Police Bust Popular Hotel, Recover 3 Stolen Vehicles Hidden by Police Officers

MICHAEL AKINOLA

Police operatives from Ipaja Division led by CSP Tokumbo Abaniwonda have busted a popular hotel in Lagos and recovered three suspected stolen vehicles hidden by Police officers, who had reportedly converted them to personal use without the consent of the owners.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the hotel is known as Legacy Hotel located at Mopol Junction in Ayetoro area of Lagos.

The officers in question, who claimed to be from Inspector General of Police Special Tactical Squad, hid the vehicles before the DPO, CSP Agbaniwonda, got intelligence report of the activities of the officers, who lodged and used the hotel as base to commit various crimes before they were busted there.
The names of the two officers were not disclosed by the Police but the recovered stolen vehicles, which their colours had already been changed by the officers now at large, were seen parked at the Ipaja Police Station.

According to the residents, the activities of the officers in question got exposed after a Toyota Corolla car owned by one Segbenu was snatched by armed robbers on 18th November, 2019, in Ipaja area when the owner was returning home.
The matter was reported to the Police who moved into action and tracked the Toyota Corolla to the hotel. The Toyota Corolla in question had its colour changed from blue to black and was allegedly being used as private car by one of the officers.

When the Police team went to the hotel, they discovered two other Toyota cars reasonable suspected to have been stolen from their owners and the colours also changed.
The manager of the hotel was arrested while the Police officers, who used the hotel to perpetrate the act, fled since the incident happened.
When P.M.EXPRESS correspondent visited the hotel, one of the staff confirmed that the manager was arrested and detained by the Police over the matter. She said she did not know much of what was happening in the hotel until the Police operatives came and carried the vehicles, which attracted the attention of the residents.
She said that during the raid at the hotel, one of the officers threatened to shoot the DPO but the Police team that went for the operation was not intimidated before the officers fled.
“We thought the Police officers in question were genuine because they usually lodged in the hotel with some vehicles”
When P.M.EXPRESS reporter contacted the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana, over the matter, he confirmed that the Police recovered the vehicles but investigation was ongoing on the matter.