Metro

DSS Arrests Terror Suspects In Abuja

Published

2 years ago

October 27, 2022

Two terror suspects have been arrested by the Department of State Services operatives who stormed the Trademore Estate in the Lugbe area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Monday.

The security operatives were said to have shut the entrance and exit gates of the estate while the operation lasted.

It was gathered that the two suspects said to be siblings were taken into custody on an allegation of terrorism.

This happened less than 24 hours after the United States and the United Kingdom warned of a possible terror attack in Abuja, especially targeted at government buildings, places of worship and schools, among others.

Residents of Trademore Estate who spoke to The PUNCH on Wednesday claimed the operation was carried out by the DSS and some foreign security operatives.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a resident disclosed that residents of the estate were practically held hostage during the operation.

He stated, “We were in our houses when our estate was locked up. They did not allow us to go out and they didn’t allow people to come in. Those that came for the operation were DSS and some American soldiers. What I heard was that they were looking for some suspected terrorists. When they finished what they were doing, all we saw was that they drove away with some people from the estate.”

Also, a message on the estate’s Whatsapp platform sighted on Wednesday by The PUNCH urged residents to be vigilant and ensure they know their neighbours.

It partly read, “It’s no longer news that there was a high-powered sting operation in Phase 3 this afternoon, culminating in a complete shutdown of our estate. A combination of the American Army and our DSS team were responsible.

“We are unable to give full details of the reason(s) behind the operation; however, we can confirm that there was an allegation of terrorist activities. It is therefore desperately incumbent on every resident to remain vigilant, know your neighbours and report any suspicious movement, person or activities to the exco, street reps and/or the police.

‘’We will continue to do our utmost best to keep the estate safe for all of us. Everyone is responsible for security and there should be no iota of abdication of this responsibility.”

When contacted, the Chairman of the Estate, Adewale Adenaike, confirmed the security operation but declined further comment.

He said, “I can confirm to you that DSS personnel and foreign soldiers visited our estate. You can contact them to get the details of what happened. Let me, however, use this medium to urge residents to be calm and vigilant. The rumours of a planned attack on the estate are not true.”

Calls to the DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, were not answered. He has yet to respond to a text message sent to him on the matter.

Force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, told one of our correspondents that, “All diplomatic corps in Nigeria are protected by the police, and operatives also protect the embassies. In fact, before now, we have deployed armoured personnel carriers to protect the US Embassy and others. Interestingly, the embassies are strategically located in the Diplomatic Drive and well-fortified.”

PUNCH

Metro

Edo: Suspected Killers Of 200-level Student Of Delta Varsity Arrested

Published

2 hours ago

May 5, 2024

Editor

Two suspects have been reportedly arrested by operatives of Edo State Police Command in connection with the disappearance of one Miss Faith Omodon, a 200-level undergraduate of University of Delta, Agbor.

On March 30, inhabitants of Iru Egbede community in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo, reported the sudden disappearance of their daughter, Faith Omodon, who is studying Business Administration in the above mentioned university.

According to the father of the missing girl, Mr. Edward Omodon, was last seen on March 30, after leaving home for farm and never returned.

According to him, the incident occurred when the community was holding their national conference.

“We usually have Iru national conference at this time of the year. We were seated inside the community hall when we heard loud wailing outside that my daughter was missing.

“She had left for the farm earlier that morning with a motorbike taking her breakfast flask with her,” he said.

Corroborating Mr Omodon’s story, Mr Ikpoba Johnbull, Head of the village vigilance group said “soon after the news of her disappearance broke that evening, we followed the girl’s mother to the farm.

“We immediately mobilised and combed the area up to Izighiri and Uwumuwe, two neighbouring villages, but could not find any trace of her.

“We only found the leftover of her lunch flask. We informed our neighbouring vigilance groups as we spent that night inside the bushes but there was no result.”

Then, the matter was reported at the Abudu Police Division which was confirmed by Divisional Police Officer, Mr Iyayi Kenneth, who said “We have transferred the case to the state police command for further investigation.”

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, also confirmed the story, saying investigation was on to unravel the circumstances surrounding Miss Omodon’s disappearance.

However, barely a month, the vigilante group in the community said two suspects have been arrested in connection with the disappearance of Omodon and are now in Police custody.

Speaking, the National Youth Chairman of Iru- Egbede, Mr. Donald Isioma, disclosed that the suspects were arrested Saturday afternoon.

He said the two were arrested when they tracked the phone of the missing girl that was in possession of the suspects.

According to Isioma, so far, the police have recovered the phone from the suspects and the motorbike Miss Omodon rode to the farm on the day she got missing.

Unfortunately, he disclosed that one of the suspects who is a member of the community has confessed that they have killed the girl while being interrogated at Okpaihe Police State before their onward transfered to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Benin City.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Chidi Nwabuzor, said information concerning the arrest was yet to reach him but promised to get back as soon as he contact men of the SCID.

Metro

Edo Police Rearrest 58-year-old Fleeing Inmate Who Raped His Daughter

Published

2 hours ago

May 5, 2024

Editor

Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have rearrested a 58-year-old inmate, Jacob Alonge, who escaped from Benin Correctional Centre during the 2020 #EndSARS protest in the state.

Alonge was sentenced to 21 years imprisonment by Edo High Court for raping his own daughter, Gift Alonge, and was serving the jail term during the #EndSARS jail break in the two Custodial Centre in Benin.

The State Commissioner Funsho of Police, Funsho Adegboye, said the police got credible intelligence that one Jacob Alonge 58, a serial rapist and jail breaker who escape from the prison in Benin city during the #EndSARS protest of 2020 was sighted in Ossos, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of the state.

He said the operative stormed his house at Ososo community to rearrest him but some unscrupulous element in Ossoso community resisted his arrest.

“But they were over powered by the police and was rearrested and brought to the command.

Adegboye said the convict was sentenced to 21 years imprisonment for raping his own daughters Gift Alonge and while the case was ongoing in Court, he threatened that the case would have no end and true to his threat, his daughter and others who were coming to testify in court died mysteriously but, he was convicted.

He said after escaping from the prison, he thought he won’t be rearrested but nemesis has caught up with him and he has been rearrested and would be taken to where he belongs.

“He is a dangerous human being and can’t live with the people in their community”.

The commissioner, however, appealed to members of the community not to shade criminals because they may be their victim of tomorrow, noting that that criminal don’t have permanent friends.

In an interview with journalists, the convict said he escaped because every one was escaping after their prison was forced open during ENDSARS protest

“I escaped to my village. I was called that the police are in my house and are looking for me, so I went to meet them and I was arrested” he said.

Metro

Edo FRSC Arrests Fleeing Motorist Who Attempted To Hit Its Personnel

Published

4 hours ago

May 5, 2024

Editor

The Edo State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) has arrested a motorist identified as Lucky Omomeyen, for allegedly driving away with an officer who arrested him for traffic rules violation.

It was gathered that the operative flagged down a Toyota Camry while on road patrol but instead of stopping for the officer, he attempted to hit him with his car and in the process the FRSC personnel jumped and hanged on the car burnet.

The driver was alleged to have driven away with the officer hanging on his burnet, but he was able to jump down when traffic slowdown the vehicle.

The driver was said to have maneuvered his vehicle and escaped arrest but was later arrested several days after the incident.

The State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Paul Okpe, who confirmed the incident, said the driver committed the offence on April 19 but was arrested six days after committing the offence .

“The officer was on patrol at Ramat Park carrying out his normal duties when a motorist driving a Toyota Camry was flagged down. In the process, he nearly hit the operative and he had to jump on the burnet to avoid being hit”.

“Instead of him to park properly, because he had ulterior motives, he drove away with the official hanging on his burnet for some distance before the officer was able to get down after the vehicle slowdown for traffic, but the driver was able to escape,” he said.

He said working with the Nigeria police and deploying its national vehicle insurance scheme, they were able to arrest the driver, adding that he has been handed over to the police and has been charged to court.

Okpe called on motorist within the state to ensure that they work collectively with the corps so that the road can be safer for all to used.