The police in Lagos have arrested two men posing as Uber drivers to rob unsuspecting passengers in some parts of the state.

The suspects, Sunday Gabriel (290 and 24-year old Kenneth Agbehi, reportedly held a female victim hostage on February 27, around 8pm and robbed her of an ATM card, cash and other valuable items.

The state Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Lawal, who disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing at the police headquarters in Ikeja, said, the suspects were tracked down on the Victoria Island and a locally-made pistol as well as their operational vehicles recovered from them.

“The suspects thereafter unlawfully withdrew the sum of N2, 400,000 from the victim’s bank account. Following diligent investigation carried out by police operatives, the suspects were nabbed in their hideout on Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island where they were planning another operation.

“Upon interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime and several others they had committed earlier. Exhibits recovered from them include: one locally-made pistol, three live cartridges, one Toyota Camry with registration number AHL 571 FE and one Toyota Corolla saloon car with registration number EPE 32 GG. The suspects are in police custody,” Alabi, who was represented by the command’s spokesperson, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, said.

Also, a 38-year-old man, Monday Nnaji, working with a plastic producing company in the Mushin area of the state was apprehended over alleged robbery.

Nnaji reportedly connived with some gang members to rob the firm, IMPCO Company, of raw materials worth N24m.

The CP said Nnaji facilitated the employment of a spy by the company to orchestrate the crime.

“Having worked in the company as a casual worker for one day, the spy in turn recruited his cohorts and formed a gang which eventually invaded the company at about 2am on February 13, 2022, tied the company security guards before carting away 693 bags of resin raw materials for manufacturing plastic products.

“The product stolen is valued at N24m. The same gang confessed to have robbed Sorrento Nigeria Limited Company on Town Planning Way, Ilupeju on 29/11/2021 and Sund Group Company at Iyana-Ipaja in April, 2021.

“During the Sorrento Company operation, the gang carted away 1,400 bags of resin valued at N48m. The suspects are: Abiodun Abayomi (29); Oluwafemi Philips (59); Daniel Nwachukwu, (37); Nnaji Monday and Falade Yusuf (37). Exhibits recovered include: 693 bags of resin, two foton trucks, four cutlasses, one axe, a chisel and a hammer.”

The CP said between January 24 and March 1, 2022, the command due to its proactive strategies foiled 16 armed robbery incidents and arrested 62 robbery suspects, adding that 50 suspects were charged after diligent investigations.

Similarly, about 104 suspected cultists were nabbed out of which 98 had been charged.

Then police boss stated that “A total of 15 vehicles stolen at different locations in the state mostly those removed from parks were recovered through painstaking and coordinated investigations carried out by our crack detectives.

“Sixty murder suspects were arraigned during the period covered by this brief. Twelve suspects were arraigned for rape/defilement, 27 arms, 83 ammunition and 10 other weapons were recovered,” he said.

Alabi said the command had been unrelenting in its efforts to curb the excesses of reckless drivers in the state, noting that 19 erring drivers were arrested during the period and 436 vehicles impounded for plying BRT lanes.

“About 316 motorcycles were impounded for contravening restriction order. This order restricts the areas motorcycle riders are authorized to ply,” he added. (Daily Trust)

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