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Edgar Imohimi: Meet new Lagos CP, the nemesis of Badoo, militants, kidnappers

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The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has appointed Edgar Imohimi as the new Commissioner of Police in-charge of the Lagos State Command.

This followed Edgar’s recent promotion by the Police Service Commission (PSC)

Edgar was until his promotion, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, in charge of Operations, in Lagos State.

Observers believe Edgar is the right man to succeed CP Fatai Owoseni, who many say performed excellently. Not only does the new CP knows the Lagos terrain, he led several raids against notorious kingpins, criminal gangs and their hideouts.

DAILY POST reports that in recent times, Lagos witnessed an increase in cases of abductions and militant activities.

It reached a point that the military had to form a special squad that culminated in a joint task force in conjunction other security agencies, as criminals held sway in areas like Badagry, Ikorodu, Isheri, Epe among others.

Exactly a year ago, a number of militants that terrorized Lagos and Ogun states were killed when the task force stormed the creeks.

The criminals drew the anger of the Nigerian government after seven operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) were murdered the night of Tuesday September 16, 2015 by pipeline vandals at Ishawo in Ikorodu.

Although the corpses of the officers were taken away by the assailants, decomposing remains were later found after some of the suspects caught led security agencies to the burial spot.

The incident charged the nation’s security apparatus and what started like a one-off operation lasted a week; the military carried out aerial bombardment of the general area at regular intervals.

Fighter jets mercilessly shelled Ishawo, Igando and Igbolomu areas of Ikorodu in Lagos State, and Arepo, Awawa, Elepete and Ibafo in Ogun State, while ground troops fired any thug in sight.

The operation involved the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigeria Police Force.

It dealt severe blows to criminals that had long engaged in vices such as pipeline vandalism, robbery, murder, rape and kidnapping.

Worthy of note is the new CP, who by his position as DCP Ops, played active part as he co-led that operation.

In 2017, while continuing the war against militants and kidnappers, the Badoo cult became more lethal and Edgar again was up to the task. He coordinated assaults which resulted in arrests of scores of members of the dreaded gang.

Background

Imohimi Edgar was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force, as a cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police, on February 2, 1986, serving in various commands and formations of the NPF within the country in several capacities, spending most of his days at the Lagos State Police Command.

A 1984 graduate of Art at the University of Jos, went on to bag a master degree in Public and International Affairs at the University of Lagos in 2004. Edgar is highly trained on Community and Intelligence Gathering Policing; he organised the first Community Policing summits in Ikeja GRA, Lagos State.

Edgar, who served as the Divisional Police Officer of Shomolu Police Division, Seme Police Division, Ikeja and Surulere Police Divisions, between the year 2003 and 2011, as a Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP, before he was promoted and appointed the Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, in-charge-of the Area A, Command, Lagos, ?obtained a diploma degree in Police Science. ?

He also obtained a certificate of National Security for Nigeria Defence Intelligence, at the Centre of Strategic Studies, Galilee International Management Institute Israel and the Defence Intelligence College Abuja in 2015, which necessitated his appointment as the ACP in charge of the Intelligence at the Police Force Headquarters Abuja.

An expert in Community Policing, Edgar attended several courses organised by the Department For International Development, DFID, United Kingdom, in Lagos, Awka, Anambra States and Staff College Jos, Plateau State, making him Community Policing in Nigeria.

In 2010, Edgar, as DPO Ikeja Division, launched the first Community Policing in Ikeja Lagos State. He hosted security stakeholders in Ikeja, at Savoy Suite, GRA and lectured participants on how to assist the police on Community Policing.

Operations

Aside the 2016 joint war on militants which he co-led, Edgar currently leads a joint security operation, involving members of the Oodua Progress Congress, OPC, Ikorodu Local Vigilante, Oyebo, the DSS, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, ?traditionalists and some local chiefs in Ikorodu.

The unit was established to specifically tackle the menace of the Badoo cult group. Edgar spearheaded the discovery of a suspected notorious shrine used for ritual purposes.

The new CP also played a major role in the rescue of the six kidnapped students of Lagos Model College, Igbonla, Epe, who were abducted on May 25, 2017.

The students – Agbaosi Judah, Jonah Peter, Philips Pelumi, Adebanjo George , Yusuf Faruq and Ramon Isiaka – were freed after 65 days.

It would also be recalled that Edgar mobilised policemen from the Anti-Robbery and Kidnapping units of the Lagos Police, and their counterparts at the Marine Police to attack and kill members of the kidnap gang that attempted to snatch some police gunboats from the Marine Police Post in Ajah.

The leader of the kidnap gang, known as America, was killed in that operation. His death and the subsequent arrest of relatives of his gang members, compelled abductors of the kidnapped Epe students to free their captives in Ondo State.

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Zenith Bank Customers Fume Over Disruptions in Online Services

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Customers of Zenith Bank have taken to social media to voice their frustration over difficulties encountered during online banking transactions.

Reports emerged on Tuesday of challenges related to payments and various features, leading to widespread discontent among users on social media platforms like X.

In a statement shared on X on Saturday, Zenith Bank announced that routine maintenance would commence on September 29 and conclude on October 1, running from 12:01 AM to 5:00 AM. The notice, titled ‘Notice of Routine Maintenance,’ stated, “Please be informed that we are currently undertaking routine maintenance of our Information Technology Infrastructure to enable us to significantly improve the quality of service rendered to you.”

However, customers reported that the maintenance did not begin as scheduled, causing considerable inconvenience.

On Tuesday, October 1, 2024, the bank’s Mobile Banking App, USSD Service, Internet Banking, and Corporate Internet Banking platforms remained unavailable for an extended period, specifically between 12:01 AM and 2:30 PM WAT.

One dissatisfied customer, Adetunji Akeem, expressed his frustration, sharing that he was unable to withdraw money for food and transportation to work, which forced him to borrow from colleagues.

“It is frustrating. I haven’t eaten all day because I wasn’t able to withdraw money today. Zenith said they would be undergoing maintenance on Saturday through a pop-up message on the bank app, but they didn’t start until this morning,” he lamented.

Another customer, Adeleye A. P., known on X as #deji4ever, criticised the bank for not scheduling maintenance during the night, especially at the end of the month when many employees are expecting their salaries.

He tweeted, “The worst bank award should be given to Zenith. Why deny customers transfer privileges to other banks on the last day of the month? It’s a bad business strategy to ensure money doesn’t leave its coffers.”

Dave Oriss, tweeting under the handle #orissonline, echoed similar sentiments, adding, “#ZenithBank, you should keep frustrating your customers. Some have emergencies, and you are busy shifting the time for maintenance.”

 

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Iran Claims to Have Fired 200 Missiles at Israel — State Media Reports

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Palestinian youths inspect a fallen projectile after Iran launched a barrage of missiles at Israel in response to the killings of Lebanese Hezbollah leader Nasrallah and other Iran-backed militants, in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on October 1, 2024. (Photo by Zain JAAFAR / AFP)

Iran fired 200 missiles, including hypersonic weapons, at Israel in a major escalation of the ongoing conflict, state television reported on Wednesday.

The barrage, which Iran claims targeted military bases near Tel Aviv, came as retaliation for the recent killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah by Israeli forces.

This picture shows a projectile flying above the Jordanian capital Amman towards Israel, on October 1, 2024. – Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said a missile attack under way against Israel on October 1 was in response to the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah last week as well as that of the Hamas leader. (Photo by Khalil MAZRAAWI / AFP)

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed the missile launches, stating that “90 percent” of the projectiles hit their intended targets, which included three military bases.

The footage of the missile strikes was broadcast on Iranian media, showing a significant show of force by Tehran.

This picture taken from the West Bank city of Hebron shows projectiles above the Israeli city of Ashdod on October 1, 2024. (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP)

The Israeli military countered that 180 missiles had been fired into their territory, with most being intercepted by Israel’s advanced defense systems.

Despite the intercepts, the attack marks the first reported use of hypersonic missiles by Iran against Israel.

This picture shows projectiles being intercepted by Israel above Jerusalem on October 1, 2024. (Photo by Menahem Kahana / AFP)

Hypersonic missiles, capable of traveling at speeds of up to 15 times the speed of sound, pose a unique threat due to their low-altitude flight path and ability to evade conventional missile defenses.

Iran unveiled this advanced missile technology in June 2023, with then-president Ebrahim Raisi proclaiming it as a cornerstone of Iran’s deterrence capabilities, designed to maintain peace and stability in the region.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded swiftly to the attack, warning that Tehran had made a “big mistake.” He vowed to make Iran “pay” for the strikes, further raising tensions in an already volatile situation.

Fire erupts between Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv and the city of Modiin following an Iranian missile attack, on October 1, 2024. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said a missile attack under way against Israel on October 1 was in response to the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah last week as well as that of the Hamas leader. (Photo by Ahmad GHARABLI / AFP)

In Washington, the United States indicated that it was discussing a joint response with Israel.

Meanwhile, Iran’s chief of staff issued a stern warning that Tehran would strike key Israeli infrastructure if Iran’s territory were attacked in retaliation. The region now braces for potential further escalation amid growing fears of a broader conflict.

 

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Tragedy Strikes as 60 Bodies Recovered in Niger Boat Accident

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No fewer than 60 bodies have been recovered following a tragic boat accident in Niger State, officials confirmed.

According to a statement released by Abubakar Dakani, Press Secretary to the Chairman of Mokwa Local Government, the boat was carrying over 300 passengers when it capsised at the notorious Gbajibo River in Mokwa Local Government Area yesterday evening.

Dakani disclosed that the ill-fated boat was en route from Mundi to Gbajibo for the Annual Maulud celebration when the disaster occurred.

The Chairman of Mokwa Local Government, Abdullahi Muregi, acknowledged the recovery of about 60 bodies and confirmed that 10 survivors have been found so far. Rescue operations, involving the State Emergency Management Agency and local volunteers, are ongoing in a bid to recover the missing passengers.

This incident brings painful memories of a similar boat tragedy in September 2023, when a boat carrying over 50 passengers capsized, killing 24 people who were traveling to their farms for harvest.

Authorities have expressed concerns about the recurring boat accidents in the region, calling for urgent measures to improve safety on the waterways.

 

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