Crime
HOLD DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT LIABLE, NOT POLICE, COUNSEL TELLS IIP SARS
HOLD DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT LIABLE, NOT POLICE, COUNSEL TELLS IIP SARS
By: Michael Mike
As complainants demand 3bln compensation Counsel to the police Fidelis Ogobe has stated before the Independent Investigative Panel on Human Right Violation by the defunct SARS and other units of the Nigerian police Force that rather than sue the police in the case of unlawful arrest detention ,cruel inhuman and degrading treatment seizure of property, malicious prosecution and extrajudicial killing of late Joseph Oveje brought before the panel, the Delta state government should be sued, therefore, the police should not be held liable for any damage .
Ogobe while reading his written address before the panel stated that the complainant Godwin Ikolo and 5 others who represent the Nation commercial Tricycle and motorcycle owners and riders Association Delta state chapter mentioned in their petition severally that the police men at the time of the operation were in company of their principal, the Delta state government.
According to Ogobe, the staff of the Delta state government led police to the association’s office, he also told the panel that the properties of the association that were seized are not in the custody of the police which shows the operation was not carried out by the police.
Furthermore the police counsel urged the panel to dismiss the allegation, citing the fact that the necessary party which is the Delta state government are not a party before the panel, adding that no specific allegations were mentioned against any of the respondent.
Meanwhile Ogobe said the police cannot be held liable for the death of one the members Joseph Ovedjie noting that he died ninety days after the said incidence and autopsy was not carried out to determine the cause of death which can be dependent on many factors he argued.
It may be recalled that Comrade Godwin Ikolo had pleaded with the Independent Investigation Panel on Human Rights Violations by the defunct SARS and other units of the Nigerian Police Force to order N3 billion compensation against the Police in favour of the National Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association (NCTMORA), Delta state chapter, following alleged brutality and seizures of over 150 tricycles and motorcycles belonging to the association.
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Testifying before the panel, the witness alleged that a task force comprising some Police Officers, Delta state Ministry of Transport and the state Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) had at various times arrested, brutalized, detained their members for no justifiable reason.
According to Comrade Ikolo who is also the National Public Relations Officer NCTMORA, the harassment and intimidation of their Members by the Delta state task force led to the extra- judicial killing of late Joseph Ovedje.
He also stated before the panel presided over by Dr. Garba Tetengi (SAN) on behalf of the Chairman, Justice Suleiman Galadima (rtd) that the Delta state task force working with the police and other agencies of government in the state had impounded of over 150 tricycles and motorcycles belonging to his association and had refused to release them till date.
He said that those vehicles have been vandalized and that they need to be compensated to replace them, noting that the cost of one tricycle is N1.2m while one motorcycle is N530,000.
The witness who is also the Chairman of the National Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association, Delta state informed the panel that his Members have been maliciously prosecuted amid other alleged forms of human rights violations.
According to him, a similar association recognized by the state governments as the state owned
Tricycle and motorcycle operators usually connive with the state task force to frustrate the operations of his own association in the state.
He further alleged that Delta state Ministry of transport expected his association to collapse into the state transport body, which according to him is not acceptable since they are fully registered to operate in the state.
Counsel to the Complainants, D. Faroae who led the witness in his testimonies, agreed with the panel that Comrade Godwin Ikolo testimonies are enough and therefore there might not be any reason to call more witnesses.
Meanwhile counsel to the complainant Sulieman Abubakar has raised three issues for determination. He asked Whether the petitioner and her members have the constitutional rights to join any Association/union of their choice and if so,
whether the arrest, detention, torture and seizure of the properties/working tools i.e Tricycles and motorcycles of the petitioner and her members by the police including members of the defunct SARS for their refusal to join the rival union in Delta state is illegal, wrongful and unconstitutional act and Whether the petitioner and her members are entitled to damages.
The matter has been adjourn for report
HOLD DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT LIABLE, NOT POLICE, COUNSEL TELLS IIP SARS
Crime
Troops intercept suspected Boko Haram logistics convoy conveying 13 persons in Borno
Troops intercept suspected Boko Haram logistics convoy conveying 13 persons in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Bravo Company, 159 Battalion, have intercepted a suspected Boko Haram logistics convoy in Kanama area of Borno State.
Security sources said the interception occurred at about 7:00 p.m. on April 2 at a checkpoint while troops were conducting routine stop-and-search operations.

According to the sources, the troops stopped a Toyota pickup vehicle conveying 12 males and one female en route to Dekwa.
During a search of the vehicle, two adult males were found to have sustained gunshot wounds.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the injured suspects were members of a terrorist logistics support network who had reportedly been ambushed earlier by troops on April 1 along the Usmadi axis while transporting supplies to a terrorist camp in Dekwa.

The sources added that eight torchlight mobile phones were recovered from the suspects for further investigation.
All suspects and the vehicle are currently in custody and will be handed over to Headquarters for further action.
Troops intercept suspected Boko Haram logistics convoy conveying 13 persons in Borno
Crime
Troops, CJTF arrest three suspected Boko Haram logistics suppliers in Borno
Troops, CJTF arrest three suspected Boko Haram logistics suppliers in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 29 Task Force Brigade, in collaboration with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), have arrested three suspected Boko Haram logistics suppliers at Benisheikh in Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State.
Security sources said the suspects, identified as Abdul Kolo, Modu Masa and Atom Baaji, were apprehended at about 3:00 p.m. on April 3 following credible human intelligence.

According to the sources, the suspects confessed during preliminary interrogation that the items in their possession were given to them by Boko Haram members to sell on their behalf.
Items recovered from the suspects include 20 goats, two mobile phones, a knife and the sum of ₦139,780.
The sources said the suspects and recovered items had been handed over to the Headquarters of 29 Task Force Brigade for further investigation and necessary action.
The operation is part of ongoing efforts under Operation Hadin Kai to dismantle terrorist logistics networks and disrupt supply chains sustaining insurgent activities in the North-East.
Troops, CJTF arrest three suspected Boko Haram logistics suppliers in Borno
Crime
Police arrest newly recruited suspected ISWAP member in Kwara
Police arrest newly recruited suspected ISWAP member in Kwara
By: Zagazola Malama
The Police in Kwara have arrested a 20-year-old newly recruited suspected ISWAP member during a joint patrol operation in Kaiama Local Government Area of the state.
Police sources said the suspect, identified as Mallami Abubakar, was arrested on April 1 at about 8:00 a.m. during a routine patrol in Nanu community by a combined team of police operatives, national forest guards and Kaiama vigilante members.
According to the sources, the operation was part of ongoing efforts to strengthen security surveillance in forested and border communities within the state.
The suspect, who hails from Isanlu-Dankuturu in Kogi State, was taken into custody for further investigation.
During interrogation, he allegedly confessed that he was contacted by a friend identified only as Babi from Babana village in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, who invited him to join a suspected ISWAP/Lakurawa group in Farin Suna area of Baruten Local Government Area.
Police said investigations were ongoing to verify the claims and track other suspected members of the criminal network.
The command assured residents of continued collaboration with other security agencies and local vigilante groups to rid the state of criminal elements.
Police arrest newly recruited suspected ISWAP member in Kwara
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