RRS Operatives Nab Fake Soldier, Traffic Robber During Operations

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

The operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a fake soldier who stole military uniforms to beat security agents and also nabbed a traffic robber while on routine operations to curb activities of criminals in the State.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the fake soldier was arrested along Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way near Muritala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, while the traffic robber was caught in action at Oshodi while robbing commuters.

The fake soldier, Yusuf Quadri, 22, from Ogun State, was arrested during a cautious stop and search by RRS officers. The suspect was riding a commercial tricycle along Airport Road, which is one of the restricted routes by Lagos State Government. Quadri when stopped by the police officers told them that he was a military officer. A little probe further by the officer revealed that he was impersonating.

Quadri, a primary school certificate holder, disclosed during interrogation that he stole one of the military uniforms of a newly promoted officer, who he was assisting to get his luggage ready.
He added that he thereafter used the uniform to take a photograph, which he subsequently converted to an identity card.
The suspect in his confessional statement told the police that he made use of his military photograph and outfit to bypass security operatives, Local Government and LASTMA officials, that may attempt to arrest him whenever he was on the wrong side of the law. The stolen military uniform was recovered from the suspect’s home.

The robbery suspect, Emeka Ohiaeri, from Imo State had around 8pm on Wednesday night pulled off a mobile phone from the hands of a Youth Corper in Oshodi traffic. Unknown to Ohiaeri, RRS operatives spotted him, trailed him to where he was standing with his colleagues before arresting him. The phone was recovered from him and handed over to its owner at the RRS Headquarters, Ikeja, the following day.
The suspect confessed to the police that since arriving Oshodi few years ago, he had been surviving through stolen phones, purses and handbags. He added that he had lost count of the numbers of phones he had collected in traffic. He emphasized that he has a regular buyer for such phones.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Muazu Zubairu, has directed that the two suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation & Intelligence Department, adding that RRS has reinforced its presence in Oshodi to curb traffic robbery.