News
Police Gun Found In Robbery Scene
Twenty four hours after a brutal robbery incident shook Akure, the Ondo State capital to its foundation, Police authorities have recovered one of the guns believed to have been used for the crime. The AK-47 rifle recovered at the scene of crime turned out to be one of the weapons of the force.
The daredevil armed robbers had stormed Akure last Thursday, blew banks with dynamite, killing five people and injuring six others. They operated unhindered for more than one hour despite the fact that the scene of the crime was a stone’s throw to a Police Division station and about a kilometre away from the Area Commander’s office.
The gun, believed to have been abandoned by one of the robbers, has been deposited at the office of the State Anti-Robbery Squad, it was learnt yesterday.
While a Police source said that the rifle was snatched by some robbers from a police constable a day before the violent robbery attacks, the Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), Mr Adeniran Aremu said that the claim could not be true. He insisted that the rifle that was snatched from a policeman had been recovered at Bolorunduro and had no connection with the Thursday robbery.
Also, there have been conspiracy theories about the suspected lackadaisical attitude of Policemen during the period of the robbery attack.
Some banks shut their doors against their customers in the early hours of yesterday for fear of being caught in another web of robbery.
As early as 8am , many customers who had wanted to transact businesses at various banks were turned back by security personnel attached to the banks.
At about 9:30 am , the crowd had built up at the various banks and some customers were becoming unruly before some senior bank officials appealed for patience and urged the customers to let them watch the security situation a little before the doors could be opened to the public.
The banks opened to the customers around 11.am, when it was obvious that the situation had calmed down in Akure and neighbouring towns.
That almost led to a break down of law and order as an irate mob put one of the corpses of the people killed on top of a car and drove to the police station with the intention of burning the place. The mob was dispersed by heavily armed policemen who had mounted sentry at the place.
But sources told newsmen, Saturday that the perceived lukewarm attitude of the policemen to their responsibility was as a result of the absence of State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Balla Magaji Narasawa, and the Commander of the State Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), Mr. John Mark.
According to a senior police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the Commissioner was attending a conference called by the Inspector General of Police in Abuja while Mark was sent to Ore in Odigbo local government area of the state to raid some criminals who had been terrorising the area.
The source said that Mark was directed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police to go to Ore to complement the activities of the anti-crime patrol there and it was when the two of them were out of town that the robbers struck.
A source said that the abandoned gun was snatched from a policeman at a road block, adding that all the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Akure metropolis that were supposed to mobilise their men to the scene fled. While some were hiding in mosques and churches, others went to hospitals on the pretence that they were ill.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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