MICHAEL AKINOLA
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police Special Squad has finally busted seven members of notorious armed robbery syndicate, which specialized in robbing churches and carting away properties worth millions of Naira in the State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspects were arrested following a coordinated intelligence operation after they had robbed different churches and carted away musical equipment and other expensive properties.
The suspects were, Odiase Bright, 32, Faruq Falade, 22, Yusuf Adetunji, 35, Jude Okpuh, 33, Seun Adesanya, 38, Afolabi Lamidi, 22, Adeoye Temitope, 35.
According to the Police, the suspects with others now at large started their operation after they attacked security guards at Redeemed Christian Church of God (Green Pastures Parish) in Lekki, carted away their musical equipment worth N6.4m and escaped.
From there, the suspects moved to Elevation Church in Lekki, burgled the church, carted away property including musical equipment worth over N22m and escaped.
As their operation at the Elevation Church was successful, they moved to Present Church in Lekki, dislodged the security guards, forcefully gained entrance into the church and carted away properties worth over N11m and escaped as well.
The bandits moved to other churches in Ikorodu area of the State and attacked Four Square Gospel Church located at Ikorodu before they finally moved to Ijede Road in the same Ikorodu and invaded Celestial Church of Christ and also stole all their properties.
Their activities was reported to the Commissioner of Police, who deployed the operatives of the Special Squad. They trailed, eventually arrested the suspects and detained them at the Command Headquarters for investigation.
The Police also recovered some weapons, which they used during the operations as exhibits.
After rounds of interrogation, the Police found them culpable following their confessional statements and they were consequently charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for conspiracy and armed robbery under the Criminal Laws of the State.
However, the Court did not take their plea when they were arraigned after the prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, asked the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice because of the seriously of the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. B.O. Osunsanmi, ordered their remand in custody at the correctional center pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.