Four Armed Robbers Arrested While Robbing Policemen

FOUR suspects, including an ex-convict, who attempted to rob undercover policemen, who were actually on their trail, have been arrested.

The policemen were on surveillance duty on Thursday in the Ojota area of Lagos, following reported high incidence of robbery attacks by miscreants, when the suspects attempted to rob them.

The Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Friday.

Adejobi said: “Premised on the intelligence gathered on operations of criminals around Ketu axis, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, deployed a surveillance team from the Rapid Response Squad, led by the Commander, CSP Yinka Egbeyemi, to monitor the entire Ikorodu Road axis in reaction to series of complaints of early morning robbery attacks on motorists, including the residents around Owode-Onirin, Mile 12, Ketu and Ojota axes.

“The surveillance team was on a decoy at about 6.30 a.m. beside ‘Abiola Garden’ when the suspected criminals came out with dangerous weapons in an attempt to rob the policemen, demanding for their wallets and other valuables before they were all apprehended.”

He identified the suspects as Adewale Ismaila (30), Chinadu Okafor (26), Tote Victor (19) and Abdulahi Olalere, a.k.a. ‘Orobo’ (20).

The police spokesman added: “One of the suspected notorious traffic robbers, Abdulahi Olalere, a.k.a. ‘Orobo’, confessed to belong to a robbery gang which specialises in attacking and robbing innocent motorists of their belongings in the early hours along Ikorodu Road.

“He also confirmed that his gang was responsible for the early morning robbery attacks on innocent motorists around China Town and Tipper Garage by Ketu area of Ikorodu Road on Tuesday, 23rd of March, 2021.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that Abdulahi Olalere, a.k.a. ‘Orobo’ was recently released from a correctional centre, having served a six months jail term for same robbery incidents in 2020.”

He said the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, directed that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba for investigation, while promising to channel the resources of the command to tackling traffic challenges, including traffic robbery, and other forms of criminality in Lagos State.