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Police Invasion of Ibadan Research Institute: Witnesses Narrate Ordeal

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THERE has been conflicting narration of what truly transpires that led to Monday’s invasion of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Federal College of Agriculture and Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology all housed within the same premises at Moor Plantation, Apata Ibadan by men of the Oyo State Police Command. However, witnesses account shed more light on the furore as they narrated their ordeal.

The crisis, as gathered started on Monday morning when the students of Federal College of Agriculture were peacefully protesting against the leadership of the Provost of the institution, Dr. Babajide Adelekan.

According to the students, they were tired of prolonged strikes by workers of the institution and various crises that have been confronting his administration.

Mr. Emmanuel Olufemi Oladehinde, the Chairman, Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), IAR&T chapter, who condemned the police for allegedly shooting on peacefully protesting students while giving his eye witness account noted that though the students blocked the road but suddenly, the police started shooting bullets and canisters on all on sight without regard to anyone.

One of the victims of the attack, a staff of IAR&T.

He narrated his ordeal further that the overzealous policemen led by a Divisional Police Officer ordered for his arrest and four other staff of the institution who were also brutalised by the same police.

Oladehinde disclosed that it took the intervention of the Area Commander who ordered for their release.

“I was at the spot, what really happened is that the students were making a peaceful demonstration, though they blocked the road, the policemen, they were there, suddenly, the police started shooting, so the students came inside the institute and the police officers said they cannot identify which one is staff and which one is student.

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“So they started shooting gunshot, they started teargasing everybody on sight. I was even arrested, I was harassed. I went to the DPO and I said see, this is my identity, I am the NASU chairman of the institute, those one that were even arrested are staff of IAR&T and the DPO said they should arrest me too.

“I was arrested, they collected my wallet but later they returned my wallet to me, the police even stoned me, they stoned me in my hands and four of our staff were brutalised, they were detained, we went to the station to go and release them, it was the Area Commander that gave them the order that they should release them, so they were released.

“We took them to the hospital and we have discharged them from the hospital. But those that were shot are still in the UCH now, the information we learnt was that they are about to wheel the woman that was shot in the adornment to the theatre.

“So the second person, who was shot on the leg, is also there. That is the situation we found ourselves”, the chairman’s statement reads.

It would be recalled that the Oyo State Police Command through its Commissioner, Mr. Abiodun Odude claimed that no fewer than four policemen have been hospitalized after being injured during a clash between the police and students of the Federal College of Agriculture, Moor Plantation, Apata Ibadan, on Monday.

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Odude also added that eight police vans were damaged in the clash.

“Four of them were injured and they are now in hospital. Eight police vans were destroyed too. We have to use force to push them back into the school. If you are students, it does not give you the liberty to break laws. Those who were arrested will be charged to court after due investigation”, the commissioner stressed.

Another staff of the institute who confided in our reporter demanded for thorough investigation of the police activities where several persons were injured.

The witness said, “there is a need to investigate the activities of the policemen, we don’t know who called them, what they did was very wrong. How can they just be shooting on innocent people like that?

“The police invaded the IAR&T and shot two of our staff and an IT student. Several other were also injured. I don’t have the picture now, but some of our staff and even students have the video. You can see, it is very unfortunate.

“And unfortunately, the bullets went straight to the innocent people, the old ones, it is not a rubber bullet, it is a real bullet.

“We shall see if it is rubber or real bullet, when they remove the bullets, that is when we will know who is lying”, he continued.

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A staff who also spoke on the condition of anonymity lamented that the invasion has caused fear and psychological trauma to some of the staff especially the female who have made up their minds to resume to their places of work when the trouble started.

He, then appealed to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris to as a matter of urgent importance investigate the overzealous policemen.

“It is bad for police in this era to invade an institution like this. The IG must hear this. This is condemnable and unfortunate. They have to pay for it”, he reiterated.

 

 

 

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Crime & Court

Rivers Police Parade Juju Priest, 25 Suspects in Car Snatching Ring Bust

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Some items seized from the shrine

The Rivers State Police Command has made a significant breakthrough in dismantling a car snatching ring with the arrest of a Juju Priest, Ugochukwu Onuigbo, and 25 other suspects.

The arrests were made public during a parade held on Wednesday at the Command Headquarters on Moscow Road in Port Harcourt, as Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, shed light on the operation.

Explaining the circumstances surrounding the arrests, Commissioner Disu stated, “For some time now we have noticed that a lot of cars were being stolen and some robbed in town and we tasked officers of our tactical team and our investigators to move into it. Today, I am very happy to inform you that about 26 suspects who specialise in stealing vehicles and robbing them have been arrested. Our greatest joy is the arrest of Chidozie Anthony Onyekwe and Kelechi Igwe.”

Speaking further on the roles of the apprehended individuals, Disu highlighted, “Chidozie is the leader of persons who come into Rivers State to steal cars. Not only does he come in here, he trains his men well. He is linked to all the suspects here who have been arrested before for this same offense of stealing cars. At the same time, Kelechi Igwe is an expert at removing trackers from vehicles. Almost all the vehicles stolen from Rivers State must pass through Kelechi for him to remove the trackers for them. He’s also a wonderful mechanic.”

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Also, it was disclosed that the stolen cars were transported to Mgbuka Obosi in Onitsha, Anambra State, where they were dismantled and sold as scrap. A total of 79 vehicles have been connected to the suspects, many of whom reportedly formed their alliances while serving time in correctional facilities.

Out of the total, 17 vehicles have been recovered, with some already returned to their rightful owners.

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Crime & Court

EFCC Nabs Five for Illegal Solid Mineral Transportation Without Licenses

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Operatives from the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have apprehended five individuals for their involvement in the possession and conveyance of three truckloads of various solid minerals without the necessary licenses.

In a statement released on Tuesday, EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, identified the suspects as Dauda Suleiman, Quadri Oladimeji, Abubakar Alhassan, Anas Sanusi, and Auwal Garba. Among them, Suleiman, Alhassan, and Sanusi were operating as truck drivers, while Oladimeji and Garba served as truck boys.

The arrests, carried out along Maraba road in Ilorin, Kwara state, and Ogbomosho, Oyo state, between March 21 and 22, 2024, were made possible through credible intelligence and surveillance efforts.

The suspects were caught transporting solid minerals, suspected to include marble stone, white powder, lithium, and lepidolite, to Shagamu and Alakija in Ogun and Lagos States for commercial purposes, despite lacking the required licenses. They claim to have been hired for the task.

The trucks seized from the suspects were identified as carrying the registration numbers JJJ 206 YG (Lagos), T24413 LA (Lagos), and KNT 635 XP (Niger), respectively.

This incident marks another crackdown by the EFCC on individuals engaged in illegal mining activities within the country.

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Previously, on February 5, the agency arrested 41 individuals suspected of illegal mining in Ilorin and impounded 12 truckloads of assorted minerals mined without licenses. With this recent arrest, the total number of individuals apprehended stands at 46, with 15 vehicles seized in the last month for similar offenses.

According to the statement, the suspects will face prosecution in court once investigations are concluded.

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Crime & Court

NDLEA Seizes Over 44,948.1kg of Illicit Drugs In Lagos, Edo, Ondo

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In a crackdown on drug trafficking, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) disclosed the seizure of a staggering 44,948.1 kilograms of illicit drugs across Lagos, Edo, and Ondo states.

Alongside the confiscations, eight suspects were apprehended during the operations, revealed Femi Babafemi, the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, on Sunday.

The anti-narcotics agency disclosed that it also impounded 11 vehicles owned by drug cartels as part of the enforcement efforts.

Among those arrested were five individuals, including 67-year-old Sunday Otulugbu, Agbayeogor Joshua (39), Kelvin Ofuasia (45), Williams Peter (37), and Kamaru Onimisi (44).

According to Babafemi, a substantial amount of cannabis, totaling 7,687.8 kilograms, was destroyed in a warehouse located in the Ala forest of Akure, Ondo State, with an additional 670 kilograms evacuated on Saturday, March 23.

In separate operations, significant quantities of cannabis were eradicated in the Uzebba/Avbiosi forest, leading to the arrest of Kabiru Idris (36), Alaba Jimoh (40), and Lekan Asobere (35).

Similarly, in the Okpuje forest of Owan West LGA, NDLEA operatives, with military support, razed 5,000 kilograms of the illicit substance, further intensifying the crackdown.

The agency’s efforts extended to Edo State, where a substantial 14,310.8625 kilograms of psychoactive substances were destroyed on farms spanning 5.7 hectares in the Ohosu/Ugbogui forest of Ovia South West Local Government Area on Tuesday, March 19.

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Highlighting a well-coordinated operation in Lagos State on Wednesday, the NDLEA seized 10,534 kilograms (10.534 tonnes) of Ghanaian Loud, a strain of cannabis, in the Ajah area. Additionally, 11 vehicles linked to the drug cartel were confiscated during the operation.

The recovered vehicles include an Iveco truck marked KRD 522 YE, Toyota Sienna vehicles marked AAA 338 GL, AAA 308 EP, and LSD 744 GP, a Nissan bus marked EKY 846 YG, a Mercedes bus marked EPE 743 XT, among others.

 

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