Robber Swallows Lady’s Wedding Ring During Operation

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

A 19-year old traffic robber, Taofik Adebayo, who allegedly swallowed a lady’s wedding ring after threatening to kill her during operation, has finally been nabbed by the police in Lagos.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that Adebayo was arrested along with three other suspected traffic robbers on Friday by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Command at Oshodi and CMS part of the metropolis.

Adebayo, along with an accomplice, Toheeb Tijani, 20, were arrested at Oshodi – Oke shortly after dispossessing two ladies occupying a grey coloured Toyota Sienna bus of a gold earring and a set of wedding rings.

The two other suspects, Samson Oluwa, 20 and Michael Amodu Adamu, 22, were arrested in an all-night sting operation at CMS area of Lagos Island.
Adebayo in company of his gang had on Friday reportedly pleaded with two gorgeously dressed ladies in a Toyota Sienna to assist them with money for food while they were in traffic. The two ladies extended a N100 note to them but the suspects instantly rejected the money.

According to the driver of the Toyota Sienna, who pleaded for anonymity, “My colleague and I were coming from Anthony area and heading to Ilasamaja for our association’s meeting. Three of them (pointing to the suspects) came near our vehicle. There was traffic and we could not turn anywhere. We were scared. They said we should give them money for food. I reached out to my colleague to give me money.
She gave me N100 which I gave to them. They rejected it. I told them that was what I had. One of them pulled my left ear and removed my earring”.
She continued, “Two of them turned to the other side of my vehicle. They threatened to waste us if we don’t give them money. ‘Where is the money’, they screamed at us. In a hurry to leave our car, they forced my friend to surrender her wedding ring”.
“This yellow guy (pointing to Adebayo) took the first one and swallowed it in our presence. His colleague took the other one”.

When interrogated, Adebayo disclosed, “I swallowed it but I have vomited and handed it over to my colleague, Young Boy, who was the third guy when police were chasing us. I told him to hand over the rings to the ladies so that the police can release us but he absconded with the two gold rings and earring”.
His accomplice, Toheed Tijani, who sources said was on the watch list of the police for snatching a mobile phone from a commuter in traffic earlier in the day stated, “I have released the phone to the LASTMA officials standing at Oshodi Oke. They told me that RRS officers were looking for me to arrest me”.
The two other suspected traffic robbers were arrested around Friday midnight when they were robbing a stranded motorist around CMS area of Lagos Island.
Commenting on the development, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu, stated that the police would not relent on its efforts towards making Lagos safe for law abiding citizens. He directed that the suspects be transferred to Makinde Police Division, Oshodi and SCIID, Yaba.