IRT Busts Man, 50, Acting As Middle Man Between Niger Republic & Nigerian Armed Robbers

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

Police operatives from the Inspector General Police Intelligence Response Team, IGP-IRT led by DCP Tunde Disu, have busted a robbery syndicate including a 50-year old man, Suru Odegbele, acting as middle man between Niger Republic and Nigeria armed robbers.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Odegbele, was arrested at Nigerian/ Seme border after he was tracked to come and drive an exotic vehicle robbed in Nigeria for sale in Niger Republic by a kingpin who pays the robbers with guns and ammunition in exchange.

P.M.EXPRESS investigation revealed that the operations followed pain-staking intelligence gathering led by the IRT coordinator,  South West Annex, SP Joel Ugowe, who reportedly worked days and nights and eventually smashed the gang.

Their end came in sight when the four members of the robbery gang namely Adebaba Okunola popularly known as Tunde, 31, Sunday On, 27, Ismaila Suraju, 27, went to Lekki area of Lagos and robbed one Mercedes GLK worth about N11m,  which they sold for N800,000 through Odegbele, who has been working as middle man between armed robbers in Nigeria and Niger Republic.

The four suspects were said to be in Police custody undergoing interrogation over the activities within Nigeria and Niger Republic.
 It was gathered that Odugbele was said to not only be the driver who transports the stolen vehicles from Nigeria to Niger Republic but the key supervisor, who gives Nigerian robbers information on  the brands of the vehicle needed.

Odugbele was said to have confessed to the Police and mentioned other suspects, who he had been dealing with and how he had been facilitating their payment by supplying them guns in exchange.

On how they were arrested, it was gathered that after the robbery incident, the leader of the gang, a. k. a Tunde, had arranged for another operation and on their way to the operation, he was caught at Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos not knowing that Odegbele had already been arrested and when they met face to face, they confessed and mentioned other suspects.

Exhibits recovered from them included an AK47 rifle, two foreign plate numbers, 5 locally made shotguns, 20 live ammunition, cutters, charms and other dangerous weapons.

According to Police sources, the suspects will be charged before the Court of Law after the conclusion of investigation. 
The alleged offence attracts several years in custody if they are tried and found guilty before the Court.