GENERAL
� President Olusegun Obasanjo has warned Niger Delta militants against further acts of violence, hostage-taking or antisocial behaviour through a paper delivered on his behalf at the Nigerian Energy Congress held at the Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt, Rivers State on June 26 2006. Obasanjo stated that violence will escalate rather than solve the problems of the people. He solicited for a peaceful atmosphere to enable him implement the development plans he had for the Niger Delta area. Obasanjo spoke through Professor A. Adegbulugbe and appealed to the youths who had been behind violent agitations in the area to shun negative and disruptive activities, saying that he intended to secure the lives and property of the people in the troubled region. The President said government was monitoring the acts of violence and brigandage in the area closely by putting in place more coherent security surveillance and response systems that would deter criminality and ensure the restoration of law and order. He said government had been concerned about the problems of the Niger Delta, adding that it was this that led to the creation of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).According to the President, when it was realised that the NDDC could not cope, government set up the Presidential Committee on Social and Infrastructural Development in the Coaster States of Nigeria. The President has however, tasked the committee chaired by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ambassador Aderemi Esan, to also identify the immediate and remote causes of the vandalisation; those involved, and recommend measures to eliminate the harmful incidence. Members of the committee, which was given until the middle of July to submit its report to the President, are representatives of NNPC, NUPENG, Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), major marketers and dealers, the police, State Security Service and the military.
� All ethnic militias in the country are to be declared terrorist group by the Federal Government, said the Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN). In a fresh offensive against the groups announced by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN) on June 30 2006, the government declared the Anambra Vigilante Service (AVS), also known as Bakassi Boys, as a terrorist organisation. Receiving the report of the Justice Gladys Olotu panel of inquiry inaugurated last year to “investigate the conspiracy and murder involving Kingsley Chimezie and others of the Bakassi outfit in Abuja, Ojo stated government’s commitment to securing the life and property of its citizens. He promised that the government would stop at nothing to bring the terrorists to book. The minister assured members of the panel that the report would be considered immediately. Justice Olotu noted that the group was inaugurated on September 5 last year to inquire into the killings perpetrated by Bakassi at Aba , Abia State with the following terms of reference: to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the death of 20 people in the illegal security operation by an unconstitutional organization, to ascertain the circumstances that led to the tragedy and recommend measures to prevent the occurrence of similar incidents in Abia or elsewhere, to identify those who were responsible for or involved in the disturbances, to recommend appropriate measures that may be taken by the government against persons who may be found culpable, and to consider other matters that may be incidental or ancillary to any of the above terms of reference and make appropriate recommendations.
� Militants in the Niger Delta under the aegis of the “Joint Revolutionary Council” comprising the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and the “Martyrs Brigade” have given the Nigeria Police 48 hours to hand over the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State and some of his officer for trial over the killing of three innocent Ijaws who they allegedly branded armed robbers. Failure to hand them over for trial at the expiration of the ultimatum, the militants said, would make them declare a period of rage on them by attacking every thing with the semblance of the Police. They further threatened that they were going to get all the officers involved in the killing of the youths who never had a hand in the alleged robberies. Others affected by the order sent on-line to Journalists in the state are “the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of SIIB and the DPO Abonnema and all others involved in the extra-judicial execution”. The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sunday Adetuyi had issued a statement earlier in the week to the effect that the three most wanted criminals in the state linked to bank robberies and attacks on oil companies had been arrested. He gave their names as Abiye Nangibo, Ngowari Briggs and Abdul Lateef Animashaun, all from Buguma, Rivers State. He equally stated that they had led his men into an ambush in the guise of leading them to recover their arms and arrest their members in the shootout that followed, they sustained injuries which led to their death. The Joint Council of the militants however said that at no time were those listed by the police involved in such nefarious activities, adding that while they had been involved in cult related clashes, they were never armed robbers.
� Over thirty- two(32) Itsekiri men and women of Jallah community in the Warri south west local Govt. area of Delta-State were kidnapped on July 01 2006 by Ijaw youths of Opuraza. The itsekiris who were returning to their ancestral home of Jallah were accosted by militant Ijaw youths in six speed boats fully armed. The incident which occurred at about on July 01 2006 at about 1530hrs in the riverine is believed to be aimed at scaring the Itsekiris from returning to their ancestral home burnt down by militant Ijaw youths during the Warri crisis of 1997- 2003. Jallah is an oil rich community that plays host to Chevron- Texaco Nig. Ltd, but sandwiched in a creek surrounded by Ijaw communities making them vulnerable in the event of communal attacks between Ijaw and Itsekiri. Though the captives were later released in the evening of July 01 2006 without any form of brutalization but not without warnings to them that Jallah community has been taken over by Ijaws of Opuraza and that the Itsekiris should stop coming to Jallah. The military joint task force (J.T.F) is handling the situation but a reprisal attack by Itsekiris may not be ruled out. It should be recalled that relative peace has prevailed in recent past, but may be disrupted if urgent steps are not taken in arresting the situation.
� Benue State Police Command rescued a flight lieutenant with the Nigeria Air Force at Kanshio village, near Makurdi, who was kidnapped in Makurdi by a gang of kidnappers terrorizing Benue State in the last three weeks. In an operation led by the Benue State Police Commissioner, Ibe Aghanya, the State Command raided the hide-out of the kidnappers after Air Force authority informed it of the missing Air Force Officer, whose life was in danger. The motive for the kidnap was not made known. The Makurdi state Police command has set up a team to comb Makurdi and neighbouring villages to uncover hide-outs of kidnappers and robbers. Similarly, in a related crime trend, a water seller, Jumba Ibrahim, was arrested while in possession of the head of a 26-year-old house wife named Zainab Barkundi at Taraba State. Police in Garba Chede village in Taraba State allegedly found Zainabs head with Ibrahim in a taxi during a routine check while he was trying to escape from Garba Chede to Gombe State. The Taraba State Police Commands Police Relations Officer, Fawe Atajiri (ASP) confirmed the arrest and said that the suspect will be charged to court soon.
East (Rivers & adjoining States)
2.1 On June 25 2006 students of the Rivers State polytechnic, Bori took to the street protesting the incessant power outage in the school. The rioting students who block the main express road allegedly abducted the chief security officer of the school into hiding for several hours before ransacking the office of the Registrar and the Student Affairs department. Anti riot security operatives were drafted to return peace to the campus.
2.2 On June 25 2006 thirty one (31) students of the university of Nigeria, Enugu campus belonging to different secret cult groups have renounced their membership publicly following threats by the school authorities to expel cult members. The university authority had launched an aggressive campaign towards the eradication of cultism in the campus and gave the affected student a week to renounce their membership.
2.3 On June 26 2006 a commercial bus driver was feared dead following a gun shot wound he received from a policeman on a stop and search duty at Ohii junction at Owerri, when argument arose over payment for bribe from the driver. The incident attracted reaction from other commuters which made the policemen to flee into the bush, leaving their patrol vehicle behind. The patrol vehicle was burnt on the spot. Five policemen on duty have been arrested by the police authority.
2.4 On June 27 2006 a policeman was killed by mobs in Port Harcourt after his car rammed into a motorbike from the rear killing the motor-bike rider and his two passengers. The accident was caused by over speed by the policeman.
2.5 On June 27 2006 following a tip-off on an illegal bunkering activities at Eleme, a middle aged man was arrested by the police from Eleme division of the Rivers State police command over an alleged unlawful possession of petroleum products. The suspect was arrested in possession of a two jerry-cans filled with petroleum products. Police investigation is on ongoing.
2.6 On June 27 2006 a team of detectives of the Rivers State police have arrested two women for allegedly stealing a two-month old baby boy from his mother. One of the suspects was alleged to have stole and sold the baby to the other for N50,000, meanwhile, both suspects have made useful statements to assist police in their investigation. The baby had been handed over to the real mother.
2.7 On June 28 2006 at about 1600hrs, the police at Special Area Rumuodomaya, Port Harcourt arrested a notorious robbery suspect that have been terrorizing innocent citizen at Rumuigbo area of Port Harcourt. The suspect was arrested during an operation at a shop located at Psychiatric Road following a tip-off. A revolver pistol with 9mm live ammunition was recovered from the suspect after he was shot dead on attempt to escape.
2.8 On June 28 2006 Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra State, was greeted with another shock when hoodlums invaded the fegge premises of the methodists church and attacked the resident bishop and some church ministers inflicting injuries on them. The bishop and his family members were held hostage for about one hour during which properties worth millions of Naira were taken, including the reverend’s two M/Benz cars. The bishop and other hostages were later rescued by a joint team of police and army.
2.9 On June 28 2006 a Reverend of a Pentecostal church residing at kenquip estate off Obi Wali road, Rumuigbo Port Harcourt was shot dead by gunmen suspected to be robbers in his house after he made a contact with the police during a robbery operation in a neighbour’s residence. The reverend who was called on phone by a neighbour had contacted the police and tried to get back to the neighbour on phone but unfortunately the feedback was relayed to the robbers who already had in possession the neighbour’s phone. The robbers immediately broke into Reverend�s apartment and shot him on the chest. Police investigation is ongoing.
2.10 On June 29 2006 following a clash between a cult group and the police along Anozie street, mile 11 Diobu Port Harcourt the police arrested a leader of a Deegbam cult group that have been terrorizing Anozie axis of Diobu in Port Harcourt. The group had been terrorising residents and traders in the area with broken bottles, cutlasses and guns. The cult leader was arrested with some of his accomplices when the police traced him to their hideout in Diobu.
2.11 On June 29 2006 following the abduction of an inspector and 3 other policemen at Onitsha, a combined team of the police and military currently patrolling Onitsha have arrested 69 members of MASSOB. Two (02) MASSOB leaders were alleged to have been gunned down by the police, during the operation. A 75mm rocket propelled bomb which was laid on the ground was allegedly discovered at Akpata forest by the police.
2.12 On July 01 2006 members of the Association of Bakassi Students invaded the Cameroon Consulate on Marian Road in Calabar, Cross River State protesting the ceding of the peninsula to the Cameroons. The placard-carrying students had come to the Consulate flaunting placards with such inscriptions as: We shall defend our ancestral home with our blood; Bakassi cannot be sacrificed on the altar of the craze for the Nobel Peace Prize. Armed men were immediately drafted to the area to disperse the students after they made an attempt to lower the Cameroonian flag.
Car-Jacking four (04) cars including V/W Tare Jeep were snatched at gunpoint within Port Harcourt metropolis and its environs during the week.
West (Warri/Escravos and adjoining States)
2.13 On June 25 2006at about 2315hrs, a four man armed robbery gang attacked residents of 39 Emeberien street, Warri and dispossessed them of their valuable items including cash at gun point. The robbers were however arrested by the police the following day following a tip-off. One of the members of the gang, Obaro Obekia, was identified to be one of those who robbed a prominent Ijaw leader, Chief Mamamu on June 14 2006. Investigation is ongoing
2.14 On June 26 2006 at about 0530hrs, men of a Crack team attached to the Delta state police command arrested two members of a notorious robbery gang from their hiding at Adije town, along Warri/Sapele road after the bandits were said to have robbed passengers of a commuter Hiace bus, Reg No XA 286 DGE, of their possessions. One of the members of the gang confessed to have been involved in an operation where an Inspector of police was killed at Okwe Jeba mobile police checkpoint. A Honda Civic car and two A.K 47 rifle were recovered from the bandits. Police investigation is ongoing.
2.15 On June 26 2006 at about 0230hrs, the Police at Ugheli division foiled a robbery operation at No.28 Market road following a swift response to a distress call that a gang of armed bandit had broken into a cement depot. The gang on sighting the policemen took to their heels. Several expended shells of 7.62mm and 9mm calibre ammunition were recovered at the premises. Police investigation is ongoing.
2.16 On June 27 2006 a business man identified as Peter Osimiri of Ospet Electrical, Udu in Delta state was beaten to death by three mobile policemen at an illegal check-point, near Kwale in Delta state, for allegedly refusing to give them a bribe of N20,000 for eight rolls of electric cables they found with him while travelling with an Agofure bus to Onitsha to purchase some goods. Over N1 million belonging to the victim was allegedly carted away by the policemen. The men were later traced, arrested, and detained while investigation is ongoing.
2.17 On June 27 2006 at about 1920hrs, a team of policemen attached to the Quick Response Squad while on a routine check at Jakpa junction, Effurun accosted a two man armed robbery gang riding on motorcycle and when a search was conducted on them. One locally made pistol with two live cartridges was recovered from the back seat. Investigation is ongoing.
2.18 On June 28 2006 four (04) policemen attached to the Bayelsa state command believed to have come to Oleh in the Isoko South local government area of Delta state to effect arrest of some suspects were beaten up and their vehicle smashed, when they ran into irate commercial motorcycle operators protesting the unnecessary extortion from the Delta State Motorcycle Association (DSMA) through the sale of Welfare ticket and the Identity card. The protesters had alleged that the police were aiding and abetting the deal. Investigation is ongoing.
2.19 On June 28 2006 at about 0600hrs, Over fifty (50) protesting youths suspected to be members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign state of Biafra (MASSOB) attacked the Archbishop of the Methodist Church of Onitsha, Anambra state, Bishop Chibuzor Opoko and inflicted injury on his right cheek over their suspicion that he was acting as a spy for the Joint Military and Police team, which dislodged suspected members of MASSOB from Fegge area of Onitsha. Police is investigating the incident.
2.20 On June 29 2006 plain-clothes officers have been deployed around the Niger Bridge and Asaba, by the Delta state police command, in order to prevent suspected members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign state of Biafra (MASSOB) and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) from coming to the city to regroup. The Anambra state government had proscribed both groups and given them until Monday July 3 2006 to leave the state. Some miscreants had attempted to cross to Asaba at the peak of the violence, but Delta State police command forced them to retreat.
2.21 On June 29 2006 at about 2010hrs, three armed men attacked and robbed at gun point occupants on No 14 Frank Aleme street, Warri of eight phones and unspecified amount of cash. The hoodlums abandoned one single barrel gun with four live cartridges as they escaped on sighting police patrol teams drafted to the area. The police in B division, Warri is investigating.
2.22 On June 30 2006 One armed robbery suspect in a gang of four terrorizing the residents of first Kolokolo area of Udu road was shot dead by a police patrol team following a tip off, while other members of the gang escaped. Items recovered from the suspect included a locally made pistol with seven cartridges. The Enerhen police division is investing the incident.
2.23 On July 1 2006 at about 1915hrs, Delta state police command arrested one armed robbery suspect in a gang of four during an exchange of fire. Other members of the gang escaped into the bush after being overpowered by the police. A locally made shot gun with one live cartridge and disfigured cloth used as mask for their operation were recovered from the suspect. Police is investigating the incidence.
Car-Jacking five (05) vehicles were reportedly snatched at gunpoint at different locations in Warri and its environs during the week. Three (03) of the said vehicles have been recovered, while investigation to recover the rest is ongoing.
Lagos (and adjoining States)
2.24 On June 24 2006 at about 2130hours, armed bandits raided a cybercafe, Jometi Communications, located along Edun and Wuraola streets in Shogunle, Oshodi. The robbers visited the cybercafe pretending to be customers who came to browse. But suddenly, they brought out guns and ordered the people in the cafe to stay where they were. They dispossessed customers of their mobile phones and also carted away a large amount of money from the cafe. Investigation is ongoing.
2.25 On June 25 2006 a bag containing severed human parts was found dumped in a gutter along Acme Road in Ogba Industrial layout. The black bag, which was dumped in a gutter opposite UBA Bank, Acme Road branch, contained dismembered human parts, an indication that the victim might have been killed by ritualists. Police investigation is ongoing.
2.26 On June 26 2006 a member of an armed robbery gang, who took part in two operations in Lagos was arrested behind the wheel of a Nissan Vanette bus marked Lagos LB 677 KJA at Magodo, Shangisha, Isheri, Lagos. 42 live rounds of ammunition were recovered. The suspect confessed to the police at Magodo, Shangisha Division that his gang used the vehicle to rob one woman, Grace Atilola, who resides at No. 26B, Maiye Ogundana Street, Magodo of her jewelry, handsets and N40,000 at gunpoint. He also disclosed that his gang robbed another woman, Tina Erukusun, of her Toyota Corolla saloon car marked Lagos HF 854 AAA. The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos for further investigation.
2.27 On June 26 2006 several persons were injured when two factions of traders at the popular Ladipo market in Mushin, Lagos clashed over the allocation of shops of the newly constructed Zik Plaza at the market. This clash snowballed into killing of two persons. Fifteen (15) persons were arrested. It took the combined teams of operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Mushin Division and armed mobile policemen from Squadron 22, Ikeja to bring the situation under control.
2.28 On June 27 2006 a police patrol team in Lagos recovered a Toyota Avensis 2.0 car marked LA 01 GRA and a magazine loaded with 17 rounds of live ammunition while on patrol along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway on Oshodi Bridge, which was suspected to have been snatched by three armed men along the expressway before it was abandoned. During a search on the vehicle, the weapon, four traveling bags, one Ghana-must-go bag, a Samsung handset, two black nylon bags and one National Identity card were recovered. The matter has, however, been transferred to SCID, Panti for further investigation
2.29 On June 27 2006 Police in Lagos has uncovered a private garage within the heart of high brow Ikeja, where stolen cars are stored and later sold to unsuspecting members of the public. Though the owner of the private garage, identified as Chief Chris Nnana, Proprietor of New Age Nite Club on Opebi Road is presently on the run, his wife, Agnes Nnana, and two others have been arrested. They are being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti Street, Yaba. An automatic spraying machine and several other equipments used by members of the car snatching syndicate to alter vehicle registration, chassis and engine numbers and four exotic cars were recovered from the private car park. The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Olubode Ojajuni confirmed the story and said efforts were on by the police to arrest the fleeing members of the gang, particularly Nnana.
2.30 On June 28 2006 at about 2130hours, a 33-year-old mechanic, identified as Tunde Lawson committed suicide by hanging himself to the ceiling of his one room apartment at 4 Adeyeri Crescent, Ifako, Agege. Investigation revealed that Tunde terminated his life after his second wife left their matrimonial home. Police investigation is ongoing.
2.31 On June 29 2006 commuters in buses were robbed by gunmen along Iba Road while they were trapped in a traffic jam. The commuters, according to one of the victims, Miss Lara Oladele, were told by one of the armed robbers who had posed as a passenger to surrender their money and mobile phones. The armed robbers, who were said to be between the ages of 20 and 24 years, told them not to raise any alarm as they were armed. The operation was carried out close to where policemen and soldiers were, yet the robbers escaped with their loot. Investigation is ongoing.
Car-Jacking Twenty-eight (28) vehicles were reportedly snatched at gunpoint at different locations in Lagos and its environs during the week. Fourteen (14) of the said vehicles have been recovered, while police investigation is ongoing to recover the rest.