Gunmen attack police officer, Chinese national

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested two suspected armed robbers who allegedly snatched expensive vehicles along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, and also robbed motorists, pedestrians and business owners in the area.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the two suspects- Olanrewaju Oladejo and Ibrahim Afolabi- were arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad during an operation at Suru Alaba, in the Mile 2 area of the state.

It was gathered that the police also recovered a locally-made pistol, a single-barrelled shot gun, five live cartridges and a hammer from the suspects.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the state Commissioner of Police, Cornelius Aderanti, based on complaints about highway robberies in the area, directed the SARS detectives, led by Abba Kyari, to apprehend the suspects.

Our correspondent learnt that apart from the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, the gang also terrorised motorists along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

In their confessions, the suspects told PUNCH Metro that one of their victims was an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Yetunde Kadoso, whose Sports Utility Vehicle they vandalised, and also collected her property worth N300,000. The ASP is said to be attached to a department of the state command.

The suspects added that they had also attacked a Chinese national, Mr. Fred Guichang, and dispossessed him of valuables worth N500, 000.

Oladejo, a 21-year-old indigene of Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, told our correspondent that it was frustration and idleness that forced him into robbery.

He said, “My father died while he was working with the Ajeromi Local Government Area. I learnt panel beating, but I did not get enough money from it. Two of my friends, Eric and Seyi, who are still at large, introduced me to the gang.

“They took me out, and we started robbing motorists. One of our victims was an Assistant Superintendent of Police. We collected her gold necklace, phones, and a cash sum of N150,000 during the attack. We also smashed the windscreen of her vehicle.

“Another victim was a Chinese man from whom we collected valuables including two Blackberry phones, N120, 000 and $125 cash from his wallet. I was first arrested by policemen from the Orile Police Division, before I was transferred to SARS.”

Another suspect, Afolabi, 23, while pleading for mercy, said he had participated only three times in the operation.

He said, “I stopped my education at primary six. I have participated in three robberies. During my first robbery, I was not even given any money. After the second, I was given only N5,000. The third operation was at Mile 2, where I was caught. I promise never in my life to go back to robbery.”

Our correspondent learnt that the police were still intensifying efforts to arrest other fleeing members of the gang.