Police, DSS Neutralise 3-Man POS Robbery Gang

Operatives of the Nigeria Police and those of the Department of State Services neutralised a three-man robbery gang in Enugu on Sunday. The gang specialised in robbing Point of Sale (POS) operators. Police spokesman in Enugu State, DSP Daniel Ndukwe stated that the gang members were neutralised in a gun duel after which arms and ammunition and their operational tricycle were recovered from them. Two locally-made pistols, six rounds of 0.9mm calibre ammunition and N500,000 cash were also recovered from the gang, he stated. “Other exhibits recovered were rolls of POS transaction printing papers, assorted mobile phones, wallets, bags and objects suspected to be charms,’’ he added. Ndukwe stated also that the hoodlums had earlier robbed different POS operators and their customers at gunpoint in different locations in Enugu. “At about 1 p.m., the hoodlums attacked POS operators at different locations in Enugu metropolis, dispossessing them of the recovered exhibits. “The hoodlums opened fire on security operatives who mounted surveillance on them upon sighting the latter. “The security operatives responded with superior firepower, neutralising the three of them and recovering the exhibits in the process,’’ the police spokesman stated. He added that many of the victims later identified the assailants and some of the recovered exhibits. “Investigation is on-going to possibly fish out other members of the criminal gang,’’ Ndukwe also stated. 

Criminal Activities: Police Arrest 298 Suspects In Jigawa

The Police Command in Jigawa has arrested 298 suspects for alleged criminal activities in the third quarter of 2023. This is contained in a statement by the Spokesman of the Command, DSP Lawan Shiisu, on Wednesday in Dutse. He said the Police recovered 64 rustled animals, fire arms and rescued six kidnapped victims in special operations conducted within the period under review. Shiisu said the suspects were apprehended for alleged robbery; kidnapping, murder, rape, vandalism, animal rustling, fraud, among others. He listed the suspects to include 25 robbery; 12 kidnapping, 36 murder, 25 rape, 37 theft, 15 vandalism, 17 animal rustling and five over fraud, while 126 others arrested for allegedly belonging to gang of brigands. The Police, he said, recovered one AK-47 riffle; one Beretta pistol, three locally-made guns, 48 live ammunitions, 20 motor vehicles/cycles, and 64 rustled animals. Other items recovered include 560 parcels of Cannabis Sativa and a number of narcotic substances. “The crime prevention strategies adopted by Jigawa Police Command in the ongoing fight against all forms of crimes and criminalities in the state during the period under review, yielded dividends, as the state remained generally peaceful as residents go about their lawful businesses without fear of molestation. “This feat was made possible by the proactive measures put in place by the command, whose personnel worked tirelessly to checkmate the activities of criminals for a peaceful atmosphere,” he said. He commended the acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, the Jigawa government and other security agencies for their support to the Command While reiterating commitment of the Command to protect lives and property, Shiisu urged residents of the state to support the Police in the fight against crimes. 

Troops apprehend 17 suspects for alleged crimes in Plateau, Kaduna

Troops belonging to Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), a military task force entrusted with maintaining peace in Plateau, parts of Bauchi, and Kaduna States, have successfully apprehended 17 suspects on charges related to murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, and other criminal activities. In a statement provided by Captain James Oya, the Media Officer of the operation, it was revealed that these arrests took place between August 21 and August 28 across various locations within the region of their operational responsibility. “Troops arrested five suspects for killing one Mr. Joshua Deme on his farm in Kassa village, situated within Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau,” Captain Oya stated. He continued, “We also executed a meticulously planned operation in Jagindi Tasha village, located in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, leading to the arrest of a long-sought suspected kidnapper, Mr. Baba Habu.” Further emphasizing the successful efforts, Captain Oya explained, “We effectively thwarted a kidnapping attempt in Angwan Takai village within Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau. This achievement was facilitated by the rapid response of our troops to a distress call.” Over the stated period, the troops achieved a series of milestones – apprehending suspects, rescuing kidnapped victims, foiling armed robbery endeavors, and preventing potential attacks on vulnerable communities. Arms and ammunition were also seized from some of the apprehended suspects. Captain Oya reported, “In parallel endeavors, our troops conducted operations at Gwash and Kamantan villages in Jos North and Zango Kataf local government areas of Plateau and Kaduna. Here, we succeeded in recovering firearms, including a pistol, cartridges, and rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.” Amidst these operations, the security forces managed to detain a notorious armed robber, Mohammed Lawal, in Kafanchan town. The seizure of two fabricated rifles and one pistol accompanied his arrest. A truck transporting vandalized railway tracks was intercepted along Gidan Ado village in Riyom. The operations also extended to addressing drug-related offenses. “A drug kingpin, Maxwell Davou, was apprehended in a sting operation with substances suspected to be illicit drugs at Waye Foundation Du in Jos South,” Captain Oya stated. The troops’ determination led them to engage bandits around Alaghom and Mangu, eventually neutralizing some and retrieving weapons. The comprehensive efforts of the troops extended beyond criminal activities as they intervened to manage 237 cows that were damaging crops on farms across Mangu, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom local government areas.

NDLEA seizes 514,420 pills of suspected hard drugs in 3 states, FCT

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) operatives intercepted at least 514,420 pills of suspected hard drugs in Gombe, Adamawa, Ogun and other parts of the federation between August 21 and August 23. Its spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi stated on Sunday in Abuja that NDLEA officers recovered an abandoned vehicle on Darazo Road in Gombe State containing 373,420 tramadol and diazepam pills on August 21. He added that operatives also recovered 60,000 pills of tramadol from a suspect travelling in a commercial Toyota Starlet car from Kalaa village to Mubi both in Adamawa on August 22. “Operatives raided the home of a drug dealer in Ibafo area of Ogun on August 23 and recovered 81,000 tablets of tramadol weighing 32.4kg. “In the FCT, operatives intercepted two consignments of suspected skunk with a gross weight of 1,242.1kg. “The first consignment of 665.1kgs was seized from a truck in Abuja on August 20, while the second one, weighing 577kg, was recovered during a stop-and-search operation on Lokoja- Abaji Expressway. “The consignment was concealed in an online shopping company’s goods delivery packs conveyed inside a containerised truck. The driver and his assistant were arrested,’’ he stated. Babafemi stated also that NDLEA operatives conducting stop-and-search operation on Jebba-Minna Road linking Kwara and Niger intercepted a commercial truck conveying goods from Lagos to Katsina on August 22. The truck had 37.5kg of suspected Indian hemp hidden among other items inside it, he added. The driver and his assistant were also arrested for investigation. “In Yobe, NDLEA operatives intercepted a vehicle on Potiskum (Yobe)-Gombe Road on August 23 “Three suspects in the vehicle were arrested with 133 blocks of suspected Indian hemp weighing 62kg,’’ Babafemi also stated. 

Police arrest 5 suspects for various crimes in Bauchi 

The Police Command in Bauchi State has arrested five suspects of various crimes ranging from armed robbery, burglary to phone snatching in the state  The Spokesperson of the command, SP Ahmed Wakil, stated this in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Bauchi. He said the five suspects were arrested for committing different offenses in different parts of the state. “Our operatives arrested 24 years old Umar Abubakar AKA (Barbertov) with a dangerous weapon, who trespassed into the victim’s house situated at Kandahar Area of Bauchi and attempted to steal the victim’s Jincheng motorcycle AX 100 model. “The police also arrested two suspects, all armed with Dane-gun and cutlass, who had stormed their victim’s residence on July 31 at about 2300 hrs and demanded money. “The command also arrested two suspects, Usman Musa, 18, aka Kan Daki of Gwallameji, and Usama Sulaiman, 18, aka Keya of Birshi Gandu for criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, causing grievous hurt and receiving stolen property,” Wakil said. He said the command recovered exhibits that included Jincheng motorcycle AX 100 model, machetes, Dane guns, axe, knives, cutlasses, stick laptops, and different models of phones, among others. The Spokesperson said the investigation revealed that the suspects belonged to a notorious group that specialized in terrorising innocent citizens’ houses within Bauchi metropolis and robbing them of valuables. Wakil said the suspects, during the investigation, confessed to their crimes, adding that they were currently cooperating with the detectives in mentioning some of their accomplices. He said the suspects would be profiled and charged in court without delay. Wakil said the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Auwal Muhammad, lauded the efforts of the operatives for their unrelenting commitment and professionalism in discharging their statutory duties to curb all forms of criminality in the state.