Teenagers Terrorizing And Robbing Residents In Lagos Nabbed By SARS Operatives

Armed robbery is a global phenomenon as there is no country that is immune to it, though the level of occurrence differs from one country to the other. In Nigeria, over the years, crime rate has risen to an alarming height.

Cases of armed robbery, pickpockets and shoplifting have increased due to the increased level of poverty among the populace. Everyday, we hear of reports and cases of armed robbery across the country, particularly Lagos, where it is more rampant, especially along the border axis and other dark spots.

Operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, FSARS on Lagos Island have arrested three robbery suspects whom they alleged had been terrorizing and robbing residents of Ijora-Badia area of Lagos and commuters in the area for long.

Police identified the arrested suspects as Rafiu Adebayo, 19, Taiwo Omotayo, 19 and Korede Asubiojo, 19. A Police source alleged that nemesis caught up with the suspects on 14th April when the Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP in charge of FSARS, Lagos Island, Mr. Kola Kamaldeen received a distress calls from residents of Ijora-Badia area of Lagos that robbery suspects had invaded their community and were robbing them with dangerous weapons.

The source disclosed that following the report, DCP Kamaldeen deployed a crack team led by SP Ibrahim Yusuf to the scene to arrest the suspects and restore order in the area.

On sighting the Police, all the suspects took to their heels while Police chased after them and succeeded in arresting the three while others managed to escape.

Items recovered from the suspects, according to the Police were a cutlass and one Faro phone belonging to one of the victims, Fatimat Ibrahim, a resident of Ijora- Badia, Lagos.

During the investigation, Police said the suspects allegedly confessed to the crime that they do not use guns in their operations, but only cutlass, knife and iron rods adding that they only harm victims who refused to surrender their belongings to them on demand.

The suspects were charged before the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court on a three count charge of armed robbery. The Plea of the accused persons was not taken as the Police Counsel, Abraham Fadipe prayed the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody pending the advice from the Department of Public Prosecution, DPP on the matter.

After listening, Magistrate T.B Are ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody for the first 30 days for DPP advice and adjourned the case till 25 May, 2019 for the report of DPP’s advice.