Metro

Court Remands Ex-Rivers LG Boss, Royal Father, 73 Others Over Murder Of DPO, Cultism

Published

2 years ago

November 17, 2023

Editor

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has remanded 75 persons to the Correctional Centre on alleged conspiracy in the murder of the District Police Officer of Ahoada Police Division, SP Bako Angbashim.

This is as Ekpeye Youths Worldwide and the National Union of Ekpeye Students have called for an end to the seeming politicisation of the killings going on in their area.

The suspects, who are standing trial on two counts bothering on Conspiracy to murder and sponsorship of cultism, in charge sheet number PHC/3208/CR/2023, were picked after Angbashim was killed and decapitated by cults terrorising Ahoada East Local Government Area, led by David Gift Okpala Okpolowu, popular called 2baba.

Those remanded included a former Chairman of Ahoada East LGA, Cassidy Ikegbidi, Eze Ekpeye Logbo, His Royal Majesty Eze, Ngozi Angwo and over 73 others.

The defendants, who were arraigned in court by the Commissioner of Police, did not take their plea as the bail application by one of the defendant’s lawyers, Dejo Lamikara, was opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Eniyepere Sikpi, a Superintendent of Police.

But the trial Judge, Justice Sika Apirioku after listening to the argument by the lawyers, ordered that the defendants be remanded to Port Harcourt correctional centre and adjourned the case till 21st November for plea and bail consideration.

However, the Secretary General of Ekpeye Youth Worldwide, Adokiye Oyagiri, and the President General of the National Union of Ekpeye Students, King Ngozi, have condemned what they described as the politicisation of the killings in Ekpeye by an alleged sponsored group, Concerned Ekpeye for Peace and Development.

Speaking, Oyagiri, in Port Harcourt yesterday, stated that some youths of the area were being used to make incitive statements against the leader of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Edison Ehie, who represents Ahoada East Constituency II.

He said: “I think it is everybody’s right to talk about the insecurity but where there is an issue is when people begin to make false allegations and claims that they can not be substantiated.

“We all know that immediately after the DPO of Ahoada East was killed, the Governor placed a bounty of N100 million on the killers of the DPO, and till today we are yet to hear from the police if he has been captured or not.”

Ahoada East is governed by a sitting chairman, who bears the responsibility of security because he receives security votes. We think the motive of the group is connected to the political crisis going on in the state. And I think they are trying to discredit Edison Ehie.

When there is insecurity, people tend to politicise it and start taking sides. It is wrong to blame people individually but blame institutions that are responsible for our day-to-day lives.

Also, the President General of the National Union of Ekpeye Students, King Ngozi, condemned the statement by the Conference of Concerned Ekpeye for Peace and Development, that Edison Ehie, has refused to take any action on the killings in his area as politically motivated.

He noted that in his capacity Ehie has taken steps to end the crisis in the area which is not under his constituency as he, Ehie, is from constituency I.

He said: “As a matter of serious concern, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie has been and he is still one of the best politicians we have in Ekpeye land going by his track record. The people of Ekpeye land are very happy with his leadership direction because of his unquantified good deeds.”

Metro

Anambra Arrest Four For Impersonation

Published

3 hours ago

August 28, 2025

Editor

Anambra State Special Anti-Touting Squad

The Anambra State Special Anti-Touting Squad has apprehended four persons in Achalla, Awka North Local Government Area, for allegedly impersonating SASA operatives and conducting illegal operations.

The suspects, who were reportedly parading the streets of Achalla wearing uniforms and carrying fake anti-tout identity cards, were arrested following complaints from residents who claimed they had been harassed and extorted.

Speaking to journalists on the development on Wednesday, the Director General of Anambra State Special Anti-Touting Squad, Monday Onwe, condemned the alleged impersonation, stressing that his office did not know about any anti-tout initiative in Achalla.

Onwe emphasised that the authority to establish such a formation rests solely with the state governor, Chukwuma Soludo.

He said, “The alleged activities of this group, including intimidation and extortion using dangerous implements, are unacceptable and damaging to the integrity of the original Anambra State Special Anti-Touting Squad.

“We remain committed to a full investigation, and anyone found culpable will be prosecuted in a competent court of law.”

He further warned that fraudulent use of the Anambra State Special Anti-Touting Squad name to defraud the public would not be tolerated, assuring residents that the state government remains determined to protect communities from criminal exploitation.

“If you wish to become a member of the anti-touting squad, please be informed that you must undergo mandatory training before acceptance.

“No individual will be admitted into the squad without completing the required training and meeting the set standards.

“This process is for discipline, professionalism, and efficiency in service,” The PUNCH quoted him.

Metro

Police Arrest Pastor, Wife Over Staged Self-kidnap In Ondo

Published

4 hours ago

August 28, 2025

Editor

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a 42-year-old woman, Mrs Sanmori Taiwo, and her 62-year-old husband, Pastor Sanmori Joshua, for allegedly faking her abduction to extort N10m from relatives abroad.

According to a statement released by the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olushola Ayanlade on Wednesday, the drama played out on August 23 at the couple’s residence on Road 5, PowerLine, Ondo City.

According to him, Taiwo deliberately secluded herself in a room while her husband reached out to her relatives, claiming she had been kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

“Suspicious of the claims, one of the relatives, Mr Fasegha O. Joseph, through a written petition, reported the matter to the Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal, who directed the Command’s Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad (SAKS),” Ayanlade said.

He explained that operatives, backed by Enu-owa Division in Ondo City, stormed the couple’s residence where the woman was found.

“She falsely claimed to have just been released by kidnappers after a ransom of Five Million Naira was allegedly paid,” the police spokesman added.

Ayanlade further disclosed that during interrogation, the woman owned up to staging the abduction to raise money.

“Upon further interrogation at the Command, Mrs Taiwo confessed that the abduction was staged as a self-kidnapping scheme, masterminded to extort money from her relatives abroad under the pretense of securing her release. She further admitted that her motive was to settle debts and provide for her personal needs,” he stated.

The police said the couple remain in custody and would face charges after investigations.

“We will diligently unravel all forms of criminality, whether real or staged, in order to preserve peace, protect lives, and safeguard the integrity of communities within the state,” Ayanlade added.

Metro

Police Recover Eight Explosives, 8000 Ammunition, Arrest 33 Suspects In Rivers

Published

5 hours ago

August 28, 2025

Editor

The Rivers State Police Command said it has recovered eight explosive devices and arrested 33 suspects for various crimes, including cultism, armed robbery, kidnapping and human trafficking in various parts of the state.

The police command also said its operatives recovered about 8000 ammunition resulting from an aggressive clampdown on crime and criminality in the oil-rich city.

The State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this during a joint security briefing in Port Harcourt on Thursday.

Adepoju said the feat was achieved in collaboration with sister security operatives within the last seven months (January to August), but disclosed that most of the high-profile crimes were smashed within the period of the State of Emergency declared in the state.

He said some of the arrested suspects include seven daredevil cutists who killed a Port Harcourt-based lawyer, Bright Owhor, in the D/line axis of Port Harcourt.

CP Adepoju stated, “In the past months, the Rivers State Police Command, working in close synergy with the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Services and other critical security stakeholders, have made remarkable progress in our sustained operations to curb criminal activities across the State.

“Through this united effort, we have intensified our crackdown on violent crimes, leading to the arrest of numerous suspects involved in heinous offences such as armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, human trafficking, and murder, as well as the recovery of vital exhibits.

“Arrest of vandals at an oil-spilled well in Kpean community, Khana Local Government Area). The crime was committed on 10th August 2025.”

He gave the names of some of the suspected vandals as, Joseph Nsukpe, aged 38, James Nkpogio, (20), Godspower Ngbam (28), Happy Mdor (27) and Apolebabari Ibede (35) among others.

Adepoju said among the eight explosive devices recovered were ‘Three GXI Dynamites’.

He listed the suspect who murdered the lawyer and withdrew his funds after collecting his Automated Teller Machine Card as Prince Samuel, aged 30, Daniel Godwin (25), Henry Peter (24), Godfrey Emmanuel a.k.a. Ibu (30), gang leader, Chukwu Nneji (34), Justice Dimkpa (27), Promise Wikere (22).

The CP further said eleven MTN SIM cards, four locally made pistols, seven rounds of 9mm ammunition, two live cartridges, one mini bus and one Toyota Camry were recovered from the suspects.

CP Adepoju gave a breakdown of the arrest and recovery as follows: ’21 AK 47 rifles, 66 locally made guns, 800 ammunition, four magazines, eight Revolver Pistols, 115 Vehicles, 34 Pump action and two Dane guns’.

Others listed include’ Two Scorpions Sub-machine Gun, one
Lar Riffle, eight explosives, 33 arrested suspects, 10 English-made pistols, two GMP, 67 Cartridges and 15 Conventional ammunition.

Speaking further, Adepoju lauded the synergy amongst the various security agencies in the state, saying the State Police Command under his watch remains committed to the safety and security of the lives and properties of all citizens and residents.

He said, “These operations reflect a broader strategy to dismantle criminal networks and ensure public confidence in law enforcement agencies, especially as it concerns the upcoming chairmanship/councillorship elections.”

He therefore appealed to members of the public to partner with the security agencies in giving credible information to enable the outfits to serve the people better.
(PUNCH