Wednesday 31 August 2016

Teenager Arrested For Swindling Public

The Operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of Lagos State Police Command, have apprehended an 18 -year-old boy, Segun Adeyefa, for allegedly selling bar of soap as mobile phones to unsuspecting members of public in traffic.

The suspect was arrested by the RRS men on routine patrol of Ikorodu Motor Park yesterday at about 19:50 hrs, while trying to defraud a young man at the motor park.

Upon his arrival at RRS’s Headquarters, the suspect confessed that before he was caught on Tuesday, he had duped one person of N3,500 who wanted to buy the phone.

He noted that he was lured into the fraud after he was duped through a similar means about a year ago.

“My action was prompted when I was swindled by two guys about a year ago by this way. I had intention of buying a phone but unknowingly to me it was a cut-to-size bar of soap just looked similar to a phone shape... The two guys approached me on my way to work, then, I was learning a plumbing work somewhere around Ikorodu...  I bought the phone which was advertised to me as ‘London used phone’ for N2, 500... As I left the place, I checked the phone I bought, to my surprise, I discovered it was a soap I bought for such amount... That very moment I promised myself to revenge by doing same to the people,” he revealed.

Explaining how he mastered the tactics to swindle unsuspecting members of public through that means, he said “after I discovered that it was a cut-to-size soap I bought as phone, I learnt that tactics by understudying the material.... The item contained cut-to-size soap, carton and wrapped all together with a cello tape.”

The suspect who lived at 81, Oriwu Road, Ikorodu, Lagos State, further revealed how he perpetuated the fraud under the false pretence of selling a genuine phone.

"What I usually do is called exchange. My prospective victims will have the mind of buying handset from me but unknowingly to them I would have changed the real handset to soap wrapped with cut to size carton put inside an envelope... I will engage them in discussion after showing them real phone initially, and in the process of bargaining for the price, I will change it with the aid of white handkerchief to fake phone... And, I will tell them to keep the phone inside their pockets immediately that people are watching us. As soon as the buyer left the spot, I will immediately change my location by moving to another place."

The suspect further stated that the demise of his master who was teaching him plumbing work, also led to his criminal act.

While confirming the arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Superintendent of Police, SP Dolapo Badmus, warned the general public to be weary of individuals who approach them to buy phones on highways in order not to fall victim of con men.

Items such as fake phones, key soap cut to size, shirts, some amount of money, packet of envelopes and cut to size cartons were recovered from him. The suspect has been transferred to Lagos State Task Force on Environment for prosecution.


Sunday 28 August 2016

RRS Nabs Chairman Of Pickpockets In Oshodi, 21 Others

The operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of Lagos State Police Command, have arrested a self-acclaimed Chairman of pickpockets in Oshodi, Ibrahim Kasali, and 21 other suspects alleged to be involved in stealing and robbing innocent members of public in the area.

The raiding, which took place at about 4:30 a.m. and ended at 6:35 am, early hours of Friday August 26th, 2016, witnessed the operatives combing Mosafejo, Bolade, Oshodi Oke, and Oshodi Under Bridge, arresting the hoodlums and social miscreants waiting for early rush to pickpocket passers-by and passengers.

The suspect, who is popularly known as Ibrahim Babangida of Oshodi, was nabbed during the operation while being chased by passengers of a bus which he boarded to pickpocket.

It was gathered that Kasali is feared by his colleagues for his ruthlessness and popularity. Some of his colleagues earlier arrested gave him out as their leader, and that he is the one that goes around to collect items stolen or snatched from passers-by to sell and share the proceeds to all of them.

According to his confession, he has been to prison four times while one of his accomplices also arrested, Ibrahim Yusuph, 18, from Ogun State, was just out of prison for the eighth time.

Upon completion of preliminary screening, four out of 22 arrested suspects, who could provide satisfactory information about their identity, were released.

Amongst the suspects arrested were, Bello Fatai, Oladimeji Ajisafe, Hassan Adeyemi, Jubril Olamilekan and Babalola Ahmed. Others were, Junior Vincent, Rilwan Oyinsola, Sadiq Taofeek, Kazeem Taiwo, Mutiu Rasheed, Ayodele Adeeko and Sola Omonije to mention but a few.

While confirming the arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Superintendent of Police, SP Dolapo Badmus, re-assured the people of Lagos, of maximum security in place in the state, adding that the suspects would face the full wrath of law. The suspects have been transferred to the Lagos State Taskforce on Environment for prosecution.

Sunday 21 August 2016

RRS Nabs "Legion Officer" For Stealing Motorcycles




Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the  Lagos State Police Command have arrested a legionnaire impersonating official of the Lagos State Taskforce on Special Offences to rob motorcycle riders  popularly called "Okada" in Agege and its environs.

 The suspect, Umam Hrmid, 48, from Borno, a 2LT of Nigerian Legion, Lagos State Command, was arrested on Friday evening at about 10:30 p.m. by RRS operatives in Agege after dispossessing one Amin Al–Hassan of his motorcycle.

The suspect who was working with his accomplice, Tijani Bashir, now at large,  had accosted his victim, Al–Hassan, at Total Filling Station, Agege and told him that he was a policeman attached to the Lagos State Taskforce on Special Offences.

He told his victim that he was impounding his motor cycle for plying restricted area and for operating at prohibited hour.

Bewildered, Al–Hassan began to plead for negotiation but Hrmid told him to bring N20, 000:00 but the victim could only produce N5,000:00, which the suspect rejected.

“When he refused to accept the N5,000:00, he mounted the bike and rode it towards Iyana Ipaja. I begged him but he told me to get down from the bike because I sat behind him while his partner rode the bike they brought”, Al–Hassan explained.
 
He continue that  “he rode through Agbotikuyo, Agege. At  Mulero, I forced the bike to a stop by removing its key from the ignition, and I got down.... We were arguing when two passers-by joined us and they requested for his identity card when he told them that he was a policeman with the Lagos State Taskforce.... Reluctantly, he flashed his ID card before them but one of them was so swift to snatch it from him. Then, he began to chase the guy, who quickly ran towards RRS patrol team nearby who arrested him and collected the dagger he was holding."

At the RRS's Headquarters, three other victims from whom Hrmid had collected bikes weeks before he was caught on Wednesday, came with particulars of their bikes, alleging that Hrmid, along with an accomplice, whom they described took their bikes.

The victims, Shuaib, Abdullahi, Umaru Hassan and Salisu Umaru, stated that the suspect collected their motor cycles in a spate of three weeks, and that one his victims was shot at a close range in the cheek at Shoretire Street, Agege.

One of the victims, Shuaib Abdullahi explained that the suspect at around 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday last week, took his bike, FKJ 259 QA, Boxer model, from him, under the pretext that he was taking him to Taskforce Office.

"He drove me to Ile–Zik before threatening me to get down or he would kill him at the deserted place. I requested for his number and he gave me a fake number. I called the number immediately he left but the number didn't go.... I learnt he was arrested yesterday, that was why we came to RRS to collect our okada from him," he said.

The suspect, however, failed to deny the allegations of the three other victims when they confronted him.

Speaking on the development, the Police PPRO, SP, Dolapo Badmos confirmed the arrest of the suspect, stressing that his arrest might help shed more  light on reported cases of motor cycles theft in Agege and its environs. The suspect has been transferred to Specail Anti-Robbery Squad(SARS) for further investigations.

Sunday 14 August 2016

RRS Nabs Man For Stealing Battery In LASTMA Office

The operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of Lagos State Police Command, have apprehended, one Hakeem Fatai, 24, for allegedly stealing batteries from the premises of the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) at Ojota area office of the state.

The Policemen who acted on a tip-off by the LASTMA's management about the missing batteries from their premises, laid siege for the suspect, and caught him while attempting to remove another battery from an impounded bus. No fewer than Twenty (20) batteries have been removed from the impounded vehicles which were parked inside the premises within a fortnight.

On his arrival at the RRS’ Headquarters, the suspect owned up that he operated with an accomplice he identified as Yahoo, now at large. According to him¸” Yes, I am responsible for the missing batteries. But I didn’t work alone. We are a two-man syndicate who usually steal batteries... Our targeted vehicle was Volkswagen bus because its batteries can be removed easily without much stress. We don't usually go for trailer for its battery is protected with burglary...

The suspect, who was picked-up at about 2:00 a.m. over the weekend, by the operatives, said that he always scale through the agency’s fence to access the compound and remove the batteries while his accomplice stayed outside to watch the surroundings for him.

“We have devised our operation to the extent that no one could suspect us while committing the crime inside the premises... We know the exact time to scale through the fence because their security guards are too fond of sleeping. We capitalized on their inefficiency to strike”, he confessed.

Giving account on why he preferred stealing to legitimate work, the suspect revealed, “Immediately after the death of my mother about ten years ago, after a while, my father re-married. And I felt that once he had remarried, he would shift his attention from us to the new wife. So, I decided to abscond from home to fend for my self... I went straight to Mile 12 where I met some young boys like me. I have been living in that ghetto since that time. I tried all sort of jobs but I was not deriving pleasure from them... Even before I finally left my father's home, he had taken me to where I will learn plumbing work at Ajelogo around Mile 12. Despite all that, I wasn't satisfied.... At a particular point in time, I felt tired of this life. This prompted my action to be stealing those batteries.”

The suspect, who is a native of Ijebu-Ode, said that he sold each battery for N2,500 to one battery charger at Ogijo, suburb of Ogun state. His confessional statement led to the arrest of the receiver of the stolen items, Nofiu Oriade, 46, the following day by the RRS operatives.

The receiver of the stolen batteries who professed ignorant of the crime, said that he never knew those batteries were stolen items. “I was ignorant of the sources of those batteries. I thought he was a scavenger who picked up any unused items from refuse dumb. I don’t know he is a thief. I have regretted my action to have been collecting those batteries from him,” he pleaded.

While confirming the arrest of the two suspects, the State Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) Superintendent of Police, Dolapo Badmus, said that the onslaught to rid-off crime activities in the state is yielding more positive results. The suspects have been transferred to Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for further investigation.

Wednesday 10 August 2016

3-Year Old Sour Forced Me Into Stealing – Suspect

A twenty-year old man arrested by the operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of Lagos State Police Command, for allegedly stealing a mobile phone, has said that a festering sore in his right leg forced him into the criminal act.

The suspect, Sunday Vincent, was apprehended by Policemen after the suspect and others now at large, forcefully snatched a mobile phone from his victim, a cab driver, (name withheld) at Ojota Motor Park, on Monday, August 8th 2016.

The victim stated that the suspect and his gang members beckoned at him to stop along the road.
"They pretended as if they wanted to board the cab. And all of a sudden, they asked me to pull over that they were no longer going. As I parked the car, my mind told me to check my phone where I kept it, but I didn't see the phone again. Then I shouted for help, which attracted the RRS operatives patrolling around the scene to come closer. As they sighted the policemen approaching, they all took to their heels. Immediately, the Police ran after them and caught the suspect  while others managed to escape," the victim explained.

On his arrival at the RRS's Headquarters, the arrested suspect confessed that he was forced to commit the crime because he was desperately looking for money to cure his three-year old sore in his right leg.

According to him, “I was injured about three years ago when I was a bus conductor. Since that time I had been nursing the sore. I had spent all my life savings on it. When helps were no longer forthcoming from anywhere, I deliberately committed the offence because I must cater for my well-being and continue to treat the sore... Although, after I was caught, I realised that I had committed offence against God and Humanity. If I had known, I would have chosen another means to look for money rather than taking to stealing.”


The arrested suspect told the investigator that his receiver, Samuel Ajekigbe, was his benefactor who accommodated him when he had no place to live. Upon confessing this, the Policemen immediately picked-up the receiver at his residence, 38, Oyinbo Orunmila Street, Unity Estate in Ojodu.

In his words, Ajekigbe, noted that the suspect only told him he saw the phones on the ground on his way home. “I met the suspect about five years ago. He was my neighbour at Isheri-Olofin. After I packed out of the house, we lost contact. All of our sudden he just showed up at my new resident at Unity Estate seeking for accommodation. I took pity on him to accommodate him under my roof. But to my surprise, I never knew he was stealing those phones. He only told he found them on the ground on his way home. Then, I decided to help him to sell them for N8,000. And out of that money, he gave me just N2,000,” he added.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Superintendent of Police, SP Dolapo Badmus, noted that investigation is ongoing to arrest the fleeing members of the syndicate. The two suspects have been transferred to Lagos State Task Force on Environment for prosecution.

Sunday 7 August 2016

My Pastor Pushed Me To sell Stolen Car – Suspect

A  35 year old man arrested by the operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the  Lagos State Police Command, has insisted that  his pastor pushed him into selling of stolen vehicle.

The suspect, Olawale Olabinwonnu, working with Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Igbogbo, Ikorodu, as an administrative officer, was arrested by RRS Intelligence Team on Tuesday for trying to sell a Nissan Sentra, 2015 Model, stolen at gun-point.

The original vehicle number was changed to a fake one (APP 510 DW) in order to sell it. It was recovered on Monday, August, 1st 2016 at a car park in Lekki, Lagos. The man who took the custody of the vehicle came forward to welcome before he was arrested.  He assisted the police in the arrest of its marketer in Ikorodu several days later.

Olawale sensed something was wrong with the vehicle, parked out of his Ikorodu residence and office along with his family to evade arrest. He was tracked on Sunday to another church in Ikorodu where he was arrested last Sunday after church service. 

The vehicle, which is owned by one of the first generation banks in the country, was reported stolen at gun point when robbers invaded an hotel in Iju-Ishaga area where the manager of the bank was lodging. The robbers were reported to have requested for the car key from the banker before making away with it along with other valuables.


According to Olawale, “the vehicle was given to me to sell by Ahmed Abbey. I met him at Dammy Jay Hotel, Ikorodu. I went there to drink and he came to my table, bought drinks for everybody. That was how I liked him... When I was going home, I told him I was going home and he gave me N2, 000. Those were moments I was struggling and I had no job... I saw Abbey later that week to explain how he could help me get some money because I had no job. This was the time he asked me if I could help his sister ,who was travelling overseas to sell her car. And, I told him that I would try... I consulted  my pastor twice on the issue of helping him sell a car. First, the pastor told me to go ahead and collect the car from him and sell it. I took the car from Abbey and began to market it but after about three weeks, I couldn’t get a buyer. He took the car from me... 

"Some weeks later, I stumbled on him with the car and he challenged me that I didn’t want to help his sister sell her car... After a while, we agreed that I will help him to look for buyer. I consulted my pastor again for him to pray about it. This time, the pastor introduced me to somebody in Lekki who has a car park at a very conspicuous place, where we can put the car for sale... It was here the car was until I learnt that the car was stolen at gun-point... Since I was arrested, I have been calling Abbey to come and explain to the police that he gave me the car to sell, but most of the time, he avoided my calls, at times, he switched off his phone... Presently, he's no longer picking any call on that line,” he added.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, noted that the suspect is helping the Police with investigation, adding that efforts are on-going to arrest others. The suspect along with the vehicle has been transferred to Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for further investigations.

Thursday 4 August 2016

I Will Continue To Steal My Helper's Car - Suspect

A 24 year old man who was apprehended by operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command, for allegedly stealing a Black SAAB Saloon Car, with registration number, AAA 581 CG, belonging to his helper, has said that he will continue to steal the car because he's obsessed with it.

The suspect, Richard Akinwale, was trailed from Iju Road, Fagba area, for about five hours by the RRS officers before he was eventually nabbed along Wempco road in Agindigbin.

A drop-out from Northern American University in Cotonou, Benin Republic, gained entrance into the living room of his victim, Adelabu Tolani, through the ceiling to pick the car keys and carted away the vehicle along with other valuables.

While arriving at the RRS’s headquarters, the suspect, who  owned up to the crime, added that he stole the car and other valuables of his helper deliberately to punish him for forgetting his birthday.

The suspect disclosed that his victim, Adelabu, has been the sole financier of his university education, adding that he picked him up when everybody rejected him.

In his words: “I was accommodated into the Adelabu’s home about five years ago. I was able to have been part of the Adelabus being friend to his wife’s brother right from the Church camp. Living with him and his family was a privilege for me... He sponsored my educational career before I dropped out from the institution at final year. His wife was also very supportive. But I deliberately committed the offence because they asked me to move out of their house.”

It was gathered that the suspect who had in the past stole the same vehicle along with other personal effects of the Adelabus pleaded for mercy from the car’s owner before the owner could secure his release at the Ogonbo Police division in Ajah area, where the case was initially reported.

“This was my second time I stole the car. The first time was on my birthday on July 8th, 2016. I took the car far away from their sight. I wanted to part ways with them with the car to start a new life on my own. I think I deserve the car because I had laboured for them for long time, and they can’t just eject me out of that house like that. They must pay me back with that car”, he added.

The owner of the stolen vehicle, Tolani Adelabu, said that he regretted lending out helping hands to the suspect by accommodating him under his roof. 

“In fact, I am regretting to have rendered help to him. I don’t know any of his relatives. It was my brother in-law who brought him from Church camp... Then, I noticed that he needed accommodation and financial support, I kindly offered him without asking him to bring any of his relatives even his parents to me... He used to be a very jovial and kind person before he left for his university education in  Benin Republic, but I discovered immediately after he returned to the country, his life style suddenly changed for bad... When I noticed this, I talked to him as a father and advised him to have a change of mind. While talking to him, he opened up that he was no longer interested in going back to the institution, and I asked him why, he never told the reason till now,” the victim stated.

The victim added that he sent him packing out of his house because he might be a bad influence on his children, “I sent him out because I don’t want him to corrupt good character of my children because they are grown-ups too... When he stole the car for the first time, I reported the case to nearby police station in Ogonbo in Ajah area... The Policemen arrested him the second day and he was detained for some days. After much pleading from him, I had to beg the DPO to release him that it was a family affair. I thought he would have a change of mind. To my surprise, after two days, he went back to my house to steal the car again... This time around, I went to RRS’ office to report him. We laid siege for him around Iju in Agege, where we later apprehend him in Ikeja.”

The victim said probably the suspect already had a waiting buyer for the car. “It is possible that he has gotten buyer for my car because I can’t comprehend why he insisted in stealing the vehicle... On Monday July 10th, 2016, my wife called me that she can’t find the car again. She explained the suspect had gained entrance to our living room, took the car key and had absconded with it again despite the fact that we had changed all the keys to our apartment. But I was shocked to know that, he went through the ceiling this time around after entering the compound."

While confirming the arrest, the Police Public Relation Officers (PPRO), Superintendent of Police, SP Dolapo Badmus, said that all hands are on deck to rid-off the state from all nefarious activities. The suspect has been transferred to Lagos State Task Force on Environment for prosecution.

Monday 1 August 2016

SP Olabode Babade Aroge, The Head Of RRS Operations Department Retires Today


Superintendent of Police (SP) Olabode Babade Aroge (Rtd) was born on March 2, 1957 at Ijero L.G.A, Ijero-Ekiti in Ondo State, now Ekiti State. He attended St. Michaels Catholic School, Osi-Ekiti, Ekiti State, where he obtained First Leaving School Certificate in 1971. He furthered his education at Messiah Anglican Secondary Modern School, Ijero-Ekiti, and came out in flying colours in 1976. He attended Pre-GCE and GCE Lessons at the Nigeria Army Children School, Obalende, Lagos, between 1977 and 1980 where he sat for and passed GCE O’ Level with eight (8) credits.

He was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on the August 1, 1981, and was trained at Police College Ikeja, Lagos, as a recruit constable. After which he was first posted to ‘F’ Department Force Headquarters, now Force Headquarters Annex, Lagos, in December 1981.


His Professional Certificates Include the Following:
Divisional Management Course (2004)
Diploma in Security Operations and Management, University of Lagos (2005)
Advanced Diploma in Security Operations and Management, University of Lagos (2007)
In-view: LLB Law, National Open University Nigeria (NOUN)


Member of the Following Professional Bodies:
Associate Member, Institute of Security Nigeria
Member, Pointman Leadership Institute



His Awards Include the Following:
United Nations Medal Award, (UNPROFOE) Former Yugoslavia, Europe (1995)
Silver Jubilee Celebration Cum 2009 Award of Excellence, PCRC Lion Building Division, Lagos (2009)
Embodiment of Peace Award, PCRC Area ‘A’ Command Lagos (210)
Shield of Peace Merit Award, PCRC ‘A’ Command Lagos (2011)
Honours Award, Ijero Progressive Union (2011)
Exemplary Police Community Leadership Merit Award, PCRC (2011)
A.N.T.P Ijebu-Igbo Unit Merit Award as Atayese of Itage, Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State (2012)
Portal Strides Certificate of Attendance Professional Etiquette and Image Branding Program (2016)

Employment and Posting History:
Employer: The Nigeria Police Force
Duration: 1981 – 2016
Duration: 35 years
Designation: General Duty

Post Held:
Attended United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) from 1994-1995, in former Yugoslavia, Europe
Inspector (Team Leader), MOPOL 23, Keffi Street, Ikoyi, Lagos (1996 – 2000)
ASP (Sector Commander), Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), FHQ Adeniji Adele, Lagos (2000 – 2003)
The Station Officer (S/O), Refinery Police Division, Eleme, Port Harcourt, Rivers State Police Command (2003 – 2007)
District Police Officer (D/O), Afara Police Station, Okehi, Rivers State (2007 – 2008)
Head of Operations, Lion Building, Area ‘A’ Command Headquarters, Lagos (2008 – 2011)
Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Onikan Police Division, Awolowo Road, South-West Ikoyi, Lagos (2011 – 2012)
The SP. Admin, State Headquarters, Bauchi, Bauchi State Police Command (2012)
2I/C Area Commander Ijebu-Ode Police Division, Ogun State Police Command (2012)
Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ijebu-Igbo Police Division, Ogun State Command (2012 – 2013)
Transferred to Lagos State Police Command on June 8, 2013
Transferred to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) on July 18, 2013
Head of Operations Department, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Governor’s Office, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State Police Command (2013 till his retirement in August 1, 2016)

Hobbies:
Reading, traveling, swimming and meeting people.