The Lagos State Police Command is presently on the trail of members of a robbery gang, who put on police uniform
and mounted a checkpoint at the Anthony end of the Ikorodu Road.
The gang also harassed motorists, including a man, who they locked inside the boot of his car.
One of
the suspected robbers, who disguised as policemen on a stop-and-search,
Gbenga Erinfolami, had been arrested and was being held at the Anthony
Police Division.
the suspected robbers, who disguised as policemen on a stop-and-search,
Gbenga Erinfolami, had been arrested and was being held at the Anthony
Police Division.
Punch Newspaper gathered that on
Friday at about 6am, the team had stood at the Anthony end of the
Ikorodu Road, stopping vehicles and extorting money from them.
Friday at about 6am, the team had stood at the Anthony end of the
Ikorodu Road, stopping vehicles and extorting money from them.
It was learnt that when a motorist,
whose name had yet to be ascertained, got to the place, they flagged him
down and asked him to park.
whose name had yet to be ascertained, got to the place, they flagged him
down and asked him to park.
It was said that the victim, thinking
the suspects were policemen, came out of his car only to be beaten up by
the fake policemen.
the suspects were policemen, came out of his car only to be beaten up by
the fake policemen.
His vehicle was said to have been broken into, while he was bundled and locked inside the boot of the car.
PUNCH Metro learnt that one of
the eyewitnesses put a distress call across to the police, and the men
of the Anthony division moved to the scene. Erinfolami was arrested and
the victim was rescued, while other members escaped.
the eyewitnesses put a distress call across to the police, and the men
of the Anthony division moved to the scene. Erinfolami was arrested and
the victim was rescued, while other members escaped.
A police source told our correspondent
that investigation showed that the runaway gang members included two
dismissed policemen, who supplied the gang with uniforms, while other
members were impersonators.
that investigation showed that the runaway gang members included two
dismissed policemen, who supplied the gang with uniforms, while other
members were impersonators.
He said, “We got information that there
were policemen at a checkpoint on Ikorodu Road, stopping motorists and
extorting money from them.“So, policemen from the Anthony division
mobilised to the scene to verify the information. Truly, there we met
them. There were actually two dismissed policemen leading that gang.“They had locked a motorist inside the
boot of his car for unknown reason, and they were escaping with the
vehicle when the police arrived at the scene. So, they abandoned the
vehicle and fled. But one of them was arrested.
“The motorist explained that he thought he was stopped by genuine policemen until they manhandled him and locked him up.”
The Commissioner of Police, Fatai
Owoseni, confirmed the incident, adding that the command would continue
to beam its searchlight on fake policemen who extorted money from
unsuspecting civilians on the roads.
Owoseni, confirmed the incident, adding that the command would continue
to beam its searchlight on fake policemen who extorted money from
unsuspecting civilians on the roads.
He said, “The gang had taken possession
of the vehicle and put the motorist in the boot of his car. The suspect
in custody is helping investigation while efforts are on to arrest other
members. We will continue to expose these criminals and take
appropriate actions. Lagos residents should understand that not every
gun-wielding man wearing police uniform is actually a genuine
policeman.”