CP arrests Police officers accused of robbing victim, orders refund of N70,000

Published

11 months ago

February 7, 2025

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CP arrests Police officers accused of robbing victim, orders refund of N70,000

Augustine Grimah, the Cross River State Commissioner of Police, has identified and detained some police personnel who are suspected of robbing and manhandling an innocent citizen last week.

Archibong Hashbury Efefiom’s complaint, which described how the officers robbed and threatened his companion when he was in Calabar, the state capital, brought the incident to light.

The Commissioner asked the victim to name the implicated police after receiving the complaint.

During the process, the victim was able to recognize the perpetrators, prompting the Commissioner to order the immediate return of the N70,000 the officers had coerced from the victim through a POS transfer.

This incident marks the second time in recent weeks that Commissioner Grimah has taken swift action to address such abuses by law enforcement officers.

In this case, the victim described how he was forcibly detained and made to transfer the money at gunpoint in the dead of night, highlighting the serious nature of the crime.

“On Wednesday, January 19th, 2025, at 8 PM after a day of working from home. I was standing in front of my street when two vehicles pulled up in front of me. The occupants called me to approach them. Given that it was dark and some of the individuals were wearing masks, I hesitated because I couldn’t identify who they were.

“Suddenly, one of them got out of the vehicle and insisted on searching me. I resisted, as they had not stated what I was being accused of or why I was being approached. Their next move was to try to force me into the back of a Hilux van. I again resisted, as they had not clearly explained the reason for their actions.

“As the situation escalated, more police officers emerged from the vehicles, and they began hitting and slapping me repeatedly in the face. I was eventually shoved into one of the vehicles—the Hilux. While in transit, the officers stopped to pick up random individuals from the street. At this point, I was handcuffed to one of these strangers.

“Once we arrived at the police station, we were ordered to get out of the vehicle and sit on the floor. Our phones were confiscated and placed on a table. The officers then started threatening me, questioning why I had resisted them. Some of their threats included ensuring my “disappearance” for a month and forcibly taking me away from the station.

“As time passed, the other people who had been picked up along the road began talking to different officers and, eventually, they were all released. After a while, one officer approached me and told me to write a statement. He practically guided me through the process of writing the statement, which I did, clearly explaining the events that had transpired.

“One of the policemen then demanded that I unlock my phones, and he began going through them. Shortly after, the officer who had been helping me with the statement informed me that I needed to pay 200,000 naira if I wanted to be released. I told him that I didn’t have that amount, and after some back-and-forth, the figure was reduced to 70,000 naira.

“They instructed me to wait inside the Hilux, and I was driven from the State CID to Barack Road. The officers stopped at a shop, where I was escorted to a man who facilitated the transfer of the money via a POS machine. I was charged an additional 2,800 naira as a transaction fee, and in total, I transferred 72,800 naira to the man. In return, I was given 70,000 naira in cash, which I handed over to the police officer in the vehicle.

“Once the officer counted the money to confirm the total, they finally dropped me off at Mayne Avenue, near Atu, stating that it would be easier for me to find transport home from that location.”

Social activist and publisher Agba Jalingo, who facilitated the meeting between the Commissioner of Police (CP) and the victim, praised the CP for his swift action in addressing the issue.

He condemned the police officers’ behavior, describing it as a clear example of impunity.

Jalingo emphasized the importance of handling such matters through proper channels, stating, “I want to reiterate that this approach is far better than individuals taking the law into their own hands by assaulting security personnel under any pretext when incidents like this occur.”

He added that while the process of correcting such egregious actions may take time, it remains the most effective and just course of action.

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JUST IN; Oyo Governor, Makinde names Olubadan as Chairman Oyo Council of Obas

Published

1 hour ago

January 15, 2026

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JUST IN; Oyo Governor, Makinde names Olubadan as Chairman Oyo Council of Obas

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has inaugurated the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, declaring that the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, will be heading the council for a period of 2 years.

The declaration follows the passing of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs (Further Amendments) Bill, 2025, by the state House of Assembly, and the signing of the same into law by the governor.

Recall that the lawmakers had amended Clause 5 of Section 28 of the Chieftaincy Law to make the Council chairmanship rotational among the Alaafin of Oyo, the Soun of Ogbomoso, and the Olubadan of Ibadanland.

While inaugurating the Council, Governor Makinde said he had consulted with the trio of the Alaafin, the Olubadan and the Soun, with the three of them reaching a consensus that the chairmanship should start with the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty Oba Rashidi Ladoja.

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NPF committed to community policing, says IGP Egbetokun

Published

3 hours ago

January 15, 2026

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NPF committed to community policing, says IGP Egbetokun

The Inspector General of Police (I-GP), Dr Kayode Egbetokun, has assured that the police remained committed to community policing to ensure that criminals were drastically reduced in the country.
The I-GP, who was represented by the Assistant Inspector of Police ( AIG) Zone 17, Dr Ajani Musibau, stated this at the Police Community Relations Committee ( PCRC) National Leadership Training and Conference on Thursday in Akure.
The theme of the conference is: “Inclusivity and Diversity: the New Leadership Paradigm.”
He said that security could not be achieved by only the police, but with the support from the community.
The I-GP stated that security was a joint work and responsibility of all, commending the current leadership of the Nigeria Police for a paradigm shift towards modern policing.
Also, the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Mr Adebowale Lawal, said that bandits could not infiltrate the state due to community policing strategy embraced by the command.
He explained that bandits would have infiltrated the state through Kogi and Edo, but intelligence reports from members of PCRC had been a great help to the police command.
According to him, the support and logistics received from the Inspector General of Police, Dr Kayode Egbetokun and Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa had also motivated police personnel to work earnestly.
He said that effective community policing was a sure way to curb activities of criminals, and implored members of the public not to relent in their efforts to provide police and other security agencies with useful information.
Lawal also commended other conventional security agencies, forest guards and vigilantes for their support to the police in fighting bandits
In his remarks, the National Chairman of PCRC, Alhaji Ibrahim Mogaji said that the conference was to strengthen leaders of PCRC in the South-West zone and encourage them to redouble their efforts and support in fighting crimes.
According to Mogaji, the occasion also enabled the association to appreciate Gov. Aiyedatiwa, I-GP, the AIG Zone 17 and the state Commissioner of Police.
He advised the participants to moblise other members of PCRC and orientate them on their roles to continue to fight crime in the country.
The PCRC national chairman asked Nigerians to respect the dignity of police and to be civil when interacting with them.
Mogaji said that the leadership training would be replicated in other geo-political zones of the country.
Also, Aiyedatiwa, represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Security, Mr Gbenga Atiba, commended the PCRC , AIG Zone 17, and the Commissioner of Police for their unrelenting efforts to guarantee peace across the state.
Aiyedatiwa promised that the state government would give PCRC attention and continue to support police and other security agencies with appropriate logistics that would make policing more effective.
A guest lecturer, Comrade Yinka Folarin asked members of the public to give respect and dignity to members of the police, saying that they also had rights that must be respected.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PCRC honoured Gov. Aiyedatiwa, AIG Zone 17 and the Commissioner of Police with awards. (NAN)

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Increase salary, welfare packages for Police other security personnel – FG told

Published

5 hours ago

January 15, 2026

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Increase salary, welfare packages for Police other security personnel – FG told

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for improved welfare packages for armed forces personnel and all members of the security and intelligence community to aid their effectiveness and efficiency.

National Chairman of PDP, Tanimu Turaki, made the call in a statement in Abuja on Thursday to mark the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day.

Turaki also urged the Federal Government to adequately fund security agencies to effectively neutralise those he described as agents of insecurity, and restore peace to the country.

He expressed PDP’s condolences to the families of members of the armed forces who died in active service while executing their mandate of protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

“On a day like this, we acknowledge that they paid the supreme price for the continuous existence of our country.

“We advise all actors, whether state or non-state, not to engage in actions capable of destabilising the country.

“In honour of those who have died to keep our country safe, we pray that their deaths may not be in vain and their labours not forgotten,” Turaki said.(NAN)