Two suspected robbers were, weekend, arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, of the Lagos State Police Command, just as over 220 suspected notorious criminals were arrested from various hideouts around Lagos Island.
One of the suspects, Moshood Olowu, 24, said he and his two other accomplices, still at large, left New African Shrine in Alausa Business District, Ikeja, venue of the Felabration and were heading to Ikorodu through Ojota, when they committed the crime.
He confessed: “We were at Ojota around 5a.m. after leaving Felabration venue to board a bus to Ikorodu. I dipped my hand into another passenger’s pocket, when we were rushing to board a bus and I removed his phone and passed it to my colleague, Ayobami and Jide.
“The owner held my hand and prevented me from joining the bus. Ayobami and Jide, who I gave the stolen phone to, went away, while RRS operatives arrested me.”
The other suspect, Olasunkanmi Olajide, stated that he was in company of nine other accomplices from New African Shrine when they accosted one Pastor Adetayo Samuel waiting to board a bus to Ibadan around 5a.m. at Old Toll Gate, Ketu, collected three mobile phones and N6,000 from him.
He said: “We fled the scene immediately and we broke into three groups. We were trailed by RRS patrol team, who received complaint from our victim. They arrested me while I was trying to board a bus to Ibafo.”
According to the third suspect, Rasak Adebola, “I was going to Ajah to retire for the night. Just before I got to Chisco around Maroko at about 11p.m., I snatched a lady’s handbag and attempted to escape, but the RRS men were in my front.
“I waited and handed over the bag. I don’t know what came over me. I had only N200 on me. I have been waiting for traffic to build up. I have never been imprisoned before. I plead for leniency. I won’t repeat it again.
“I was a motor cycle rider in Shomolu. I came to Ajah to learn carpentry and get serious with my life.”
The three suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, SCIID, for further investigation and prosecution.
220 suspects
The arrest of the 220 suspected notorious criminals followed raids on criminal hideouts, on the directive given by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Imohimi Edgal.
The joint mid-night enforcement operations tagged Mother of all Raids, was led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Area ‘A’ Command (Lion Building) Olushola Akinyede, with operatives of the Lagos State Task Force, Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS; Rapid Response Squad, RRS, and all Divisional Police Officers under Area ‘A’ Command, Lagos Island.
Superintendent Olayinka Egbeyemi, Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force, disclosed that 214 males and six females suspected notorious criminals were arrested during the joint mid-night enforcement operations carried out around Obalende, Sura, Adeniji-Adele, Oke-Suna, Sangros, Falomo, Agarawu, Bishop-Oluwole, Tokunbo, Idumota and Apogbon area of Lagos Island.
He commended Edgal for his prompt professionalism on tackling criminal activities across the state.
Suspects confess
Ibrahim Oluwole, 27, one of the suspects, said he was arrested under the Obalende Fly-Over at mid-night.
He confessed to belong to criminal gangs that dispossess innocent members of the public of their valuables such as phones, wallets and jewelleries at night around Obalende.
Oluwole, who hails from Shagamu area of Ogun State, however, appealed for leniency from the government as he promised to turn a new leaf.
All the suspects will be arraigned before a magistrate court, Egbeyemi stated.
*This story earlier appeared in Vanguard today.
