Photo: Police Parade Pregnant Mother And 7 Others For Armed Robbery

The Lagos State Police Command has paraded a three-month old pregnant woman alongside a seven-man armed robbery gang on Monday who confessed to the alleged killing of two police officers attached to the Iju-Ishaga Police Station last October.

The police also recovered from the suspects: two AK-47 rifles with numberd 56-2-5012375 and 07015493 with two AK-47 Magazines fully loaded; one automatic pump action gun; four locally made pistolS and 135 live cartridges with their operational vehicle one Ash Colour Hyundai Tucson Jeep with registration number MUS 350 BG in Egbeda area of Lagos.

Among the suspects paraded was Olubaba, an accomplice of the dare-devil armed robbery kingpin, Godogodo .

The suspects met their waterloo on Sunday during an exchange of fire with the crack SARS operatives .

Taiwo Obafunso, 28, the pregnant woman and mother of a teenager told journalists that she unknowingly got involved with the robbers because one of them had at various times given her monetary gifts.

Others arrested included: Ife Olubaba, 29; Saheed Wasiu, 23; Odelade Kabiru, 23; ,Segun Idowu, 20; Wasiu Rafiu, 23; Wasiu Sonni, 26; and Taiye Agege (now deceased). 

They were paraded on Monday for also wounding four policemen.

Woolwich Murder Suspects Adebolajo & Adebowale Deny Murdering British Soldier Lee Rigby

Pictured: Lee Rigby's widow fighting back tears in the court room when the suspects denied killing her husband

Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale have both denied murdering Fusilier Lee Rigby in Woolwich.

At a pre-trial hearing at the Old Bailey criminal court in central London via videolink on Friday, September 27, Michael Adebolajo from Romford in Essex and Michael Adebowale from Greenwich in southeast London entered their pleas to the murder charge. 

At the funeral

The soldier's widow Rebecca Rigby watched in tears as Adebolajo, 28, and Adebowale, 22, each denied attempting to murder a police officer on the day of Drummer Rigby's death.

They also denied conspiracy to murder on or before that day.

The suspects are scheduled to go on trial later on November 18. 

Lagos State Govt. Rescues 25 Children From Alleged Child Trafficker

The rescued children

Lagos State Government has rescued 25 children from an alleged child trafficker in the Egbeda area of the state.

It was learnt that the suspected trafficker, Mrs. Rosemary Nwachukwu, was also arrested and had been handed over to the Alausa Police Division, while the children are currently in government’s custody.

The government accused Nwachukwu of operating an illegal orphanage named, Saint Stephen Charity Foundation, on Abiodun Adebanbo Street, Egbeda.

It was gathered that officials from the Office of Youth and Social Department, led by the Director, Child Development, Mrs. Alaba Fadairo, in conjunction with personnel from the Office of Public Defender and policemen, stormed the orphanage on Saturday.

The government said findings showed that the suspect was using the orphanage as a front for another illegal business.

The Suspect, Mrs. Rosemary Nwachukwu

The Director, OPD, Mrs. Omotola Rotimi, said of the children, whose ages ranged from three months to 12 years, were victims of human trafficking.

Rotimi said, "It was discovered upon investigation that Nwachukwu trafficked 27 children and kept them in a room. We were able to rescue three infants of ages three to six months and 22 other children. Efforts are still on to locate the remaining two."

The OPD director added that the suspect used the victims for financial gains by putting them up for adoption. She said the suspect would be charged to court after investigations had been concluded.

However, Fadairo, said, "Investigation also shows that there are no records of each child and no evidence of how the children got to her orphanage. No police or security report."

Fadairo urged members of the public to be vigilant and report suspicious orphanages to the appropriate authorities. She said some of the orphanages might be fronts for human trafficking.

She said, "People and organisations that operated unapproved orphanages will be arrested and prosecuted according to the law."

But Nwachukwu said she had been running the orphanage for 18 years, adding that it was purely on charity basis, and without financial gain.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, said Nwachukwu was in police custody and would be charged to court on Friday (today).

She said, "We found out that she registered as a charity and thus not qualified to run an orphanage. She will be taken to court on Friday (today)."

ThePUNCH

15-year-olds, 5 Others Arraigned for Assault, Attacking Palace

Two 15-year-olds and five other men have been arraigned before the Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court for allegedly cutting one Olanrewaju Ganiyu’s hand with a machete, while also threatening a traditional ruler.

The accused, Segun Fatoke,15, Abiodun Kazeem, 15, Taiwo Tokosi, 55, Morufu Jimoh,58, Mayowa Jofoba,20, Nurudeen Olabanji,19, Segun and Anuchi Afam, 23,  were arraigned on seven counts of disrespect for court judgment, assault, misdemeanour and felony, in a criminal suit instituted by the Inspector General of Police.

The police said the defendants had conspired to defeat a Supreme Court’s judgment which gave  the ownership of “Iganmu land” to the traditional ruler of Ijora, Oba Fatai Aromire.

They were also said to have stormed the palace of the monarch with firearms, "which placed him in a state of fear and reasonable apprehension of violence."

In the ensuing affray, the police said the seven accused persons damaged the Oba’s property such as four cars’ windscreen, two vehicles, and three Keke Napep glasses, totalling N7m.

They also allegedly damaged three fences estimated at N750,000 and assaulted Ganiyu by cutting his right hand with a machete and hitting his face with a stone.

The crimes were said to have been committed between July 2009 and July 2013.

The seven counts read in part, 

"That you, Taiwo Tokosi, Morufu Jimoh, Mayowa Jofoba, Nurudeen Olabanji, Segun Fatoke, Abiodun Kazeem, and Anuchi Afam, on the above-mentioned date, place and in the aforesaid Magisterial District did show act of disrespect to the judgment of the Supreme Court in suit No: SC/54/2005 delivered on the 3rd day of April 2009 against you and after the judgment by taking possession of land known and called Iganmu Land situated at Ijora and Iganmu District of Lagos in possession of HRM Oba Fatai Aromire and others."

The prosecutor said the men had breached Sections 411(1), 104(1) (h), 56, 348, 56, 348 and 171 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.

The men said they were not guilty of the charges.

The magistrate, Mr. O.O Olatunji, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N200,000 each with two sureties in like sum.

The matter was adjourned till September 2.

PUNCH

Woolwich Murder Suspect Michael Adebolajo loses two Teeth in fight with Prison Staff

One of the men accused of killing Fusilier Lee Rigby has been injured during a violent incident in prison.

Woolwich murder suspect Michael Adebolajo lost two teeth as he was restrained by officers at Belmarsh jail in south-east London.

It is understood that several officers were called in to help after Adebolajo began acting violently on Wednesday, and he was injured during the subsequent melee in the prison’s high-security wing.

Last night the Metropolitan Police said it had started an investigation. No arrests have been made.

Adebolajo, from Romford, east London, is one of two men accused of murdering Fusilier Rigby outside Woolwich barracks on May 22. 

If you missed the original story, read HERE. 

MailOnline

Domestic Violence: Man Kills Wife, Attempts Suicide (Photo)

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 36-year-old man, Daniel Kanjo, for allegedly killing his 24-year-old wife, Meno Kanjo, in Elemoro, Ajah area of the state.

According to police investigations, Daniel stabbed his wife to death after catching her making love to another man in a bush near their home.

Seriously? Making love in the bush? SMH

Continue to read the rest of the story...

According to a police source at Elemoro Divison, after stabbing his wife many times, the suspect also stabbed himself in the stomach and in the neck.

The suspect and the wife were thought to be dead,  forcing the residents to call the police to evacuate the corpses

As policemen were packing the corpses to the mortuary, Daniel was, however, discovered to be breathing and was immediately rushed to the hospital.

The suspect, who had been discharged, told PUNCH Metro that the incident was the work of the devil.

He said he loved his wife dearly and never hit her prior to the incident, adding that when he caught her red-handed committing adultery, he lost control.

He said, “I am from Benin Republic but I have been living in Nigeria since 2001. I have two wives. My first wife has six children for me. However in 2010, I got married to Meno (the deceased) and we have a one-year-old child together.

“I am a bricklayer by vocation and I have never denied Meno of anything, even though she was a hairdresser and was making money. I was also faithful to her and showed her love.”

Pause: Did I just see "I'm a Bricklayer by vocation"? "I have 2 wives?" 

Ok continue...

Narrating what transpired on the fateful day, the suspect said he came back from work in the afternoon and needed to collect something from the deceased.

He said as he was looking for her in the house, he was drawn by sounds emanating from a nearby bush.

He said, “When I heard the sound coming from the bush, I moved near and saw my wife having sex with a strange man. As I moved closer, the man saw me and ran away. But I was able to grab my wife and I gave her the beating of her life.

“I did not know what came over me, but I took a knife and stabbed her all over her body. Before I realised what happened, the devil also pushed me to stab myself. I stabbed myself in the stomach and also slit my throat.”

Daniel said some of his neighbours, who were drawn by the noise, started beating him up when they saw his wife on the ground.

He said, “After stabbing myself, I was still moving on the floor although I was weak. Some people came around and started beating me, saying that I must die too since I had killed my wife. They beat me up and took photographs. When I woke up, I found myself in the hospital.”

The suspect urged the police to release him as he was not himself when he was committing the crime. He said if he was sent to prison, his children would suffer.

He said, “My first born is 13 years old while my youngest child is a year old. I pay their school fees and I am responsible for their upkeep. If I am sent to prison, they will all suffer.”

The Deputy Police Public Relations Officer for the state command, Damasus Ozoani, said the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department.

Photo: Olabisi Onabanjo University Student Arrested in Lagos for Armed Robbery

 A member of an organised criminal gang made up of a woman, her brother and three others  has expressed regrets becoming a thief, saying he had planned to become a police officer.

“My role in the gang is to push the victim out of our vehicle but I am always careful so that he will not fall and hit his head against a stone or hard object,” Emmanuel Ochi, also known as General said.

“I am a student of Olabisi Olabanjo University, Ogun State and I am in 300 level studying Crime Investigation. I intended to enlist in Nigeria Police Force when I graduate. I want to become a police detective.

“It is God that will decide. If I regain my freedom I will stand a chance. Even if I am jailed, I may get state pardon. Everything depends on God.”

28-year-old Anita Ekechukwu who was arrested with her brother, Sunday Ekechukwu said she became a thief because she was unemployed, adding that it was better than prostitution and her brother had introduced her to it.

“I am a member of the gang but we do not operate with gun. I am from Owerri, in Imo State. I am unemployed but I live at Lekki with my elder brother, Sunday, who is a building contractor,” she said.

“I joined the gang because I could not secure any reasonable employment.

“I joined the gang this year and I was given the telephone number of a bureau de change operator. I told him I wanted to buy $30,000. The next day, he sent his brothers who brought the dollars. I then told the man that we were going to a bank where I would pay him the naira equivalent. On the way to the bank, we collected the money from the man and pushed him out of the vehicle.”

According to ThePunch,

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 28-year-old woman, Anita Ekechukwu, her brother, Sunday Ekechukwu; and three others, Benedict Nwadike, Emmanuel Ochi, also known as General and George Emmanuel, aka Force Man, for armed robbery.

According to the police authorities, the suspects were arrested while robbing bureau de change operators of millions of naira at different times.

Narrating how the suspects operated, a source at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad said Anita would pose as a customer and convince the bureau de change operator to enter a vehicle with her only to rob him.

The source said, “Anita would go to a bank and say she wanted to buy foreign currency knowing well that banks do not sell foreign currency to just anyone.

“The bankers would introduce her to a bureau de change operator and they would establish contact. Later, she will call them for a huge transaction in a vehicle.

“When the victim enters the vehicle, her colleagues would come in another vehicle, abduct the victim, rob him of his money at gunpoint and then throw him out of the vehicle.”

PUNCH Metro learnt that the robbers were arrested while trying to rob one Sanusi of $80,000 (N12.8m).

The police source said the robbers operated around a bank in Lekki and had boarded their vehicle when policemen intercepted them.

He said, 

“They organised another operation. Already police were aware that the gang was about to operate around the area. The robbers had already abducted their victim, when the police swooped in on them and arrested them. The robbers then revealed the location of the others. The police recovered the money collected from the victim.”

Anita said she took to robbery because of unemployment, adding that it was more honourable than prostitution.

She said it was her brother that introduced her to the illegitimate business but insisted they never used guns for their operations.

She said, “I am a member of the gang but we do not operate with gun. I am from Owerri, in Imo State. I am unemployed but I live at Lekki with my elder brother, Sunday, who is a building contractor.

“I joined the gang because I could not secure any reasonable employment.

“I joined the gang this year and I was given the telephone number of a bureau de change operator. I told him I wanted to buy $30,000. The next day, he sent his brothers who brought the dollars. I then told the man that we were going to a bank where I would pay him the naira equivalent. On the way to the bank, we collected the money from the man and pushed him out of the vehicle.”

Another suspect, Ochi, who claimed to be 24 years old, said he was a student of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State.

He said his dream was to join the Nigeria Police Force but it was unclear if he would still be enlisted following his arrest.

He said, “My role in the gang is to push the victim out of our vehicle but I am always careful so that he will not fall and hit his head against a stone or hard object.

“I am a student of Olabisi Olabanjo University, Ogun State and I am in 300 level studying Crime Investigation. I intended to enlist in Nigeria Police Force when I graduate. I want to become a police detective.

On his hope of realising his life ambition to become police detective after graduation, now that he had been arrested he said, “It is God that will decide. If I regain my freedom I will stand a chance. Even if I am jailed, I may get state pardon. Everything depends on God.”

Photos: Robbery Suspects Beaten To a Pulp In Ilorin By Angry Mob

 

Two robbery suspects, members of a vicious gang that specialize in snatching money and valuables from unsuspecting passengers were nabbed by an angry mob along stadium road, Ilorin on Wednesday.

According to the unsuspecting victim, “I went to change some currency from naira to dollars at a bureau de change. After the transactions, I stopped the taxi with the men inside. Getting to my destination, I asked the driver to stop but he said he wanted to pick someone ahead before dropping me so he moved up a bit and stopped.

I tried to open the door but it was difficult so the man near me moved closer to me, I never suspected he wanted to rob me, I thought he tried to assist me in opening the door. As I dropped from the cab, I discovered that I have been robbed so I quickly raised alarm, they quickly threw down my money and sped off, so passers bye assisted in giving them a hot chase with Okada and apprehended the two of them”.
                       
It took the quick intervention of men from Special Anti Robbery Squared, SARS, for the suspects not to have died of the beating sustained by the  angry mob.

The robbers were arrested in a Mazda taxi cab, Registration number XD 358 KEY Kwara number and officially registered to taxi union with registration number LRN A5/ 264.

The Police Public relations Officer, DSP, Femi Fabode confirmed the arrest of the robbers and stated that they actually specialize in robbing people coming from banks adding that they have their own taxi with which they monitor bank customers and pretend that they are taxi drivers on commercial duty.

Boston Marathon Bombings Suspect Now Walking, Says He is Innocent

 

The remaining suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings who was in a critical state when arrested, has recovered enough to walk and assured his parents in a phone conversation that he and his slain brother were innocent, their mother told The Associated Press on Thursday.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, walked without a wheelchair to speak to his mother last week for the first and only phone conversation they have had since he has been in custody, Zubeidat Tsarnaeva told the AP.

In a rare glimpse at Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s state of mind, he told her he was getting better and that he had a very good doctor, but was struggling to understand what happened, she said.

“He didn’t hold back his emotions either, as if he were screaming to the whole world: What is this? What’s happening?,” she said.

The April 15 bombings killed three people and wounded more than 260. Elder brother to the suspect, 26-year-old Tamerlan Tsarnaev, was killed in a shootout with police, and Dzhokhar remains in a prison hospital after being badly wounded.

“I could just feel that he was being driven crazy by the unfairness that happened to us, that they killed our innocent Tamerlan,” their mother said, standing by the family’s insistent belief that their children are innocent.