Kogi Police Command arrests 28 suspected criminals, killers of businessman

The Commissioner of Police in Kogi, Mr Ede Ayuba,on Wednesday presented to newsmen 28 suspected criminals, including one of the suspected killers of Late Nicholas Ofodile, businessman and owner of Chuks Supermarket, Lokoja.

Ayuba, while displaying the suspects at the command headquarters in Lokoja,said the command had adopted comprehensive crime prevention and control strategies in recent times to combat criminality in the state.

The strategy, according to him, include intensive patrol, raids of identified criminal hideouts, black spots and flash points, conduct of stop-and-search which led to the arrest of the 28 suspects.

The commissioner, who attributed the recent upsurge in crime and criminal activities in the area to deployment lapses, said the command had readjusted its deployment strategies in line with the Inspector-General of Police instruction.

He said that the command had also adopted common problem-solving strategies for effective result on the Community Policing which had inspired public confidence in the Force, as people were now willingly providing valuable information.

He also said that the command had arrested one Vincent Omogor of Asaba,Delta, in connection with the the killing of popular businessman in Lokoja, Nicholas Ofodile ,killed by assassins on June 10.

Ayuba said that the arrest was a follow-up on the attack and killing of the business tycoon and other kidnapping incidents along Lokoja-Abuja road, adding that the Intelligence was driven bye Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) operatives in synergy with vigilance group in Orehi.

He said that a suspected car snatcher, Ayuba Dare, a dismissed soldier, allegedly specialised in robbing unsuspecting citizens of their vehicles, was apprehended and three Toyota Corolla cars and an NDA Identity Card recovered from them.

“Our operational style has provided a venue for effective collaboration with other critical stakeholders by giving them access to share information and intelligence that will assist in crime control and management,”he said.

To ensure hitch-free celebration of the forthcoming Eid-el-Kabir, the commissioner said the command had organised a conference with its Area Commanders.

He said that the command had mapped out operational order to ensure that lives and property were secured during and after the Sallah celebration, adding that the suspects would be prosecuted upon completion of investigation.

Supreme reports that the alleged offences ranged from armed robbery, to kidnapping, cattle rustling, unlawful possession of firearms, possession of human skull, impersonation, culpable homicide and car snatching.