Seven suspects, who usually wear military uniform to rob residents of Ijegun in Lagos State, have been arrested by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the state police command for dispossessing a motorist of his black Lexus RX330 SUV.
The suspects, Ndidi Oluchukwu, Owolabi Adeyemo, David Olufemi, Iseyin Israel, Emeka Ibe, Samuel Anochime and Ebedot Stephen, who had been dismissed from service by the Nigerian Army, were said to have accosted the victim on his way to Ibadan and robbed him of the vehicle at gunpoint.
The state Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu, while parading the suspects on Monday, said 12 pairs of military camouflage, two cutlasses, ATM cards, military identity cards, jack knives, female pants and a local ring were recovered from them, adding that during interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime and would be charged.
He said, “The command has received a lot of distress calls from residents of Ijegun and its environs about the activities of some armed robbers, who were operating in military uniform. One of such incidents happened on Monday, February 18, 2019, around 4.35pm, when a motorist, who was travelling to Ibadan, was accosted by the suspects, who dispossessed him of his Lexus RX330 black SUV at gunpoint.
“It was on the strength of those complaints that we tasked our SARS operatives to identify the gang and apprehend them. Members of the robbery gang were arrested in the Ijegun, Baruwa Estate, Ipaja, Iyana Ipaja, Ishashi and Ikotun areas of Lagos. They are Ndidi Oluchukwu, 30; Owolabi Adeyemo, 42; David Olufemi, 47; Iseyin Israel, 41; Emeka Ibeh, 29; Samuel Anochime, 36; and Ebedot Stephen, 27. Investigation revealed that the suspects are dismissed soldiers. They will be charged.”
The personnel of the command have also arrested some suspects for robbing unsuspecting members of the public of their valuables in the Abule-Oja and Berger areas of the state.
In the Abule-Oja area, 11 traffic robbers, Ahmed Durojaiye, 23; Waheed Oseni, 24; Rilwan Moshood, 27; Taiwo Idowu, 32; Monsuru Mukaila, 20; Ahmed Oyebode, 29; Seyi Ogundele, 36; Ogunmola Akintayo, 30; Olatunji Segun, 28; Ayobami Olaniyi, 20; and Oladimeji Mustapha, 27, were arrested.
In the Berger area, Jamiu Sanni, 27; Idowu Omorodion, 29; Aliu Mukaila, 15; Monsuru Kilani, 39; Azeez Quyum, 21; Oladokun Timothy, 24; Jamiu Jimoh, 31; and Musiliu Adio, 37, were also apprehended.
“The suspects have confessed to being responsible for the crimes,” Muazu said, adding that they would be charged.
Also, personnel of the state command have arrested the ring leader of the Awawa Boys, Toby Akinbayo, and two other members, one Balogun Jide and another identified simply as Dolapo, for terrorising Agege, Dopemu, Elere, Ijaiye-Ojokoro, Alakuko, Pen Cinema, Abattoir, Iju and Oko-Oba areas of the state.
Similarly, three suspects, Aspita Mercy, Jonathan Ukonues and Emmanuella Ozeegi, were arrested for allegedly recording videos of married men hanging out with young women in a Lagos hotel.
After recording the videos, Muazu said the suspects would force their victims to sign undertakings to pay them in order to avoid being blackmailed.
The CP said, “Their modus operandi was to lure their victims, especially married men, through unsolicited dating by Emmanuella Ozeegi, and once she succeeded, she would invite the victims to a hotel or the residence of the kingpin, Aspita.
“The lady would then make a phone call to her master and they would immediately enter into the room, attack their victims and order the young women and the men to strip naked for video recording. The men would be searched and dispossessed of their valuables and be forced to write undertakings for the payment of ransom or they would be threatened that the video clips would go viral.”
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