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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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19-year-old transformer vandal electrocuted in Enugu

Published

1 hour ago

June 29, 2024

Trends Admin

19-year-old transformer vandal electrocuted in Enugu

A yet-to-be-identified suspected electricity vandal has been electrocuted while attempting to steal transformer cable which belong to the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company.

A statement on Friday by the Head, Corporate Communications of EEDC, Emeka Ezeh, said the incident happened in the early hours of Friday.

Ezeh, who described the incident as “tragic and very unfortunate,” lamented the increasing rate at which vandals attack electricity installations within the EEDC’s network daily.

Ezeh said, “In the early hours of today (Friday), the lifeless body of a yet-to-be-identified vandal suspect was found within the space of a distribution transformer belonging to the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Plc located around Missionary Avenue, Coal Camp, Enugu.

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“From all indications, it is presumed that the power supply must have been restored while the deceased was cutting the armoured cables, which resulted in him being electrocuted.

“Vandalism has been a big challenge to the company, and there is no way this can be addressed without the support of critical stakeholders.”

Ezeh lamented the increasing rate at which criminals plunder electricity installations within EEDC’s network daily, noting that it has adversely impacted not just the quality of service to its customers but also its revenue.

Meanwhile, the organisation in a statement on Friday, said, “The attention of the EEDC has been drawn to a video circulating on the social media space, made by one Mazi Okechukwu Cyril Nwuche who claims to be a lecturer at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, and the Anambra State Chairman of South East Electricity Consumers Association, purporting that EEDC is calling on its customers to apply for a free prepaid metre.

“This information is not only incorrect but laced with mischief aimed at misleading unsuspecting customers and creating confusion within the space.

“Whilst EEDC encourages its customers in need of meters to apply and have their premises metered, it is important that they are armed with the right information, and that they also understand the procedure in place for metre acquisition.”

19-year-old transformer vandal electrocuted in Enugu

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Court remands man for defiling eight-year-old daughter in Ondo

Published

2 hours ago

June 29, 2024

Trends Admin

Court remands man for defiling eight-year-old daughter in Ondo

A Family Magistrate Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, has ordered the remand of a man, Mufutau Taiwo, for allegedly defiling his eight-year-old daughter.

The 35-year-old defendant was arrested by policemen for committing the offence at Ayedun Quarters, Akure, a few weeks ago. He was later charged in court on one count charge of rape.

According to the police prosecutor, Mr Martins Olowofeso, the defendant was apprehended on June 18, 2024, following a report made to the Anti-kidnapping Unit of the command at Alagbaka (Akure) that the defendant was involved in an incestuous act with his daughter.

The charge sheet reads, “That you, Mufutau Taiwo, 35, male, on June 5, 2024, at about 4 pm at No. 40 Egbe-Road, Ayedun Quarters, Akure, did have carnal knowledge of your daughter, (name withheld), female, aged eight years old, of the same address, and thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 25(a) of the Ondo State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law 2021.”

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Olowofeso informed the court that the Investigating Police Officer conducted a test in Akure, which revealed that there was penetration into the victim’s private part and she had been bleeding for three days.

He added that the defendant had confessed to the alleged crime during interrogation by the IPO.

The prosecutor, through an application, urged the court to remand the defendant at the Olokuta Correctional Centre pending the issuance of advice from the Department of Public Prosecutions.

The counsel to the defendant, G.O. Omoedu, told the court that his client had just served and he would need time to respond on points of law, urging the court to adjourn the case to enable him to reply to the remand application.

In her ruling, the magistrate B. A. Alipohul ordered that the defendant should be remanded in police custody and adjourned the case till July 4, 2024, for a hearing.

Court remands man for defiling eight-year-old daughter in Ondo

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Eight killed as one-storey building collapses in Kano

Published

2 hours ago

June 29, 2024

Trends Admin

Scene of a building collapse [File photo]

Eight killed as one-storey building collapses in Kano

At least eight people were feared dead when a one-storey building collapsed in the Kuntau area of Gwale Local Government Area, Kano State.

The incident occurred early Friday morning while laborers were working on the construction site.

Sources from the area reported that at least 15 individuals, including the building owner, were trapped when the structure gave way.

The owner, referred to as Sharu, was constructing the new storey to attach to his existing home. Some of the trapped individuals were passersby who had sought shelter from the rain.

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Upon hearing the news, Sharu’s wife reportedly rushed to the site, crying for help. Neighbors and passersby quickly mobilized to rescue those trapped under the rubble. Seven people were rushed to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, and one person died on the way.

A staff member of the Kano Fire Service, who sought anonymity, confirmed that the building trapped 15 people, with seven fatalities reported so far. Buses from the Kano State Fire Service, along with police personnel from the Dorayi Division, left the area around 7:30 p.m. to ensure no one remained trapped in the building and as a precautionary measure.

Preliminary reports suggested that the collapse was due to the use of substandard building materials. Efforts to reach the Kano State Fire Service’s public relations officer were unsuccessful.