27th November, 2022
Four ‘one-chance’ armed robbers kidnapped Lagos commuters on Sunday morning and stole money from their accounts.
However, operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), arrested two of the robbers at the Ikate, Lekki-Ajah area of Lagos.
The General Manager of LASTMA Mr. Bolaji Oreagba disclosed that the criminals were nabbed by the patrol team of the agency while on duty monitoring and controlling traffic around the Lekki-Ajah axis of the State.
The General Manager said: “our officials while on traffic patrol heard passengers with loud voices shouting thieves! thieves!! inside an unpainted T4 commercial bus (AAA 750 XX), while trying to stop the driver he drove dangerously and our men pursued them with a Lastma patrol vehicle down to Ikate where they were blocked by another pathfinder car belonging to a good samaritan”
Mr. Oreagba confirmed that while 2 suspects were arrested the other remaining 2 escaped with the P.O.S. they used to withdraw passengers’ money inside the T4 commercial bus.
“The 2 arrested suspects with the recovered unpainted T4 commercial bus were later handed over to R.R.S personnel who were on pin-down at Chisco, along Lekki- Ajah”
They were all later moved down to Ilasan Police Station for further investigations.
The LASTMA GM, however, advised Lagos residents to always ensure they board buses at designated garages and always be vigilant, and keen-eyed, especially when boarding public vehicles.
One of the rescued passengers Mr. Christophe Omukoro said he boarded the unpainted commercial bus from Alfa-Beach going to Ikate.
He disclosed that they were 4 with P.O.S machines collecting passengers’ ATM cards and withdrawing money from bank accounts.
Mr. Omukoro confirmed that passengers started shouting thieves! thieves!! thieves!!! after they had collected their phones with other valuables items from them.
Other rescued victims are Mr. Laffin Lawrence and Mrs. Owo Chidima.