News

Mother of murdered sisters backed by ex-police chiefs over bias claim

Three former police chiefs have said errors made in the search for two missing sisters was the result of bias, as the murdered women’s mother dismissed as “hollow” an apology for the blunders.

The mother of Bibaa Henry, 46, and Nicole Smallman, 27, found murdered in June 2020 in a London park, said her daughters’ friends and family were left to search themselves after the Metropolitan police failed to do so.

Mina Smallman said the partner of one of her daughters who found the body has been left haunted and maintained bias had been a factor despite a report from the police watchdog finding no evidence it was.

Britain’s biggest force offered the apology after a report from the Independent Office for Police Conduct found failings.

The two sisters, Henry, a senior social worker, and Smallman, a photographer, were murdered in the park where they had been celebrating the elder sibling’s birthday.

The next day police were called, but no physical searches took place. The following days the bodies were found stabbed to death.

Sue Fish, the former chief constable of Nottinghamshire, said on Tuesday that bias had been a factor: “I see plenty of bias. The IOPC report gives licence to continue to fail people of colour, and women of colour, into the future.”

“It does not have a finding of racism, it addresses things in performance terms and misses this everyday casual unconscious bias against people of colour and women.”

Former Met chief superintendent Dal Babu said the mother of the murdered sisters was right in insisting bias was a factor: “If this had been a white, middle class social worker, would police have dealt with it differently. I’m convinced they would have.”

Babu, who has defended white officers against racism claims when he thought they were unmerited, said an independent investigation was needed into how missing persons’ cases are handled.

Former Met chief superintendent Victor Olisa, a former head of diversity at the force, said: “I think there is bias, I know the investigation of missing persons is not as professional as it ought to be.

“There is bias, the IOPC can’t find it.”

The IOPC identified that two police staff and one inspector performed poorly, and will not face a disciplinary hearing, but undergo action to improve their performance.

A call handler referred to one of the missing women as a “suspect” and appeared dismissive when a friend of one of the sisters phoned asking for help, the watchdog found.

Mina Smallman said: “We’re not the only parties who suffered mental anguish at the hands of the Met police’s incompetent, reprehensible and blatant disregard of agreed procedures regarding missing persons.”

Smallman added: “The inspector on the second shift made erroneous assumptions about the whereabouts of our daughters. We’re also of the view that his unprofessional comments about Bibaa and Nicole’s picnic suggest racial profiling, misogyny or classism.”

The report has not yet been made public by the IOPC, which declined to comment on whether Smallman’s claims about the alleged comments made by the inspector were correct. The Met also did not comment. The Met said the inspector was working on a shift with 16 missing persons cases open, with his unit “under capacity by almost 50% during the Covid pandemic”.

Smallman said that police inaction led the family and friends to search themselves with harrowing consequences: “There were approximately 14 people – friends and family – involved in our own missing persons investigation, which started at approximately 4am on Saturday morning and ended with Nicole’s precious Adam discovering their bodies. This lasting image of his soulmate will forever remain in his mind’s eye.”

Smallman added the apology was not enough: “Sorry just won’t cut it. It’s too hollow … Sorry is something you say when you comprehend the wrong you have done and take full responsibility for it, demonstrating that by taking appropriate proportionate action – which the Met police have failed to do.”

The issues from the case are far from over for the Met. Two Met officers face criminal charges over the taking of photos at the scene where the sisters’ bodies were found murdered. They are scheduled to appear in court next week.

Danyal Hussein, 19, was found guilty of the sisters’ murder in July. He was said to have drawn up a “contract” in his own blood with a demon to sacrifice women in return for winning the lottery.

News

FG denies claims of reinstating fuel subsidy

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited have denied reports claiming that petroleum subsidy has been reinstated by the Tinubu-led government.

Recall that the immediate past governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufari, recently claimed that the Federal government is still paying subsidy for fuel.

Reacting to the claim, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, asked anyone making such claims to come forward with evidence.

“I don’t want to delve into that issue. It is a very sensitive issue. It is better we get all the facts. As far as I’m concerned, the President removed the subsidy and it remains removed till today. Anybody who is saying that subsidy is being paid, it is left for the person to bring the facts and then we will talk about them.”

When questioned if the current petrol price is influenced by market dynamics, the minister responded

“While it may not be solely influenced by market forces, let us focus on addressing the current price. Every government has a duty to do certain things, not only in the petroleum sector but in several other sectors, to be able to cushion the effect and burden on Nigerians.”

Also speaking, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Plc, Olufemi Soneye, emphasized that the national oil company has ceased subsidizing petrol.

“We are recovering our full costs from the products we import. It is important to emphasise that the subsidy is no longer in place. Contrary to allegations, the petrol subsidy has not been reinstated” he said

Business

Abiodun Boosts Security: Donates Drones, 25 Patrol Vehicles to Combat Banditry, Terrorism

L:R: Deputy Chief of Staff, Dr. Toyin Taiwo; Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone 2, Durosinmi Olatoye; Secretary to the Ogun State Government (SSG), Mr. Tokunbo Talabi; Ogun State Deputy Governor, Engr. (Mrs) Noimot Salako-Oyedele; Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun and the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, during the demonstration of drones purchased by the Ogun State Government to tackle insecurity at the Arcade Ground, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, on Thursday.

Ogun State Government on Thursday, donated 25 patrol vehicles to the state police command just as it acquired surveillance drones to monitor criminal activities in all parts of the state.
Governor Dapo Abiodun donated the vehicles in the presence of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, at the Arcade Ground, Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, even as he called on the force to include technology in it’s crime fighting efforts.
He said acquiring the drones was one of the proactive steps his administration has taken in collaboration with Lagos and Oyo states to effectively monitor activities on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to ensure prompt response in emergency situations.
The drones, the governor noted, would be operated by trained personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Department of Stata Service (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC).
Governor Abiodun who had earlier received the Inspector General in his office said: “As a gesture of appreciation of you and all what your are doing to law enforcement and effective policing in our state and by extension Nigeria, we have decided to complement you and your efforts by donating today, 25 patrol vans to the police and our law enforcement architecture. This, we believe, will commemorate your first official visit to Ogun State.
“Towards ensuring peace in our state, we will continue to strengthen and support our already established Security Trust Fund (STF) by procuring relevant gadgets, including drones. We will continue to argument the allowances and living condition of our security personnel to motivate them to enhance security and safety in our state.”
The governor, who was impressed with the efforts of the police boss at repositioning the force for optimal performance in line with the tenet of the President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, however called for the integration of modern technology in tackling the various security challenges facing the nation.
“As we acknowledged your alignment with the tenet of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, we urged the integration of cutting edge surveillance technology to combat the challenges of banditry and terrorism in the nation,” the governor advised.
He said Ogun State remains steadfast in fulfilling its constitutional role by prioritizing the welfare and security of the people through fostering effective inter-agencies cooperation among security agencies in the state.
Prince Abiodun said his administration in the past four and a half years, has procured more than 100 patrol vehicles and motorcycles, as well as over 300 communication gadgets for security agencies in a bid to keep the peace, assuring that his administration would spare nothing at ensuring that residents live in a stable environment and engage in business activities without fear of molestation.
The governor described the Inspector General of Police as a dutiful officer and a fine gentleman who through his educational background and professional dedication was poised at ensuring that Nigerians have a police force they could be proud of.
“You have been deliberate and intentional in the systematic redesigning of the operational strategies and administrative policies of the police force which is driven by purposeful leadership and capacity enhancement.
“The impactful motivation you continually instill in your personnel through timely promotion and incentives, have boosted their performance and dedication. As an expert in peace and conflict studies, you have exemplified the essence of positive police/civil relations, elevating the trust of Nigerians in the police by addressing misconducts with decisive action.
“Your commitment to community policing has strengthened the bond between the law enforcement and the community members significantly improving the intelligence capacity of the officers. Realizing that modern policing necessitate cooperation with all and is underpinned by technological advancement, you put your efforts and encouraged continued innovations in these areas,” the governor added.
Prince Abiodun lauded the police authority for its infrastructural development efforts in that state command, particularly the new police headquarters building, the Technical Intelligence Unit, the Complaints Response Unit, and the Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun Multi-purpose Cooperative Hall.
Also speaking, Egbetokun said his vision was to put in place a professionally competent police force that is service oriented, rule of law compliant, people friendly and positioned to respond appropriately and adequately to the dynamics of crimes in the society.
He acknowledged the massive infrastructural development across the state, disclosing that more police stations and more Area Commands would be created as well as the deployment of more mobile policemen squadrons to provide adequate security in the state.
The IGP praised Governor Abiodun’s innovative idea in the purchase of the drones, noting that the gesture would further enhance the security of the state, even as he called on other states to take the same step to ensure the security of their people.

News

40-yr-old woman arrested in Delta over alleged trafficking of 38 children

The Benin Zonal Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has confirmed the arrest of a 40-year-old woman, Ikejimba Maryvianney, over the alleged trafficking of 38 children in Delta state.

It was gathered that the children were handed over to the suspect by their parents at the agrarian community in Enugu-Awka camp, by Monastery, Ilah, Delta state.

The Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Barr. Nduka Nwanwene, who confirmed the arrest of the suspect to journalists in Benin, Edo State, described her as a fake Reverend Sister.

He disclosed that the suspect who was assisted by a fleeing accomplice simply identified as Chidera, received the children on the guise of giving them better care in their two orphanage homes.

She was however arrested by the NAPTIP operatives following a tip-off, when she returned to the community apparently to recruit other children.

Speaking further on the arrest, Barr. Nwanwene disclosed that the suspect claimed to be trained in Ghana as a Reverend Sister, while their headquarters is in Philippines.

He described the suspect and her accomplices as human traffickers, who are posing as Reverend Sisters from a convent in Owerri, but recruiting children for human trafficking.

He added that the suspect claimed that she came to meet the parents of the children and persuade them to allow their children follow them to their orphanage homes and that they would be given better care.

According to him, “On january 28, the suspect was given 12 children while on February 19, she was given 26 children, bringing the total number children in her custody to 38 and the children are all minors.

“To convince the parents when they were handed over the first batch of the children, the suspects asked two of the parents to follow them to know the two orphanage homes the children would stay.

“The suspect when arrested claimed that three of the six children are in Badagry while the other three are in Ogun, but later said they have been adopted by people in the East.”

Nwanwene disclosed that nAPTIP is on the trail of getting the victims as well as arresting the suspect at large and that the suspect would be charge to court.

He warned parents to be vigilant and never to trust anybody with their kids without asking fundermental questions.