The Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Benin Depot, Alhaji Abdul-Hamid Egele, popularly known as Baba Petrol, has regained freedom 11 days after he was kidnapped.
The Nation learnt his family parted with N70m ransom for his release.
Egele was abducted around 7 pm on February 7 in front of his house at Jattu in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo.
A member of the family of the victim, who spoke in confidence, revealed the ransom was reduced from N80 million and paid somewhere in Kaduna State.
Egele was released on Thursday morning in an undisclosed location in Edo State.
The IPMAN chairman was receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in Benin, the Edo state capital.
Edo Police spokesman Bello Kontongs was not available to confirm the development.
His mobile lines were not reachable but a senior police officer in Edo Command confirmed release of the IPMAN’s chairman after payment of ransom.
The suspended commander of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), DCP Abba Kyari reportedly spend Monday night in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Recall that the NDLEA had indicted the former IRT leader in the trafficking of cocaine, which subsequently led to his arrest by the police following the intervention of the presidency.
In a statement on Monday evening, Police Deputy PRO, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, claimed that the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, ordered the immediate transfer of Abba Kyari and four others to the NDLEA.
Adejobi added that others officers arrested are ACP Sunday J. Ubua; ASP Bawa James; Inspector Simon Agirgba and Inspector John Nuhu.
Also, the NDLEA, in a statement released by its spokesman, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the arrest of Kyari and four other police officers over alleged links with an international drug cartel.
He further stated that Kyari and others were driven into the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja at about 5 pm on Monday for interrogation and further investigation.
The agency vowed that no stone will be left unturned to ensure that suspects in custody and those that may still be named full weight of the law.
Top officers involved
But fresh details have emerged indicating that more senior police operatives and other security agents would be arrested following the detention of DCP Abba Kyari.
Sources disclosed to Daily Trust that top police officers and security operatives may be involved in the latest incident involving the disgraced cop.
“Serious infractions have been established against Kyari in relation to drug crimes but the matter was being foot dragged at the police headquarters in Abuja and commands in some states.
“People would be picked in other high profile places because the secret has been busted,” one of our sources said.
He stated that the investigation of Kyari on the latest and other pending issues were being deliberately delayed by powerful forces.
The source added that this was because beyond the suspended deputy commissioner of police and the few officers whose names have been mentioned, there are senior officers that are directly involved and they know they would be indicted.
Abba Kyari and cocaine
It was gathered that before the NDLEA decided to hold a press conference to expose the suspended officer, only a handful of Police officers were aware of the cocaine scandal.
One of the officers told Daily Trust that the arrest and subsequent handover of Kyari to NDLEA for probe had caused serious confusion in the force.
“It is an institutional indictment. In the police force, especially among us the junior officers we see Oga Kyari as a role model in view of the various breakthroughs he had made in the arrest of criminals across the country.
“The drug thing happened while we are waiting to see how the Hushpuppi scandal will end,” the officer said.
An Abuja-based human rights lawyer Pelumi Olajengbesi has urged the Federal Government and the Police Force to immediately arrest the suspended Head of the Intelligence Response Team, DCP Abba Kyari.
Olajengbesi urged the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, to immediately hand over suspended Kyari, to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to prove his innocence.
The Nation reports NDLEA had declared Kyari wanted over alleged drug links.
He said: “The IGP must immediately order the arrest of Abba Kyari and hand him over to the NDLEA at a public press conference if truly the police do not shield bad eggs.
“The IGP must prove that he is not backing Abba Kyari in his alleged atrocious crimes exposed in the public glare in the last one year.
“Justice must be served in the case of Abba Kyari and it must be served now to deter the bad eggs amongst the security agents colluding with drug barons and internet fraudsters to perpetrate heinous crimes and tarnish the image of the Force.
“The Police and the Federal Government have no excuse not to arrest Abba Kyari now that a government agency has found him culpable of heavy crimes. There must be no cover ups, no matter whose ox is gored.”
Footage of Popular Police officer, Abba Kyari offering bribe to an NDLEA agent to facilitate the release of some seized drugs has emerged.
It was earlier reported that Kyari, who is also facing a possible extradition to the United States of America after being declared wanted by the FBI for Fraud, was mounting pressure on the NDLEA agent to release the drugs to him.
Kyari, who has since been declared wanted by the Drug Agency, has been discovered to be a member of a transnational drug ring. A statement by the NDLEA on Monday read;
“The saga started on Friday, January 21, 2022, when DCP Kyari initiated a call to one of the NDLEA officers in Abuja at 2:12 pm. When the officer returned the call two minutes later, Kyari informed him he was coming to see him, to discuss an operational matter after the Juma’at service.”
“He appeared at the agreed venue of the meeting with the officer and went straight to the crux of the matter. This was it: His team had intercepted and arrested some traffickers that came into the country from Ethiopia with, according to him, 25kg of cocaine.”
“He proposed a drug deal whereby he and his team are to take 15kg of the cocaine and leave 10kg for the prosecution of the suspects arrested with the illicit drug in Enugu. In the meantime, the purloined cocaine will be replaced with a dummy worth 15kg.”
“He asked the NDLEA officer to persuade men of the FCT Command, to play along as well.”
“By 11: 05 am on Monday, January 24, after the Agency gave the officer the green light to play along, he and Kyari began a WhatsApp call for the rest of the day. The officer conveyed “their” willingness to play the game.”
“At this point, Kyari disclosed that the 15kg (already taken out) was shared between the informants that provided information for the seizure and he and his men of the IRT of the Nigerian Police. According to him, the informants were given 7kg while his team took 8kg which was already sold.”
“He then offered to pay the NDLEA team (that is the officer and the FCT commander) by selling, on their behalf, half of the remaining 10kg, thereby further reducing the original cocaine for the prosecution to just 5kg.”
“At N7m per kilogram, the proceed from the 5kg would amount to N35m, at the exchange rate of N570 per dollar being the black market rate for the day, January 24, 2022. In effect, he would be delivering $61, 400 to the NDLEA team.”
The statement further disclosed that Kyari arrived abuja and met with the agent.
“He also brought with him the money from the sale of the 5kg share of the NDLEA team, a total of $61, 400. Our officer, however, preferred to take the money inside his car. Well, the car was wired with sound and video recorders. And the moment was documented, part of which I will play for you at the end of this Briefing.”
Irate youths in Oja-Odan, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State have set ablaze two suspected ritualists caught with a human head.
The police operatives had earlier detained the suspects identified as Idowu Afolabi and Johnson Adebiyi at Oja Odan police station on Saturday.
It was reported that youths in the community who were not pleased with the development reportedly broke into the police cell to drag out the two suspected ritualists.
One of the youths identified as Adeyemi claimed that the youths dragged the suspects to the front of the police station and set them ablaze.
The source said, “The youths caught the two men with a fresh human head. The police came to take the suspects away. But about an hour later, the youths, said the killers must be dealt with immediately. That was why they mobilised themselves in their hundreds to the police station in Oja Odan.
“The youths forced themselves into the police cell, dragged the suspects to an open space in front of the police station and set them on fire.”
In a related development, a couple is currently being grilled at the Homicide Section of the Ogun state criminal investigation and Intelligence Department of the Nigeria Police Force over possession of fresh human parts.
Reports obtained by Naija News revealed that the duo, Kehinde Oladimeji, 43, and wife Adejumoke Raji, 35 were arrested during the week at No 72, MKO Abiola way, Leme Area of Abeokuta, the state capital.
A 43-year-old Kehinde Oladimeji and his wife, Adejumoke Raji (35 years) have been arrested by the Ogun State police command for being in possession of fresh human parts in Abeokuta.
The couple, who are residents of 72, MKO Abiola way Leme Abeokuta, were arrested on Saturday after a report was lodged at Kemta Police station.
The Baale of Leme community, Chief Moshood Ogunwolu, had reported to the police that one Pastor Adisa Olanrewaju, who is a co-tenant with the couple, informed him of offensive odour oozing out of his neighbour’s room.
Acting on the complaint, the DPO of Kemta division, CSP Adeniyi Adekunle, was said to have led his detectives to the scene.
On searching the room, a plastic bowl containing fresh different parts of human being was discovered in the room, and the couple were promptly arrested, the Ogun State police image maker, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said on Saturday.
“On interrogation, the suspects confessed they were herbalists and that the human parts comprising of hands, breasts and other parts were given to them by one Michael who they claimed resided in Adatan area of Abeokuta. All efforts to locate the said Michael proved abortive as the suspects could not locate his house,” Oyeyemi stated.
He explained that a dismembered body of an unknown person was discovered last week around Leme area of Abeokuta.
However, Oyeyemi explained that it could not confirm yet whether or not the parts is that of the found body.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to the homicide section, vowing that anyone who is directly or indirectly involved in the crime would be brought to book.
Recently, three teenagers were arrested for beheading and burning the head of a girl for money ritual.
The Police Service Commission (PSC) on Friday gave an update on investigations involving allegations against the suspended former head of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), DCP Abba Kyari.
Kyari is facing investigation over alleged involvement in a fraud case by arrested internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi.
The commission in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Ikechukwu Ani said it will defer any decision until a report on further investigation is received.
However as earlier reported by Naija News, the PSC directed the Nigeria Police Force to conclude its investigation on the case involving Abba Kyari within two weeks.
It added that the investigation should be carried out by a different panel.
The decision was reached at the 14th plenary meeting which was chaired by retired Inspector-General of Police and Chairman of the Commission, Musiliu Smith.
Apart from the Kyari case, the PSC also considered issues ranging from disciplinary issues among operatives, promotion, and court rulings/judgments.
Below is the full statement from the Police Service Commission.
DCP ABBA KYARI CASE –PSC DEFERS DECISION UNTIL REPORT ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS RECEIVED, DIRECTS THAT POLICE MUST CONCLUDE INVESTIGATION IN TWO WEEKS AND SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT BY A DIFFERENT PANEL; REAFFIRMS DECISION ON SP SHAABA ADAMU GBOYAKO; PROMOTES 89 STAFF
“The Police Service Commission has deferred decision on the case involving suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba A. Kyari, who until his suspension by the Commission was the Officer in charge of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT). Kyari had earlier been indicted by a Report of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States and was also investigated by a special Panel set up by the Inspector General of Police.
“The Report had earlier been forwarded to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice for legal advice by the Inspector General of Police.
“The Commission also directed that further necessary investigation should take half the time it took the Police to conduct the original investigation and that the investigation should be carried out by a different panel.
“The Commission took the decision at the continuation of its14th Plenary Meeting which ended in Abuja on Thursday, February 11th 2022 and which was chaired by Alhaji Musiliu Smith, a retired Inspector General of Police and Chairman of the Commission.
“The Commission at the Plenary Meeting also considered 20 Pending Disciplinary Matters and five appeals and petitions from the Inspector General of Police and aggrieved serving and ex-Police Officers. It also considered five promotion appeals.
“The Commission reaffirmed its earlier decision to exonerate SP Shaaba Adamu Gboyako a former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to former Inspector General of Police taken at its I9th Plenary Meeting of 28th and 29th September, 2020. The Commission was mindful of the need to safeguard its corporate image and defend its institutional integrity. It directed the Inspector General of Police to implement its decision as its affects the Officer without delay.
“The Commission also directed that the judgment of a Kano High Court in an application for enforcement of the fundamental right to life brought by the father of one Abdulkadir Nasiru (now deceased) be forwarded to the Inspector General of Police for implementation of the orders of the court.
“The appellant was seeking justice for the alleged torture of his son to death by Police.
“The appeal for accelerated/notional promotion based on merit from CSP Ita Lazarus Udom was also considered and approved by the Plenary. The Commission approved the adjustments of promotion dates of the Officer from the rank of Superintendent of Police to a Deputy Commissioner of Police in line with his course mates.
The Commission also considered and promoted 89 staff of the Commission with a promise to ensure that staff promotion will continue to receive priority attention while they should ensure they, at all times put in their best.”
Two factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) on Friday morning clashed at the Agbado area of the Alimosho Local Government Area in Lagos State.
Naija News reports that this caused pandemonium amongst residents of the area.
It was gathered that road users and passersby scampered for safety when the two factions violently engaged each other.
An eyewitness told The PUNCH that gunshots were also heard during the conflict over ticket collection at the parks.
This online newspaper reports that NURTW factions have been behind recent violence erupting in Lagos State.
It has been gathered that the violence which has led to killings are mostly due to territorial control dispute.
Recall that a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Yaba, Lagos State, has ordered an executive of the NURTW, Azeez Adekunle Lawal, popularly known as Kunle Poly, and two others to be remanded in the facility of the Nigeria Police Zonal Monitoring Unit, Zone 2 Headquarters, Onikan-Lagos,
The Chief Magistrate, Linda Balogun on Thursday ordered that Kunle Poly, Prince Idowu Onikoyi Johnson and Agboola Akeem Kosoko should be remanded for 30 days over the last Thursday Idumota mayhem.
The executives of the NURTW were remanded after the police’s application for remand was moved by Barrister Morufu Animashaun.
Barrister Animashaun, while urging the court to remand the three, said the application is pursuant to sections 264(1), (2), (3), (4) and (6) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, 2021 (as amended); Section 4 and 10 of the Police Act, 2020, and sections 6(c), 35(1)(C)(5) and (7)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 199 (as amended).
He further stated that the application sought, is to enable the police to conclude an investigation of a case of threat to life and property, violence, cultism, mayhem, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, unlawful possession of firearms, conspiracy and murder against the three men.
Residents in a community in Oyo town have uncovered activities of suspected ritualists in an uncompleted building in the area.
Our correspondent gathered that those living close to the building, which is along the Oyo-Ilora Road, in the Oyo West Local Government Area, Oyo State, started combing the bushes after perceiving a foul odour.
They were said to have stumbled on decomposing human parts in the uncompleted building.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the discovery was reported at the Oyo West Police Station.
A resident, who identified himself simply as Lanre, told our correspondent on the telephone on Tuesday that he was there when a police team visited the building, adding that some suspects had been arrested.
He said, “Three days ago, there was a stench from an uncompleted building and residents thought some persons were defecating in the place. But when they searched the area, a complete human arm was found and some other items that suggested that some persons had probably been killed there.
“The case was reported to the police in Oyo and they came and arrested some suspects. We were disturbed because the policemen that came did not allow us to take pictures of the human parts discovered there.
“We don’t want the case to be covered up. Many things are happening now. Human beings are daily being killed for rituals and if such a thing is discovered, I believe the police should do everything possible to expose those behind it.”
Another resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that human bones and the school uniform of a child were found at the site, adding that the discoveries raised suspicions that the act might have been going on for a while.
He said, “Those living close to the site said they used to see a man riding a motorcycle to the place. They said the man used to work with a shovel in the building; they thought he was clearing debris, but did not know he was carrying out criminal activities there. Somebody later said that he knew the father of the motorcycle rider. The police came, saw those things and took them away. They also arrested some suspects.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, did not take his calls which rang out.
He had also yet to reply to a text message and chats sent to his telephone line on the matter as of the time of filing this report.
However, the Commandant of the Amotekun Corps in Oyo State, Col. Olayinka Olayanju (retd.), confirmed the incident to our correspondent in Ibadan, the state capital.
He said, “The information is true. I was told by my people that it was a decomposing body that was found there. The corpse was dismembered and the police arrested some suspects. I was not told that a school uniform was found there. The dismembered body was not fresh.
“Our men went there, but the suspects were arrested by the police; they are not with us. Since the body was dismembered, it suggests a ritual killing.”
The wife of the Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Gwargwada Ward, Kuje Area Council, Asabe Mohmmed Koriya has been kidnapped by gunmen.
Koriya was kidnapped on Friday at about 5 pm alongside ten others.
A relation of one of the victims identified as Salihu Ibrahim disclosed that they were abducted along Gwargwada-Gwombe junction near the Rubochi community.
According to Ibrahim, the victims were abducted while returning to Gwombe and Pesu villages after attending a political function at the neighbouring Gwargwada village.
He further stated that the kidnappers who were more than 30 in number, barricaded the road with logs of wood, flagged down motorcycles and whisked the victims into the bush.
Ibrahim said, “But two other persons who were on a motorcycle escaped. Upon sighting the kidnappers, they abandoned the motorcycle and fled into the bush but the kidnappers set the motorcycle ablaze.”
The Agabe of Gwargwada-Ugbada, Hussaini Agabi Mam, confirmed the abduction of 11 people, including the wife of the PDP ward chairman of the area.
He said, “Three of the victims are from my place, four from Pesu while the remaining victims are from the neighbouring Gwombe village.”
The monarch disclosed that the kidnappers called at about 9 am on Monday to inform them that the victims are in their den.
He added that they demanded twenty-five million Naira ransom before the victims will be set free.
The monarch noted that one of the victims told the kidnappers that no one among the victims can afford one hundred thousand Naira not to talk of raising a million naira.
He noted that the kidnappers had since stopped picking calls.
