28th March, 2012
The Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, of the Lagos Police Command have arrested four suspected robbers including Augustine Ngozi, 23, who claimed to be a ticketer with the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, at Biode area, Ojota Motor Park, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
The other gang members in police net are, Emmanuel Clement, a 24-year old okada rider who allegedly confessed to the police that he was carrying the other suspects on his okada whenever they had an operation.
Another okada rider, Sola Oyekola, 21, claimed he trained as a welder and needed money for his freedom ceremony and to set himself up.
The fourth suspect, Emmanuel Clement, 24, allegedly confessed that he was a bag snatcher at Ojota Motor Park area.
He said he had joined the gang for operation twice and N10,000 that he was given, he had expended on clothing and jewellery.
According to police sources, the four suspects were arrested recently at Ojota near the bridge when they robbed a woman and her two daughters in a Toyota Avensis of telephone sets, jewelleries and a bag containing N115,000 cash
However, luck ran out on the suspects when the victims raised the alarm after the operation and two of the suspects were arrested on the spot. They led policemen to their hideout where the other two accomplices were nabbed.
A police source told Crime Watch that the four suspects have made useful statements to SARS investigators but they will remain in their custody until investigations have been completed after which they will be arraigned before a court.
—Ayodeji Dedeigbo