How we rob motorists, passersby in Lagos traffic – Suspected robbers
Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad has nabbed three suspected robbers who allegedly specialised in robbing motorists and commuters in traffic.
24-year-old Tunde Raphael, 23-year-old Samuel Kolawole, and 32-year-old Solomon Omini allegedly carried out their operations in Mile 2 bridge traffic. They were arrested last Wednesday.
Police say they usually dispossess victims of their belongings between 4:00 a.m and 6:30 a.m, as well as in the night.
Tunde confessed to the police that he operated with nineteen other gang members.
He disclosed that he and about 20 colleagues of his, work in twos or threes holding toy guns, machetes, Jack knives, hammers, rods and other weapons to dispossess commuters of phones, money, jewellery, laptops and other prized possessions.
“It’s a job I have been doing now for more than a year. As soon as we approach a car. We tell the occupants to bring out their belongings. Some would cooperate with us and give us their phones and money,” he said.
“Some would wind up. I laugh at them because we would break that glass or use our prepared mixture that when thrown at their side glasses, would bring them down gently and we would take all that we want and leave the place.
“We work with the nature of traffic. We target passersby too. Those going to work or traders going to market are our main target. If you are old on the job, you get good targets. I sold the phones I collect for between N3,000 to N4,000 daily.
“Recently we collected a huge money from three occupants of a vehicle. We were two, my colleague tried to abscond with the money and I tried tracking him. Unfortunately for me, he noticed me and eventually matchèted me at a corner in the head.
“I lost so much blood and I was there unconscious. The cut was so severe that three hospitals rejected me. Here I am still alive. I still see this guy and he is still in this business with me,” he added.
Tunde stated that he lost his mum at an early age. He added that he was assisting an Indian Hemp seller in Mile 2 before he was introduced into traffic robbery. He maintained that those who lured him into it assured him he was going to make more money doing that than assisting a hard drug seller, who offered him only food.
Drama, however, ensued during the interrogation of the suspects in RRS headquarter in Alausa when a phone, Nokia Touch, allegedly owned by one of the suspects, Samuel Kolawole, started ringing repeatedly.
Police detectives quizzing the suspect put the phone on speaker only for the caller later identified as Robert to claim the ownership of the phone, stressing that the phone was collected from him in Mile 2 by armed robbers.
Kolawole who had earlier claimed ownership of the phone in his statement said he bought the phone from a colleague of his with SIM card that morning for N1,500.
The phone was later handed over to Mr Robert who reported at RRS office after calling.
Police spokesperson in the state, CSP Chike Oti stated that the police are intensifying efforts towards arresting traffic robbers in Mile 2 and other parts of the state. He added that substantial progress have been made in that area.
The three suspects have been transferred to the FSARS office in Ikeja for further investigations.
