Police investigate Osun king over rape allegation

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By Bamigbola Gbolagunte April 6, 2011 02:33AM

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Police have started investigation of a traditional ruler in Osun State, the Alowa of Ilowa in Obokun Local Government Area of the state, Adebukola Alli, following allegation of rape levelled against him by a youth corps member serving in his domain.

The 23-year-old corps member, in a petition to the state secretariat of the National Youth Service Corps in Osogbo, narrated how the monarch allegedly violated her at his residence in Osogbo.

The victim, who is currently serving at a community school in Ilowa, where the monarch rules, alleged that Mr Alli forced her into his private room where he defiled her.

The petition reads, in part: "I was raped by the Alowa of Ilowa on Friday, March 25. Before then, I had been introduced to the monarch during the last INEC registration exercise.

"One day, on my way from the school, Oba Alli gave me a ride and told me that he wanted me to be a computer facilitator for the schools in the community. That was after he got to know that I was computer literate and we drew a plan on the format the assignment would take." She explained that she later had a session with the students and after introducing the system to them, the traditional ruler offered to take her back to school. But instead of dropping her at the school, he reportedly took her to his residence in Osogbo, a few kilometers to her place of primary assignment.

"He said I should not worry, that he would bring me back home and eventually we arrived at his residence in Osogbo where he entertained me. It was getting late and I wanted to go home as he started to caress me. I got up begging him, but he turned down my pleas," she stated.

She explained further that the monarch later stripped her and went outside to soak her clothes, stressing that before he came back, she had locked the door.

Police probe

She further stated that the threat by the monarch to kill her, should he force the door open, made her to open it and he consequently entered the room where she was allegedly raped.

Efforts made to speak with the traditional ruler failed, as he could not be contacted as the time of this report.

But the state coordinator of the NYSC, Henry Enyenihi, said the matter had been reported to the police as well as the national secretariat of the NYSC in Abuja. Mr Enyenihi, in an interview with newsmen yesterday, said the NYSC Director General, Maharazu Tsiga had already briefed a lawyer to pursue the matter.

"It is sad that a monarch who is expected to play the role of a parent to the young corps member, is himself violating her womanhood," he said.

Although Olusegun Solomon, the state's Commissioner of Police is currently on election duty outside the state, but a senior police officer confirmed the report.

8 year old rescued from car snatching gang

Police nab man for kidnapping 8-year-old

By Patience Ogbo March 28, 2011 11:54PM

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A 26-year-old man is in police custody for allegedly kidnapping an 8 years old boy. The suspect, Chibuzor Anene, allegedly belongs to a three man gang.

Police spokesperson, Samuel Jinadu, said the suspect was arrested by the police on March 16 following a tip off from members of the public shortly after the suspect and his gang kidnapped the boy. “The suspect and his gang kidnapped the boy after school as he was going back home with his sisters, at Alaigbo area in Ejigbo on 16th of March,” he said. “The police were informed about the kidnap and they swung into action and arrested the suspect while the other two members of his gang escaped. It will interest members of the public to know that this same suspect with his gang had, on the 14th of March, snatched a Gulf Volkswagen car from one Tunde Abiodun at Ejigbo which they used to kidnap the boy. Mr Abiodun had reported the theft of his car at the Ejigbo Police Station.”

His confession

Mr Anene confessed to the crime. He said he joined the gang because other members of the gang threatened to kill him. “I used to be an ice cream seller and later I went to start riding Okada,” he said. “One of my friends, called Emmanuel, came to me to join his gang. Emma is a bad boy and everybody knows him that he is into bad things. Emma was the one who planned everything and he told us about the boy. I don’t know how he got information about the boy. Before we kidnapped the boy, we had earlier snatched a gulf car at Ejigbo, I was the man riding the motorcycle that day.

So after snatching the car, we used the car to go and kidnap the boy two days later. The boy was coming back from school so Emma grabbed him and put him inside the car and we zoomed off. Later, I started developing cold feet toward the crime, I told Emma that I was no longer interested in the crime. When the vehicle slowed down, I opened the door and jumped out so I was running and police men pursued and arrested me. I feel bad about my crime, but I have no choice because Emma said he will do me something bad if I do not join the gang.”

Mr Jinadu said the suspect will be charged to court. “The police recovered a locally made gun from the suspect,” he said. “The suspect will be charged to court as soon as we are through with our investigations. Meanwhile the police is on the trail of other members of the gang and they will be arrested soon.”

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lagos cops are ready for elections

30, 000 cops in Lagos for polls

By Patience Ogbo April 4, 2011 02:45AM

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The Lagos State Police Command has deployed 30,000 police officers for the conduct of the general elections in the state.

The state’s Commissioner for Police, Suleiman Abba, stated this during a press briefing yesterday at the Police Command Headquarters at Ikeja. He said that other security agencies in the state are collaborating with the police to ensure Lagos State is peaceful throughout the elections.

“Officers of the various security agencies have been adequately oriented, mobilised and are fully prepared to provide adequate security which will ensure a peaceful conduct of the 2011 general elections,” he said. “Our security arrangement where about 30,000 police officers, and other security and law enforcement personnel are deployed will guarantee public safety and peace during the election.”

No movement

Mr Abba urged members of the public to cooperate with security officials with useful information that will help nip crime in the bud during the election. “At this point, it is important to draw the attention of members of the public to some salient issues concerning security during the forthcoming elections; one of such is the ban on movement of vehicles between 8am-4pm on each election day,” he said. “However, movement of vehicles such as those for medicals, fire services, accredited press/media and election observers, and for the similar circumstances, which do not contravene the provisions of the Electoral Acts, or INEC guidelines, shall be allowed.”

The police boss also warned persons planning to disrupt the elections to desist from such plans or face the full wrath of the law. “For the purpose of these elections, the Lagos State Police Command has conducted numerous workshops and conferences toward sensitising our personnel on their responsibilities before, during and after the elections,” he said. “I implore the general public to be law abiding. We will diligently enforce the laws which I urged everybody not to contravene. In particular, violence or brandishing of weapons unlawfully in the election venues or elsewhere in the state will be appropriately deal with.”

The hotlines

He also released emergency numbers members of the public can reach the command with during the elections. “There are emergency telephone numbers provided in the police Control Rooms 1,2 and 3 which every member of the public can call as well as toll free lines 767 and 112 respectively,” he said. “You can also call the Area Commanders or DPOs.”

Armed military officers have mounted road blocks and are conducting stop and search operations at flash points in the state. Areas like Ikorodu, Ojuelegba, Mushin, Oshodi, Maryland, Victoria Island, and other crime prone areas were under their watch on Saturday before the elections were cancelled.

Mr Abba was deployed from Rivers State to Lagos for the purpose of the general election.

car theft on the rise

Police nab four car snatchers

By Patience Ogbo March 25, 2011 12:52AM

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The Lagos State Police Command has adviced residents to patronize authorized car dealers.

Samuel Jinadu, the police spokesperson, said this following the arrest of two syndicates who allegedly specialised in snatching cars and selling stolen vehicles in the state. Officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the command smashed the syndicates, operating in Lagos and Anambra states. The suspects arrested are Christian Chukwu and Tom Ogbangwor, who operate in Onitsha, and Sikiru Kareem, Wasiu Bello, Tayo Akinyemi, who are based in Lagos State.

The syndicate operating in Anambra State allegedly snatched a Toyota Hyundai Accent car, with reg. no Delta. AJ 454 SLK, from Onitsha and drove it to Lagos, where they contacted Mr Kareem, a member of another syndicate to assist them get a buyer for the car. Mr Jinadu said that officers got information about the syndicate’s activities and posed as buyers for the stolen car which later led to their arrest.

Hunger is the reason

Mr Chukwu, a father of two, is allegedly the brain behind the robbery. He said hunger led him into crime. “I used to be an aluminium fabricator but the money I make from it is not enough,” he said. “I am always hungry, and anytime I am hungry, I will go and steal. I used to steal handsets but the money from it is not enough. One day, a student attacked me with a gun and I later snatched the gun from him. While the gun was with me, I thought of what to do with it and that was how I went to meet Tom who was a labourer and I asked him to join my gang. Me and Tom used to steal handsets together, but we decided to monitor people with cars and we said we should start stealing cars; so that was how we went into car snatching.”

Mr Ogbangwor also narrated how they attack their victims. “We look out for the person driving and if he looks timid, we will monitor him for some days,” he said. “We ensure that we wait for them to get to a pot hole or a bump where they cannot drive fast, so when the vehicle is slowing down, I will call Christian who is stationed nearby to come out and he will swoop on the driver, pointing the gun at him and that is how we will end up stealing the car. I joined this syndicate because my labourer work was not fetching me anything and in my village. If you are not a business owner at 25 you are seen as a nobody.”

Mr Jinadu said the suspects were arrested at Mr Biggs restaurant, Oba Akran, Ikeja, where they were waiting to sell the car. “The officers from SARS posed as buyers and arrested them before they could sell the car,” he said. “Investigation is on and the suspects will be charged to court. We are on the trail of other members of the syndicates and they will be arrested soon.”

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pastor in car theft palaver

Police nab pastor for car theft

BY PATIENCE OGBO April 5, 2011 12:24AM

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Members of the public have been warned against patronising fake car dealers. The Commissioner for Police in charge of the Federal Special Anti-robbery Squad (FSARS), at Adeniji Adele, Lagos, Mark Idakwo, gave the advice following the arrest of two men for alleged car theft.

The suspects, Bolaji Balogun, Pastor of Church of Praise, Ijoko, in Ogun State, and one Dele Bamike 46, were arrested following a search at the church premises were two stolen Honda Accord cars were allegedly recovered. The police said Mr Balogun is in the business of receiving stolen cars from members of a robbery gang and their investigations revealed that his church premises served as the safe haven for stolen vehicles.
The confession
Mr Bamike confessed to buying stolen cars and reselling them to unsuspecting buyers. "I am a commercial bus driver and anybody who wants to sell car come to me to help them get buyers," he said. "I got the cars from one Akeem. He was the one who called me that he has Toyota cars for sell but he did not give me the receipts for the cars. I took the cars to pastor (Mr Balogun) to buy. This is not the first time that I have given pastor car to buy so that is all I know. The people I get the car from do not give me receipts for the cars and I did not ask."
The denial
On his part, Mr Balogun denied the allegations. "I do not know anything about this crime," he said. "The car they saw in my house belongs to me. I bought it from Dele but he did not give me any receipt. It is true that the police saw spare parts of vehicles in my house but they belong to a young man living with me. The charm the police found in my house are ingredients that I used for spiritual cleansing for people who come for prayers. I am a prophet and those are the things we use. So I do not know anything about this crime."
Mr Idakwo said the suspects will be charged to court as soon as the police conclude their investigations. "The case is under investigation and we are on the trail of other members of the syndicate," he said. "Members of the public are advised to patronise accredited car dealers, endeavour to collect the receipts and other documents to show the proof of ownership of any car you are buying. Members of the public should be mindful whom they associate and worship with, as it has showed that criminals now pretend to be pastors just to defraud and deceive people."

police strip journalist naked on election day

Journalist petitions police over assault

BY PATIENCE OGBO April 5, 2011 12:24AM

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Xavier Ndah, a crime reporter with the Moment Newspaper in Lagos, has petitioned the Lagos State Commissioner for Police following his alleged arrest and detention by officers of the Ketu Police Station while on election duties on Saturday.

Mr Ndah said he was stripped naked and detained in the cell on the orders of the Divisional Police Officer of the police station after officers saw him taking pictures of person arrested by the police for flouting the no movement restriction on election day. "On April 2, 2011, I was directed by my organization to join other colleagues to monitor election in Lagos State," he said. "That on same day I went to Ketu. At the bus stop, I noticed that despite the no movement order, some members of the public still went out with their vehicles and policemen from Ketu division had mounted a roadblock and had arrested several vehicles. I stopped by and commended their effort of ensuring the no movement order was strictly adhered to."
The arrest
He narrated that immediately a policeman noticed that he was taking pictures, he was swamped by the officers. "An officer alerted the Divisional Police Officer, Mr Gwarzo, who ordered that I should be arrested and detained," he said. "Despite my pleas that I am a journalist and I went on to show them my identity card, but all these fell on deaf ears. The DPO seized my mobile telephone and had cut me off from communicating with anyone. I was stripped naked on the orders of the DPO."
Mr Xavier added that he was in the police custody for more than one hour before one of the police officers allowed him to call his colleagues who later came to his rescue. "It was a terrible experience and I saw this as an injustice," he said. "I am demanding an unreserved apology from the DPO, and I am by this petition demanding that he be sanctioned accordingly as his action amounts to intimidation and abuse of power. I have also briefed my lawyers and very soon you will hear from them."
Reacting, police spokesman, Samuel Jinadu, said the command is investigating the case.

husband allegedly kill wife

Man in custody for allegedly killing wife

By Patience Ogbo April 6, 2011 02:06AM

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Residents of Temidire Ikola, Ipaja, a Lagos suburb, are mourning the alleged murder of a housewife in the area, Titi Tao, by her husband.

Mrs Tao, a mother of five children, was allegedly killed by her husband, Tao, a bricklayer, during a fight in their apartment at 5 Temidire Street, Ipaja, on April 3. Residents said they heard Mr Tao accusing his wife of infidelity after she allegedly received a phone call late in the evening.

The fight

"We heard him shouting and calling his wife a prostitute," said a resident, who did not want to be named. "Tao is a drunk and everybody knows him in this area as a wife beater. Despite the wife said she was receiving a call from her brother but he kept accusing her of infidelity. They quarrelled but later we started hearing noise from their room, they were fighting but nobody could enter as the door had been locked from inside.

After beating her, he left her in the room and he went to beer parlour to drink his usual Paraga (local gin) and Igbo (marijuana). When we entered the house, she we saw her lifeless body. We even thought she was unconscious but efforts to rescue her and take her to the hospital did not yield any result as she was already dead."

Angry neighbours

Reacting to the development, residents of the area attempted to lynch the suspect before police officers came to his rescue. "Sympathizers flooded the house as soon as her death spread," said the source. "They gathered wood and petrol and some youth went to the drinking joint and dragged him to the house. They beat the hell out of him, said he must die for killing his wife, but officers from the Alagolo Police Station came to this rescue."

The victim was the only female child of her aged parents. Residents say one of her children died last year, and described her as a gentle and quiet woman. "Titi was a good and hardworking woman despite the fact that people told her to leave Tao because of his rascality," said a friend of the victim who gave her name as Mama Aina. "She still stayed with him despite all his waywardness. Now he has killed her and left the parents in agony because she is the only female child they have."

Samuel Jinadu, the Lagos State police spokesman, said the case is under investigation. "The man has been arrested and taken to the state Criminal Investigation Department at Panti, Yaba for interrogation," he said.