Police Smash Traffic Robbery Syndicate, 5 Arrested

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

Lagos State Police Command has smashed a traffic robbery syndicate who had been causing havoc along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway for some time.

P.M.EXPRESS reports as was disclosed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana.

He said that the Police deployed surveillance teams to tackle the menace of traffic robbers and the operations paid off as five notorious suspects were arrested.

DSP Elkana said that on 18^th February, 2019 at about 10pm, Police Patrol team on surveillance along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway sighted some armed bandits at Toyota bus stop, under Daleko bridge, taking advantage of the traffic congestion, robbing motorists and other unsuspecting members of the public of their valuables such as laptops, mobile phones and money.
He said that three of the suspects namely: Daniel Ani,19, Akinbode Muiz,17 and Oluwasegun Emmanuel, 24, were arrested while others escaped and are now at large.
He said that the suspects have confessed to be responsible for traffic robbery along Mushin and environs. They also confessed to have stolen numerous phones and bags from different victims as well as a bag containing the sum of twenty five thousand Naira belonging to one Oyebanji Ibukun, who resides at Okeafa Isolo, before they were apprehended by the Police.
DSP Elkana said two knives and cutlasses were recovered from the suspects. He said that investigation was still ongoing as police make effort to arrest the other suspects at large and assured that they will be charged to Court soon.
Elkana stated that in a related development, on 19^th April, 2019, at about 8pm, the surveillance patrol team attached to Orile Police Station received a distress call that some traffic robbers were operating at Alafia area along Lagos-Badagry Expressway and the Anti-Robbery teams were quickly deployed to the scene. Two suspects namely: Olalekan Taoreed, 20, of No. 20 Sunday Street, Ijora Badia and Adeniyi Okunloye of No. 25 Alaba Road, Suru Alaba were arrested. One Samsung Duos mobile phone stolen from one of the victims was recovered from them. One big sharp cutlass which was used in inflicting injuries on their victims was also recovered from them. The suspects confessed to be responsible for traffic robberies along Orile and environs. Investigation is ongoing and the suspects will be charged to Court.
DSP Bala said that the Lagos Commissioner of Police, CP Zubairu Muazu, warned that tough times await traffic robbers with the deployment of surveillance teams across State. The Command will continue to make Lagos State difficult for criminal elements to operate. The CP called on Lagosians to be vigilant at all times.