the gunshot from his gang members that day.

“He bled and there was no way he could run away before the police came. The case was transferred to the Lagos State Anti-Robbery Squad. We investigated and discovered that they were armed robbers.

“Evans led the team. We also went to Mbidi Police Station, Imo State, to carry out an investigation on them. We were able to arrest two other members of the gang. We then had five of them in police custody.

“There was a policewoman at the Band Section of the Police College, Lagos. She was known as Tina, a Superintendent of Police. She insisted that we should drop the case and that Onuamadike (Evans) was her brother.

“But when she was unable to achieve her aim, she travelled to Imo State. Not long after, we got a message from the Imo State Police Command that they had been searching for Evans and asked us to transfer the case to them so they could continue from where we stopped.

“Since that time, we did not hear anything. We heard he was later released there,” the source said.

The source noted that after he saw Evans pictures, he knew that he was the man they arrested alongside members of his gang in 2006, stressing, however, that Evans was not bearing the alias, Evans, at the time.

“We identified him only as Chukwudi. Some of the persons we worked together on the case also called me to draw my attention to the fact that he was the one arrested.

“He couldn’t have been the only person released. The request was that we should transfer the case to them. We sent him and two members of his gang to the command. There is a hotel in Okota area where they used to meet to share their loot.

“The owner of the hotel was their friend. There was a time they robbed three banks in Alaba International Market in 2005. They also looted shops there. One of the owners of the shop complained to the police and we carried out an investigation.

“We discovered that some of the items stolen in the man’s shop were digital cameras. We traced the cameras to the hotel and into the office of the hotel owner. It was then that ‘big men’ started calling from everywhere that we should drop the charges against them.

“The owner of the hotel was later killed by the robbers, following a disagreement. His body was dumped by the roadside in one of the states in the East sometimes ago,” the source told police investigators.

The source expressed fear that if Evans was not properly investigated and prosecuted he can form a terrorist group being a hardened criminal; in view of the fact that he collects any ransom demanded to the last Kobo before releasing such victims.

“The best way to handle his case is for the police to do their work. They should do a proper investigation. If it will take four months to investigate him, they should do so. He has links in South Africa, Ghana, etc.

“I know him. Bank robbery and hijacking of bullion vans was easy for him and his gang members. He did not hesitate to shoot any member of his gang suspected of foul play,” the source noted.

NAN further gathered from the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team that Evans confirmed all the incidents alleged by the police source. (NAN)

MIO/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

NAPTIP arrests another “notorious trafficker” in Edo

NAPTIP arrests another “notorious trafficker” in Edo

NAN-HG-1

Arrest

By Mustapha Sumaila

Abuja, June 20, 2017 (NAN) The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) said it has arrested a 45-year-old woman, Rhoda Omorogie, alias Mama Bobo, for her alleged involvement in the trafficking of young girls from Benin to Europe.

The NAPTIP Head of Press and Public Relations, Mr Josiah Emerole,
said in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja that the operatives of the agency in Benin Zonal Command arrested the suspect in an early morning operation on Tuesday.

Emerole explained that Omorogie, a nurse by profession and an indigene of Oredo Local Government Area of Edo, was nabbed by the operatives at about 5 a.m at her residence located at No. 65 Osayande St. off Upper Sakponda Road, Benin City.

He said that the suspected trafficker had been in hiding since June 16 following the arrest of one of her gang members, Monday Ugbo, by NAPTIP operatives and rescue of three victims.

According to him, the “notorious trafficker’’ is presently in NAPTIP’s custody for interrogation.

The spokesperson stated that preliminary reports showed that Omorogie has over the years been involved in the recruitment of young women from Benin to other places including Europe.

He said the report also revealed that she was connected to the recruitment of the three victims that were rescued in Benin at the weekend.

Emerole quoted the Director-General of NAPTIP, Mrs Julie Oka-Donli, saying that it is disheartening to see women involved in the “disgusting trade of human beings’’.

She however stressed the need for people to be more careful while dealing with traffickers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recall Ugbo was nabbed by NAPTIP operatives at the weekend and rescued three victims from his residence located at number 72 Osayande St., Upper Sakponba Road, Benin City, Edo.

Ugbo was arrested in the process of receiving a registration fee of N50,000 he had demanded from a prospective victim and preparing to take the victims to a River for oath taking. (NAN)
MS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

NAPTIP arrests notorious human trafficker, rescues 3 victims

NAPTIP arrests notorious human trafficker, rescues 3 victims

NAN-HG-7
Arrest
By Mustapha Sumaila

Abuja, June 18, 2017 (NAN) The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on Sunday said it has arrested a notorious human trafficker and rescued three victims from his residence in Benin.

Mr Josiah Emerole, the Head, Press and Public Relations, NAPTIP, said this in a statement issued in Abuja.

Emerole disclosed that the 33-year-old man, Monday Ugbo, was nabbed after several weeks of surveillance by the operatives of the agency.

He explained that the NAPTIP Benin Zonal Command arrested the suspected human trafficker at his residence located at number 72 Osayande St., Upper Sakponba Road, Benin City, Edo.

“Operatives of our agency have been on his trail for several weeks, following regular mention of his name in a number of human trafficking cases being handled by the Zonal Command.

“Following intelligence reports that he was harbouring some girls in his house preparatory to their being trafficked abroad, the operative swooped on him in the early hours of Friday.

“He was caught in the process of receiving a registration fee of N50,000 he had demanded from a prospective victim,” the spokesman said.

According to him, the preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is also preparing to take the three girls to a River that morning for oath taking before they could embark on the journey to Europe.

He said that Ugbo claimed to be a bricklayer and has been in the business of human trafficking for a long time operating with another woman now at large.

The spokesperson added that the suspect was in the agency’s custody giving useful statements.

Emerole quoted NAPTIP’s Director-General, Mrs Julie Okah-Donli, while reacting on the breakthrough commended the operatives, assuring that there is no hiding place for human traffickers anymore in Nigeria.

Okah-Donli noted that the agency and its partners had resolved to collaborate more appropriately in stopping further trafficking of Nigerians both within and outside the country.

Meanwhile, the NAPTIP spokesman has disclosed that the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) had handed over 21 rescued victims of human trafficking to NAPTIP.

He said that the age range of the victims was between 18 and 34 years, while one suspected trafficker was also handed over.

According to him, 12 of the victims comprising five males and seven females were handed over to the Kano Zonal Command of the agency by the NIS after they were intercepted at Babamutum border area of Katsina State by the NIS border patrol.

Emerole said that the victims were being moved outside the country as at the time they were rescued.

He stated that another nine, all females, were handed over to the NAPTIP headquarters in Abuja by the NIS headquarters while attempting to procure International passports to travel out.

The spokesman added that all the victims were presently with the agency for profiling and counseling. (NAN)
MS/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola 

Health

Begging: Board arrests 96 persons in Kano

Begging: Board arrests 96 persons in Kano

NAN-HG-6

Beggars

Kano, June 1, 2017 (NAN) The Kano State Hisbah Board has arrested 96 beggars in May for allegedly violating the law banning street begging in the state capital.

Malam Dahiru Muhammed, , an official of the board’s Anti-begging Unit, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Thursday that 27 out of the 96 beggars were children, while 69 were adult.

“Our men arrested 96 street beggars around Lodge Road, Magwan Junction, Kwari, Katsina Road and Wapa for violating the law banning street begging in Kano metropolis.

“Out of the 96 beggars, 69 were adult male and female, while 27 were children between the ages of 10, 13 and 14,” Muhammed said.

He explained that 71 of those arrested were from Kano city, while 22 were from Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina and Niger states, with three from Chad Republic.

Muhammed said that those who were first offenders were released, while others from the neighbouring states were repatriated to their various local government areas of origin.

He also revealed plans by the board to train the beggars on skills acquisition to keep them off the streets permanently. (NAN)

BO/ORO/MST

Edited by Razak Owolabi/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Police arrest 4 persons suspected to have killed father, daughter in Taraba

NAN-H-37
Killing
Jalingo, March 21, 2017 (NAN) The Taraba Police Command says it has arrested four persons suspected to have killed one Bernard Zaakaa and his daughter, Mimidoo, at Gazabu village in Bali Local Area of the state.

Its spokesman, Mr David Misal, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Jalingo, that Zaakaa and his four-year-old daughter were shot dead in their residence, on March 18.

The police official said that one Geoffrey Oguda, who was in the compound at the time of the attack, sustained injuries from gunshots.

“We have arrested the suspects and recovered two local guns, nine cartridges, two extended cartridges and some gun powder from them,” he said.

Misal said that the arrest followed a complaint lodged at a police station in Bali, by a younger brother to the deceased, Levi Zaakaa.

“Immediately we received the report of the incident that occurred around 7.30 p.m. on March 18, the police started combing the area and eventually arrested the suspects on March 19,” he said.

Misal said that Oguda was responding to treatment at Santa Maria Clinic in Bali. (NAN) NB/OFN/ETS

=====================

Edited by Felix Nwadioha and Ephraims Sheyin

Defence/Security

6 persons accused of killing mother, daughter in police net

 

NAN-H-69

Killing

Pankshin (Plateau) March 16, 2017 (NAN) Six persons accused of killing a mother and daughter have been arrested and detained by the police in Pankshin Local Government of Plateau

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suspects are from Kot ward in Tambes village of Pankshin, where the two women were killed on Feb. 17, 2017.

Mr Tyopev Terver, the Plateau Police Command’s Publice Relations Officer (PPRO), who confirmed the incident on Thursday in Jos, also confirmed the arrest and detention of the suspects.

Terver claimed that two of the suspects had confessed to committing the crime.

“We are investigating the case; two of the suspects have already confessed to committing the crime.

“ The Criminal Investigation Department is currently handling the matter; as soon as we are through with our investigation, we shall charge the suspects to court,” he added.

NAN sources indicated that the trouble began in November 2016, when a girl in Kot ward took ill and was reported to have repeatedly mentioned the name of the husband of the deceased.

“When the girl died, the man was accused of killing her through witch craft,” one of the sources said.

The source continued: “The man was forced to carry the corpse of the girl to her grave and was later banished from the village.

“The man felt that he had been wrongly accused and challenged his banishment in court where the matter is ongoing.

“But on Feb. 17, 2017, the man’s wife and daughter were killed in their compound by unknown person.”

The source further said that the matter was reported to the Divisional Police Office, Pankshin, which swung into action and arrested six persons suspected to have a link with the incident.

“We have gone very far in our investigation and shall fish out the killers and bring them to justice,” Terver told NAN.

Terver warned Nigerians against taking the law into their hands, and advised aggrieved persons to approach the Police.(NAN

TYC/DS/ETS

==========

Edited by Ephraims Sheyin

General news

Arrest of journalists: NGE urges caution

Arrest of journalists: NGE urges caution

NAN-H-18

NGE

By Nana Musa

Abuja, Jan. 22, 2017 (NAN) The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has advised aggrieved persons and organisations to channel their grievances to appropriate authorities rather than resort to arrest of journalists in the country.

While calling for caution, the NGE condemned the recent arrest and detention of the publisher of Premium Times, an online publication, Mr Dapo Olorunyomi, and his judiciary correspondent, Ms Evelyn Okakwu, by the police.

The guild made its position known in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

The statement was jointly signed by the NGE President, Ms Funke Egbemode, and the General Secretary, Mrs Victoria Ibanga.

The guild described the action of the police as “unwarranted assault on the freedom of the press and undue interference”.

According to the statement, the recent siege on Premium Times was avoidable if grievances were channelled to the appropriate quarters for redress rather subjecting journalists to “inhuman treatment for exercising their Constitutional right to freedom”.

“Media practice is guided by rules, regulations and laws. There are options for any aggrieved person to seek redress if a media professional offends and libels him or her.

“Arrest and detention never end well. They only lead to strained relationship,’’ the NGE said.

NAN recalls that Olorunyomi and Okakwu were arrested by the police in Abuja on Jan. 19, in connection with a report that the Nigerian Army considered “offensive and libellous”, but they were later released.

The NGE said it gathered reliably that the police were acting on a criminal complaint filed by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.- Gen. Tukur Buratai, adding that the Army chief  “alleged that Premium Times had defamed him by its coverage of military operations against Boko Haram’’.

The NGE noted with concern “the growing clampdown, intimidation and frequent harassment of journalists by the police and other law enforcement agencies in the course of doing their lawful duties”.

“It is important to let overzealous security agencies know that harassment of media professionals is inappropriate and capable of creating tension in an already tensed nation.

“It is an unkind reminder of the dark days of military rule, which witnessed concerted efforts to gag the press through unlawful detention of journalists without trial.

“Wielding the big stick and raiding newsrooms at will in a democratic setting are conducts of poor judgment and sad ways of reminding Nigerians of those days they will rather forget,’’ the statement said.

NGE stressed the need for all security agencies to strengthen the symbiotic relationship between the media and security so as to promote peace and help both parties do their jobs effectively.

“This country belongs to all of us and we all must work hard to protect the integrity, peaceful co-existence and all that binds us together as one entity.

“We are aware of the enormous responsibilities and functions of the media as an institution and would like to note that media professionals are not above the law,’’ the group said.

NGE thanked all those who caused the release of the affected journalists and promised to defend democracy within the confines of what is right and lawful.

However, the guild called on all media professionals in the country to continue to lay much emphasis on things that “unite us rather than things that divide us’’. (NAN)

NHM/OSA/MST

Edited by Shittu Obassa/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Politics

Investigation: Senate threatens arrest of Works Permanent Secretary

Investigation: Senate threatens arrest of Works Permanent Secretary

NAN-H-50

Investigation

By Cecilia John

Abuja, Jan. 11, 2017 (NAN) The Senate Committee on Works has threatened that henceforth the committee would order for the arrest of individuals who failed to honour its invitations.

The Chairman of the committee, Sen. Kabiru Gaya (APC-Kano), issued the threat at an Investigative Public Hearing on Wednesday in Abuja on alleged fraudulent award of contracts by the Ministry of Works in some parts of the country.

Gaya was reacting to the absence of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, and directors of the ministry, stalling the hearing.

He warned that such behaviour would not be tolerated in future, noting that it is worrisome that appointees of the Federal Government always treated invitations from the National Assembly with levity.

Gaya warned that such development ought to stop, saying the inability of the legislature to take action must not be treated as weakness.

“We will not tolerate any kind of disrespect to the National Assembly; the Senate or House of Representatives.

“The Senate must be respected. The President came here and laid the 2017 Budget Proposal. We are legislators, this is our duty.

“I know the Minister is on leave and the Minister of State has gone for Exco Meeting. So, the Permanent Secretary should have been around or at least a director from the ministry.

“We invited them here to come and explain to Nigerians but they are not here to explain and we cannot allow the government to be taking the blame for what is not fault of the government but the fault of staff who are supposed to do these jobs.

“We have shifted the public hearing forward and will put a new date. If again, they refuse to come, we will do what is within our powers.

“We will sign a warrant of arrest and ask the Inspector General of Police to produce whoever refuses to come.

“Therefore, if the permanent secretary or any person we invite refuses to come, we will sign warrant of arrest and ask the IG of Police to bring him here. If the IGP fails, then we will query him,’’ he said.

The Senate had scheduled the investigative hearing following allegations by Coasterners Engineering and Building Services Limited.

They claimed that the processes leading to the short listing of contractors for the two projects was characterised by fraud, manipulation and disregard of the provisions of Public Procurement Act, 2007.

Gaya said the contracts in contention are the “LOT B2 construction of Mararraba-Mubi-Madagali-Michika road in Adamawa and Borno States.

“Another one is the LOT C3 – Rehabilitation of the Zaria-Hunkuyi-Kafur-Gidan Mutundaya road in Kaduna and Kano States.

“The petitioners blame the ministry’s staff and none of them is here, not even a representation.’’

He further said that “the committee will not take it lightly. This is a government that is fighting corruption. This is a government that is not ready to condone corruption.

“Accusations are going out against the ministry officials and they are not here to defend themselves.

“I don’t want to say we are assuming that they are guilty but the Senate has the powers to invite anybody to come if there’s any of this kind of investigative hearings.

“I remember when we were going to the sites; we saw that some contractors have written letters pointing out that some of the lapses in the execution of the contracts are from the ministry.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has provided funding for these projects and there shouldn’t be any delay in awarding the contracts.

“The president has presented a new budget for consideration and yet all the contracts provided for in the previous budget have not gone out.

“That was why the National Assembly reviewed the Procurement Act which we hope the president should sign, but it has not been signed,’’ Gaya said. (NAN)

CJM/NNL/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Defence/Security

Stolen computers: Police arrest KASU student, staff, security

Stolen computers: Police arrest KASU student, staff, security

NAN-H-45

Arrest

Kaduna, Jan. 11, 2016 (NAN) The Police in Kaduna State on Tuesday said it had arrested two students, a staff and a security personnel of Kaduna State University (KASU) over a theft of 20 Desktop computers worth N17.6 million.

The Police Public Relation Officer, ASP Aliyu Usman, made this known to newsmen at the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) of the command in Kaduna.

Usman said on the Dec. 21, 2016, the acting Registrar of the university reported to the stolen case to the Commissioner of Police that:

“On the 20th of December, 2016 (20) pieces of all in one HP Desktop Computers were stolen at the university computer centre.

“Previously about 35 of the computers were stolen at e-library of the school making a total number of fifty five (55) computers estimated at N17.6 million.’’

He said in the course of investigation, operatives of the SIB apprehended one Aminu Shuaibu, a staff of the university, with one of the computers.

According to him, one Dauda Mohammed Umar, a security man on duty during the incident, and Stephen Simon, a student of the university, who criminally conspired with one Nosa and three others to perpetrate the crime, are helping the police the police in their investigation.

He added that Dennis Monday, a student of the university, and one Kamal Aminu were arrested for buying 32 pieces of the stolen computers.

He explained that investigation was on going to arrest all the culprits involved in the act, saying the suspects will be charged to at the end of the investigation.

Meanwhile, the Chief Security Officer of KASU, Malam Nasiru Isyaku, said cases of theft were increasing in the institution.

Isyaku disclosed that 55 desktop computers had been stolen in e-library in the last three years.

The university management had reported the case to the state police command, during which one Aminu Shuaibu, a staff of institution was caught by the police and recovered one system, he said.

The investigation led to the recovery of 33 desktop computers from the suspects, including students, staff and security personnel on duty. (NAN)

TJ/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Defence/Security

Police arrest 21 cattle rustlers, kidnappers in Niger

Police arrest 21 cattle rustlers, kidnappers in Niger

NAN-H-21

Rustlers

By Aminu Ahmed Garko

Minna, Jan. 2, 2017 (NAN) The Police in Niger have announced the arrest of 21 suspected cattle rustlers and kidnappers terrorising residents across state.

The Spokesman of the command, DSP Bala Elkalla, said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Minna.

According to him, the command also recovered 477 cattle, 90 sheeps and various dangerous weapons from the suspects.

He said the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigation is completed.

Elkalla assured residents that the command was adopting proactive measures to end the activities of cattle rustling, kidnapping and other forms of criminal activities in the state. (NAN) AAG/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola