One of the major things that happened in the Nigeria Police Force in 2008, was the way the sun suddenly eclipsed for the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, resulting in his fall from his Olympian height.
In his days as the EFCC boss, all that Ribadu, who wielded so much powers when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was the President of the country, needed to do was to cough and Nigerians, especially those who have skeletons in their cupboards, will catch cold. Ribadu was EFCC and EFCC was Ribadu. The Adamawa born crime fighter was dreaded by many, including his colleagues in the Nigeria Police. He was carried away by power such that he forgot that he was first and foremost, a security agent, who was supposed to subject himself the authority accord respect to his seniors in rank.
This writer recalls how Ribadu, who was supposed to arrive at a function in Lagos, before his boss and former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, waited until he (Ehindero) arrived and sat down before he stormed the venue with retinue of his security men. He was even reluctant to accord Ehindero his compliments as the No.1 police officer in the country. Ribadu replicated what Major Hamza Al-Mustapha did in the military during the Abacha days, where he was said to have disrespected, snubbed and humiliated even Major Generals. Ribadu's promotion, from the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police to Assistant Inspector General of police (AIG), within a short time, without following the laid down rules for promotion in the Nigeria Police, actually created disaffection among police officers, especially, his course mates. Such demoralized and disenchanted course mates who, up till day, are still Chief Superintendent of Police(CSP), were seen murmuring and tactically refusing to 'perform' effectively because of the perceived injustice.
But suddenly, the sun began to set for the anti-corruption fighter, especially, with his de-ranking from Assistant Inspector General to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), on August 4, 2008, in an exercise which affected 139 others, including Ehindero's relative. De-ranking? Yes, because the affected police officers did not deserve the promotion as at the time Obasanjo and Ehindero decided to play father Christmas with police ranks, all in the name of favouring the 'boys.'
Justifying the de-ranking, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Parry Osayande, a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), said the special promotion given to the officers were not based on established criteria and therefore, was a total breach of Section 153 of 1999Constitution and Police Service Commission Act 2001.
The announcement of the de-ranking came when Ribadu had already gone for senior officers' course at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru, Jos, Plateau State. The training would have prepared position him to achieve one of his greatest ambitions - becoming the next Inspector General of Police after Mike Okiro.
As they say, one thing followed the other and finally, the anti-climax came on Tuesday, December 23, 2008, when the Nigeria Police Commission dismissed him from the police for gross indiscipline, among other reasons. Another major achievement of the PSC this year under Osayande was the recall of 10,000 officers retrenched by the former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero.
Shifting attention from Ribadu and the Police Service Commission, it germane to critically examine the security situation in the country in 2008. As they say in the security circle, crime rate is not static, it fluctuates and varies both in degree and tempo, owing to various factors.
The factors could includes, rate of unemployment, urbanization, illegal and uncontrolled acquisition of arms and ammunition by the citizens, lack of political will on the part of the government to fight crime, among others. Like the past years, 2008 witnessed cases of violent robberies, kidnapping, fraud, rape, murder, extra judicial killing by the police. Crime rate in the country in 2008 could be said to be high, contrary to the expectations of many that, with the end of active political activities in 2007, crime rate would drop. Actually, Nigerians never expected zero level society as this is impossible anywhere in the world. But they had looked forward to reduction in crime rate. But that is not to suggest that the police did not try their best in the area of crime combat and prevention. In spite of their constraints, they were able to kill and arrest robbers, intercept arms and ammunition that were coming into the country illegally, foil many kidnap attempts, among others.
Like in the Holy Bible, where a note of warning was sounded that not all the things that transpired were contained in the Holy book due to space constraint, I would like to inform the readers that not all crimes committed in the country in 2008, or exploits of the police could be found in this write-up. But efforts were made to highlight some of them. It is important to note here, however, that the country did not witness much of the high profile killings or assassinations this year, like in the previous years. It was also observed that there were many reported cases of women, especially, young ones, involving in violent crimes like, stabbing people to death, dousing neighbours with hot water, among others. Also, a visit to the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) at Milverton Road, Ikoyi, Lagos and EFCC offices revealed increase in the involvement of young ladies in bank fraud, which in the past, were mainly perpetrated by men. This is a worrisome development. Extra-judicial killings across the country are also on the high side.
Another important incident in 2008, was the arrest of Kenny Martins by the EFCC and his arraignment. Kenny Martins-led Presidential Committee on Police Equipment Fund (PCPEF) was supposed to help to equip the police in order to perform better. But the House of Representatives probe panel, which investigated the Committee said over N20 billion was spent for purposes other than equipping the Police Force.
Kidnap cases
Before Gideon Ekeowe assumed office as the Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, his wife, Mrs. Augustina Ekeowe, was kidnapped in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, by some gunmen. That was on Sunday, June 1, 2008.
*Four young men in their early '20s also kidnapped a 75-years-old grandma in Abia State, Ezeine Sarah Nwakudu. The kidnappers demanded a whopping sum of N200 million ransom. The incident took place on May, 2008.
*Police in Port Harcourt rescued abducted Shell staff, Fidelis Akpoghiran, in Port Harcourt, on Sunday, November 16, 2008. The kidnappers made the demand of N7 million ransom.
*Gunmen on Tuesday, October 21, kidnapped two children of a Nigerian oil worker in Port Harcourt.
*Master Dienfa was kidnapped by gunmen, who invaded his school, Cedar Court British School in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. He was later rescued by policemen.
*Police also rescued a woman, Comfort Erondu, from kidnappers. She is a native of Ugba Uzoiyi, Umuodochi in Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa Local Government Area.
*On July 5, 2008, gunmen kidnapped the kid brother of Super Eagles player, Joseph Yobo, Mr. Nonru Yobo, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He was abducted from a hotel in Rumumasi area of the Garden City.
*On Tuesday, February 5, 2008, gunmen abducted Seinye Lulu Briggs, wife of oil magnet and multi-millionaire, Chief Lulu Briggs. The kidnapers were said to have demanded N500 million ransom.
*Two toddlers, Emmanuel Etim Edet and Blessing Offiong Edet, were kidnapped in Cross Rivers State. They were not that lucky as they were killed by the callous kidnappers.
*Gunmen also abducted 11 years old boy and son of a businessman in Port Harcourt. In their desperate bid to take away the boy, Chidi Nsirim, the gunmen killed the boy's family driver and a police escort attached to the family. His mother was also shot in the hand.
*On Wednesday, February 6, 2008, gunmen struck in Rivers State capital and instead of the usual kidnap, they killed the wife of the prominent politician and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, a policeman guarding the house and wounded their daughter.
*On November 24, 2008, five dare-devil boys kidnapped 2 years old Chinohim Chukwuezie, from his school on Okada Road, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
*Police in Lagos also rescued 9years old girl, Hamilat Turaki, a student of Dedayo High School, Abule Egba. The kidnappers demanded $20,000 ransome.
*The year ended on a sour note for the family of Odivwri in Ughelli, Delta State, as Chief Jacob Odivwri Edjesa, 82, was abducted from his residence on Tuesday, December 16, 2008. The body of the father of Eddy Odivwri, member of THISDAY Editorial Board was dumped in his neighborhood, at Emonu Orogun, in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
*Police in Delta State in the month of October 2008 rescued 17 years old final year Secondary School (SSS3) boy from his kidnappers. The boy, simply identified as Cyril was a student of Christ the King College. He was kidnapped from the school premises.
*Police in Enugu rescued seven teenagers from baby factory in a confinement at a hospital in Enugu State, for the purpose of producing children for sale. Medical doctors and nurses were arrested in respect of the dastardly act.
Murder/ unnatural deaths
*On June 30, 2008, some persons suspected to be cultists shot and killed Mrs. Chinwe Yongo, a lecturer in the History Department of Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi and also shot her four years old son.
*In the month of December five children were locked in the booth of their father's car at Ureje Quarters in Ekiti State, The only survivor was Rashidat, 8.
*Eight Nigerian workers died in a Lebanese firm in Abuja on Wednesday, September 24. Thirty were said to be on danger list. The firm is located on Plot 77, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2. The company is Maikano Engineering, and company and deals on heavy duty generating plants and other heavy equipment.
*On Friday, October 10, robbers struck in Ibadan, Oyo State and killed a Divisional Police Officer (DPO), a Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) and four others at Bola Ige International Market, Gbaji and end of the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.
*On October 6, 2008, armed robbers killed a female bank manager in Lagos. The incident occurred at Biola bus stop, Demuren, Ketu, Lagos.
*The refusal of 33 years old spare parts dealer, Mukaila Azeez, to buy beer for his friend in a beer parlour in Osogbo, Osun State, sent him to his early grave as he was stabbed to death during disagreement. The incident occurred on Sunday, October 5. He was killed by Taofeek Hassan, 28.
*During this year's Independence Day celebration, a naval man, Eduke Enkponu, stabbed Abdukazeem Gafaru to death over N20 phone call.
*One Ayomitan Olorunda allegedly murdered her husband, Dare Audu, in Omuo-Ekiti, in Ekiti East Local Government Area.
*Seventeen years old girl (orange hawker) in Lagos, stabbed 18 years student to death in Tin Can Island, Lagos. They were Tomola Akanya while the suspect is Bose Saidu.
*Two policemen were allegedly murdered and buried in a monarch's palace in Abia State. The victims were: Inspector Cherechi and Sergeant Francis Egwu. The incident occurred in November.
*A naval rating was said to have killed a policeman in a hotel in Ogun State. The victim was identified Oladunni Abanikanda.
.On Thursday, March 27, 2008, three policemen and two others were killed in Owerri, Imo State, while a man was said to have stoned his wife to death in Elere Village, Ewekoro, Ogun State, after he accused her of being possessed by the evil spirit. The suspect, Sunday Abbah, hails from Kogi State. Four soldiers and civilians were killed while a naval gunboat was destroyed, when some gunmen attacked a bank in Rivers State. On May 15, 2008, no fewer than 39 persons, including at least, 15 school children were roasted when pipeline exploded in Ijegun area of Lagos.
On May also, six members of a family died in ozuoba in Obio/Akpo LGA of Rivers State, after inhaling fumes from generator. An evil father in Ikorodu area of Lagos stabbed his one month old baby to death after misunderstanding with his wife. His name is Esikat Jacob. Also, the body of the missing former Edo Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Barrister Calus Enoma, was found in one room of the Palm Royal Hotel in Ugbowo, Benin, Edo State. He left his house on Friday, March 28, 2008, after receiving a call and checking into the hotel room the same Friday night.
, Tragedy struck in Mbube in Ogoja, Bayelsa State, on September, when a jealous man, Thomas Atumar shot his 'adulterous' wife and shot himself.
On September 17, six policemen and seven others were killed in Anambra State and a bullion van loaded with money hijacked.
On Monday, January 28, a 66 year old father and two of his sons got drowned in a well in Ajegunle area of Lagos.
Twenty seven robbers raided Oyedepo's winners church in Ogun State and killed four policemen and injured others. Police constable killed a lorry driver in Apongbon area of Lagos. After the dastardly at, the policemen from Ebute-Ero Police Division, abandoned the patrol van marked, PF 4958 LA and fled. The number of the lorry is XN 236 KSF.
In Ebonyi State, 74 years old woman was gruesomely murdered in her farm in the Federal Polytechnic, Uwana, Afikpo. On August, Ayo Ogundeji, Editorial Board member, THISDAY was killed in Lagos by some unknown.