Metro

Police Arrest Gunmen In Bayelsa Community, Recover Arms

Published

9 months ago

August 14, 2023

Photo: file copy

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Strike Force who were deployed to Nembe Bassambiri community in Bayelsa State, have arrested eight suspected gunmen and recovered several calibres of arms and ammunition.

Those arrested are Gift Vanman, Daniel Solomon, Ishmael Teknikio aka Moore, Rufus Itario, Joel Jubilee, Sylvanus Alatari, Sounpre Solomon, and Ayebanate Talbot (POS); while three AK-47 rifles, two pump action guns, one LAR rifle, one jack-knife, one dagger, magazines, 104 rounds of live ammunition of various calibres, two POS machines, 10 ATM cards, and one rechargeable bulb were recovered from them.

This followed the receipt of a petition from a law firm on the activities of some hoodlums armed with guns and other dangerous weapons; who were constantly terrorizing members of Nembe Bassambiri community in Bayelsa, and coupled with other similar complaints and intelligence in the region, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumiyiwa Adejobi said in a late Monday night correspondence obtained by our correspondent.

“Consequently, the operatives swung into action and raided the camps of the hoodlums in and around the Nembe Bassambiri Community on the eve of Saturday, August 12, 2023.

“The operation led to the arrest of eight suspects including Gift Vanman, Daniel Solomon, Ishmael Teknikio aka Moore, Rufus Itario, Joel Jubilee, Sylvanus Alatari, Sounpre Solomon, and Ayebanate Talbot (POS). Items recovered include three AK-47 rifles, two pump action guns, one LAR rifle, one jack-knife, one dagger, magazines, 104 rounds of live ammunition of various calibres, two POS machines, 10 ATM cards, and one rechargeable bulb,” Adejobi said.

The Force Headquarters, however, said the suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations; while the Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun reiterated that the operation in Nembe is a signal to other hoodlums with similar intents of causing fear amongst the people with their activities across the country to turn a new leaf or be assured that the long and unbiased arm of the law will catch up with them in no distant time.

Meanwhile, contrary to some narrative in the news making the rounds that the community was attacked by hoodlums dressed in police uniforms, the Force Headquarters said the report was the handiwork of mischief makers, while warning against “such calculated attempts to destabilize the country.”

Adejobi added, “The police wishes to state in clear terms that the operation was carried out by a combined team of police operatives to sanitise the community, and the officers were professional, neutral, and proactive in the mission to liberate members of the community from the terror instilled by the nefarious activities of the armed hoodlums as the Force will not allow lawlessness or gross violations of the laws in any part of the country.

“It is also pertinent to send out a warning to all recalcitrant members of the society whose stock-in-trade is instilling fear into law-abiding members of the public and fomenting troubles across the country, to desist from such as the police will leave no stone unturned in the bid to rid our societies of hooliganism, terrorism, and gross violation of extant laws.

“The Nigeria Police Force hereby reassures Nigerians of the unwavering commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to attend to security issues affecting them by acting promptly on intelligence to curb such acts in any part of the country. Similarly, the police assures the confidentiality of reliable informants while urging members of the public to partner with the police and other security agencies with prompt and actionable intelligence on the activities of members of the underworld, and criminally-minded individuals, who foment troubles, commit crimes, and cause instability.”

Metro

BREAKING: Workers Stranded As Labour Pickets Jos DisCo, NERC

Published

8 hours ago

May 13, 2024

Editor

Members of the Nigerian Labour Congress in Plateau State and the Trade Union Congress on Monday blocked the entrance of the headquarters of Jos Electricity Distribution Company in Jos, the state capital.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission offices located at the Gold and Base axis in Jos were also picketed by the union members, leaving their workers stranded.

The State Chairman of the NLC, Eugene Mangji, who led the union members, told The PUNCH in Jos that the action was in compliance with the directive of their national secretariat aimed at forcing the authorities to reverse the recent hike in the country’s electricity tariff.

“We have shot down the NERC office at Gold and Base. Right now, we are the JED headquarters at the Ahmadu Bello Way. We will continue until the right thing is done,” the NLC chairman stated.

The PUNCH reports that the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and its Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, counterpart had earlier given the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, till May 12 to withdraw the recent hike in electricity tariff or face unprecedented industrial action.

The ultimatum was issued in a joint letter to the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, CEO, dated May 3, 2024, and copied to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, the Ministers of Labour and Power, and the electricity distribution companies, DisCos, among others, Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo, President of NLC and its TUC’s counterpart.

The letter read: “This is to refer you to our May Day address where we expressed grave concerns regarding the recent announcement of an astronomical hike in electricity tariff across the nation from N65/kWh to N225/Kwh by your commission.

‘’We believe that this decision is not just morally reprehensible considering the difficulties Nigerians are faced with currently, but it blatantly disregards fundamental principles and statutory obligations.

‘’It is a slap in the face of justice and fairness, and we will not stand idly by as the masses and workers are subjected to such unacceptable exploitation.

“As the electricity sector regulator, it is imperative that your commission grasps the weight of its responsibilities. NERC’s role entails the regulation of electricity tariffs in the country, a duty outlined in explicit detail within the statutes governing the commission.

“Yet, with this recent tariff hike, which you have consented to, it is evident that the Commission has forsaken its duty and abandoned the people it was meant to protect to the fat cats in the electricity industry.

“We are miffed that NERC has become a tacit collaborator in crafting the oppressive pricing regime being perpetuated against Nigerian workers and people. The Laws that set up the commission mandate it to act as an unbiased ombudsman in the electricity industry.

“Unfortunately, the reverse is the case as it has acted in cahoots with the Distribution Companies, DisCos, and the Generating Companies, GenCos, to promote their nefarious market practices.

“The announced tariff hike not only defies the established procedure mandated by law but also tramples upon the rights of Nigerian citizens. It is a flagrant abuse of power and a clear violation of the trust bestowed upon your commission by the Nigerian people. Such actions will not be tolerated, and we refuse to accept them as the new norm.

“Nigerian workers and masses led by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, stand united in denouncing this injustice. We must defend the rights of our fellow citizens against exploitation.

“Therefore, we demand an immediate reversal of the hike in electricity tariff to N65/kwh, immediate cessation of the discriminatory practice of segregating electricity consumers into arbitrary bands, and restoration of the supremacy of the statutes governing the conduct of operators within the electricity industry.

“We give you until Sunday, May 12, 2024, to comply. Failure to do so will result in swift and decisive action on our part as we will not hesitate to mobilise our members and occupy all NERC’s offices and those of the DisCos nationwide until justice is served.”

Metro

Man Kidnaps 6-year-old Cousin, Kills Victim For Recognising Him

Published

20 hours ago

May 13, 2024

Editor

The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested a suspected kidnapper, Abdulazeez Idris, for allegedly abducting and killing his 6-year-old cousin in Makarfi Local Government Area of the state.

The deceased identified as Aisha Saidu, was on her way to Islamiyya school when she was abducted.

Spokesperson of the command, ASP Mansur Hassan, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, May 12, 2024, said the suspect used a razor blade to slash the girl to death because she recognized him.

Despite this, he went ahead to place a ransom demand of N8 million through an unknown caller who identified himself as the perpetrator.

According to the PPRO, the incident occurred on February 12, 2024.

“On February 12, 2024, at about 1: 00 hrs, Mr Saidu Dahiru, father of the victim a resident of Angwan Juma’a, Zaria, reported to the Zaria City police station that his daughter, Aisha Saidu, a six-year-old female, went missing on her way to Islamiyya school,” the statement read.

“The case was transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of SCID Kaduna, where they traced and arrested the perpetrator, identified as Abdulazeez Idris, in Makarfi Local Government.

“The suspect confessed to the heinous crime, admitting to slaying the innocent child by brutally slashing her neck with a razor blade because she recognized him and then disposing of her lifeless body in a well, ” the statement reads in part.

The PPRO further explained that the Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Dabigi, had assured the public that the case will be diligently investigated to ensure justice is served for the minor and her grieving family.

He stated that the suspect will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is completed.

Metro

Truck Crushes Five-year-old Girl In Lagos

Published

22 hours ago

May 12, 2024

Editor

The Police Command in Lagos State says a five-year-old girl, simply identified as Bosede, was crushed to death by a truck while crossing the Iganmu-Apapa Expressway with her mother.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident to the newsmen on Sunday.

Hundeyin said the information about the accident was received by the Iponri Police Division on Saturday at about 11.30 a.m.

He said the accident happened at Iganmu under the bridge, inward Apapa, involving a truck driven by yet to be identified driver.

The spokesperson said the girl and her mother were crossing the expressway when the truck hit and crushed her head, killing her on the spot.

Hundeyin said the police traffic officers from the division visited the scene and removed the corpse for burial by the family.

He said an investigation is ongoing for the possible arrest of the fleeing driver.