26042019 - Why police misuse arms, kill on duty —IGP

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2019
NAF <strong>kill</strong>s
terrorists,
destroys
vehicles,
workshop in
Sambisa
Forest
By Joseph
Erunke
ABUJA—THE Nigerian
Air Force said its troops
in Borno State,
Wednesday, <strong>kill</strong>ed many
Boko Haram terrorists and
destroyed their vehicles
and workshops in Sambisa
Forest.
The service, in a
statement, yesterday, by its
spokesman, Air
Commodore Ibikunle
Daramola, said: “The Air
Task Force, ATF, of
Operation Lafiya Dole has
destroyed some vehicles
and neutralised some Boko
Haram terrorists at a
suspected vehicle
workshop in Sambisa
Forest, Borno State.
“The operation was
conducted yesterday
(Wednesday) after a
Nigerian Air Force
Intelligence Surveillance
and Reconnaissance
platform on a routine
mission observed
significant activities as well
as some serviceable
vehicles hidden under
some trees at a previously
abandoned BHT vehicle
workshop."
Police nab
Warri eatery
staff over
alleged
robbery
THE <strong>police</strong> in
Ebrumede, Uvwie
Local Government Area of
Delta, have arrested a 44-
year-old staff of a popular
eatery in Warri, over
alleged robbery.
The Police Public
Relations Officer in Delta,
DSP
Onome
Onovwakpoyeya,
confirmed the arrest to
newsmen in Warri.
The suspect was arrested,
Wednesday, in Ogun area
of Warri, following the
lodgment of a complaint at
the Ebrumede Police
Station by the victim, Fred
Dolor.
The suspect was alleged
to have connived with
members of his gang now
at large, to attack the victim
in a commercial tricycle on
April 17 in Okere-Urhobo
area of Warri.
The victim was allegedly
dispossessed of his cell
phone valued at N48,000
in addition of N96,000
cash.
Police said the stolen cell
phone was tracked, leading
to the arrest of the suspect
and that further
investigation into the
incident was on.
How our son was <strong>kill</strong>ed In Bayelsa
— Family of slain NYSC member
NATIONAL Youth Service
Corps, NYSC, scheme is
compulsory for Nigerians who
graduate before the age of 30 and
it is an experience many graduates
look forward to.
The scheme, however, left sorrow
in the family of Oluwatobiloba
Popoola, a graduate of Obafemi
Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, who
was posted to Bayelsa State for
service.
Popoola was <strong>kill</strong>ed on March 21
at Victory International School,
Swali Yenagoa in Bayelsa State
where he was posted for his primary
assignment.
An online newspaper,
PREMIUM TIMES, gathered that
some hoodlums attacked the school
while Popoola and his colleagues
were marking the students’
examination scripts. He eventually
died in the attack.
Traumatised family
The victim’s brother, Jacob
Popoola, disclosed that the family
was demanding a thorough
investigation and justice for the
victim.
He said: “He lived with the
proprietor of the school alongside
his colleagues. But I was called on
March 22 and informed that some
hoodlums attacked corps members
in the school and that our son was
<strong>kill</strong>ed. I left my place of work
immediately.
“I proceeded to Oyo NYSC office
and they told me the report they
heard was that they were attacked
while marking examination scripts.”
He said the Bayelsa State NYSC
coordinator later asked the family
to apply to bring the corpse to Oyo
State. The body arrived at the state
on March 30 and was handed over
to the family for burial.
“When they came, the NYSC
representative brought N100,000 as
consolation fee, which I initially
rejected. But the NYSC coordinator
called back pleading that the family
should take the money and we
eventually did.
“Our worry was, however, that the
proprietor of the school or any
representative of the school where
he was serving did not even call or
show any sympathy, despite the fact
that NYSC told us that they had
provided our contact details to the
school. He then told us they will
never send corps members to the
place again.”
The family said the refusal of the
school to show up and explain how
their son was <strong>kill</strong>ed denied the
family the consolation of getting a
clear picture of the incident.
Jacob said: “We also expected that
the <strong>police</strong> would get in touch but
they refused until last week that the
Bayelsa State Police spokesperson
called to apologise for the <strong>police</strong>
force.
“The <strong>police</strong> emphasised that our
son did not have links with the
hoodlums. But unfortunately, we are
yet to know the steps being taken
for justice.”
The mother of the deceased, Mrs
Oladoyinbo, said her son was never
a cultist or involved with any illegal
group.
“We want the <strong>police</strong> to get to
the roots of this matter and allow
justice to prevail,” she said.
School proprietor
mum
Several efforts to reach out to
the Proprietor of Victory
International School, Jerry
Yeseme, in Yenagoa, did not
yield success.
When the online medium first
contacted him, Yeseme told our
correspondent to send him text
messages.
He has, however, refused to
respond to subsequent calls
and text messages on the
matter. He also blocked
reporter's phone number from
reaching him.
NYSC reacts
Contacted Bayelsa State
Coordinator of NYSC, Loto B.
O, said the scheme had
sympathised with the family of
the deceased.
A letter of condolence
obtained by the online
newspaper reads: “With our
heart full of grief, the director
general of NYSC, staff and all
corps members in Bayelsa State
sympathise with the family of
Popoola over the death of a
patriotic Corps member.
“The death came as great
question to us coming at a time
when the family and the nation
needed him most. Words
cannot express how we feel. But
we pray the Almighty God will
give the departed soul eternal
rest and the family fortitude to
bear the irreparable loss.”
The late Oluwatobiloba Popoola.
Troubled Police
The Bayelsa State Police
spokesperson, Asinim Butswat,
said he was surprised that the
school, where the incident
happened, had not reached out to
the family of the deceased.
He said: “I have been involved
with the brother of the deceased,
Jacob. I understand the family’s
plight concerning the death of
their son. We have assured them
that justice will be done by
arresting and prosecuting the
perpetrators.”
He said a thorough
investigation was ongoing on the
matter.
On the negligence of the
school, where the incident
happened, the <strong>police</strong>
spokesperson said: “I would not
know why he didn’t reach out to
them. How will somebody
contributing to your school be
<strong>kill</strong>ed without you showing
interest in what happened to his
family? I will try again and keep
in touch as investigation goes on.”
EFCC nabs 32 Yahoo boys in Abeokuta,
seizes 6 cars, others
THE Economic and
Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, Ibadan
Zonal Office, yesterday,
arrested 32 suspected internet
fraudsters, better known as
Yahoo-Yahoo Boys.
The suspects, according to
Tony Orilade, Acting Head,
Media & Publicity, EFCC,
were arrested at Liberty
Estate, Laderin area of
Abeokuta, the Ogun State
capital in an early morning
sting operation.
He said the suspects,
ranging between the ages of
15 and 39 years, were taken
by surprise when EFCC
operatives swooped on them
at one of their havens in the
estate.
“Fourteen of them claimed
to be undergraduates, while
18 others said they are selfemployed
in various
vocations.
“Their arrest was sequel to
a petition detailing their
alleged fraudulent activities,
including internet fraud
through which they obtain
illicit funds from
unsuspecting victims.
He said six exotic cars,
laptops, mobile phones, several
documents containing false
pretences and fetish objects
were recovered from them .
House,
cars and
other items
recovered
from the
alleged
fraudsters
The suspects are already
helping operatives of the
Commission with useful
information and will be
charged to court as soon as
investigations are concluded.