Why Oshiomhole SSA, Curtis Eghosa Ugbo was arrested by the police

Many Edo youths have continued to express shock over the arrest of SSA  on Social Media to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Curtis Eghosa Ugbo by the anti-cultism unit of the Edo State Police command on Wednesday.

oshiomhole

The reason for the arrest was not clear initially but  a copy of the statement made available to NAIJA CENTER NEWS at the police station, indicated that Curtis was arrested over a post made against the governor on the popular social media, Facebook.

Curtis on his post had expressed concern over the Edo State-owned Cement Industry which was launched on Wednesday by the business tycoon, Alhaji Alico Dangote in Okpella.

The SSA wondered why there were no state house members or speaker and members of the national assembly present at the venue.

He also wondered if the business was personal.Curtis said: ” The ground breaking of Edo State-owned Cement Industry in partnership with a private company under government Public Private Partnership (PPP) and no state stakeholders, no state house members or speaker and national assembly members presence noticed?

“Is Edo State now personal business of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole (my boss) ??

“Is this not bad for democracy???

“Edo State people are wiser now and we can not continue to allow this to happen right in our eyes!!

“Edo State is not for SALE!!!!”

Rumour also has it that Curtis is a strong supporter of  the deputy governor, Pius Odubu who has been fighting to click the 2016 governorship ticket against Oshiomhole’s decision to feature Godwin Obaseki.

According to police report titled “Commissioner of Police vs Curtis Eghosa Ugbo, it reads:

“That you Curtis Eghosa Ugbo on the 12 April, 2015 at No. 2b Ugbor Road, Benin City in ORedo Magisterial district did make a publication on internet, with the caption “what is wrong with my boss, the ground breaking of Edo State own cement industry in partnership with a private company under government public-private partnership (PPP) and Stakeholders, no state house members or speaker and national assembly member presence noticed.”

“That you Curtis Eghosa Ugbo on th same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did make or publish an article on the internet against the Governor of Edo State Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in a manner likely to cause breach of the peace and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 249(d) of the Criminal Code, Cap, 48, Vol 11, Laws of the Defunct Bendel State of Nigeria 1976, as application in Edo State.

“That you Curtis Eghosa Ugbo on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district unlawfully had in your possession a double barrel gun without a duly acquired valid licence and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 430(2) of the Criminal Code, Cap 48, Vol 11, Laws of the Defunct Bendel State of Nigeria 1976, as application in Edo State.”

Many youths had over the months accused Oshiomhole of operating an autocratic government by going after anyone who is not on his side.

Many loyalists to Pius Odubu have either been sacked, suspended or arrested.

 

Why Oshiomhole SSA, Curtis Eghosa Ugbo was arrested by the police

Married female gospel singer found dead in hotel in Edo State

A female gospel singer identified as Yvonne Omoarebokhae has been found dead in a hotel owned by a former lawmaker in the Edo State House of Assembly.

Police Inspector General, Solomon Arase

She was said to have lodged in the hotel with a Lagos-based Pastor whose name was given as Apostle Psalm Okpe of the Fresh Oil Ministry.

Husband of the deceased, Odion, said his wife met Apostle Sam on Facebook and after several months of chatting, his late wife was invited last week Thursday by the Pastor to perform in Warri, Delta State.

Odion said Apostle Sam claimed to have a programme in Warri, Asaba and Benin City where his wife was to perform.

He said his wife called him at about 10am last Friday that she would be home soon.

The physically peeved husband said, “At about 9:30pm, the police used my wife phone to call and invited me to report at the Airport Road police station.”

“I waited for more than two hours at the police station until the police asked me to go home but I insisted on knowing the whereabouts of my wife.”

“The DPO later told me that my wife was picked at a hotel in the GRA and rushed to the Benin Central hospital where she was confirmed dead.”

“I am yet to see the corpse of my wife to know what happen and who is responsible for her death. We have a three-year-old baby at home.”

It was however learnt that the pastor has been arrested and helping police with the investigation.

State Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, confirmed the death of the woman and said the matter was under investigation.

Ezike said a post mortem examination will confirm the cause of death.

His words, “It is under investigation. The man is married and the woman is married. Not until a post mortem is conducted, we cannot conclude what happened. I have asked the matter to be transferred to the State CID.”

Married female gospel singer found dead in hotel in Edo State

I work for Lagos policeman, says suspected robber

A 21-year-old suspected robber, Akeem Popoola, says a police inspector attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, uses him to swindle unsuspecting victims.

Police Inspector General, Solomon Arase

He said he had worked for the policeman, identified as Inspector Festus, aka Ijaya, for about four months before he was arrested.

The carpenter, who is currently in custody at the Agbado divison, Ogun State, was arrested for robbery and burglary. A mattress and speakers of a sound system were reportedly recovered from him in the Giwa area of Agbado on April 6.

He told PUNCH Metro that apart from burglary, he used to collect phones from the inspector and he would later sell them.

He added that Ijaya and two others – Abbey and Aluko – would get the buyers arrested minutes later for buying stolen items.

Akeem said their victims paid Ijaya between N120,000 and N150,000 before they were released, adding that he got N5,000 as his share on each ‘deal’.

“In November 2015, one of my father’s tenants and I fought. When my daddy came back home on that day, she reported me to him and he handed me over to Inspector Festus at the state police command headquarters, Ikeja. He told him I was too troublesome and wanted him to discipline me. But he (Ijaya) did not. He took me to a beer parlor at Alakuko and gave me N5,000. I was very surprised.

“Two days after, we met at another beer parlour around Agbado, where I was made to swear an oath. He brought out a gun and put some gin inside the barrel. He drank from it and gave me the gun to do same. He said he would be sending me on some errands. He gave me a mobile phone and drove me in his Toyota Camry to POWA complex in Ikeja.

“He told me to sell the phone inside the complex which I did for N20,000. After an hour, he handcuffed me and took me in his car with his boys – Abbey and Aluko – to the man that bought the phone. He arrested the man and told him to pay N200,000 if he did not want to be taken to the station. The man raised N150,000 among his friends in that complex and gave him.

“When we left there, he removed the handcuffs and gave me N5,000 and we departed.”

The Oke Ona, Abeokuta indigene said the second deal he had with Ijaya was an iPad he sold to another unsuspecting victim around Ikeja. He said he got a N5,000 share from the N150,000 bribe the inspector allegedly collected from the buyer, who was also accused of acquiring stolen property.

He added that when he decided to quit, Ijaya refused.

Akeem told our correspondent that Ijaya threatened they had sworn an oath and that he would die if he backed out from the deal or revealed it to his father.

“Sometime in February, the inspector gave me a Techo phone which I sold to a guy at Agbado. The guy gave me N7,000 and a small phone. Thirty minutes later, we went back with my hands handcuffed. And as he normally did, he collected about N120,000 from him before he was released. I also got my N5,000 share. I can say all this in his presence,” he added.

Akeem said he had stolen a plasma television at Oke Aro area of Agbado on the order of Ijaya, insisting that the item was still with the policeman.

His father, Mr. Ahmed Popoola, who regretted handing him over to the policeman, said his son was a thief before he took him to Ijaya for discipline.

He said he strove to meet Akeem’s needs and had counselled him on several occasions to no avail.

“He had been stealing before I took him to a police friend, Yekini, who handed him over toIjaya with a belief that he (Akeem) will change if he sees the way thieves are being punished. He had been embarrassing me. He still has a case in the Sango-Ota division. I was arrested and detained because of him.

“When he finished his secondary school, he told me he did not want to proceed to a higher institution. I enrolled him as an apprentice in my carpentry workshop and constructed a wooden shop for him when he graduated. He removed all the planks I used to construct the shop and sold them. Let the law take its course.”

The spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, DSP Muyiwa Adejobi, said the police were on the trail of Ijaya and his accomplices. He added that the case had been transferred to the command’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

He said, “The suspect was arrested for robbery and burglary. He mentioned Ijaya and some others and we have commenced investigation. If any of them is actually a policeman, we are going to send a signal to the command he is attached to and he will be arrested.”

But the Lagos State Police spokesperson, SP Dolapo Badmos, denied that Ijaya was a serving cop in the command.

“We don’t have a policeman bearing Festus or Ijaya in the command,” she said.

I work for Lagos policeman, says suspected robber

Four injured as youths invade community with weapons in Edo State

No fewer than four persons have been reportedly injured after some armed youths allegedly invaded Iguogboe community in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State.

communal clashes

It was learnt that the youths, said to have been armed with guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons, also destroyed valuables in the community.‎

It was gathered that ongoing building projects at two sites in the community were forced to a halt following the destruction of blocks and other building materials.

It was learnt that it took the intervention of a team of policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer of Ogida Police Division, Mr. Ajidahun Lawrence, to restore calm in the area.

Although, the exact cause of the attack could not be ascertained, it was gathered that there were several land disputes between Igbuogboe and‎ Obagie communities awaiting court judgement.

The Odionwere of Iguogboe community Mr. J. E. Aghedo explained that he was in his garden when some persons suspected to be hoodlums stormed the area at about 3pm on Friday.

He said on sighting them with dangerous weapons, he ran to Ogida police station where he made a report on the incident.‎

Aghedo also alleged that there had been several attempts to annex his community.

But the Odionwere of Obagie community, Mr. Paul Otawowie, said that he was informed on the telephone that some youths from Iguogboe had attacked the youth secretariat in his community over a disputed piece of land in the area.

Otawowie, however, noted that the matter had been reported at a nearby police station.‎‎

‎Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations, Mr. Abiodun Osifo, were not successful.

But the DPO called on members of the warring communities to embrace peace, as the police would not condone acts capable of endangering lives and property.

He also urge the village heads to call their youths to order through meaningful dialogue.

Four injured as youths invade community with weapons in Edo State

Police arrest four suspected human parts dealers in Delta

Police detectives attached to the Delta State Police Command, Asaba, have arrested four persons, including two native doctors over alleged human parts sale in Asaba, Issele-Azagba and its environs.

Police Inspector General, Solomon Arase

The arrest of the suspects last Monday, the command’s image maker in the state, Mrs. Celestina Kalu, said, was made possible when the security operatives acted on a tip-off via a petition forwarded to the command.

It was reliably gathered that the suspected human parts dealers were arrested with the hand of a man allegedly cut off from his body by unknown persons.

The human part was found inside the boot of the suspects’ vehicle on their way to the eastern part of the country

But the State Police PRO, (Kalu) said security operatives were on a stop-and-search on the suspects when they found the human hand in their boot in a sack of bag, adding that the suspects were currently undergoing interrogation.

Explaining that other suspects within the area fled on sighting the police, Kalu said, “It is true that we arrested four persons and two native doctors with human parts, but we are interrogating them with the exhibit we recovered from them in the vehicle. They were travelling to the eastern part.”

The state police spokespersons said the leader of the gang identified as Samson (surname withheld), upon interrogation, confessed that they sold human parts to native doctors, who often lodged into a hotel behind the stadium in Asaba (name withheld).

She said investigations had revealed that the alleged sale of human parts were made possible with mortuary workers and dare devil armed robbers, who in turn allegedly sold to native doctors in Ondo State and some parts of the eastern states.

Meanwhile, an Ogwashi-Uku-based journalist, Innocent Osakwe, was last Thursday attacked by a gang of suspected armed robbers, who reportedly made away with N250,000 and his property.

Osakwe told Southern City News that the robbers came into his house in the community in the wee hours and at gun point, ordered him to surrender his money and property.

Police arrest four suspected human parts dealers in Delta

Man, 20, jailed three years for stealing N300,000 in Edo State

An Evbouriaria Magistrates’ Court in Benin, Edo State, has sentenced one Joseph Nanchang, to three years imprisonment for stealing the sum of N300,000.

The presiding magistrate Mrs. C. E. Oghuma, sentenced the convict to a three -year jail terms on Friday with no option of fine.

Nanchang had been arraigned on two counts on conspiracy and stealing, to which he had pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Sergeant Olatoye Oluwaseun, had told the court that the 20-year-old convict, along with others now at large, committed the crime on February 23, 2016.

Oluwaseun had explained that the convict stole the said amount from one Mrs. Victoria Owie at 18, Muritala Mohammed Way in Benin.

According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened Section 516 and 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap. 48, Vol. II, Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria,1976, as applicable in Edo.

Man, 20, jailed three years for stealing N300,000 in Edo State

Police arrest three for kidnapping cleric in Edo

The police in Edo State have arrested three persons, including a businesswoman, for allegedly kidnapping a pastor of a Pentecostal church, Gilbert Akioyamen, in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of the state.

‎It was gathered that Akioyamen was abducted at about 6pm on March 24, along Ukun road while on his way to the Deeper Life camp in the area.

‎It was learnt that the suspects were arrested after the Ekpoma divisional police headquarters received a distress call and combed several buildings in the area.

According to the police, the victim was later rescued while two of the “hoodlums‎ on guard” were arrested.

The police identified the suspects arrested in connection with the abduction as Charles Arasomwan, 22; Jezreel Ekanem, 21; and Mbindi Nneka, 26.

According to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike, while Arasomwan and Ekanem were nabbed in the building where the victim was kept, Nneka was arrested in the apartment of one of the suspects, said to be her relative.

“Two locally made cut-to-size single barrel guns, mask, ATM cards, one long rope and one mat were recovered from the suspects,” Ezike added.

PUNCH gathered that the pastor escaped from the kidnappers’ den when the suspects were asleep.

‎One of the suspects, Ekanem, told our correspondent when he was paraded along with 74 others on Thursday, that the pastor had been kept in their custody by some other fleeing suspects, who promised to reward them.

He explained that they later fell asleep, after the cleric refused to speak with them, and woke up to discover that the victim had escaped.

“They said they were going to the bank and that we should keep an eye on the man‎. They said that they would give us something to buy some beer.

“The man did not talk to us, so we slept off. When we woke up, we realised he had escaped,” he said.

But the female suspect, Nneka, denied any knowledge of the abduction, adding that she was only in the apartment to remove her property‎.

She also blamed her landlord for her arrest.

The woman said, “I don’t know how the matter started. I was the one living in the apartment before I put my brother there when I got married. It was the landlord that instructed me to remove the property from the apartment .

“I wish I knew that it would have resulted into this; it was the landlord that put me in this problem.‎ I only went there to move the property to my house.”

Meanwhile, the police commissioner said that a total of 25 armed robbery and kidnapping suspects ‎were arrested in different locations between February 1 to April 7, 2016.

Police arrest three for kidnapping cleric in Edo

Drug abuse: IG orders urine tests for police officers

The Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, has said the Force will henceforth carry out urine tests on all policemen for signs of drug abuse before they are issued lethal weapons or posted to their operational points.

Police Inspector General, Solomon Arase

Apart from denying access to firearms or retrieving guns from officers who failed such drug tests, Arase stated that the police would provide appropriate help to wean them from drugs or other emotional or psychological issues that may trigger fatal outcomes in their line of duty.

The IG said this on Wednesday in Abuja during the inauguration of drug testing and campaign against sudden death among police officers organised in collaboration with Hypertension and Diabetes Awareness Foundation.

Arase said the police had attracted public odium through misapplication of weapons which he said could be due to mishandling of firearms by police officers who were psychologically unfit to handle weapons at that particular time.

He said, “Some of these psychological problems could also have resulted from drug abuse by few of our men. We have therefore decided that the medical assessment of persons we recruit into the police force will include a psychological assessment.

“In addition, effective immediately, we will carry out snap urine tests for signs of drug abuse on all policemen before we issue any lethal weapons to them or at their operational points.  We are in partnership with a reputable group of psychiatrists and psychologists in this project.”

The police chief said he had initiated a policing strategy that would make the Nigeria Police transit from exclusive reliance on lethal weapons in the management of threats and social disorders to the engagement of less lethal weapon system such as electro-muscular disruption weaponry, known as taser or stun gun.

“Orders have been placed for this weaponry and adequate training framework is being put in place; my long term vision is to effectively address issues that engender misuse of firearms and give true meaning to our mandate of safeguarding the lives of our citizens,” he added.

To commemorate the World Health Day on Diabetes, the IG said he had directed the Force Medical Department to screen policemen for chronic non-communicable diseases, including diabetes and hypertension.

He encouraged police officers to come forward for the medical screening, stating that the force needed a healthy workforce to carry out its responsibilities.

Drug abuse: IG orders urine tests for police officers

Missing kids found dead on church premises

There was panic at Matogun, in the Lambe area of Ogun State on Tuesday after the police recovered corpses of two missing pupils from a church in the community, Christ Crusaders’ Deliverance Ministry.

The deceased – six-year-old Isaac Ayegbo, a primary 2 pupil, and Ayomide Innocent, 4, who was in Nursery 1 – were reportedly found inside the church’s vehicle after they were declared missing on Sunday.

The deceased’s parents are neigbours.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Ayomide’s mother, while travelling to the Republic of Benin on Friday, brought him to Isaac’s mother to look after him.

Our correspondent learnt that the children, after taking their lunch on Sunday, were playing outside Ayegbos’ residence, which was opposite the church, when they went missing.

Isaac’s father, Abiodun Ayegbo, was said to have reported the duo’s disappearance at the Agbado Police Division on the same day, but he was told to come back after 24 hours, which he did.

He said, “Ayomide was my friend’s son and he was brought to my wife when his mother travelled.

“She did not take him along because of his school because she would spend about six months there. They (Isaac and Ayomide) came back with my wife from church on Sunday and she gave them food.

“After eating, they went playing around the house. It was my grandmother who raised the alarm when she did not see them. I was told on the telephone to come home when they could not be found.

“I was called this morning (Tuesday) from the station and on getting there, the policemen took me to Christ Crusaders’ Deliverance Ministry, where their corpses were recovered.”

Our correspondent learnt that an angry mob would have set the church ablaze, but for the intervention of armed policemen deployed in the area.

Abiodun’s brother, Kunle Ayegbo, said he found the slippers Isaac wore on the day he went missing inside a car on the church premises, adding that about eight pairs of sandals were also found inside a bus, where their corpses were recovered.

He said the discovery made him sense that something had gone amiss and urged the police to thoroughly investigate the matter to unravel those responsible for the dastardly act.

“The police initially wanted to change the fact that the children were found dead on the church premises, but we stood our grounds. I took some pictures in the church but we were not allowed to take the picture of the children. I found Isaac’s slippers inside a car and about eight other sandals in a bus. I suspect foul play and want this case to be properly investigated and the culprits brought to book.

“Some boys in the community nearly set the church on fire. The policemen and I had to calm them down. We want justice on this matter,” he said.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Ayomide’s father, Nouanti Innocent, passed out when the news of his son’s death was broken to him and he had yet to regain consciousness as of Tuesday evening. His wife had yet to be informed of the incident.

A pastor at the headquarters of the church in the Akute area of the state, Mr. Yemi Adebisi, who spoke on behalf of the church, said the incident was still a mystery as there were guards manning the premises around the clock.

He said the remains of the children were discovered by some members of the church who wanted to sleep inside the bus before the commencement of a vigil.

He said, “The corpses were discovered around 11pm when some church members wanted to sleep inside the bus. We are having a five-day vigil. They alerted the pastor and he called me immediately. We have reported the matter to the police. The vehicle where the corpses were found belongs to the church and it has been out of order for years. People usually sleep inside it.

“There are guards who man  the place all day and all night. I can’t understand the mystery surrounding it. It was a strange occurrence and it has destabilised everybody. It is a major challenge to the church.”

The Ogun State Police spokesperson, DSP Muyiwa Adejobi, said the pastor of the church, Babatunde Olakunle, and a church worker, Adewale Babalola, had been arrested.

He said, “We recovered two corpses on the church premises and had been deposited in a mortuary for autopsy.

“We have commenced our investigation. The pastor of the church and a church worker were arrested.”

Missing kids found dead on church premises

Fulani herdsmen attack Rivers community

The Rivers State Police Command has dismissed what it called unsubstantiated reports in some sections of the media following a recent attack in Egi land, at Ohali-Elu town of Onelga in Rivers State.

Fulani Herdsmen

The Police released a statement signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Mohammad, on Monday.

The Police said that on Thursday, at about 5:30am, the Police in Ohali-Elu town received reports that unidentified assailants suspected to be herdsmen had struck in the area, leaving one Pastor Geoffery Ogagaghene dead after severe cutlass cuts.

According to him, in the build up to the attack, there was an unreported case of stealing of unspecified number of cattle belonging to some herdsmen allegedly by some youths in the community.

“The case was never reported to the Police, (but) it is reasonably suspected that the attack might have been carried out by the herdsmen as reprisal for stealing their cows,” the Rivers Police Command said.

DSP Mohammad further said that although there were sources that put the death toll at six, the command could only confirm the death of Pastor Geoffery whose corpse was seen.

According to the command, calm has since returned to the town following the heavy deployment of armed mobile policemen to forestall breakdown of law and order.

Fulani herdsmen attack Rivers community

Stop dumping babies in waste bin - Mrs. Arase

Wife of the Inspector General of Police, Mrs. Agharase Arase, has appealed to young mothers to stop dumping their newborn babies in dust bin and gutter, saying the act is painful and deeply disturbing.

Police Inspector General, Solomon Arase

Mrs. Arase, who is the President, Police Officers Wives Association, POWA, spoke in Port Harcourt, yesterday, when POWA donated food items to children at an orphanage homeRepresented by the Chairperson, Rivers State Chapter of POWA and wife of the state Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Margaret Kimo, the wife of the IGP said the donation to Port Harcourt Children Home was part of the activities lined up for the police week.

While urging young girls to shun premarital sex, she thanked minders at the home for being there for the children, praying that God will continue to reward them for their service to the children.”Our young girls who take the risk of giving birth, it is sad to hear you dump them in the dust bin. God should have mercy on such people. It is not easy taking care of children as a mother, I know the challenge.

God will bless you (workers at the home ) for giving hope to these children,” she said.Mrs. Arase enjoined public spirited Nigerians to identify with the home.Items donated to the orphanage included cartons of noodles and bags of rice.Matron of the home, Mrs. Barile Wanko, thanked POWA for remembering the children, praying God to continue to bless them and their households

Stop dumping babies in waste bin - Mrs. Arase

Policeman bags life sentence for killing driver

An Egyptian court sentenced Saturday a policeman to life imprisonment for shooting dead a driver over a fare dispute, a judicial source said, a case that provoked outrage over police abuses.

Mustafa Mahmud was referred to an expedited trial after he shot dead Mohamed Ali Sayed Ismail with his police issue firearm in February, sparking rare protests and an apology from the interior ministry.

Mahmud had hired Ismail to transport his belongings when they had a dispute over the fare that turned violent.

A life sentence in Egypt is 25 years. Mahmud can appeal the verdict issued by the Cairo criminal court.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi had said he would ask parliament to amend the law to toughen sanctions for police abuses after the incident.

Police have been on the defensive after a string of deaths in custody, reminiscent of abuses that sparked an 18-day uprising that toppled longtime president Hosni Mubarak in 2011.

Five years on, human rights groups are again denouncing torture and deaths in police stations, arbitrary arrests and the disappearances of opponents of the regime.

In February, thousands of doctors held a protest against the police after officers allegedly assaulted two doctors in a hospital.

Over the past year, several policeman has been detained for violence against prisoners and some have been sentenced to jail.

AFP

Policeman bags life sentence for killing driver

Police detain two for recording extortion

The police in Obudu, northern part of Cross River State, have arrested two men, Stephen Apebende and his unidentified friend, for allegedly photographing police officers via their cell phones while extorting road users.

Police Inspector General, Solomon Arase

This came just as the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, had during his visit to Calabar berated some commissioners of police for being responsible for extortions from road users.

The detained men, who spent their Easter Sunday and Monday holidays at the police cell in Obudu Police Station, were arrested along the Obudu Ranch Resort Road at the police checkpoint just before the residence of the Chief of Staff to Governor Ben Ayade, Mr. Martins Orim.

Southern City News learnt on Friday that the officers were furious that Apebende and his friend had captured them while collecting bribe from road users.

The situation was further compounded after the policemen discovered that they could not gain access to the photo album of the android and i-phone that was used by the duo in capturing their images.

A family source, Ugbe Samson, said, “The two men were released on Monday after the policemen brought in a local GSM phone guru to unlock the seized phones.”

It was learnt that Apebende, who works with a non-governmental organisation with focus on HIV/AIDS, would press for legal redress over the matter.

Samson said although Apebende was advised by close family relatives not to push for any case against the police, the plea, it was gathered might not work.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. John Eluu, said he was not aware of the development.

“I have not got that report from the Obudu division. But I would want to advise those affected to come to the Police headquarters in Calabar to formally lay their complaints if anything of that nature ever happened. The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Henry Fadairo, will attend to such case if they have proof.”

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, had during a stakeholders meeting with traditional rulers, Muslim and Christian community leaders and traders, said extortion from road users in any state is a reflection of the disposition of commissioner of police.

Arase, who was responding to complaints from a stakeholder on extortions on highways, said, “You can know a corrupt commissioner of police from the conduct of his men on the highway. If I am driving through some states in Nigeria, I easily perceive the personality of the commissioner through his men.”

Police detain two for recording extortion

Abducted Edo lawmaker’s mother escapes kidnappers’ den

The 68-year-old mother of a lawmaker in the Edo State House of Assembly, Abibat Adjoto, who was reportedly abducted by suspected kidnappers, ‎has regained her freedom.

The Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Osifo Abiodun, confirmed this to our correspondent this evening.

‎The woman, whose son, Kabiru Adjoto, represents Akoko Edo II constituency, was said to have been kidnapped on Thursday at her residence within Ikakumo village, in Akoko Edo Local Government Area of the state.

‎She was reportedly abducted along with one of her adopted sons, whose name could not to be verified.

According sources, the suspected kidnappers invaded the village at about 1am on Thursday, shooting sporadically for about two hours, causing the villagers to scamper for safety.

Efforts to reach the three-time lawmaker for comments on Saturday were unsuccessful.

‎But a source close to the family, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that the kidnappers forcefully took their victims away, after beating them up.

It was also learnt that the abductors had yet to make any contact with the family of the victims.

‎The source said, “They came to our village and started shooting. They took mama away and one of her sons.”

The police spokesman said Abiba‎t reportedly escaped from the kidnappers den on the same day.

‎Abiodun, who said that she has since been reunited with her family, however, noted that he was aware of the abduction of one of her adopted sons.

“‎It was a failed attempt. The woman escaped from them; they did not succeed. Of course, the police were mobilised. Members of her community were also mobilised and they intervened,”‎ he said.

Abducted Edo lawmaker’s mother escapes kidnappers’ den

Police dismiss ASP, demote others

The Police Service Commission has dismissed one Assistant Superintendent of Police and approved the reduction in rank of a Superintendent and an ASP over various established cases of misconduct.

The commission also rejected 23 appeals from dismissed policemen  for reinstatement and restoration of ranks.

A statement by the PSC spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani on Friday said the decisions were the high points of the 15th plenary meeting of the commission held in Abuja and presided over by its Chairman, Mike Okiro, a retired Inspector-General of Police.

The commission  also approved the reinstatement of 10 other police officers, exonerated three and committed the dismissal of three others to retirement.

“One  serving DSP and ASP received the punishments of severe reprimand while an Assistant Commissioner, two DSPs and an ASP are to be issued letters of reprimand. An SP will receive letter of warning while an ASP was exonerated,” the statement added.

Following appeals from ex-police officers for reinstatement based on court judgments, the PSC approved the reinstatement and retirement of eight and rejected the appeals of 15 others.

The commission said its decisions had been communicated to the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase for implementation.

Police dismiss ASP, demote others

Guard rapes eight-year-old in exchange for N10

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 33-year-old security man, Freedom Barryneh, for allegedly raping his neigbour’s daughter, aged eight.

Police Inspector General, Solomon Arase

The incident reportedly happened on Akali Street, in the Ajegunle area of Lagos State after the victim, Sandra (pseudonym), approached the suspect and requested N10 from him to buy biscuit.

PUNCH Metro learnt that after giving her the money, Barryneh, who was watching a pornographic film when the minor entered his apartment, persuaded her to stay with him.

While the movie was on, he allegedly told Sandra to undress but she declined, saying her mother would beat her for doing so.

The suspect, however, allegedly resorted to force and allegedly dragged her into bed and raped her.

Our correspondent gathered that Sandra, who was warned by the suspected rapist not to disclose the act to anybody, eventually opened up to her mother when she began to feel pains in her private parts.

The victim said, “I asked Mr. Freedom (Barryneh) to give me N10 to buy biscuit and he did. He took me inside his room. He was watching one video that was showing naked men and women. He asked me to remove my clothes, but I said my mother would beat me. He pushed me and put me on his bed. He removed my clothes and put his thing inside my private parts. I was afraid of telling my mother.”

Her mother, identified only as Ellen, reported the incident at the Ajegunle Police Division which led to the suspect’s arrest on March 3.

PUNCH Metro saw that the results of medical tests conducted on the girl at the Ajeromi General Hospital, Lagos, stated, “Hymen broken with bruises around the infroitus.”

The result, which was signed by one Dr I.A. Dauda, also stated that she suffered from “whitish foul smelling vaginal discharge.”

Barryneh, who hails from Rivers State, admitted giving the girl N10 to buy biscuit, but denied raping her. He added that the allegation was an attempt to blackmail him.

He said, “I work with a private security outfit. She and her friends were playing when she came to me that she needed N10 to buy biscuit. She stood somewhere in my room waiting for the money. I was watching a love movie titled, ‘Naked Weapon’. It involved sex. I was surprised when her mother reported at the station that I raped her daughter. I never had sex with the girl. I only gave her the money.”

A police prosecutor, Woman Sergeant Francisca Okere, brought Barryneh before an Apapa Magistrate’s Court on two counts of rape.

Okere told the court that the offence contravened sections 137 and 259 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The charges read in part, “That you, Freedom Barryneh, sometime in August 2015, at about 14.30 hours on Akali Street, Ajegunle, Apapa, Lagos, in the Apapa Magisterial District, did penetrate sexually with your penis the privare parts of an eight-year-old girl, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 259 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge before the presiding magistrate, Mrs. O.A. Adegite, who admitted him to bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

While adjourning for March 24, 2016, Adegite added that the sureties must be gainfully employed and must present to the court evidence of tax payments.

Guard rapes eight-year-old in exchange for N10

Gunmen kidnap three Kaduna pastors, demand N100m

Members of the Taraya Ekklesiyoyin Kristi A Nigeria (Fellowship of Churches of Christ in Nigeria, TEKAN), have been thrown into confusion following the kidnapping of their President, Dr. Emmanuel Dziggau.

Police Inspector General, Solomon Arase

Dziggau was said to have been kidnapped on Monday along with his deputy, Rev. Illiya Anto, and a retired reverend in the church, Yakubu Dzarma.

Anto was later released on health grounds.

TEKAN General Secretary, Rev. Moses Ebuga, told newsmen in Jos on Tuesday that the three men were kidnapped in Kaduna.

Dziggau is also the president of Haddiyar Ekklesiya Kristi A Nigeria (United Church of Christ in Nigeria) and the TEKAN/ECWA bloc leader in the Christian Association of Nigeria.

The three men were said to have been kidnapped at the church crusade ground along the Kaduna-Abuja highway on Monday morning.

It was learnt that the masked gunmen stormed the crusade ground and picked the three men while other church members fled.

The General Secretary of the church and one of the eyewitnesses, Rev Jibrailu Wobiya, who confirmed the abduction to one of our correspondents, said Dziggau and some members were at the area to clear the crusade ground for a forthcoming church programme.

Ebuga called on the Federal Government and security operatives to do everything possible to ensure the safety of the clergymen.

He said the kidnappers had contacted him and demanded a ransom of N100m.

Ebuga described the abduction of the clerics as shocking, calling for their immediate release.

He said the three men might have been kidnapped because of the oncoming CAN national election.

He added, “We are not ignorant of the recent scheming against the Nigerian church with regard to the upcoming CAN national election, where the leaders have become the subject of attacks, particularly the leadership of TEKAN/ECWA bloc in CAN.

“As a body, we are calling on the government to do everything possible to ensure the safety of the leaders,  unearth their whereabouts and to have the perpetrators fished out.

Ebuga called on the TEKAN churches and the Nigerian church to rise up in prayer against the ugly development, asking them to pray that God would expose the sponsors and perpetrators of the kidnapping.

The Kaduna State Police Command had yet to confirm the kidnapping of the pastors on Tuesday.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Abubakar Zubairu, did not return repeated telephone calls to his mobile.

The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Kaduna State, Rev. George Dodo, described the pastors’ abduction as “unpleasant and shocking.”

The CAN’s chairman, while confirming the incident, said he just heard of the “unpleasant” development on Tuesday, calling on security agencies to do all they could to unmask the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

Dodo stated, “I heard about it this afternoon; it is an unpleasant news, a shocking news to everybody. Government should put in motion all its security apparatus to ensure the liberation of those abducted.”

The spokesman for the Northern States CAN, Rev. Josesph Hayab,  condemned the abduction of the clerics.

He called on the kidnappers to release the three men unconditionally or be prepared to incur the wrath of God.

Gunmen kidnap three Kaduna pastors, demand N100m

Ikorodu kidnap: Parent admits paying N5.6m ransom

Facts have emerged that the parents of the three students of Babington Junior Seminary School, Ikorodu, Lagos, who were abducted on February 25, 2016, paid N5.6m ransom to the kidnappers.

The father of one of the victims, Venerable Olusa Ayo, revealed in his statement to the police, that the kidnappers initially demanded N200m for the release of the girls.

He said the abductors, however, after agreeing to collect N15m, made him merry-go-round to ensure he was not being followed by security agents.

He said, “On the morning of March 1, at about 11am, I received a call through which my daughter informed me about the abduction. She said three students, including herself were abducted at gunpoint in the midst of sporadic shooting. She further advised me to contact the school authorities.

Facts have emerged that the parents of the three students of Babington Junior Seminary School, Ikorodu, Lagos, who were abducted on February 25, 2016, paid N5.6m ransom to the kidnappers.

The father of one of the victims, Venerable Olusa Ayo, revealed in his statement to the police, that the kidnappers initially demanded N200m for the release of the girls.

He said the abductors, however, after agreeing to collect N15m, made him merry-go-round to ensure he was not being followed by security agents.

He said, “On the morning of March 1, at about 11am, I received a call through which my daughter informed me about the abduction. She said three students, including herself were abducted at gunpoint in the midst of sporadic shooting. She further advised me to contact the school authorities.

Ikorodu kidnap: Parent admits paying N5.6m ransom

Policemen on election assignment injured in Rivers road crash

Some Policemen from Ondo State, who were drafted to Rivers State for Saturday’s rerun election in the state, were involved in an accident on Friday.

The accident occurred along the East-West road near Akala- Olu community in Rivers State, according Sahara Reporters.

The police truck conveying about 100 policemen collided with another truck transporting cattle along the same road.

Several cows died in the accident while some policemen sustained injuries.

Policemen on election assignment injured in Rivers road crash

Cultists behead students, use heads as goalposts

Suspected cultists on Saturday night beheaded two  undergraduates of the Abia State University,  Uturu, and thereafter  used their heads as goalposts.

Cult clash

Our correspondent learnt that their roommate sustained severe injuries from machete cuts by the hoodlums.

The deceased  identified as Ebuka Nwaigbo,  a 300 level student of the Department of Estate Management,  and Samuel Ethelbert,  300 level student of the Department of Political Science,  were until their death living at Chi-Doo Lodge along  the Uturu-Afikpo road.

Investigations by our correspondent revealed that their  killers were members of a rival cult group on a revenge mission for one of their members  killed last month.

A    source,  who craved anonymity, said  the cult groups – Burkinafaso and Mafia – had engaged each other in a battle of supremacy  for years in the university.

He said, “Last month, one Collins Agwu, a member of  Burkinafaso,  was gunned down by the Mafia.

“His colleagues  (Burkinafaso)  decided to retaliate  by killing members of the Mafia.

“That night they came to the lodge  on   four motorbikes  carrying four persons each and they forced themselves in when one of the students living there came out to buy Indomie Noodles.

“They beheaded their targets while the third person, their visitor,  was seriously wounded.

“After killing them they carried their heads and bodies in a sack bag and took it to a playground where they (cult boys) normally play football near the school gate and mounted their heads as goalposts.”

When our correspondent visited the university community, top  officers of the school were said to be having  a crucial meeting.

Spokesman for the institution Acho Elendu said the  school  would make comments  after the meeting.

Meanwhile,  there has been a  heavy police   presence at the school since the incident occurred.

The  Abia State Police Public Relations Officer, Ezekiel Onyeke Udeviotu,  who confirmed the development,  said the state Commissioner of Police Joshiak Habilah had ordered the Criminal Investigation Department to commence investigation into the murder of the students.

He said, “We are willing to invite any member of the public with any useful information that could lead to the arrest of  criminals to our office if such a person is afraid of giving the information to police officers.”

Cultists behead students, use heads as goalposts