Police mount surveillance in Jigawa - CP

The Jigawa Police Command said on Monday it had mounted surveillance in various parts of the state to check crimes during the 'ember months'.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Theophilus Kayode, in Dutse said that the command had deployed more officers and men to patrol and prevent criminal activities in all parts of the state.

He described the months as 'challenging period'' for the Nigeria Police in view of the high rate of crimes often recorded during the period.

'Hoodlums and armed robbers operate more during the `ember months` in their desire to profit from the sweat of other people,' he said.

While reiterating the commitment of the police to combat crime, the commissioner urged the public to cooperate with the police to rid the state of criminals.

Also the police on Monday arraigned a prophet, Olasibekan Olayemi, 22, of Utako village, Abuja, in a Karu Upper Area Court in the FCT, on charges of cheating and being in possession of fake dollars.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Isreal Nongo, told the court that one Bolaji Iman of Airport Junction Road, Abuja, lodged a report against the accused at the Apo Police Station on Nov. 1.

He also said that Olayemi deceived Iman and Iman's friend, Ahmed Isa, by introducing himself to them as a prophet sometime in October.

Nongo alleged that Olayemi showed the complainants fake 4,200 dollars (about N672,000) and deceitfully collected the sum of N500,000 and N250,000 respectively from them.

He alleged that during investigation, Olayemi admitted to collecting the said fake U.S. dollars from his boss, one Somi of Ekiti State.

The prosecutor said the offences contravened sections 324 and 319 of the Penal Code, but Olayemi denied the charges.

The defence counsel, Mr Tajudeen Adebite, applied for bail for his client, assuring the court that a reliable surety would be provided if bail was granted.

Nongo, however, opposed the bail, saying that the man the accused claimed to have collected the fake dollars from was still at large and bail might distort police investigations.

He also said that cheating by personation, which attracts five years' imprisonment, was not an ordinarily bailable offence.

The Presiding Judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N800,000 with a surety in like sum.

Kagarko said the surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the court, and adjourned the case to Jan. 15 for hearing. (NAN)