KINGSLEY EBERE
Police operatives from the Lagos State Command have arrested three members of notorious “one-chance” armed robbery syndicate including their leader during a routine operation by officers from the Ikeja Division along Agege Motor Road.
P.M.EXPRESS reports the suspects included their 53-year old leader, Bode Oludayisin, along with Michael Sowunmi, 22, and David Olawaye, 20.
This was disclosed by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP, Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed their arrest and detention undergoing interrogation over their alleged involvement in criminal activities in the State.
CSP Hundeyin explained that their arrest followed a swift response to an alarm raised by a victim, who was being robbed inside the gang’s operational vehicle, an unregistered commercial minibus, which was recovered as an exhibit.
The image maker stated that one of the suspects, Oludayisin, has been on the Police radar and was positively identified as a wanted figure linked to several violent ‘One Chance’ robberies in Lagos State.
He stated that items recovered from the suspects include a Tecno Spark 20 smartphone belonging to a recent victim, an axe, two concrete interlocking bricks, several large stones, and a broken bottle — all believed to have been used to intimidate or harm previous victims. The vehicle used in the robbery, a minibus popularly referred to as Korope, was also impounded.
“Police investigations revealed the gang’s modus operandi involved disguising as legitimate commercial drivers and passengers to lure unsuspecting commuters, particularly from areas like Oshodi. Once onboard, victims were taken to secluded locations and robbed at knifepoint or under physical threat.”
“Investigations revealed that the gang operated using commercial minibuses, commonly known as Korope, pretending to be ordinary passengers.”
“They often picked up unsuspecting commuters from locations such as Oshodi and then diverted them to unknown locations, where victims were robbed under threats, violence, and intimidation.”
“Following the breakthrough arrest, the Command’s Special Squad 1 has taken over the case to arrest other fleeing members and dismantle the criminal network,” Hundeyin said on Monday.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, praised the officers for their swift and decisive action, which led to the gang’s capture.
He issued a public advisory, urging residents to remain vigilant, avoid boarding unregistered or suspicious vehicles, and to report any unusual activity to the Police.
He stated that the suspects will be charged before Court for their alleged crimes under the Criminal Laws of the State but that will be after the conclusion of investigations by the Police.
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