CITIZENS COMPASS —Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Lagos State have arrested an ex-convict, Wasiu Olawale and three other others for robbing innocent road users in the State. 

The suspects were arrested while on patrol of MKO Abiola’s Garden, Ojota, Lagos. 

The suspects were arrested at about 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 24, 2023, after one of the victims alerted RRS bike riders on patrol of the area. 

Spokesperson, Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, December 26, 2023. 

He gave the names of other suspects as Adebayo Olatunbosun (20); Wale John (28) and Uche Ugwu (25), the gang leader.

The statement said the ex-convict was released in May, 2023. 

According to him, mobile phones and other personal effects were recovered from them. 

He said the suspects were arrested following a tip-off from one of the victims who alerted men of the Rapid Response Squad who immediately swung into action, trailed the suspects and arrested three on Sunday while the fourth suspect was arrested on Monday.

The statement reads, “The operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) on Christmas eve arrested four suspected traffic robbers and recovered three android phone and ATM card while on patrol of MKO Abiola’s Garden, Ojota, Lagos. 

“The suspects were arrested around 7:30 p.m. on Sunday after one of the victims alerted RRS bike riders on patrol of the area. 

“The suspects are: Wasiu Olawale (23) an ex-convict, who was released in May, 2023; Adebayo Olatunbosun (20); Wale John (28) and Uche Ugwu (25), the gang leader.

“A diligent trail of the robbers by the police led to the arrest of three of them and the recovery of three android phones and ATM cards.

“The fourth suspect was arrested on Monday on the directives of Commander RRS, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi to the squad’s Decoy Team to ensure all those involved in the robbery are arrested and prosecuted without delay.

“Five victims have reported at RRS Headquarters where they have identified the suspects. The suspects have equally confessed to the crime and are assisting the squad to arrest the others. 

“They are to be charged to court as soon as investigations are completed.”

In a related development, Lagos State Police Command has arrested a suspected armed robber in the Owode-Onirin, along Mile 12-Ikorodu Road in Lagos. 

The spokesperson disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday. 

“Our diligent patrol officers from Owode Onirin Division noticed five young men surrounding a broken down truck. As the officers stopped to ascertain what was going on, the young men fled. 

“One of them, Johnson Ogunsanya ‘m’ aged 31, was apprehended and found with a locally fabricated firearm. Ongoing investigation reveals it was a robbery in progress.”