Scores Of Suspected Bandits Arrested In Lagos In One Month

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

It had been a harvest of arrests of suspected criminals in Lagos in the last one month as scores were paraded by the Commissioner of Police, Mr Hakeem Odumosu.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that on 13th August, 2020, at about 1100hrs, some men suspected to be hoodlums were seen, converging in group, with intent to commit felony at Cappa/NITEL compound Oshodi. Police operatives from Mushin Division mobilized to the scene. Nine suspected traffic robbery suspects were arrested. They are Ismail Tosin ‘m’ 23years old, Lukman Nojeem ‘m’ 18years old, segun Ade ‘m’ 20 years old, Rafiu Jamiu ‘m’ 29 years old, Lateef Yusuf ‘m’ 28 years old, Mabinuola Wale ‘m’ 20 years old, Taiwo Hazan ‘m’ 19years old, Adeleke Oluwasegun ‘m’ 17years old and Adeniji saliu ‘m’ 18 years old. 
One locally made rifle with inscription S.S.C, one long jack knife and cutlasses were recovered from them. The gang was responsible for series of robberies mostly in traffic around CAPPA-Oshodi and its environs. The suspects will be charged to Court. 

There was also an arrest of three armed robbery suspects at Ojo and recovery of two US made Berretta pistols with 41 rounds of live ammunition.
On 16th August, 2020, at about 1500hours, following a tip off, operatives from Raiders, State CID Yaba, foiled a robbery attempt at Ojo area and arrested three suspects, namely, Dare Hassan ‘m’ 35years old, Ajanaku Azeez ‘m’ 35years old and Clarkson Oritshejubemi ‘m’ 36years old. Two Berretta pistols with 41 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from them. Investigation is ongoing. The suspects will soon be charged to Court.

Another arrest was that of two suspects, who specialised in shop breaking and stealing at Alaba International MarketOn 4th August, 2020, FSARS operatives arrested Onyebuchi Chidozie ‘m’ 39 years old and Ifeanyi Odo ‘m’ 42 years old. They allegedly broke into shops and warehouses at Alaba International Market and stole goods worth millions of Naira. Items recovered from them included forty-three sets of 32 inches Plasma LG televisions and a bag containing some beads which they stole from a warehouse at Alaba International Market. They confessed to have been in the unlawful business for over three years. Investigation is ongoing and they will be charged to Court as soon as investigation is completed. 

Another one was that of a suspect, notorious for stealing batteries from telecommunication companies.On the 27th July, 2020, at about 1000hrs, acting on the strength of information, FSARS operatives arrested one Emeka Okun ‘m’ 28 years old at Arena Market, Oshodi. He was arrested with a large number of inverter batteries in a vehicle. He confessed to have burgled a Telecommunication site at Ajah area of Lagos, where he stole the inverter batteries. It was revealed that the suspect and others at large were of the habit of stealing back-up batteries belonging to Telecommunication Companies in Ajah and its environs. Investigation is in progress. The suspect will be charged to Court as soon as the investigation is concluded.

The Lagos Command also recorded the arrest of suspected cult members. On the 21st May, 2020, at about 2100hrs, it was reported that some armed cultists were seen converging at Igbogbo area of Ikorodu, planning to attack and maim rival cult groups at Ikorodu.  Upon the receipt of the information, operatives from Igbogbo Division and SARS, Ipakodo were mobilized to the area.The following suspects were arrested Anuolapo Mogaji ‘m’ 26 years old, Samson Isaac ‘m’ 30 years old, Tobi Daniel ‘m’ 21 years old and Adesanya Ganiu ‘m’ 20 years old. They confessed to be members of AIYE confraternity terrorizing resident of Ikorodu and its environs. Investigation is ongoing and the suspects will be charged to Court as soon as the investigation is concluded.

There was also arrest of armed robbery suspect and recovery of firearms. On 3rd August, 2020, at about 1045hrs, information was received from a reliable source that some armed robbers were sighted around Jakande area of Lekki Lagos, robbing unsuspecting members of the public of their valuables such as phones, jewelries etc. Upon the receipt of the information, operatives from Elemoro Police Station and SARS swiftly mobilized to the scene where they arrested one Akeem Adewale ‘m’ 23 years old while others escaped. One locally made single barrel gun with four live cartridges was recovered from him. It was revealed that the suspect and his gang members at large were responsible for the recent robberies in Lekki and its environs. Investigation is ongoing with a view to apprehend other members of his gang.

Two armed robbery suspects were equally arrested around the Osapa London Estate. On 11th July, 2020, at about 1600hrs, information was received from a reliable source that some armed robbers were sighted at Osapa London Estate, Lekki Lagos, dispossessing a resident of his valuables at gun point. Upon the receipt of the information, operatives from Ajah Police Station and SARS mobilized to the scene. On sighting the operatives, the suspects, Ismail Ayodele ‘m’ 26 years old and Ugochukwu Stanley ‘m’ 30 years old, ran into the nearest compound and hid themselves inside a septic tank. They were arrested and a locally made pistol with five live cartridges was recovered from them. It was revealed that the suspects were recently released from prison custody for an armed robbery related case. Investigation is ongoing and the suspects will soon be charged to Court.

Some suspects were also arrested for unlawful possession of firearms and unlawful society. On 23rd July, 2020, at about 1730hrs, information was received from a credible source that some dreaded cultists armed with a locally made pistol were sighted converging and holding meeting in a hotel at Shasha area of Lagos. That the meeting is aimed at planning an attack on rival cult groups and to rob unsuspecting victims in the area. Upon the receipt of the information, operatives from Shasha Police Station and SARS swiftly mobilized to the hotel. On sighting the operatives, they took to their heels in order to evade arrest but were chased. In the process, two of them were arrested, namely Ojewole Saburi ‘m’ 26 years old and Olawale Samson ‘m’ 28 years old. One cut to size locally made double barrel gun with four live cartridges was recovered from them. Investigation is ongoing to apprehend the suspects at large.

The Lagos State Police Command also confirmed the arrest of traffic robbery suspects and recovery of firearms On 19th July, 2020, at about 1010hrs, Policemen on stop and search duty at Owutu area of Ikorodu, intercepted a taxi with two passengers reasonably suspected to be traffic robbers. Upon sighting the Police, the suspects jumped out and took to their heels. They were given a hot chase and eventually arrested. One locally made single barrel gun with five live cartridges, one battle axe and a knife were recovered from them. The suspects are Bamidele Oluwatobi ‘m’ 33 years old and Sodiq Sanni ‘m’ 32 years old. They confessed to be members of AIYE confraternity, terrorizing Ikorodu and its environs. Investigation is ongoing, the suspects will soon be charged to Court.

Police operatives recorded the arrest of traffic robbery suspect and recovery of firearms. On 27th June, 2020, at about 0600hrs, information was also received from a reliable source that some group of armed robbers were sighted at MTN Bus Stop along Lagos-Badagry expressway, robbing unsuspecting victims of their valuables. Upon the receipt of the information, operatives from Morogbo Division and that of SARS were mobilized to the scene. On sighting the operatives, the armed robbers scampered to different directions to avoid arrest but were given a manhunt. In the process, one of the robbers, Gabriel Paul Friday, ‘m’ 21 years old, was arrested while others escaped. He was immediately searched and a cut to size locally made pistol with five live cartridges were recovered from him.

 The Police boss said that the suspects will be charged to Court as soon as the investigations are completed.