The police command in Lagos State on Sunday said 35 suspected armed robbers were arrested between June and August in the state.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, made this known on Sunday.
Hundeyin said 13 other suspected armed robbers were killed in different parts of the state during encounters with the police within the period.
He said while 37 robbery operations were foiled in different parts of the state, 32 different arms and 78 ammunition abandoned in vehicles by suspects were recovered during same period.
The image maker said that no kidnappings were recorded within the period, but 15 suspected cultists were arrested.
Hundeyin said six vehicles were recovered and some of the cars handed back to their owners after proof of ownership.
He noted that police officers under the command had three attacks from members of the public during same period, with the attackers since been charged to court.
“Twenty-two murder cases recorded in June, 20 in July and eight in August. We had three cult incidents recorded in June, one in July and one in August.
“We recorded four suicide cases in June, three in July and one in August,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Abiodun Alabi, has advised the public to resist any demand for bribe by any police personnel, irrespective of the officers’ rank, in the discharge of their duties.
Alabi gave the advice on Saturday during his interactive session with crime reporters, warning that under no circumstance should any civilian offer money to police either to secure bail or facilitate the performance of an officer’s responsibility.
The police boss, who reiterated the age-long declaration that ‘bail is free’, reminded the public that anyone who offered bribe to the police was as guilty as the police officer who received the bribe.
“Nigerians like to buy their freedom because they have committed offence. I wonder why a man would want to waste money bribing police to secure his freedom if he has not committed crime,” he said.
The commissioner commended the commitment of officers and men of tactical units like the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, Intelligence Response Team, IRT, Anti-Cultism and others.
Alabi, however, warned the bad elements in the various squads to desist from demanding and collecting money from members of the public who came to them with crime related problems.
According to him, information had reached him of instances where huge sums were demanded by some operatives of the squads from members of the public who came to lodge one complaint or the other.
The CP said that at such occasions, he disciplined such erring officers, adding that he would henceforth deal ruthlessly with any officer or rank and file caught indulging in such anti-service activities.
The police boss commended crime reporters in Lagos who he said had helped him to attain his modest achievements since he assumed office in the state seven months ago.
Earlier, the President of Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria, CRAN, Mr Lekan Olabulo, commended the commissioner for carrying journalists along in policing Lagos State.
Olabulo added that Alabi’s interest in the affairs of the beat association would not be taken for granted as police and crime reporters were partners in progress.
Also, The Police Command in Kaduna State says its operatives have rescued three kidnapped victims, recovered arms, ammunition and operational vehicles in two different locations.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Muhammad Jalije, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Sunday in Kaduna.
Jalige said, the Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Usman Baba’s directives on rigorous visible patrols and domination of public space by Police had continued to yield the desired outcome.
According to him, these accomplished feats were against the backdrop of a complaint received on Sept. 4, that one Yusuf Abubakar of Dorayi quarters in Kano State has been abducted.
“On the same date at Barde village in Ikara LGA of Kaduna State, the abductors were demanding for N50 million ransom.
“On receipt of the complaint, the Commissioner of Police Kaduna State, Mr Yekini Ayoku, directed the Divisional Police Officer Ikara to spread his operational dragnet to ensure the victim was rescued unhurt and culprits arrested.
“Consequently, on Sept. 9 at about 2015hrs, Police Operatives attached to the Division while on intensive purposeful crime prevention patrol along Ikara- Tashan Yari road, intercepted a motorcycle conveying three persons riding in a suspicious manner.
“The operatives promptly caught up with the motorcyclists after a high-speed chase and two of the riders on sensing Police pursuit jumped off the motorcycle and fled into the bush, ” he added.
Jalige said the operatives upon search of the motorcycle, recovered a concealed AK47 rifle loaded with 10 rounds of live 7.62 X 39mm ammunitions.
He said the identity of the rescued man was later discovered to be the Yusuf Abubakar of Dorayi whose report of kidnap was earlier received by the Division.
“The victim and the exhibits were moved to the Police Station for further investigation while the fleeing culprits are being trailed for arrest.
“The victim has been medically evaluated and reunited with his family, ” he said.
Jalige also said on Sept 9, at 0245hrs, operatives of the Command attached to Hunkuyi Division, while on aggressive patrol on Zaria – Kano expressway, intercepted a suspicious Ford Mini Bus with Reg No. ZAR 532 XR and the occupants rather than heed the police order to halt for search, engaged the Operatives in a gun duel.
“The operatives responded gallantly and in the ensuing melee, the hoodlums fled with varying bullet wounds leaving behind two female occupants of the said vehicle who were rescued.
” Upon search of the vehicle, an AK47 Magazine loaded with 30 rounds of live 7.62 × 39mm ammunition were recovered.
He said the preliminary investigation revealed that the two female occupants were the wives of one person at Kwanar Dangora, Kano State who were earlier abducted by the hoodlums.
“The CP commended the officers for the achievements and tasked them to do more, to reduce crime and criminalities to the barest minimum in the state, “Jalige said.
He equally called on the public to be security conscious at all times and alert security agencies on noticing any suspicious movement and activities around them.
In a related event, Osun State Police Command has nabbed three night guards over the alleged murder of a 40-year-old man, Mohammed Badmus.
Badmus was learnt to have been shot dead by one of the guards identified as Moshood Rasaq attached to a firm in Ibuowo Estate, Okinni in Egbedore Local Government area of Osun State.
It was gathered that the deceased was killed in the early hours of Saturday with a dane gun.
Mohammed’s Landlord, Kazeem Jimoh stated that his tenant was killed at the front of the house, while his door was left open.
He explained, “I and Kazeem were at a bar till past 12 when I left him.
“I didn’t sleep at home but I got a call around 1 a.m. that Lasgidi was killed by a guard. When i got home, I saw his door open, while his corpse was outside.”
According to the Police spokesperson, SP Yemisi Opalola, the three night guards have been arrested with their dane guns.
Opalola stated that the corpse had been deposited at the morgue while further investigations are ongoing at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).
“One Babatunde Olumide, the Chairman of Ibuowo Estate Okinni reported at dada Estate Divisional Police Hqts., that their night guard, one Moshood Rasaq used his dane gun to shoot one Mohammed Badmus, aged 40 years and he died instantly.
“Suspect has been arrested, gun used has been recovered, while the corpse has been taken to UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital morgue for autopsy,” she said.
