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Police arrest 4 soldiers, 9 others for robbery in Rivers

Published

1 month ago

May 28, 2024

Spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe Koko

Police arrest 4 soldiers, 9 others for robbery in Rivers

The Rivers State Police Command said its men have arrested 13 persons, including four soldiers for alleged armed robbery, hijacking of food trucks and diverting them to other locations.

The police said among those also arrested in the criminal act was a member of the syndicate and operative of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps

The spokesperson for the command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement in Port Harcourt on Monday.

Iringe-Koko said the feat followed a thorough investigation after the policemen made an initial arrest for suspected burglary in a private warehouse in Elimgbu community in Ohio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

She said two of the first set of operatives arrested abandoned their duty post in Delta and Kogi states respectively to engage in criminal activities in Rives State, saying their confession led to the clampdown of other operatives and their civilian collaborators.

The state police image maker further disclosed that the four soldiers and the NSCDC operatives confessed to the crime.

The statement reads, “Investigations by the Rivers State Police Command, following arrests for attempted burglary, have revealed a wide range of criminal activities.

“On March 4, 2024, at approximately 11 pm, the Rivers State Police Command received a distress call about burglars who were attempting to vandalise warehouses in Elimgbu owned by Mr Emmanuel Nwangwu and Mrs Ndifreke Ekanem.

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“The police promptly mobilised to the scene and arrested five suspects who had been severely beaten by a mob.

“The wounded suspects were taken to the police hospital as investigations began. During the investigation, it was discovered that one of the suspects, West Isaac (08NA/61/2653), was a corporal in the Nigerian Army serving in Delta State.

“Another suspect, Jabila Kammangar, also known as ‘Kaka,’ was an officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps serving in Kabba, Kogi State. They confessed to abandoning their posts to engage in criminal activities in Rivers State due to its lucrativeness.

“Corporal West, a 36-year-old father of four from Buguma, Rivers State, joined the Army in 2008 and was assigned to the 3rd Battalion in Warri. He left his base on a sick pass and failed to return even after it expired, remaining absent for over a month until his arrest.”

The statement further noted that West disclosed to the police that he met Kaka while serving in the Army’s Anti-Bunkering Unit, and together, they engaged in several illegal activities.

“He further revealed that he came to Port Harcourt after receiving a call from Kaka about raiding warehouses, which led to their capture.

“Further investigations revealed that they were part of a larger criminal ring specialising in armed robbery, hijacking, and goods diversion.”

The statement added, “Corporal West disclosed to the police that he and other Army personnel had been key players in the group.

“Besides ransacking warehouses, they had a network of informants who provided information about the schedules of goods-bearing trailers.

“They would then dress in full military gear, lay in wait for the trailers, and accost them with a white Hilux van as they approached.

“They would intimidate the drivers, assault them, and hand their keys to designated drivers, who would then divert the trailers to waiting receivers.

“Based on his confessional statement, the police were able to track down and arrest Lance Corporal Abdul Musa (13NA/70/10545), Lance Corporal Mgbe Jeoffrey (16NA/75/6896), and Corporal Innocent Okwoli (12NA/68/6552), all personnel of the Nigerian Army.

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“Additionally, eight civilian collaborators in the syndicate were arrested: Olisa Emeka, George Obilor, Sampson Wilson, Alfred Abeke, Barry John, Auwalu Aliyu, Uchenna Nwali, and Alhaji Sofinu Haruna.

Iringe-Koko said the gang’s key coordinator was Corporal Innocent Okwoli, a native of Otakpo in Benue State and a soldier stationed at Intels in Onne.

“Okwoli stated that he started leading hijacking operations after being introduced to the activity by an individual named Abbas and two unnamed naval officers.

“Following a successful operation, he formed his team,” she stated.

Continuing, she said, “Their numerous crimes include: “The hijacking of a trailer loaded with fertiliser valued at N25m, owned by Alhaji Sadiq Adams, occurred on February 17, 2024.

“On March 4, 2024, the group attempted to burgle warehouses owned by Emmanuel Nwagwu and Ndifreke Ekanem.

“In February 2024, a 40-foot container filled with imported clothing from China was hijacked and diverted.

“In February 2024, a trailer carrying POP cement was hijacked and diverted. The police have since recovered the stolen POP cement and are working to retrieve a trailer load of fertiliser from its receiver.”

It was revealed that an additional white Toyota Hilux used in the gang’s operations had been recovered from the NSCDC officer.

“Four of the affected soldiers have been dismissed by the Nigerian Army after being handed over by the police,” she said.

According to the statement, the state Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, expressed his profound appreciation for the swift and decisive cooperation of the military authorities.

Disu lauded their prompt actions in addressing the involved officers’ misconduct and subsequent handover to the police for prosecution.

He emphasised that this collaborative effort underscored a strong commitment to upholding justice and maintaining public trust in law enforcement institutions.

The CP praised the police officers involved in the arrest and urged them to remain vigilant.

Police arrest 4 soldiers, 9 others for robbery in Rivers

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Bandits storm Abuja council, kill one, kidnap four in fresh attack

Published

2 hours ago

June 30, 2024

Trends Admin

FCT Police Commissioner, Benneth Igweh

Bandits storm Abuja council, kill one, kidnap four in fresh attack

At least one person was killed when a clutch of bandits attack Guto in Bwari Area Council in the nation’s capital, Abuja.

The rampaging armed non-state actor also reportedly abducted four others during the invasion.

Over thirty men were said to have carried out the attack which began around 12:30am on Sunday.

According to Vanguard, the attack started on the outskirts of Guto and Piyawe communities before spreading to Tudun-Fulani and Sabon Gari areas, both in the Council.

The armed men were said to have split into two groups and attacked the communities from different points, having entered Piwaye through the swamps.

They were consequently said to have killed a woman, Madam Alice, who was in her mid 40s and then kidnapped a man.

Alice was said to have gone to the area to visit her sick mother who was being taken care of by her brother when she was killed.

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Two victims were allegedly abducted from their homes in Guto, while another person was kidnapped from Tudun-Fulani, which is less than a kilometre from the council Secretariat.

A resident who preferred anonymity, said the attackers operated from 12:30am to 2:30am with no challenge from security agencies.

He said; “What happened last night was very unfortunate. We couldn’t sleep from 12:30am when they stated till almost three o’clock. Initially we thought it was the vigilance teams who were shooting, but when it became persistent, we knew these people were back again.

“We have had peace for sometime now but unfortunately they have resumed and this time with full force because it was two groups that entered Bwari that night. One was in Guto while the other group was in Piyawe. It was obvious those ones came prepared, because the sounds we heard through the night, suggested they came with sophisticated weapons.”

Another resident of Tudun-Fulani who would not like to be mentioned, alleged that the police failed to show even when frantic calls where made to the divisional headquarters in Bwari.

“We felt so helpless because the kidnappers operated for over an hour, but there was no police or army to challenge them. I called my neighbour when the shooting started and he said he had already called the police. We waited for them to show up for 20 minutes and when we didn’t hear sounds of sirens, we called again but they kept telling us they were on their way. We never saw them until the kidnappers left on their own.”

Bandits storm Abuja council, kill one, kidnap four in fresh attack

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Sexual intercourse with minors under 13 attracts life jail – Delta PPRO

Published

2 hours ago

June 30, 2024

Trends Admin

Delta Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Edafe Bright

Sexual intercourse with minors under 13 attracts life jail – Delta PPRO

Bright Edafe, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, has warned that having sexual intercourse with a child under 13 years old is considered defilement and is punishable by life imprisonment.

In a post on X.com, Edafe emphasized that consent is not a valid defense, and covering up such crimes can result in charges of aiding and abetting.

He also highlighted that taking the matter to court or swearing an affidavit will not suffice, urging parents to report any instances of defilement to the authorities.

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He wrote: “A sexual intercourse with either a boy or a girl under the age of 13 years is defilement and the punishment, if found guilty, is life Imprisonment.

“Section 218 CC. In this case, consent is immaterial and such offences can’t be compounded.

“So going to court and swearing to an affidavit won’t work. In fact, any parent who tries to cover defilement could be charged to court for aiding and abetting.”

Sexual intercourse with minors under 13 attracts life jail – Delta PPRO

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Bandits abduct traditional ruler, others in Kaduna

Published

4 hours ago

June 30, 2024

Trends Admin

Bandits abduct traditional ruler, others in Kaduna

Bandits on Saturday kidnapped Ashiru Sherehu, the traditional ruler of Tunburku in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Sherehu was abducted while returning from his farm.

The area, part of the Fatika district, has been plagued by banditry, making it increasingly dangerous for local residents. Ahmadu, a resident, noted that fear of abduction or death has kept farmers from working their fields just a few kilometers away from the town.

Hussaini Umar, the Sarkin Fadan Galadimawa and another traditional leader in the community, confirmed the kidnapping. He stated that the village head was taken around 5:00 pm on Saturday while returning from his farm.

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“The bandits stopped him and took him away. We haven’t heard from them yet,” Umar said.

On Sunday afternoon, two more farmers were kidnapped in Sabon Layi under Kidandan Ward while working on their farms.

Witnesses were unable to intervene due to the bandits being armed.

Umar expressed his concern over the increasing attacks on farmers and acknowledged the efforts of soldiers in the area. However, he urged the government to deploy more security personnel to address the escalating insecurity.

The Kaduna State Police Command has yet to comment on the incident, and attempts to reach the Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, were unsuccessful.