Nigeria, April 12, 2016 – The operatives of the Rapid Response Squad(RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested two traffic robbers for stealing N23,500.00 from the pocket of a bus passenger.
The suspects, Oyahkilome Okwonkwo, 22, and Oche Joseph, 25, were arrested at Agbado U – Turn after they had successfully pulled out N23,500.00 from the pocket of their suspect.
The leader of the group, Oche Joseph, a secondary school drop – out stated that Iyana-Ipaja/Agbado – Ijaiye route is his most profitable routes for pickpocketing, adding that, whenever he is financially down, he is sure of making money from pickpocketing on that route.
Oche disclosed that he was jobless and that he learnt the ropes of pickpocketing from one Kudus for three months before teaming up with Oyahkilome. He added that he has done virtually all type of jobs from conductor, driver and factory worker but none was more profitable than pickpocketing.
“Although, I live in 17, Mosalasi Street, Opposite Ojo Cantonment, Mile 2 to Okokomaiko to and fro is my regular route but Agbado to Ijaiye is the most lucrative route for my business. It has remained my ‘sure banker’ ”.
There are too many pickpockets on Oshodi to Mile 2 route. Those are our popular routes. We meet ourselves at almost every bus stop on that axis, though you would still make money but I chose Iyana – Ipaja/Agbado – Ijaiye route because there are almost none there.
We monitored our victim come out of a bank and we followed him into a bus. We were at the bus stop together but we couldn’t bring out the money from his pocket at the bus stop.
We followed him into a bus and we began to pull out the money from his pocket. Because the money was in N500 denomination, it was difficult removing the entire money all at once. I was removing the money in tranches, but unfortunately for us, he was alighting at the next bus stop. On all occasions, as soon as we conclude our operations, we get down fast at the available bus stop.
In this instance, he got down before us and instantly, he sensed some money were missing from his pocket and this was when he raised alarm and RRS men at that point stepped in. They were searching passengers when my colleague, Oyahkilome, brought out the stolen N23, 500:00 and handed it out to the police to save us the embarrassment and to let the matter rest like that but, we were shocked when they transferred us to RRS Headquarters.
Confirming the arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Deputy Superintendent of Police, Dolapo Badmos, stated that the force was following up the suspects’ revelations and that the police would act as soon as investigations are concluded.
The suspects have been transferred to SARS.
