From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Kogi Police command Commissioner, CP Bethrand Onuoha on Tuesday at the state command headquarters paraded
no fewer than ten criminals before the press as part of their recent achievements recorded in their ongoing onslaught against criminal elements terrorizing the innocent people of Kogi State.
Briefing the press earlier, CP Bethrand said the Command has adopted a comprehensive crime prevention and detection strategies as well as operational measures to include the commencement of intensive raids of identified criminal hideouts, black spots and flash points across the State.
He pointed out that the Command continue to adopt common problem solving strategies for effective result on the Community Policing which has improved public confidence on our service delivery.
“The Command has provided an avenue for effective collaboration with other critical stakeholders by giving them access to share information and intelligence that will assist in crime control and management.” He said.
Due to the support and cooperation of the good people of Kogi State, CP. Bethrand disclosed that the Command has recorded major successes in its efforts in crime prevention and public safety.
He pointed out that one Thankgod Joseph and Monday Matthew were arrested with three Dane guns, One Short gun, One Single barrel gun, Three Cutlasses/Knives, Five Palm oil jerecans and Several charms.
Following a tip-off on 28/04/2023, by the United Onicha-Igo Development Association in Ofu Local Government Area, Kogi State,
“It is alleged among other things, that a group of hoodlums led by one Sumaila Musa aka Osama, (now at large), (2) ThankGod Joseph and others, all ‘m’ of Onicha-Igo town in Ofu, had serially turned criminality into business activities as they frequently terrorize the residents of Onicha-Igo and its environs.”
CP Bethrand said the hoodlums were said to be responsible for series of Armed-robbery, thuggery, Mischief, Assualt, Causing Hurt, Kidnapping and Culpable Homicide which they committed at different dates against different individuals in Onicha-Igo Community.
“On 23/03/2023 at about 0130hrs, the hoodlums evaded the house and premises of the one Mrs. Rachael Agada firing guns sporadically, robbed the occupants of their valuable properties, kidnapped the house girl of Mrs Agada, named Nawaitu and stole away her Hilux Van.”
“Also, on 28/01/2023, the hoodlums fire guns sporadically and kill one Miss Queen Onoja of Onicha-Igo without any just cause. The hoodlums also demolished the overhead water Tank in the Community, cut it into pieces and took it away without any justification.”
While the cases are under investigation, on 28/09/2023, 01/10/2023 and 05/10/2023 respectively, the hoodlums led by ThankGod Joseph and Mathew invaded Onicha-Igo viliage and started robbing the innocent residents of their valuables.
“The two were arrested on 05/10/2023 during their robbery operation while others fled. The following items were recovered from them; four locally made guns, two Jack Knives some local charms, two and half Jericans of Palm oil, seven sachets of Salt, one Itel Phone, house mirror, etc which they robbed from their innocent victims.”
In a related development,
Haruna Adamu and Yakubu Mohammed were arrested for an alleged criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide/ false alarm.
Following a tip-off that some hoodlums attacked one Harisu Abdulrasheed and lynch him to death.
The operative attached to Kabba promptly swing in to action and arrested the above suspects.
It was further revealed that the deceased who was an Okada Man from Ayetoro convey a passenger from Kabba to Ayetoro then use the opportunity to visit his friend one Haruna Adamu of Ayetoro.
While he was in Haruna Adamu’s shop, the CP said late Abdulrasheed met other suspects where he had a handshake with them. Immediately the suspects raised a fake alarm that the deceased took their manhood which attracted the mob to lynch the deceased and burn him to death. The suspects confess to the crime.
“They will be charged to court as soon as investigation into the case is completed” he said.
