Four suspected traffic robbers alleged to have attempted to rob some operatives of the Rapid Response Team (RRS) have been arrested by the police in Lagos.
The suspects, Adewale Ismaila, 30, Chinadu Okafor, 26, Tote Victor, 19, and Abdulahi Olalere a.k.a ‘Orobo’, 20, were arrested at the early hours of Thursday around Abiola Garden, Ojota, by an undercover police team they wanted to rob.
It was gathered that surveillance policemen were deployed in different parts of the state following complaints by motorists about incessant traffic robbery attacks.
Adejobi said: “The surveillance team was on a decoy at about 6:30am 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.
“One of the suspected traffic robbers, Abdulahi Olalere a.k.a ‘Orobo’, confessed to belonging 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, March 23.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that Abdulahi Olalere a.k.a ‘Orobo’ was recently released from a Correctional Center, having served six months jail term for same robbery incidents in 2020.
“The Commissioner of Police, while directing that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba for investigation, however promised to channel both material and human resources of the command to tackling traffic challenges including traffic robbery and other forms of criminality in Lagos State.”
Adejobi also said the police boss had a meeting with traffic officers in the state, Area Commanders, DPOs and the Officer in charge of Motor and Transport Division of the command to improve traffic management.
He said the meeting addressed the major challenges of traffic management and possible way forward. The Commissioner of Police ordered the traffic officers to change their duty shifts to cater for both day and night traffic management.
“CP Hakeem Odumosu called their attention to the strategic places and roads where rehabilitation and construction works were ongoing, which will naturally experience heavy traffic, and directed that more personnel be deployed to such places for free flow of traffic.