Crime
Timi Frank petitions IGP over extrajudicial killing by police under Sylva’s tenure as Gov
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has urged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to urgently investigate circumstances leading to the extrajudicial killing of a young man by police in Bayelsa State during the tenure of Chief Timipre Sylva as governor.
Frank made the call in a petition titled: “Who killed Ken Niweigha? A call to the inspector General of Police to investigate the tenure of Timipre Sylva as the Governor of Bayelsa State and police complicity in his murder” which was addressed to the IGP Egbetokun.
Frank’s petition dated 24th July, 2023, was signed by his lawyer, Ernest Onyebuchi Olenyi, Esq of Enahoro & Associates chambers based in Abuja.
The petition reads in part: “The tragic incident at the heart of this petition involves the extrajudicial killing of Mr. Ken Niweigha, a prominent figure in the Odi Community of Bayelsa State.
“According to news reports and Amnesty International’s research, the circumstances surrounding his death are highly contentious and have raised significant concerns about the conduct of the Nigerian police and the state of the justice system under the watch of the then Chief Security Officer and Governor of the State, Chief Timipre Sylva.
“On May 26, 2009, Mr. Ken was arrested by the police and subsequently taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department (State CID) in Yenagoa.
“During his arrest, he was paraded in front of the media, accused of leading the Egbesu Boys armed group in Bayelsa State,
and implicated in the killings of 12 policemen, which led to the infamous Odi massacre in 1999.
“The police claimed that Ken had agreed to cooperate and lead them to his hideout in Odi, where he would surrender all his weapons and be prosecuted.
“However, conflicting narratives emerge from different sources, raising questions about the veracity of the police’s version of events.
“The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), an affiliation of armed groups in the oil-rich Niger Delta, claimed that Ken Niweigha was executed by the police, asserting that extra-judicial executions are ‘shockingly common’ in Nigeria, attributing this to the lack of effectiveness within the police force.
“MEND’s accusation suggested that the police were responsible for the killing of Ken Niweigha without due legal process.
“The police, on the other hand, presented a different account of the events leading to Ken Niweigha’s death.
“Police Commissioner, Mr. Onouha Udeka stated that during the course of escorting Ken Niweigha to his hideout in Odi, a prearranged ambush took place, initiated by his gang.
“As a result, a shootout ensued between the gang and the police, in which Ken Niweigha lost his life.
“The police maintained that he was the only fatality in the exchange, and no officers were injured.
“The circumstances surrounding Ken Niweigha’s death, coupled with the broader context of extrajudicial killings in Nigeria, raise serious concerns about the conduct of the police and the need for a thorough and impartial investigation.
“The situation surrounding Ken Niweigha’s death has evoked deep concern and unrest within the Odi Community and beyond.
“As the Coordinator of Bayelsa State Volunteers in Odi, his role and relationship with the government further intensify the need for an independent investigation to establish the truth and hold accountable those responsible for his death.”
Frank who is the Ambassador of the United Liberation Movement for West Papau (ULMWP), urged the IGP to investigate the circumstances leading to the murder of “Daddy Ken” and expose the culprits to bring closure to the unfortunate incident and prevent such extrajudicial murders in future.
***CP restates commitment to safety of lives, property in Kogi
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
The Nigeria Police, Kogi State Command has confirmed the killing of two suspected kidnappers during a gun duel in Ankumi forest, near Obajana in Lokoja Local Government Area of the state.
A statement from SP William Ovye Aya, the Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO) on Tuesday in Lokoja said that the two suspected kidnappers were fatally wounded in an exchange of fire with the Police and died as they were being taken to the hospital.
Aya said the operation which was in continuation of the ongoing onslaught against banditry, kidnapping and other heinous crime in Kogi State also led to the recovery of one AK 47 Rifle with two magazines and two live Ammunition.
He explained that the operation was consequent upon a tip off received on Monday, May 27 at about 11:30hrs, that some armed hoodlums numbering about three were sighted inside Ankumi forest.
“Immediately the Divisional Police Officer of Obajana Division, CSP Oguche Richard, mobilized his patrol team in collaboration with the Fulani Vigilantes and moved to the area at about 14:30hrs”, he said.
According to the PPRO, on sighting the team, the hoodlums opened fire on them, attracting corresponding response from the team resulting in a gun duel that lasted a while.
Aya said, “Due to the superior firepower of the Police team, two of the hoodlums were fatally wounded while the other escaped with bullet wounds.
“Items recovered from the scene include, one AK 47 rifle with two magazines and two rounds of live Ammunition. Effort is on going to trail and apprehend the fleeing suspect.”
The Command’s Spokesman further told newsmen that the suspects were confirmed dead in a hospital at Obajana and their bodies were brought to the command headquarters in Lokoja.
He said that the bodies were deposited at the Federal University Teaching Hospital morgue in Lokoja.
Aya further said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Bethrand C. Onuoha, commended the officers for their unwavering commitment and dedication in sustaining the tempo in the ongoing onslaught against crime and criminality.
The Commissioner, he said, also assured Kogi people that the Police “is ever determined to sustain the tempo, in synergy with other Security Agencies, in ensuring the safety of lives and property in the state.” (Ends)
An unspecified number of workers of Dangote Cement Company Plc, Okpella, Etsako West local government of Edo state have been abducted after unknown gunmen Wayland the staff bus
The unfortunate incident was said to have happened on Monday.
The workers were in a staff bus conveying them back to Okpella town after the close of work when they were intercepted and abducted by the gunmen.
An eyewitness confirmed to this online newspaper that the incident happened after the gunmen laid ambush for the workers after emerging from the bush and forcing the bus to a halt at gunpoint before taking their victims into the bush.
“They were in a Coaster bus coming to Okpella after work when they were kidnapped by gunmen. But, we don’t know the numbers of the workers that have been kidnapped,” the source added.
The alleged rape of a female student of the Ajayi Crowther University by two security guards is not being treated with kids gloves as the authorities of the institution have commenced investigations
This was contained in a statement issued by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Olufemi John Atoyebi.
Atoyebi said, “Management of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo received with shock a report of an alleged rape of one of our female students last night, Thursday May 9, 2024 by two members of our vigilance group.
“The Management promptly handed over to the police, the two people alleged to have committed the crime while the university has set up its own internal panel of inquiry to investigate the allegation.
“The Management wishes to assure all stakeholders that ACU will not tolerate any act of misconduct capable of tarnishing its enviable image.
“Raising Godly intellectuals is our primary goal in ACU and we will not allow any act of misconduct capable of diverting our attention from our goal.
“Heavy penalty awaits anyone who is found culpable after our thorough investigation.
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