Crime
Police Begins Probe over Kidnappers Abducting Lagos Passengers In Army Uniform
The Lagos state police command has commenced investigation following the viral video of a yet-to-be-identified man who narrated his ordeal in the hands of kidnappers that abducted him and other passengers in the Lekki area of Lagos State.
Recall Biztellers has reported that the victim, in a viral video on Thursday, said he boarded a commercial bus to the Iyana-Oworo area of the state, but in the course of the journey, discovered that he had fallen into the hands of suspected kidnappers.
He said, “I got into a bus heading to Iyana Oworo and noticed this weird smell. Anybody who has been in a military training or setting will know about gasses that knock people off. I knew that was what it was, so I spat in my handkerchief and used it to cover my nose.
“In about five to 10 minutes, every other passenger in the bus had fallen asleep except members of the team who had all used nose masks to cover their noses.”
“So, we started exchanging words. I was not rude or anything but begging them that they should have my phone, a Samsung Galaxy S22 which costs N1.3m and could still be sold for N800,000.”
The victim claimed he provided them his gold necklace and his ATM card so they could empty his account, but they wouldn’t allow him get off the bus until they arrived at the location where he would be slain and his body dissected.
He said, “The bus then parked in a dark path under Adeniji Bridge before they brought me out. They started using cutlass, knives and different weapons on me. I am an African man and I am fortified. When they discovered that the knives, dagger and cutlasses were not cutting my body, about three of them held my neck and another two held my hands to the back and they put a knife on my neck to slaughter me but it wasn’t penetrating.”
The victim claimed that after the attempt to kill him failed, the leader of the suspects—who spoke Hausa—ordered three soldiers to begin beating the man’s head with their feet as he lay on the ground.
The victim, whose face was swollen and who was visible in the video, claimed to be bleeding internally and claimed he almost passed out during the incident.
He said, “So, I reached out for my bag which was on the ground, reached for a knife inside the bag and started waving it recklessly. In the process, it cut one of them in the tummy, one in the neck and another in the eye. They started bleeding profusely.
“Their leader told them that they had gotten the rest who were asleep and they should deliver them and leave me that at the end of the day I would die from all they had done to me. All the people I just talked about were Northerners. These people have even entered Lagos State,” he added.
However, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, in his reaction to the video, said in a tweet that an in-depth investigation had begun regarding the matter.
He said, “The Lagos State Police Command is not unaware of the video making the rounds about the presence of some criminals in the Lekki area of Lagos. An in-depth investigation has commenced.
“The command will leave no stone unturned towards ensuring the safety and security of all residents and visitors to Lagos State. All human, material, and operational resources have been duly and optimally deployed to achieve this.”
A police officer is reportedly dead and another injured following an attack by unknown gunmen on a police checkpoint in the Ohafia area of Abia State.
The incident, which occurred on Wednesday at Ugwu Abba Asaga, has sparked concerns over the rising wave of insecurity in the region.
The Abia State Police Command has yet to release an official statement regarding the attack. However, when contacted, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Maureen Chinaka, assured reporters that she would provide updates, but no further details had been shared as of the time of this report.
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This incident is the latest in a series of violent attacks in Abia State. On Monday, the Abia State government accused unnamed politicians and external parties of fueling kidnappings and violence targeting security personnel and civilians since May 2024. In a statement signed by Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, the government vowed to hold the perpetrators accountable.
“The promoters of violence and insecurity in the state will pay a heavy price,” the statement read.
However, John Okiyi Kalu, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Commissioner for Trade and Investment, criticized the government’s position. He argued that insecurity in the state should not be politicized but rather addressed through actionable measures.
The attack has heightened tensions in the state, with citizens calling for swift action to restore peace and ensure the safety of residents and security personnel alike.
A yet-to-be-identified labourer was reportedly shot dead on Wednesday, while three others sustained critical injuries, during an altercation involving the Crack Squad of the Ebonyi State Police Command at Ugwuechara Junction in Abakaliki.
Witnesses say the incident began when members of the Crack Squad stopped a motorcycle rider, accusing him of fraud and attempting to seize his motorcycle.
The rider reportedly identified himself as a member of the military but was allegedly assaulted by the operatives.
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An eyewitness recounted, “As the policemen removed his cap and started hitting him with their guns, the bike man tried to resist them, possibly to snatch one of their guns.
“One of the team opened fire, which killed one of the labour seekers, who usually gather at the junction to look for daily jobs. Three persons were wounded and were rushed to the hospital.”
The deceased, a labourer waiting for work at the junction, was struck by the gunfire. Among the injured are a young apprentice at a barbershop and a female passer-by.
Witnesses say the police operatives took the body of the deceased and the motorcycle rider to their station after the incident.
Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer in Ebonyi, Joshua Ukandu, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls or messages.
However, Obinna Mbam, the Special Assistant on Internal Security to Governor Francis Nwifuru, confirmed the incident.
“Normalcy has returned to the area,” Mr. Mbam said. “The state government will ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.”
The incident has sparked outrage among residents of Ebonyi State, who have raised concerns about the increasing cases of police brutality, extortion, and indiscriminate arrests.
Many residents also expressed dissatisfaction with the Crack Squad, which was established as part of police reforms following the disbandment of the controversial Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in 2020.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has filed criminal charges against former Nigerian senator Andy Uba and two others, accusing them of defrauding a complainant, George Uboh, of N400 million.
The charges, which include two counts, were brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Uba, who represented Anambra South in the Senate from 2011 to 2019, along with Crystal Uba and Benjamin Etu, is alleged to have conspired with Hajiya Fatima, who remains at large, to defraud Uboh in 2022.
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According to the charges, the accused individuals falsely claimed they could secure the appointment of the managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for anyone who could pay N400 million.
“The accused persons collected the N400 million from Mr. Uboh and converted it into their personal use,” the police said, describing the actions as a violation of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offenses Act of 2006.
The police also revealed that six witnesses would testify against the accused parties.
The case was officially filed on 10 October 2023 by Abdulrashid Sidi from the Police Legal/Prosecution Section.
During a hearing on 13 November, the prosecution informed the court that the defendants had been evading the service of court documents despite being granted administrative bail.
“The defendants obtained a fundamental rights enforcement order, which had prevented the police from bringing them to court,” said M.L. Anthony, a lawyer for the prosecution.
“It was only after the order was lifted that the defendants were finally charged before the judge.”
The trial, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, was adjourned until 18 February 2025.
This delay allows time for the defendants to appear in court and take their plea, following the prosecution’s efforts to ensure they are properly served with legal documents.
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