Crime
Police Parade 9 Criminal Suspects In Kogi, Recover Arms, Stolen Vehicles
The Kogi State Police Command has solicited for the support and cooperation of residents of the state by providing credible and timely information to the police to help nip crimes in the bud.
The Commissioner of Police, Bethrand Onuoha made the plea in Lokoja on Tuesday while parading suspects at the Command’s headquarters.
Onuoha said the police would not relent in its efforts in crime prevention and public safety.
He warned those engaged in criminal activities to desist from such acts and handover their arms and ammunition to the police or be prepared to face the full wrath of the law.
The CP stressed that the command had adopted a comprehensive crime-prevention and detection strategies as well as operational measures in its onslaught against criminal elements terrorizing the innocent and law-abiding people of the state.
He explained that the police has commenced intensive raids identified as criminal hideouts, black spots and flash points across the state.
The police chief added that the command has also adopted common problem solving strategies for effective results on the community policing, which has improved public confidence in the force.
He further disclosed that the command has provided an avenue for effective collaboration with other critical stakeholders by providing them access to share information and Intelligence that would assist in crime control and management.
According to him, these have occasioned the major successes being recorded by the command in its efforts to curb crime and engender public safety.
While nine suspects for engaging in armed robbery, criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, false alarm and car snatching and unlawful possession of firearm, CP Onuoha said 3 Peugeot cars, 3 AK-47 rifles, 4 Dane guns were recovered from them.
He said the police also recovered 1 locally made pistol, 1 short gun, 1 single barrel gun, 1 cartridge, 3 cutlasses and knives, 5 Palm Oil. Jericans and several charms and amulets from the criminal suspects.
While giving a breakdown of the suspects paraded, the Command paraded Thankgod Joseph and Monday Matthew for armed robbery and the unlawful possession of arms other dangerous weapons.
The duo were alleged to have conspired with one Sumaila Musa, also known as Osama, to invade and rob residents of Onicha-Igo community of their valuables, demolish the community water tank, and also killed one Miss Queen Onoja for no just reasons. They were also alleged to have robbed one Mrs Rachel Agada, kidnapped her housemaid, and made away with her Hilux van.
In the case of criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide and false alarm, the command paraded 28-year old Haruna Adamu, 25-year old Yakubu Mohammed and 18-year old Harisu Abdulrasheed who were paraded for raising false alarm resulting in the lynching of one Usman Abubakar at Ayetoro, kabba-Bunu local government area of the state.
The suspects were alleged to be responsible for the lynching of Abubakar who was accused of manhood theft, after shaking their hands. This attracted a mob action which resulted in his being burnt to death. The suspects were said to have confessed to the crime.
The police also paraded one Daniel David, a suspected car snatcher who specializes in robbing residents of their cars. He was arrested in July, 2023 after a tip-off. Exhibits items, such as a Peugeot 206 car with registration No. YAB 473PR (Abuja); 1 Peugeot 206 car with Chasis No. UF32AKFWF41623345; another Peugeot 406 with registration No. (Abuja) RBC 856 TH, Chasis no. UF:38ERFRE81075091, were recovered from him.
The police also paraded 3 suspected kidnappers, Abdulmumuni Zakari, Akoji Oyibo and Ali Abdulrahman who were alleged to be responsible for the series of kidnapping and robbery of residents of Lokoja metropolis. They were said to have been apprehended at their criminal hideouts at Crusher area of the town. 1 locally made pistol and live cartridge were recovered from them.
Speaking further, CP Onuoha disclosed that operatives of the command in collaboration with the local vigilante at Gegu-beki had embarked on bush-combing culminating in the recovery of 2 AK-47 Magazine, 1 live AK-47 ammunition, 3 MTN lines, 2 Glo lines, 3 Airtel lines, 2 Memory cards, 1 2/60 V-Itel phone, 1 Tecno T52 phone, 1 military camouflage shirt, and 2 pairs of camouflage trousers.
He said the security team engaged the kidnappers in a gun duel, neutralized one, while others escaped. He said efforts were on to arrest the fleeing criminals.
The Commissioner stated that operatives of the command also invaded the camp of kidnapping gang between Oworo and Ogbabon village.
In collaboration with a Fulani volunteer vigilante group, the police neutralized one of the gang members, while others fled. He said items recovered at the camp include 1 AK-47 rifles with Breech No. 19811, and 2 live 7.62mm ammunition.
CP Onuoha used the occasion to admonish political gladiators in the state to play by the rules of the game in the forthcoming governorship election in the state, noting that the rising trend of political brigandage is inimical to peaceful coexistence of the citizenry.
He charged the media to be alive to its responsibility of informing, enlightening and educating the populace on the need to be responsible citizens.