RRS Nabs 12 Syndicates Highway Robbery/Truck Hijackers

...Diverts Multi Million Naira Petroleum Product.

Operatives of Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested 12 suspects over an attempted murder of a tanker escort and diversion of a 45,000 litre diesel laden truck as well as the diversion of 410 bags of flour.

The incident happened on February 1, 2017 when the truck with the registration number ENU 751 XH conveying 45,000 litres of diesel it loaded at Optima Depot, Koko, Warri in Delta State, was hijacked after some suspects hit the truck pilot with hammer at the back of the head and threw him into a ditch.

The diversion was reported at Rapid Response Squad’s Headquarters in Alausa, where the officials declined to take up the case over jurisdiction. It was further revealed that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, on hearing of the incident directed that the police swing into action immediately, noting that crime has no jurisdiction.

The operatives handling the case spent 11 straight days shuttling Ondo State, Ogun State, Lagos and Edo State, picking up all the suspects allegedly involved in the diversion of the diesel and 410 bags of flour.

As at yesterday, the operatives had arrested 23 people directly involved in the attempted murder of Tunji Ajayi, the representative of Samsuat Petroleum, the diversion, buyers and sub-buyers of the products.

The complainant, Mrs. Nafisat Osinowo, in her statement at the RRS’s Office in Alausa, Ikeja, stated, “The diesel was meant to be delivered in Sango, Ogun State. Our representative escorting the truck called me when they got to Benin that the tyre of the truck was not good in the afternoon…. He called again at 11:00 p.m. that the truck has been parked in Ore. It is our tradition not to travel at night. Our discussion was that they proceed on the journey at 5:00 a.m. the next day. That was the last time we spoke. Efforts to get him the following day proved abortive until few days later when we were called that he was in an intensive care unit at the hospital.”

Sources revealed that Gbenga Akinboyewa (33) and Obinna Ofunue (29) were recruited by a syndicate in connivance with the driver of the diesel truck, Amara (now at large), to eliminate Tunji Ajayi.

The trio had at Ore at night, engaged Ajayi, overpowered him before hitting him at the back of the head with a hammer. They were reported to have thereafter dropped his body in a ditch along the road before diverting the truck with the 45,000 diesel.

The syndicate, led by Chibueze Nnamdi, a building materials dealer in Ore, Ondo State, Edwin Ozor, Oluchukwu and one Shedrach, now at large, had raised N800,000 to pay for the services of those engaged in the course of the diesel diversion.

According to Nnmadi, “I invited Akinboyewa into the deal. I briefed him and he in turn invited Ofunue. The instruction we gave them was to tie the hands and legs of the escort and hide him somewhere so that within an hour, we would have closed the deal before he was loose. I didn’t say they should kill him…. Biggy (Ozor) and I raised N800, 000 to settle the boys, lodge them in a hotel, feed and take care of other emergencies in the course of the job. We promised Akinbiyewa N500,000 for his own aspect of the job.”

He disclosed further, “when we were in control of the truck, we drove to Ijebu-Ode where we discharged 2,800 litres. We proceeded to Lagos, where we offloaded 19,200 in one station, 14,000 in another and 8,400 in the last filling station.”

Those equally arrested in connection with the attempted murder and diesel diversions were: Sadiku Ganinu, Oluchukwu Oyema and Gbenga Aliyu.

Meanwhile, the operatives have also uncovered that the same syndicate had sometime last week facilitated the disposal off 410 bags of flour believed to belong to Dangote Flour.

Sources revealed that one of the suspects, whose name was not mentioned, disclosed to the police that the syndicate had a week ago, disposed a truck load of flour. The revelation prompted further investigations by the operatives, which led the RRS team to Sagamu, Ogun State, where the buyer of the flour, Rabiu Bello, was arrested.

Bello, a Colanut dealer, had in his statement stated that one Mustapha (at large) brought the flour deal to him, adding that, he bought each bag of the flour N8,500.

 

He further stated that he in turn sold the flour in Zamfara at N9500 per bag.

Others involved in the flour deal and arrested by the operatives included: Chigozie Obi, Feranmi Michael and Adedeji Kehinde.

Confirming the development, the State's Police Public Relations Officer, Olatunde Famous_Cole, said that the Command will not rest on its oars in nipping in the bud criminal activities in the state.

All the suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti.

Light Up Lagos Project: RRS Nabs Cable Vandals

About 24 hours after the arrest of a cable vandal by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command, men of the security outfit have nabbed another cable thief on Oba Akran Road, Ikeja, Lagos early Wednesday morning.

The first vandal, Bayo Agboola, 30, from Oyo State, a cart pusher, was arrested at 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday, at Oba Akran Road, Ikeja, with an armoured saw and two sets of cutting pliers trying to cut a cable from an unlit lamp post.

Agboola, a three time ex-convict, had attempted to take to his heels before he was overpowered by the police on patrol of the area.

Agboola in his statement to the police disclosed that he was trying to cut off a disused cable when the police arrested him, adding that he was out early to pick metal to escape the arrest of LAWMA officials.

The second vandal, Abubakar Usman, 27, from Jigawa State, a cart pusher too, was arrested at 4:00 a.m. on Oba Akran Road, Ikeja, almost at the same spot Agboola was arrested the previous day.

Usman, who was also arrested with a hand-saw and two pieces of cut cables measuring up to 2 meters each, said “I bought them from a friend minutes before I was arrested…. I purchased it at a cost of N500 from another cart pusher around 3:30 a.m. because my Boss, Mandela, buys anything electrical from us…. He buys cable at a very good price.”

The two suspects have been transferred to Lagos State Taskforce for prosecution.

RRS Nabs ATM Robber

“...we sleep close to ATM to rob users very early”

A gun-wielding robber, Gbenga Babatunde, 25, arrested by operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command, has confessed to have robbed about 35 ATM users in Alaba-Rago Market, Ojo area of Lagos before his arrest.

The suspected robber, who was arrested after a failed bid to rob a lady who withdrew an unspecified amount of money around 5:48 a.m. at an ATM point in Alaba-Rago Market, was chased by the operatives patrolling the area, during which a cut-to-size locally made short gun with two life cartridges were recovered from him.

It was gathered that the suspect, was not operating alone. He had an accomplice, whose name was given as Samson Baba Ramadan, 28, but managed to escape after the botched operation.

Upon his arrival at the RRS's Headquarters in Alausa, the suspect who owned up to the crime, said that his accomplice, now at large, introduced the criminal act to him.

 “I have been in the crime since I met my colleague, Samson Baba Ramadan. I met him at Field Joint, Alaba, two years ago and since then we have been working together…. We have robbed about 35 people together. We would have gotten to the ATM point by 4:00 a.m. We would hide inside the shop that is not open beside the ATM point…. As soon as the withdrawer collects the money, we will accost him or her and collect the money and escape. The last money we collected was N40,000. Yesterday, we collected N12, 500."

In his words, “this morning, we wanted to collect money from a lady. That lady ran away. We thought she had gone, not knowing that she went to inform RRS. This was around 5:00 a.m. They pursued us and arrested me but my partner escaped. I don’t go home. I sleep in Osankwa Hotel, Alaba Rago. It is only whenever I don’t have money that I go home. I have no wife and no child”.

Also recovered from the suspect were: a First Bank MasterCard belonging to Iweka Christopher Uchenna and a Diamond Bank debit card owned by Nkechi Esther Idoko.

The State Police’ Spokesperson, Superintendent of Police, SP Dolapo Badmus, who confirmed the arrest, noted that the State Command would leave no stone unturned towards ensuring that suspected criminals are brought to justice.

The case has been transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), for further investigation and prosecution.

RRS Nabs Seven Times Convict Teenager Over Phone Theft

The operatives of the Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested an 18-year old serial phone thief in Oshodi.

The suspect, Sadeeq Wasiu, who had been imprisoned seven times, was re-arrested in Oshodi on Tuesday after several months of being on the operatives’ wanted list.

Wasiu, alias “Omo Eiye”, as he is popularly called in Oshodi was arrested at Oshodi Under Bridge while trying to escape after snatching an Infinix Note 3 from an undergraduate.

Before his arrest, Wasiu had been fingered to be the master minder of four phone thefts and two bag snatching attempt in Oshodi.

Sadeeq, who disclosed to interrogators that he was released from Potoki Prison, Badagry in January, 2017, said he ran away from Ikire, Osun State when he was 15 years old.

“I was 15 years when I came to Lagos to work as a conductor in 2014. My parents were not aware I am in Lagos,” he stated.

He disclosed “My popular name is Eyie. I steal phones from people at Oshodi. We were three in my group; Ahmed alias Oyi, Tombolo and I. We have stolen more than 45 phones as a group and I have stolen countless number of phones individually.... I used to sell the phones at Idi-Oro, Mushin. I sell the phone according to their make. I sell some N10,000.00 and N8,000.00. I have gone to jail seven times.”

Wasiu added, “I sell Indian Hemp too. I buy it from Spider in Lagos Island and I resell in small raps to over 50 of my colleagues in Oshodi. I can buy N4,000.00 and brake into small wraps and sell for N8,000.00”

Confirming the arrest, the State's Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police, Dolapo Badmus, said that the Command will not rest on its oars in nipping in the bud criminal activities in the state.

The suspect has been transferred to the Lagos State Taskforce in Oshodi for prosecution.

Lover Drugs Medical Director, Steals Car, Laptop, Phone

The operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command, have arrested a lady in Agbor, Delta State, for drugging her man-friend in a hotel in Ojodu area of Lagos and carting away his car, laptop and mobile phone.

The lady, Mitchel Harrold, 37, from Warri, Delta State, was on Tuesday arrested after the operatives traced her through a car dealer in Lagos, whom she had engaged to help perfect import papers for the stolen Volkswagen Passat Wagon, 2001 model.

It was learnt that the suspect had on Thursday, 19th January, 2017, at about 5:30 p.m, together with her man-friend, a medical doctor, checked into a popular hotel (name withheld) in Ojodu-Berger, with the plan to spend the night.

Harrold had after settling down gone to get a malt drink and yoghurt while the man-friend was taking his bath.

According to the victim, Daniel Biyi (not real name), “I went in to take a bath and when I returned, she had gone to buy some drinks. I took the malt drink and yoghurt and I slept off. I slept off at 6:00 p.m. and woke up around 2:00 p.m…. When I woke up, my laptop, car key and phone had gone. I rushed straight to meet with the receptionist and gateman to ask them what was going on, that was when I realised my car had been taken away too.”

“They told me someone came to pick the car for her. And, she said she was going to get food. Immediately, I reported the incident at Omole Police Station…. I am getting to know her for real now. She only gave me Aisha Ibrahim as her name with these numbers – 08067188213, 07081240038. Since the incident, I had been trying to call her but to no avail. One of the numbers was switched off, she wasn’t picking the other,” he added.

Arrested alongside suspect, were Adesanya Gbenga, a generator repairer, whom she engaged to drive the stolen vehicle and the suspect brother, Mukoro Okpako, in whose house she lodged whenever she was in Lagos, and who was also assisting her to perfect the custom papers for the stolen Volkswagen.

According to Gbenga Adesanya, “I was surprised to see her opening the gate of the hotel herself for me to drive out instead of the gateman. That wasn’t the first time I helped her take vehicles out of Lagos to Sapele. It was about the third time…. First, it was a Toyota Camry “Big for Nothing.” I helped her moved it from Ajah to Sapele, Delta State. She paid me N16, 000:00. The second one was an “End of Discussion” Honda Accord and thirdly, Volkswagen Passat, 2001 model. I moved that too all night to Sapele… I was introduced to her in 2016 by her elder brother, Mukoro Okpako, who worked as clearing and forwarding agent. I was told she needed the assistance of a good driver to take to Warri. I later met her in Ajah where I helped her take a Toyota Camry to Sapele."

He further disclosed, “About four months later, she summoned me to GRA Ikeja. She gave me a Honda Accord (End of Discussion) to help her collect fuel from his brother at Wawa, Ogun State. I took the fuel and returned the car. She then told me that she has gotten another driver to take her. She gave me N5000 and I left…. The last vehicle is the one that has created crisis for me. Although, I have been wondering where she has been getting these cars but she told me that she hired them from Delta whenever she comes to Lagos, and that a driver brought her to Lagos and returned to Delta. I don’t know she steals cars.”

Our sources revealed that Harrold had already informed his brother, Okpako, of her desire to sell the car urging him to assist her in perfecting custom papers for the Volkswagen Passat two days before she was arrested in Agbor, Delta State.

The sources added that the vehicle was recovered in Warri. It was further learnt that she had removed the number plate and put it in a car mart for sale.

The source hinted that Harrold attempted concealing the stolen phone when she was arrested, adding that, investigators were in Airport Hotel, Ikeja to find out whether the suspect hired a Toyota Camry there as she claimed to the police.

It was revealed that further findings showed that the vehicle was not hired there, raising the likelihood that she must have gotten the other two vehicles drugging her lovers.

Harrold told investigators that she met her man-friend on Baddo, adding that they have been in relationship for a year. “Why I stole his vehicle was that we had money issue,” she noted.

The State Police’ Spokesperson, Superintendent of Police, SP Dolapo Badmus, who confirmed the arrest, noted that the State Command has resolved to arrest any suspect that comes to Lagos to commit crime and gone into in any part of the country.

The case has been transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation and prosecution.

Police Nab Employer For Dehumanising Man

Lagos State Police Command has arrested a man for dehumanizing his employee and transporting him to Abuja.

The employer, Engineer Wole Odunuga, was arrested after the Police chased his vehicle, a white Toyota Hilux Van with the registration number SMK 707 CA, from Ketu/Ojota Flyover to 7 – Up before Toll gate.

The officer had on Wednesday night at around 7:20 p.m. stopped the vehicle but the lone occupant defied the police order and sped off.

After forcing the vehicle to a stop around 7 – Up, the officer were shocked to see a man, later identified as Daniel Dabis, with his legs and hands tied to his back and put at the back of the Hilux.

During preliminary investigation, the driver of the vehicle claimed the victim stole his money from his Abuja home before he absconded to Lagos, so he was transporting him back to Abuja before he was stopped.

He stated “I been searching for him all over places, which took me to his village in Plateau state. It was one of his friends that told me he was in Lagos where he was hiding. Precisely, I was hinted he was staying at Mile 12 Market, Ketu.

I drove down from Abuja and I met him at Mile 12 Market, Ketu, where I picked him up”.

He continued; “initially, I had taken him down to Ketu Divisional Police Station, Lagos, to incident the matter, but the officers at the station declined to detain him there. So, I had no option than to take him back to Abuja”.

Odunuga, a resident of Pent City Estate, Abuja, added: “that was what I was trying to do before I was accosted by the police team on routine Patrol under the Ketu/Ojota flyover",

But according to Daniel Dabis, “what I took from him were a ladder and a wheel barrow. He is estimating the cost of the wheel barrow at N110,000 and the ladder, N90,000, that was all I took from him”.

He has because of that tied my legs and hands to my back. His plans were to drive me to Abuja in that manner if not for these officers, he would have killed me and dump my body at the road side”