metro

Policemen caught drinking on duty, abandon work in Ajah

Published

3 years ago

January 2, 2023

Policemen attached to the Ajiwe Police Division, Ajah, Lagos State, regularly abuse alcohol which may be responsible for the increasing rate of extra-judicial killings by cops from the station.

Investigations by PUNCH Metro showed that residents and business owners also observed the trend.

According to them, the policemen are always under the influence of alcohol while on duty and on patrol.

They said this might be responsible for the recent killing of a pregnant lawyer, Bolanle Raheem, by an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Drambi Vandi, who was attached to the station.

Two weeks earlier, an inspector, Imeh Johnson, attached to the same division, also shot dead another resident, Gafaru Buraimoh, who was on his way to buy fuel.

When our correspondent visited the police station on Tuesday around 10am, some of the officers were seen clustered in pairs outside the premises.

A closer observation revealed some of them consuming alcohol in sachets, while heavily armed.

READ ALSO:

One of the two officers, who sat close to a barbing salon attached to a building beside the station, was seen with a glass cup of beer, which he sipped at intervals.

A policeman among another set of officers who took cover under a shed adjacent to the station was seen drinking a canned alcohol drink with a pistol strapped to his waist.

While some vendors found around the police station made some of the alcoholic drinks available within the officer’s reach, other officers stayed away from prying eyes by walking a distance to patronise other traders.

After observing this for close to one hour, a fair-looking officer, who was earlier seen pacing around the corridor of the station, beckoned on our correspondent.

Close contact with him showed that he was drunk, as his body reeked of alcohol.

While this reporter thought he was about to be questioned about his presence around the police post, the policeman, who sounded incoherent, requested a sum of N200.

Out of curiosity, the reporter gave him N1,000 in expectation of his balance.

The officer immediately took him to a vendor, bought a sachet of alcoholic drink and gulped it on the spot, while the vendor provided the balance.

PUNCH Metro also learnt that the police officers paid regular visits to some alcoholic vendors behind a motor park under the Ajah Bridge, where Raheem was shot dead.

Our correspondent, who visited the spot and mingled with some of the street urchins, observed as they hailed some of the policemen, who came to patronise a female customer spotted at a corner under the bridge.

READ ALSO:

A resident, Soliu Adekanmbi, said the officers were known for their open abuse of alcohol.

He said, “The officers do things the way they like and nobody is checking them. It looks like nobody can confront them. Most of them are always with alcoholic packs while on duty. They drink them here under the bridge while in uniform. It is what everybody knows, but no one can say anything since the police authorities have done nothing about it.”

Our correspondent also gathered that most of the policemen had spent a long time in the area and had refused to be transferred.

A community development association chairman, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the issue, said this had contributed to their excesses in the community.

He said, “Most of the police officers have turned this community into their permanent place. Most of them rise through the ranks to retire here. That is why they have become uncontrollable. Some have spent between 15 and 20 years in the station. Anytime a transfer comes, they manipulate it. They know who to settle. Even in Langbasa Police Station, there is one Supol Sunday and one Inspector Yomi and up to 10 of them who have spent up to those number of years. They do not want to leave the station because of pecuniary gains. When the first incident happened, they changed the DPO. But the one that happened on Sunday shows it is not about changing DPO but the policemen.”

The Executive Director of the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, Okechukwu Nwanguma, said drinking on duty contravened the Police Act of 2020.

READ ALSO:

He said, “The Police Act 2020 is very clear on the use of alcohol among police officers. It prohibits police officers from drinking alcohol while on duty. It also provides penalties for persons offering or selling alcohol to police officers on duty. Drug use and abuse among security agencies, including the police in Nigeria is very high. Police officers in uniform enter beer parlours with arms, sit and drink alcohol. This is prohibited under the law, but it has become a usual spectacle.

“There is no other way to explain what has happened to the woman (Raheem) order than that the officer acted under the influence of alcohol, because how do you explain that a police officer would simply pull a trigger on a woman who was not armed?

“One of the issues that came up after #EndSARS was the need to do a psychological evaluation of police officers, especially those who handle arms to be sure that they are mentally stable. But this did not happen. Even the recruitment procedures have been compromised. People who are unfit find their way into the police because the guideline for recruitment is circumvented. There is the need for a genuine commitment to implement reforms that address these problems, as well as competent leadership both at the level of the police and at the political level.”

According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, it is an offence to drink on duty.

He said, “If a police officer is drunk while on duty, it is a disciplinary offence and there are laid down procedures dealing with such a person. It is the duty of the DPO or any officer that discovers the same to bring him for disciplinary action.”

metro

Troops Intercept 569 Rounds of Ammunition, IED Components on Kaduna–Jos Road

Published

23 hours ago

April 18, 2026

Trends Admin

Soldiers intercept large cache of ammunition

Troops Intercept 569 Rounds of Ammunition, IED Components on Kaduna–Jos Road

Troops of Operation Enduring Peace have intercepted a large cache of ammunition and suspected improvised explosive device (IED) components along the Kaduna–Jos highway, in a major security breakthrough aimed at curbing violent attacks in the region.

The operation, carried out at about 11:45am on Thursday, took place near Boys Science Secondary School along the Manchok–Jos axis in Kaduna State. The troops, supported by a special forces tactical team, were conducting a routine stop-and-search when they flagged down a suspicious commercial vehicle.

According to the Nigerian Army, the vehicle—a navy-blue Opel wagon with registration number NSR 154 TA Kano—was conveying seven passengers at the time of interception.

A thorough search of the vehicle led to the discovery of concealed military-grade items, including 569 rounds of 12.7mm anti-aircraft ammunition and several high-velocity warheads. Troops also recovered 189 empty shells of 7.62mm special ammunition, raising further suspicion about the intended use of the materials.

In addition, security personnel found disused GSM handsets, which are believed to be components commonly adapted for remotely detonated IEDs, pointing to possible links with planned attacks or insurgent activity.

READ ALSO:

The driver of the vehicle, identified as Khalifa Bawa, reportedly denied ownership of the recovered items, claiming that the consignment was a “waybill” handed over to him by an unidentified individual. He also stated that he had no knowledge of either the sender or the intended recipient.

All occupants of the vehicle have since been taken into custody for further interrogation, while the vehicle and recovered items remain in military custody as investigations continue.

Military authorities disclosed that efforts are ongoing to trace the origin of the shipment and dismantle the network behind it, noting that such interceptions are critical in preventing potential attacks and disrupting the supply chain of weapons to criminal groups.

The Kaduna–Jos corridor, linking Kaduna and Jos, has remained a strategic but vulnerable route due to recurring security threats, including banditry and insurgent activities.

Security analysts say the interception highlights the increasing use of civilian transport systems for moving illicit arms, as well as the evolving tactics of criminal elements deploying improvised explosive devices.

The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to intelligence-driven operations and sustained patrols to secure highways and protect lives, urging members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies.

Troops Intercept 569 Rounds of Ammunition, IED Components on Kaduna–Jos Road

metro

Offa Robbery: Kwara Files Fresh 20-Count Charge Against Saraki, Ahmed

Published

23 hours ago

April 18, 2026

Trends Admin

Former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara and former Senator Bukola Saraki

Offa Robbery: Kwara Files Fresh 20-Count Charge Against Saraki, Ahmed

The Kwara State Government has filed a 20-count criminal charge against former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and ex-governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, over alleged involvement in the 2018 Offa robbery that claimed dozens of lives.

Also listed as defendants in the suit are Yusuf Abdulwahab, a former Chief of Staff to Ahmed, and Alabi Olalekan, alongside five individuals previously convicted in connection with the deadly attack.

The charges, filed on April 9, 2026, before the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin, allege that the defendants conspired on April 5, 2018, in Offa to execute coordinated attacks on several commercial banks. The affected financial institutions include branches of Guaranty Trust Bank, First Bank of Nigeria, Ecobank, Union Bank, and Zenith Bank, all targeted during the large-scale operation.

According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly provided arms, financial support, and logistics to the robbery gang, an offence punishable under the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act. The government maintains that the charges are based on evidence linking the accused persons to the planning and execution of the attacks.

The Offa robbery remains one of Nigeria’s most brutal criminal incidents in recent years. On April 5, 2018, gunmen launched coordinated assaults on banks and a police station in Offa, Kwara State, killing at least 33 people, including a pregnant woman and 12 police officers, sparking nationwide outrage.

READ ALSO:

In September 2024, a Kwara State High Court convicted five suspects—Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salahudeen Azeez, and Niyi Ogundiran—for armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms, and culpable homicide. Their convictions and sentences were upheld by the Court of Appeal in January 2026, reinforcing earlier judicial findings in the case.

Following the 2018 incident, the Nigeria Police invited Saraki for questioning after allegations that the gang leader, Akinnibosun, linked members of the robbery gang to him as political associates. Authorities also claimed that the gang received vehicles and financial support through Abdulwahab.

However, during court proceedings in March 2019, Akinnibosun alleged that Abba Kyari, then a Deputy Commissioner of Police, pressured him and others to implicate Saraki and coerced confessional statements. This development introduced controversy into the case and raised questions about the credibility of earlier testimonies.

Saraki has consistently denied any involvement, describing the allegations as false, politically motivated, and lacking credible evidence. Ahmed and the other defendants are also expected to challenge the charges as the case proceeds in court.

The fresh legal action sets the stage for a high-profile trial that could reignite debate over political accountability, criminal justice, and the integrity of investigations in Nigeria. Observers say the outcome will depend largely on the prosecution’s ability to establish a clear and direct link between the accused and the convicted robbers.

Offa Robbery: Kwara Files Fresh 20-Count Charge Against Saraki, Ahmed

metro

US-Based Nigerian Doctor Dies During Free Medical Outreach in Nigeria

Published

23 hours ago

April 18, 2026

Trends Admin

US-Based Nigerian Doctor Dies During Free Medical Outreach in Nigeria

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic death of U.S.-based Nigerian physician, Dr. Uzoma Nwaubani, who passed away while participating in a free medical outreach in Abia State.

In a condolence message personally signed and released in Umuahia, the governor described the late doctor as a committed, compassionate, and selfless professional who died in the line of humanitarian service.

The outreach programme, organised by the Abia State Government in partnership with the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA), was a five-day free healthcare initiative held from April 13 to April 17, targeting underserved communities across the state.

According to Otti, Dr. Nwaubani, a respected obstetrician and gynaecologist, travelled from the United States alongside her husband and daughter—who is a final-year medical student—to render free medical services to residents.

READ ALSO:

During the outreach, she reportedly suffered a sudden medical emergency and was rushed to a hospital for urgent care. The governor revealed that both ANPA members and local medical professionals worked intensively in a coordinated effort to save her life.

“Despite the gallant efforts of the highly skilled medical team to resuscitate her, she could not make it,” Otti said.

The governor extended his heartfelt condolences to her family, colleagues, and ANPA leadership, noting that the Abia State Government has already made contact with them and will provide the necessary support during the mourning period.

He further commended the resilience of ANPA and the late doctor’s family for allowing the outreach programme to continue despite the tragic loss, ensuring that many residents still benefited from the humanitarian medical mission.

Describing her death as a huge loss to Nigeria’s healthcare sector and the diaspora community, Otti reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery in Abia State and safeguarding the well-being of both citizens and visiting professionals.

He also prayed for the peaceful repose of her soul and strength for her loved ones in this difficult time.