Emmanuel Thomas
December 06, 2015 – Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), the crime fighting outfit of the Lagos State Government at the weekend arrested an ex – convict and three traffic robbery suspects for allegedly stealing two mobile phones and a wallet from passers-by in Oshodi, Lagos.
The suspects identified as Sodiq Hassan, 17; Lanre Makinde, 20, Ahmed Kazeem, 19, and Sunday Oyeniran, 21, were alleged to have connived with others, still at large to stell Tecno i-pad, i-tel 105 phone and wallets from unsuspecting members of public.
One of the suspects arrested, Ahmed Kazeem, was alleged to have snatched an i-tel phone from, their victim, Alagbada Jerry, while Sodiq Hassan was reported to conspire with Awuwa, at large, also snatched another handset from one Oyebamiji Rasheedat in Oshodi.
While Lanre Makinde, was alleged to have stolen the wallet of one Olamide Lookman,also in Oshodi Under Bridge while Sunday Oyeniran, an ex – convict, who was released in November 14, 2015, was found in company of mobile phone snatched by the gang.
Narrating his ordeal to the Police, Alagbada Jerry, a soft analyst, working in Ikeja said, “I was descending Oshodi pedestrian bridge with my earphone on. Suddenly, Ahmed Kazeem brushed his shoulder against mine. I noticed the music I was listening to stopped. I used my hand to feel my phone hitherto kept in my pocket but it was no longer there”.
“One of the passers-by who saw him told me Kazeem had stolen my phone, by then he has ran away to the middle of the expressway, looking at me. Unfortunately for him, as we made to chase him, he was prevented from running further only for him to face our direction that was how we caught him”.
Upon catching him, he confessed to have stolen my phone but he told us he has dropped it when he was being chased. He added that one Omoga, who was the leader of those that arrested him, was the one who later took the phone from where he dropped it” he added.
Another victim, Oyebamiji Rasheedat, who explained how her Tecno i-pad was stolen by from her by Sodiq Hassan, said that, she alighted from her husband’s saloon car to open the back door for the passengers they assisted to Oshodi. Unbeknown to her, Sodiq Hassan and Awuwa had taken her i-pad placed on front seat of the car, but unfortunately for them, operatives of the RRS spotted them from afar as they were taking the phone.
“It was the RRS men that arrested Sodiq but his colleague, Awuwa escaped with the i-pad. We made series of efforts to locate Awuwa. Sodiq but manage to escape. My i-pad is still with him”, she said.
Bearing his mind on what happened, Ahmed Kazeem stated that he picked up the phone when it was falling down, pointing out that, the phone is with their ring leader, Omoga.
Confessing to the Police, Kazeem added “I was influenced by peer pressure. I have observed the way boys from Idi – Oro operate and snatch phones from passers-by in Oshodi, I decided to demonstrate it”.
On his part, Sodiq Hassan, a primary school dropout, said that he is a bus conductor. ” I learnt generator repairing in Ibadan, I came to Lagos to raise money for my freedom. I only sleep in Oshodi Under Bridge”, he said.
“Although, we were together that morning but Awuwa was the one who stole the i-pad. I and my colleagues have searched for him, we can’t find him. Awuwa is a very strong guy, none of us can confront him. He stays in Idi – Oro, Mushin”, he explained.
Another suspect, Lanre Makinde, “I was on drug when the incident happened, I was not conscious of what I was doing. I was looking for money for my graduation”, he explained.
Explaining his involvement with the gang, Sunday Oyeniran, said that since he was released from prison in November 14, 2015, he has severed relationship with the gang, emphasizing that Eegun and Yoppy are the leaders of the gang.
He confirmed knowing them as traffic robbers in Oshodi but stressed that he was never involved in any of the operations. The suspects have been charged to court immediately.
