By Eze Nkechi
As part of its renewed against criminals and criminal activities nationwide, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested 143 suspects for cultism, 199 suspects for sexual-related offenses and 1,575 suspects for other crimes.
The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said, while parading the suspects before newsmen in Abuja, said “Over the last month, the Nigeria Police Force has made remarkable achievements in the fight against crime and criminality, including violent crimes, recording the arrest of 295 armed robbery suspects, 186 kidnappers, 271 murder/homicide suspects, and 71 suspects for unlawful possession of firearms.”
According to him, “The Force also recovered 185 firearms and a total number of 4087 ammunition of various calibres, 111 vehicles were recovered and 129 kidnapped victims rescued”.
In more recent events, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have made outstanding breakthrough in the fight against several types of violent crimes across the country, one of which is the dismantling and arrest of a gunrunning syndicate operating in the Bauchi-Plateau region. The suspects, identified as Taimako Mato ‘m’, John Danladi ‘m’, Mohammed Munkail ‘m’, Manasseh William ‘m’ and Muhammadu Haddi ‘m’ were arrested with 1 PKT Machine Gun, 40 rounds of 37.2mm and 95rounds of 62mm cartridge ammunition. The Leader of the syndicate, Taimako Mato, was a weapon handling instructor at a Boko Haram Camp, who procures these prohibited weapons and passes them on to the other members of the syndicate to sell to various buyers.
Amongst those paraded includes an Abuja-based Disc Jockey, Raymond Terver, popularly known as DJ Ice, who was arrested by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team IRT, for allegedly purchasing expensive drinks and other goods using fake alerts.
ACP Adejobi said the suspect sold the drinks and other goods through intermediaries to conceal his identity.
He further explained that DJ Ice ran out of luck after he purchased drinks from a hotel in August using a fake alert.
Adejobi added that the suspect, who started the crime in June 2024, made over ₦8 million from the crime, which he used to purchase DJ equipment.
“The suspect was arrested in August 2024 for purchasing goods using fake payment alerts.
“He admitted to starting this scheme in June 2024, ordering expensive drinks, particularly Hennessy XO, from the ‘For You’ Hotel and Restaurant in Jabi, Abuja.
“He would send fake payment receipts via WhatsApp, arrange for a dispatch rider to collect the drinks, and then sell them through intermediaries to conceal his identity. Terver revealed he generated the fake alerts using the Paint app on his computer”.
While fielding questions from newsmen, DJ Ice said he took to crime due to the hardship in the country.
“The reason I decided to go down this path is because of hardship, sir. I was eager to make money and get DJ equipment for myself. I have been in this line of business for up to 15 years.
All this while, I have been looking for ways to get money to buy equipment. I bought them for about ₦5 million. I had not started using the equipment before I was arrested. I bought it in August. I feel very sorry for myself.” He said
While narrating how he perpetrated the crime, he said, “I went through Google, and I found this restaurant. I chatted them up, asked if they had certain goods, particularly liquor.
“They said yes, and then I fabricated a receipt on my computer using the Paint app and sent it to them as confirmed payment. I then asked if I could send a dispatch rider to pick it up, and they agreed. I sent the dispatch rider, and they gave him the goods. That’s how I did it.”
A suspect accused of killing a police officer in Ogun State, Kayode Johnson, also known as Baddoo was also paraded.
According to the FPRO, the suspect was arrested on June 12, 2024.
“The suspect confessed to being the gang leader of a group of armed robbers who operated in the Ikorodu/Ijebu-Ode axis, and also added that they made away with the policeman’s AK-47 rifle after killing him.
The AK-47 rifle was later recovered from one of the gang members by the Lagos State Police Command. Upon his arrest, two locally made pistols, four live cartridges, and one cutter were recovered.”
The Inspector General of Police once again reassures members of the public of the Police Force’s dedication to protecting the lives and property, and to this effect, the IGP has emplaced several strategies and tactics, aimed at combating various forms of crimes in all spheres. The IGP hereby calls for citizens’ full support in actualizing this goal and establishing a utopia in our dear country.
The Nigeria Police Force will not relent in the pursuit of ensuring crimes and criminalities are brought to its lowest in accordance with the Rule of Law, and upholding the highest standards of professionalism in carrying out extant duties of protection of lives and properties.
